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Part Ia IIaeLawQuestion 106

The New Law

  1. The New Law is the law of the New Testament. In essence, itis the law of grace given through faith in Christ. In a secondaryway, the New Law is a written law prescribing directives for thereceiving and using of grace.

  2. The New Law as grace, justifies; that is, ittakes away sin from a man’s soul. The New Law asteaching or as doctrine, does not justify; itshows the way to justification.

  3. It was notably fitting that the New Law came when itdid, not earlier. The promise of the New Law was, indeed, givenimmediately after Adam’s sin. But the fulfillment of thepromise was rightly deferred for a long time, and this for tworeasons: first, that man might properly prepare himself for itswondrous benefits; second, that man might have a thoroughrealization of his own inadequacy, his weakness, his need ofredemption and grace.

  4. The New Law is, by its nature, the proximatepreparation for heaven. It is not a promise or prophecy of somemore perfect state to be attained in this world. The New Law is afulfillment; nothing further, nothing more perfect, can beconceived for this present life. Therefore, the New Law will notgive way to another Law, but will last to the end of the world.

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Full Summa Text · I-II, Q. 106
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