Yes, Brother Thomas, this in not an easy undertaking, but necessary. When God gives light, He expects us to appreciate it. The matter is made more difficult because of the unregenerate heart that refuses to love the law or decides that it is necessary to add to it. As we study the subject with the intent to glorify our Lord, He will bless us.
Brother Thomas likes the thought of dividing the carrying out of the law into three divisions, the church, the state, and the individual which includes the family.
He says "The process of getting from a theocracy to a church-state dichotomy is not clear, and raises some skepticism of its validity." Yes, this is the problem area. But, we are making progress in that we have our three-fold division. That helps a lot.
We know a few things that we will list:
1. There is a broad distinction between the moral and the ceremonial.
2. The ceremonial law is no longer binding.
3. The state is to refrain from legislating in respect to the first four commandments and any statutes or judgments that pertain to them.
4. The state is to legislate morality as we see in all societies. The only standard of morality is the Bible standard of which the last six of the Ten Commandments pertain to the laws that would regulate society. The statutes and judgments that uphold the last six which deal with our relationship with each other provide principles that are to guide the state.
5. The church has a test of fellowship that specifies which laws are to be enforced with disfellowshipping. The Bible states what that test was 2,000 years ago, but the standard is to be broadened as the church grows.
6. The church is not to "punish" any lawbreaking beyond restrictions of fellowship, employment, or office holding.
7. It appears that the statutes and judgments that are not ceremonial and are moral remain binding upon individuals except for the punishment aspect.
8. The statutes and judgments given to Israel were given to a theocracy which was to be under the direct hand of God. As such the penalties stated were more harsh than would be called for today.
9. There is at least one moral law which specified the punishment that was pre-Israel that remains binding today. Out of regard for human life, God specified very clearly that if one tried for murder were proved guilty, no atonement or ransom could rescue him. "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed." Genesis 9:6. "Ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death." "Thou shalt take him from Mine altar, that he may die," was the command of God; "the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it." Numbers 35:31, 33; Exodus 21:14. The safety and purity of the nation demanded that the sin of murder be severely punished. Human life, which God alone could give, must be sacredly guarded. And, provision was made that none could be condemned by the witness of only one. Two witnesses were required to safeguard the innocent.
That is the best I can do with my feeble and darkened mind. I know that God has much more to add and if there are corrections to be made, then let us set about doing it.