Is the Old Testament Law for Christians Today?
You are not above it and you hate to see it laid down. Some of you follow it to the letter, while others follow its spirit. It's got a long arm even if you take it into your own hands. The Martial version of it is bad while Murphy's version is worse. You can fight it but as the 1966 Crickets remind us, it's gonna win. What is it? Well just listen to the episode!
Today’s big question: Is the Old Testament Law for Christians Today?
Some related questions include: Should we keep the Sabbath? Do we use the Old Testament tithing laws?
Have you ever asked questions like these? I know we have!
After Jesus came, our relationship with the Old Testament law changed.
In the Old Testament, Jews worshiped in the temple. But after Jesus came, worship was done in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24). It’s happening wherever Christians are!
The sacrificial system changed. It’s gone away because God’s requirement for sacrifice was satisfied when Jesus Christ died for our sins (Hebrews 10:1, 12).
Dietary requirements changed. In Mark, Jesus declared that all foods were clean to eat.
Circumcision is done.
The list goes on and on!
The law acted as a shadow of things to come. The real deal is Christ Jesus Himself. Jesus coming is a proclamation that your work is done. The impossible work of trying to please and appease the Father is done. We couldn’t do it. We failed at it. Jesus has completed this perfectly as our propitiation.
So here’s the big question: Does the moral law stay the same?
Let’s take one of the 10 commandments as an example. Thou shalt not murder. Well of course, murder is wrong! Don’t listen to anyone who tells you differently. So does that settle it? Should we obey all of the moral laws in the Old Testament then?
Hold on., There’s a problem with this way of thinking: Open up your Bibles to the Torah (the first five books of the Bible), take your pencil, and try to divide between ceremonial, civil, and moral law. Talk about difficult. What’s a moral issue to you might not seem to be to someone else.
But don’t worry. There’s good news! The New Testament says that the Old Testament law is no longer binding! 🤯 #don’tcancelJimmy
Let’s look at scripture to see where I got this from…
Galatians 3:24-25 says, “Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.”
Hebrews 8:13 “When He said, ‘A new covenant,’ He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear.”
Romans 7:6 “But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.”
I could go on.
Where do we go from here?
We have been released from the Old Testament law to the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2 says, “Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.”
1 Corinthians 9:20-21 “To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law; to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law.”
Paul didn’t consider himself to be under the law. But chose to submit to the law to win over Jews. He says he is now under the “law of Christ”.
What is the law of Christ?
It is the law of love.
When Jesus was asked, “What is the greatest commandment?” His answer was that you should love God and love your neighbor. This is the main point of all of the law and the prophets (Matthew 22:35-36).
Paul agrees, saying, “For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” in Galatians 5:14.
Conclusion: As New Testament believers, we are now under the law of love. Love God and love your neighbor.
Application questions:
How does Jimmy’s perspective of the Old Testament law change your thinking?
When we shift our focus to loving God and our neighbors, how does this change your attitude today?
In your own words, write out why we need the knowledge of the Old Testament law.
Dedicate some time to memorizing Galatians 5:22-23.
Send this episode to one of your friends!
Want to ask us a question? Email question@clearlypodcast.com.
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