"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." ~ Jesus, Matthew 5:17
Jesus didn't abolish Old Testament law.
Does that mean we still must obey it?
No.
Christ fulfilled the law and prophets.
In Christ, we live under grace, not law (Romans 6:14; Galatians 3:11).
We have the power, desire, and responsibility to live obedient lives (Romans 8:9-14). But we obey New Testament commands based on the deeper spiritual meaning of the law - the fulfillment of the law - not simply the "letter of the law" (Matthew 5:20-48).
Grace isn’t a license to sin (Romans 6:1-6). It’s our motivation and power to overcome sin.
As Paul so aptly explained:
“His grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them--yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me." ~ Paul, 1 Corinthians 15:10
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Note: We are no longer required to obey dietary, ceremonial, cleansing, and sacrificial laws (Romans 14:17; Colossians 2:16-17).
See: Which Old Testament Laws Apply Today
Bible Love Notes
Every time we act in love, we fulfill the Law (Romans 13:10).
ReplyDeleteSo what about the 10 Commandments???
ReplyDeleteThe 10 Commandments are among the New Testament commands.
DeleteThe only one not specifically mentioned in the Sabbath. Some people believe that is because every day is meant to be a Sabbath under the New Covenant - every day a day set aside for the Lord - not meaning church attendance or rest but rest from our attempts to be saved. Hebrews 4:4-11
Please read the articles attached at the bottom. I think they will answer any other questions you have.
Hebrews 4:7-10
DeleteMatthew 5:38-48New International Version (NIV)
ReplyDeleteEye for Eye
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’[a] 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
Love for Enemies
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[b] and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
I have to disagree on this one. What about Matthew 5:18 - For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. There is a difference between Statutes, Ordinance and Laws. Jesus fulfilled All blood ordinances. It is true we now live under grace, but that doesn't mean we are not to follow God's laws. Some are civil laws which are different from the laws where you would stone someone e.g. I personally still believe we should follow even God's dietary laws. He made us and knows what is good for us and what is not. You wouldn't eat a dead vulture on the side of the road, or say a rat.
ReplyDeleteI love and appreciate your bible studies, I just happen to disagree this time. I think this is the first time, which is pretty amazing because we all have different interpretations sometimes
Totally agree. God's Law (Torah) was not done away with. We are to follow Christ's example of how to live the Torah … not for salvation, which is clearly by grace, but it is how God tells us to love Him back (7 times in the books of John and 1 John). Modern Christianity does not see this, but more and more people are waking up. Jesus did not fulfill the Law as in finishing it. If you look up the greek word for fulfill is pleroo, which means to fully preach or teach the Law, which is EXACTLY what he did.
DeleteTotally agree with you, if you keep the law you know what sin is and you don’t want to keep on sinning. People write you off very speedily if they find out you keep the law but Jesus said know that they don’t hate you they hate me
ReplyDeleteI know this may be a controversial opinion but if you consider the context of the law being given to Gods people the Israelites as both being obedient to Gods commands as well as showing our inability to meet God's perfect requirements. Then consider the idea that after salvation God helps us become more like him then it all starts to make sense. Jesus died so that through his help we do fulfill the law not by anything we have done but by his perfect sacrifice. He changes us our desires etc.
ReplyDeleteHi Unknown,
DeleteIt's not actually controversial. To be controversial would mean that a major part of Christianity believed it, and that's never been true. It's like the doctrines of universal salvation or cheap grace. They have always been present in the church, but never accepted by more than a small fringe, and the reason is that they contradict clear teachings of Scripture.
I'm not exactly sure of what you are saying in your comment, but I think you are saying that we are still under the Old Testament law but because of Jesus we are able to fulfill it. If I understand you correctly, this is the teachings of the Hebrew Roots Movement or similar movements within the church. So I will address that.
I'm not aware of a single Christian who died for their faith who believed it. All of the martyrs I've studied held to biblical beliefs in that area. And that has to tell you something. Men and women who die for their faith are rarely the kind of people who fall into a heresy.
And none of the major Bible scholars throughout history have believed it.
And none of the major denominations have believed it, even when they were on track with the Lord.
And none of the major Bible teachers have believed it.
To believe in the Hebrew Roots Movement teachings, you must believe that God has allowed sincere Bible-believing missionaries, martyrs, and Bible scholars plus the majority of Christians live wrong. So either you believe HRM people are the only people who have genuinely sought God in the past 2000 years or you believe God didn't care enough to set the majority of His people straight.
To believe we are under Old Testament laws, is to deny the message of the New Testament.
It's also hypocritical. The Hebrew Roots movement decides which Old Testament laws to obey and which have passed away. They don't obey the cleansing laws, separating women during their periods and after childbirth and they don't prohibit married couples from coming to church too soon after they've had intimate relations.
You must think that God lies to Peter 3 times in Acts 10 to claim that He didn't mean food when he said food and He didn't mean eat when he said eat. Could He mean more than that? Yes. But He couldn't mean less than that.
People in the Hebrew Roots movement are under a powerful spirit of false teaching, and many will not listen to biblical truths once they have had them distorted by their teachers. I believe some are genuinely saved but many are not.
The only way a person can believe the HRM teachings is to be indoctrinated. You would never come to that understanding by simply reading Scripture.