The Bulletin
of the
Church of Christ at
New Georgia
Tim Johnson, editor
November 2, 2008
In
This Issue:
Are
We Still Under the Law of Moses?
by
Steve Klein
Are We Still Under the Law of Moses?
Many of our friends and neighbors
believe that we are still living under the Law of Moses. This
is evident when we see the fuss that is made over the public display
of the Ten Commandments, which were part of Moses' Law.
Modern day reliance on the Law of Moses is even more obvious when we
hear people using that Law to try to justify their religious
practices, such as Sabbath keeping, a separate priesthood or
instrumental music in worship. Is this use of the Law of Moses valid?
What do the Scriptures say?
THE LAW WAS OUR TUTOR, "BUT WE ARE NO LONGER
UNDER A TUTOR"
Galatians 3:23-25 says that "before faith
came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which
would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our tutor to
bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But
after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor."
Notice that the Law was our tutor. Its purpose was to bring us
to Christ - to cause mankind to see the need for a Savior who could
justify us by faith. Now that faith has come we are no longer
under a tutor; that is, we are no longer under the law!
THE LAW WAS "NAILED TO THE CROSS"
Colossians 2:14 explains that the Lord has,
"wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us,
which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having
nailed it to the cross." The "handwriting of
requirements" refers to the written Law of Moses, with its many
rules - including rules concerning food, drink, feasts and Sabbath keeping.
This was "nailed to the cross."
We know that even the Ten Commandments are included in what was nailed to the cross because the text goes on to say, "So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths" (Colossians 2:16). The requirement to keep Sabbaths is one of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:8-11). Since this law was "nailed to the cross," along with the other commandments, the Scriptures here instruct us not to let others judge or condemn us for not keeping it.
Now someone might ask, "If the Ten
Commandments were nailed to the cross, does this mean that we are now
allowed to steal, murder, covet, or commit adultery?" No,
these things are sinful today because they are forbidden in the NEW
TESTAMENT of Jesus Christ (see 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; 1 John 3:5).
We live under His Law!
THE OLD COVENANT LAW IS "OBSOLETE"
Christ is the mediator of a New Covenant
(Hebrews 8:6-8). This New Covenant replaces the Old Covenant,
which was the Law of Moses (cf. Exodus 24:7; Hebrews 8:9). The
New Covenant makes the Old Covenant obsolete: "In that He says,
"A NEW COVENANT," He has made the first obsolete. Now what
is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away"
(Hebrews 8:13).
IF WE KEEP PART OF THE LAW, WE MUST KEEP "THE
WHOLE LAW".
Some today claim that parts of the Law of Moses
are still in force, while other parts are not. Of course, they often
have trouble explaining how they know which parts still apply and
which don't! But Galatians 5:3 shows the trouble we get
ourselves into by trying to apply any part of the Law of Moses; it
states, "And I testify again to every man who becomes
circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law." If
we are under any of it, we are under all of it!
THOSE WHO ATTEMPT TO BE JUSTIFIED BY THE LAW HAVE
"FALLEN FROM GRACE"
"You have become estranged from Christ,
you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from
grace" (Galatians 5:4).
IF WE ARE STILL UNDER THE LAW, CHRIST COULD NOT BE OUR
HIGH PRIEST
Jesus Christ is our High Priest (Hebrews 3:1).
But under the Law of Moses, He would not be qualified to be a priest
because He was not of the tribe of Levi. "For it is evident that
our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing
concerning priesthood" (Hebrews 7:14). Since the
priesthood has been changed, the Law had to be changed, too. "For
the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of
the law" (Hebrews 7:11-12).
CHRIST "ABOLISHED THE LAW" THAT SEPARATED
JEWS FROM GENTILES
The Law of Moses separated Jews from Gentiles
like a wall. The Law had been given to the Jews, and Gentiles
were outsiders, "aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and
strangers from the covenants of promise" (Ephesians 2:12).
But by shedding His blood, Christ "has broken down the middle
wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that
is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances. . ."
(Ephesians 2:14-15).
Neither Jews nor Gentiles are now required to keep Moses' Law. Both are saved by grace through faith. In Acts 15, there were false teachers who claimed that it was necessary to "command" Gentiles "to keep the Law of Moses" (Acts 15:5). The apostle Peter opposed them saying, "why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they." (Acts 15:10-11).
What purpose does the Old Testament serve? Is it of any value today? Certainly! It was written for our learning (Romans 15:4). It contains vital truth about God, His works, and His dealings with mankind. Its history of God's people serves to admonish us today (1 Corinthians 10:11; Hebrews 11). It is inspired by God and profitable for us (2 Timothy 3:16-17). But it is not God's law for us today, and those who rely on it as God's law today have not accepted what the Bible says about it.
--Steve Klein