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| Christians and the Old Testament |
| Introduction Read 2 Timothy 3:16 Read Deuteronomy 5:1-3 Read Jeremiah 31:31-34 Read Galatians 3:24-27 Read Romans 7:7 Read Deuteronomy 22:8 Conclusion |
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| The Christian bible is divided into two very distinct parts, the Old and New Testament. The question often arises how Christians should apply the Old Testament Law? There are some who state that the Old Testament has no bearing in a Christians life. There are even a few that question where the Old Testament is even the Word of God. When Paul wrote this letter to Timothy, the New Testament had not been canonized. It is clear that Paul is referring to the scared writing that we refer to Old Testament. Therefore it is obvious that the all scripture, including the Old Testament, are relevant in the life of Christians today. In these set of verses we see Moses saying that the Lord made a covenant with the people of that time. A covenant is an agreement between the Lord and the people in which the Lord makes certain promises but requires certain actions and behaviors from the people in return. Those actions and behavior required by God was laid out in several Old Testament books and is often referred to as the Mosaic Law. Many scholars today divided the Mosaic Law into three different precepts: moral (ex. Deuteronomy 5:17), civil (ex. Leviticus 25:37), and ceremonial (Leviticus 14:1-5). The nation of Israel had been unable to keep the Mosaic Law. In fact, only one person was ever able to live up to the requirements - that person was Jesus Christ. The prophet Jeremiah told of a time when the old covenant would be replaced with a new covenant. He also stated that the new law would be written in the people's hearts and not on paper or clay tablets. By accepting Jesus Christ our salvation is through faith in Him and not through the Old Testament law. Paul writes in Romans 6:14 that we are no longer 'under the law, but under grace.' If we were still under the law we would stand in condemnation by that law. But we have freedom from the condemnation by the blood of Christ. The Law of the Old Testament still clearly points out sin within our lives. Although we may not be under the condemnation of the Law, we have a responsibility not to sin. Jesus in fact often referred to the Law, correcting the misunderstanding that the people had about the law. An example is in Matthew 6:27-28 where the people kept the letter of the law not to commit adultery but they missed the intent of the law. In is Old Testament verse, we see a civil law that new houses were to have a protective barrier on the roof. When this was written people slept on the roofs during warm weather. Although we don't sleep on our roof tops, many applications for today can be made from the one verse - such as taking precautions against physical harm or spiritual precautions against sin. Although we do not live under the Mosaic Law, the Old Testament contains examples and patterns for living a Christian life. Ceremonial laws with its purity rules and sacrificial system was replaced by the blood of Christ, yet adultery is a sin as much today as when the moral laws were written. Civil laws may no longer be applicable in our society, but we can find guiding principles in them useful for today. |
