Today people quote verses from the laws which were given to Moses by God in the Old Testament in order to support their argument that believers should observe the laws. But should believers observe the laws?
God gave Moses 613 laws, laws concerning the tithe, the Temple, the Sabbath, sacrifices and offerings…etc. However, the question is, are we Christians bond to these laws in the New Testament? People throughout the world are mixing the Old Testament laws with the Gospel of Grace, and this has led to confuse a lot.
People ask if we should keep this or that part of the law? Or do we need to keep all of the laws?..etc. But if we are still living in the laws and we are still thinking and acting in terms of the laws, then what is the value of the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ?
In this age (The age of the New Testament (covenant)), we are not obliged to follow all the laws which were given to Moses. There are however few laws which we need to watch out; these few laws are the only laws which were given by the Apostles to the gentiles who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ.
These laws are; To abstain from:
1-Pollution of idols,
2-Fornication
3-Things strangled and;
4-Blood. (Acts 15:20, Acts 15:29, Acts 21:25)
In addition, Lord Jesus has told us;
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’’ (Matthew 22:37-39)
Lord Jesus added; “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 22:40)
The Apostles, taught the believers to observe the above laws only. But as to the rest of the other laws, the blood of Jesus Christ has set us free. If we were supposed to follow all the laws of the Old Testament, then Jesus Christ died for nothing. Keeping the law is nullifying the death of our Lord. But the fact is,
John 1:17” For the Law was given through Moses, butgrace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
What about the activities which are not written in the Bible, how are we to judge them? Should we keep on doing them or stop doing them? Like smoking for example, the bible doesn’t say anything directly about smoking. There is no verse which says,”You shall not smoke!” So what are we supposed to do? The answer is, the Holy Spirit will lead us to judge such matters. He tells us whether a specific act is of God or not. He is here to lead (direct) us, so that we might change into the likeness of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Galatians 5:18 “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under Law.”
In conclusion, the blood of Jesus Christ has set us free and we are not bond to the laws so that we have to stone those caught in adultery or to keep the Sabbath or to rest on the first day of Passover…etc. From all of these, the Blood of Jesus has set us Free!
Galatians 5:1 “Then stand firm in the freedom with which Christ made us free and do not be held again with a yoke of slavery.”
