"The Old Testament says so..."Is Not A Good Argument!
The Old Testament is a great place
to learn from. It’s a wonderful place to
see how God will hold to His word and His standards. As Christians we need to
learn from it. Learn from those examples that we are given (1 Cor. 10:6). So what are we to follow today? Looking at
the scripture God was very adamant about us following Jesus. In fact, in the
presence of Elijah, Moses, and Jesus, God commanded the disciples to hear Jesus
(Matt. 17:1-5). Where do the commands of
Jesus appear? The New Testament (Matt. 28:20). Jesus commanded many things even
that the apostles were to go teach His commands. How do we answer the questions
of world? How do we know what is a sin and what’s wrong? Jesus just said
“Love”, right? No dear reader He didn’t just say “Love.” There is much more written
on those tree skins than just love. Oh,
how I wish that we had the time to talk in depth about all that Jesus
commanded, but the issue at hand is the Old Testament. Let’s study the five reasons why “The Old
Testament said so…” is not a good argument.
It was for the Jews
God made His covenant, including
the Ten Commandments, with the nations of Israel, Jews. We see in Exodus 34:27-28 God speaking to
Moses. He commanded Moses to write His words. According to the tenor of those
words God made a covenant with Moses and Israel. The Law was given through
Moses (John 1:17). It was for the Jews.
Not Christians. Under the Law of Moses the Gentiles, non-Jews/Israelites, were
without. They were without Christ, Jewish citizenship, the covenant promise,
hope and God (Eph. 2:11-12; Deut. 4:7-8). The Law given at Mt. Sinai created a
wall that separated the world, Gentiles, from the Jews (Deut. 7:1-8). We can
rejoice. For Christ by His death abolished that wall (Eph. 3:14-16). He did it
as to fulfill the promise to Abraham (Gen 15:5; Gal. 3:29). When Christ
abolished that wall He abolished all the law, including the Ten Commandments.
The
Law was temporary
The promise was given to Abraham
(Gen 22:18). The gentiles were included in that promise (Gal. 3:8,14). The
promise was that all nations would be blessed by Abraham’s seed. That seed was
Christ (Gal. 3:15-16). The promise was inclusive but the Law of
Moses was exclusive. The promise to
Abraham pre-dates the Law by 430 years (Gal. 3:17). The Law couldn’t impart life (Gal 3:21). It
was a mere tutor for the Jews to bring them to Christ (Gal. 3:24-25). The issue
was sin, and that’s why the Law was given (Gal. 3:19). It was only meant to last until the seed,
Christ, came.
It has been fulfilled
and abolished
Paul aids our understanding of the
Law and its temporary state in Romans 7:1-4. Paul makes the picture of a Jewish
widow being free to remarry because of her husband’s death. A Jew following the
Law of Moses and the Law of Christ would be committing spiritual adultery. Just
as the widow was free to remarry so were the Jews free to follow the commands
of Christ. They were freed by the body of Christ. That through Him they died to
the Law of Moses. They were discharged
from the Law, including the Ten Commandments. The Gentiles were not, because
they were never bound by it (Rom. 7:6-7). Christ, the Seed, came to fulfill the
Law. Christ said it would pass away when all was fulfilled (Matt. 5:17-18).
Christ did fulfill all these things when He was on earth (Luke 24:44). Jesus accomplished everything when He died on
the cross (John 19:28-30). When Christ
died He abolished the law (Eph. 2:15).
When Christ died He wiped out the requirements and took them out of the
way, having nailed it to the cross (Col. 2:14). When Christ died He delivered
the Jews from the Law (Rom. 7:6). The Seed fulfilled the Law and accomplished
God’s promise. What an AWESOME God we serve!
What is the purpose
of the Old Testament now?
We are
meant to learn from the examples we have in the Old Testament. Its purpose is
for us to learn from it (Rom. 15:4). Now the Old Testament has given us our examples and we
should learn from them (1 Cor. 10:1-10).
We learn from them so that we don’t lust after evil things as they did.
God was not pleased with everyone. If we do lust as they did, we get what they
got. It happened to them as examples and it is to us as instruction (1 Cor.
10:11). Make sure you do learn from it.
Be instructed by it. God scattered them in the wilderness for what they had
done (1 Cor. 10:5). Make sure you are
not separated from God because of your lack of obedience. Heed the commands of
Christ (Matt. 28:20).
We follow Christ’s commands
With the
Old Law done away with what do we follow now? We follow Christ. As I stated in the opening of this study God
said, to the disciples, in the presence of Elijah, Moses, and Christ, “Hear
Him” (Matt. 17:1-5). What does that mean? Do as He says. Christ gave us His commands and the apostles
taught those commands (Matt. 28:20). That’s why we can rest assured what we
have in the New Testament is what we follow.
Jesus tells us that if we love Him we will keep His commandments (John
14:15). Jesus states that if we have His commandments and keep them then we
love Him. Not only that but we will also be loved by the Father (John
14:22-24). Jesus states that if we keep His commandments we will abide in His
love. Just like He has kept God’s commandments and abides in God’s love (John
15:10). If we reject what Christ says we
will be judge by His word (John 12:48).
Then we have that fact that the commandments that are written are from
the Lord (1 Cor. 14:37; Matt.28:20). In Acts 2:42 they devoted themselves to the apostle’s
teachings as Christ had commanded (Matt. 28:20). John 20:30-31 lets us know the
Gospels are written so that we may believe in Christ and be saved by immersion
into Him. We also see that not everything is in the gospels (John 21:25). But
they are written so that we may know for certain what we have been taught (Luke
1:1-4). Everything we need that pertains to life and godliness is in His word
(2 Pet. 1:2-4). All scripture is God breathed and not of any private
interpretation (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 2:20-21).
Conclusion
The Law of Moses and the Prophets (Old
Testament) was for the Jews. It was temporary. It was written for us as an
example and to be learned from. It was fulfilled and abolished by Christ. Who
gave us a New Law that we are to follow. It is by Christ’s words we are to be
judged by. Then it is by Christ’s words that we are to live by. They were given
to Him by God. Then He spoke them to us (John 12:49-50; John 1:14). The Law
came through Moses. Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ
(John 1:17). Let us rightly divide the word and understand the commands we live
by (2 Tim. 2:15). Also don’t go to the Old Testament to justify or condemn
something. Can it be used to support your case? Yes. However, we are not bound
by it.
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