Christians?

Question

Does the New Testament invalidate the covenant the Jews had?

I believe the Catholic Church acknowledge two covenants (One for Christians and one for Jews, not 100% sure). What of the other Christian Groups?

In effect are Jews following a dead religion?

Answer 1

I would highly recommend the works of Art Katz and Asher Intrater on this issue. You can look them up on the net.

In short form, think of it this way: If God's convenant with Abraham (a covenant which He said was everlasting) is invalidated, then that would mean that God does not keep His promises. This means that your salvation is also invalid.

I've listed under "sources" a link to a website with a great Q&A on this topic.

Answer 2

The new Covenant does not invalidate the 1st covenent that God had with His chosen people. What it does do is open salvation to all of God's children and in the laws of the New Covenant, the 2 basic commandments encompass all of the original 10 Commandments of the 1st Covenant. If you love your neighbor, you will not covet his wife, his possessions, steal from him, etc so they are all covered by the new Covenant. I am a Catholic and we do not acknowledge two separate covenants, but rather accept the New Covenent for all God's people, which includes the Jewish people of the old Testament. The new Testament is the fullfillment of all the prophesy of the Old Testament, in the coming of Jesus.

Answer 3

It's not that it invalidates it, but that Jesus fulfilled it. Since Jews, for the most part, don't believe that Jesus is the Messiah, they don't believe that the Old Law has been fulfilled.

As to Christians still following the Old Testament law, it was a national as well as a spiritual law. Christians are not a physical nation like the Jews are/were. We have a new (spiritual) law. The principles are much the same in regard to morality, but there are some distinctions.

Answer 4

The old covenant was made up of things that were copies or shadows and pointed to the new that was to come. Just like the sacrifices pointed to the sacrifice of Jesus, the laws of purity pointed to being separate from sin and the world, the lamb pointed to Jesus who is the Lamb of God. When Jesus came He brought in the new covenant and because He really forgives sin where as the sacrifice of animals never did the old was put away. Also because the Israelites rejected Christ they were cast off (as a nation, not every single one). Now anyone who repents and believes is a member of the new covenant whether Jew or Gentile.

Answer 5

As a verse in the new testament tells us, the law was a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. Jesus said himself that He had not come to destroy the law, but to fulfill it.

The new testament is a fulfillment of the old. In the old, a Messiah was promised. Jesus is that Messiah. The very sad thing is that most Jewish people do not recognize Him as such. But that was also spoken of in the bible. The stone that the builders rejected (Jesus) has become the capstone. One day God will remove the blinders from the eyes of the Jewish people, and they will realize who He is. There are Jewish people who, by the grace of God, do recognize Jesus as their Messiah. These are Messianic, or completed, Jews.

But right now, most Jewish people are still trying to be made righteous through their following of the law. If you sit down and read the book of Galatians, Paul begins with this admonition, oh foolish Galatians! Who were, once again, trying to follow the law and not Christ. And here we are, almost two thousand years later, with the same thing happening.

Answer 6

not a dead religion but an incomplete one. God set up the law to point to the Savior so that when He came they could know. But over the years, and due to the persecution that the Jews faced, especially under the romans, they neglected the prophecies that told that the Messiah first would be a suffering savior, and they jumped ahead to the prophecies that depicted him as the victorious savior who would bring them out of oppression (this happens at this second coming.) Because Christ was the suffering messiah, they largely rejected him and that is why there is still Judaism today.

Answer 7

From my understanding the OT is good for principles. We are to take the principle of the OT. For example, giving. We are to use the principle of the tithe as "training wheels" for giving.

With the NT the law went away. That's good for all, Jews and Gentiles. Jews, Unfortunately, are still waiting for Messiah, but he already came. I guess, that's the biggest travesty!

Answer 8

Jews are incorrect.
They don't believe Jesus came to Earth, thy are still waiting for Him. They'll be dissapointed when God comes at the End Times and they don't go to heaven becausew they refused to believe in Jesus.
When Jesus died on the cross, much of the Old Testament Law was put to death with Him.

Answer 9

No they aren't following a dead religion. They continue to live by the same law. Romans speaks very clearly about the old law verses the new law. Read it sometime and it will give you greater clarity than my answer can.

Answer 10

No they invalidated the covenant by not meeting the conditions.

Some convenants like Abraham's is unconditional.

Answer 11

The laws of the old covenant are still in effect. The statutes and ordinances have changed.. For example, you do not offer burnt offerings unto God. Repent and ask god for forgiveness in Jesus' name.
Look at the 10 commandments. they are still in effect.