Why do Christian not believe that they have to follow the old testament law?

Question

Clearly in the new Testament Yeshua (Jesus) stated that he did not come to do away with the old law and a letter would not be taken out until all the prophecies have come to pass. Seeing that Revaltion is a prophecy and it has not come to pass , so how are the old laws done away with?

To Clarify I am speaking of all 216 commandments that are in the old testament. The only laws that are impossible to fullfill are the sacrificial laws one because there is no Temple and 2 Yeshua (Jesus) was the ultimate sacrifice.

to Dragonfly

Continue in sin that Grace may Abound G~d Forbid Romans 6:1 (King James Version)

20Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. Romans 3:20 (King James Version)
according to these Verses it would seem that Grace does not cancel out the law since the knowledge of the law is the way we know what sin is. If we are to consider in sin (viotating the law) then grace will not be there

To Becki
"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law." -Galatians 3:13

The curse of the law is not the law itself the curse of the law is death.

Answer 1

I'm a Christian and I don't believe that I don't have to follow the Old Testament law, but when Jesus came some things changed. Therefore, I live by the entire Bible and not just the Old Testament or the New Testament.

Answer 2

Because the Old Testament laws were the "old covenant", Jesus was the "New Covenant". He fulfilled the law. The Levitical laws were written for a particular people, at a particular place, for a particular time. We do not achieve communion with God through keeping laws, but by grace. We do not sacrifice animals anymore for a covering of sin, Jesus was the ultimate and final sacrifice. The old covenant was a mere shadow of the new covenant. If an Old Testament law is repeated and upheld in the New Testament, then is should be followed.

Answer 3

The laws that Christ referred to were the Old Testament laws that God ordained that His People (Jews) follow. There was certainly debate, even among Jesus disciples, as to whether or not to shackle and burden the Gentile (non Jews) believers with laws that were ordained for the Jews. You will find an analogy of the old testament dietary laws with the new Gentile believers in Galatians 2:11-21 in a confrontation between Paul, apostle to the Gentiles, and Peter and again in Romans Chapter 14. The law points the way to Christ and the need for Christ but salvation is not of the law or any other deeds that people do. Violation of the law is sin but then sin is atoned for in the Blood of Christ and Grace of God through forgiveness of sins through Jesus. Jesus surely did not come to do away with the law but removed the slavery to the law by providing a perfect way of salvation apart from the law by grace. Just the same as today the Jews, including converted (Christian) Jews observe the laws and requirements set forth long ago such as the Passover and the Sabbath Christians should not seek to justify themselves before God by attempting the impossible, to fulfill every law, but rather Christian and Jew find forgiveness apart from the law through the Grace of Christ Jesus and his shed blood on the cross.

Answer 4

Jesus said He had come to fulfill ALL the law in the Old Testament for us. After Jesus had done that, He then cut a new covenant for us with His blood - New Testament.

Romans 7:6 - But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that the newness of the Spirit and not the oldness of the letter (law).

Galatians 3:13 - Christ has redeemed us from the cruse of the law.

Answer 5

This would be a better question if you explained WHICH old laws you are talking about. The reason I say this is because many (like the 10 commandments) of them still are followed. Others (like Dietary laws) were Clearly Stopped. And Many (like laws of ceremony) were ONLY for Jews and not for the Christian. This doesn't mean total disregard. The Old Testament is NOT just about the Laws (that is only in 2 and a half books of the old testamanent there are 36 and a half more there)

Answer 6

Christians don't have to follow the ceremonial Old Testament (OT) Laws. Those Laws were to cleanse God's people for their sins untill Christ could pay the price for them. When Jesus fulfilled the Law and paid the final price for all sins, then God's people didn't have to make sacrifices or refrain from eating "unclean" foods like pork anymore. No letters were taken out, there is just no need for sacrifices because Jesus mad the final one.

Answer 7

Ephesians 2:15

Eph 2:15 Through his body on the cross, Christ put an end to the law with all its commands and rules. He wanted to create one new group of people out of the two. He wanted to make peace between them.

The Old Testament laws and rules were nullified at Jesus' death. They are no longer in effect.

Revelation was a prophesy of then future events "which must quickly come to pass." The Greek phrase "en tache" refers to a timing of weeks or months. The repeated references in the book to 3-1/2 years go along with that interpretation. It deals primarily with the persecution they were suffering under Rome at that time. It probably has multiple fulfillments which is common in apocalyptic prophecy, but its primary emphasis was immediate. It is bad exegesis to read current and future events into it.

In any event, Jesus last word on the cross, "tetelestai" in Greek, "it is finished" in English spoke of the imminent end of all of the prophecies. Only the resurrection remained, and that was a foregone conclusion. Jesus knew his death was not permanent.

Answer 8

The old testament laws are covenents made with the Jewish people, the descendants of Israel. Jesus is the new covenant, so that all may enter heaven. As christians we look at the old law and say, "thank you God for your son, Jesus". Thank you that we don't have to follow that law. I can't even sit down and read the whole thing in a week. It's daunting. But does give us alot of info of the culture of that time and let's us all know that God not only wants us to act different from others (who don't believe) He wants us to look different, too.

Answer 9

Jesus is the New Covenant. Keep the commandments but keeping the law of Moses does not make you right with God. We are justified by faith. If Jesus does not make us right then Jesus died for nothing. We no longer have to stone people if they sin and sacrifice animals. The prophets spoke of a time when people would live by faith. Jesus is the fulfillment of those prophesies. Jesus brought grace and mercy.

Answer 10

The law still stands, what Jesus came to say is that it's not the important thing. Following every aspect of every law will not get you into heaven if you have a bad heart. If you follow every law simply for greed's sake, then you will not see Heaven.

A lot of the laws of Moses were written for a people enslaved for over 400 years prior, and were now wandering in the desert with no home. They were for the people's health, safety and peace. A lot of the laws still stand today, but some are pretty useless to us in modern society. Like not eating shellfish; we know how to cook it now.

Answer 11

Good question... :)

Christians follow the old testament law in part, but not entirely.

Part of the OT law (cultural or ceremonial) are viewed by many Christians as being applicable to the Jews and/or the theocratic nation of Israel in the OT.

Some Christians do keep Kosher (just like the Jews do).

Cordially,
John