Which Testament to follow?

Question

Growing up I always heard that since Jesus died on the cross, the New Testament was what we are supposed to follow. If that is true, then what about the 10 commandments? Please explain this, to the best of your ability. I do not pretend to be the slightest bit intelligent about religion, although I am very curious and would like to know more. This question is not being asked out of hate or criticism. Please do not take offense. I am truly wanting to know the answer.


Serious answers only please...I don't knock you for your choice in questions or religion, please don't bash me for mine!

Thanks to everyone that has answered this question...

There's no way I can possibly pick one answer better than another, because they are all great answers! Thanks again! XOXO

Answer 1

Jesus came to fulfill the prophesy of the Old Testament, not to negate it. The laws outlined in the Old Testament and in the Ten Commandments show us how incapable we are of living up to the expectations of God, as very flawed humans. Jesus came as a perfect, living sacrifice for us all. In that way, we no longer have to worry about being accepted into heaven by our works or by perfectly following the Law. We are accepted into heaven by believing in God, Son, and Holy Ghost and by willingly receiving Jesus' sacrifice for us.

Answer 2

All but 1 of the 10 commandments are restated in the Christian Greek Scriptures (New Testament) and the principles surrounding the Sabbath Law still apply today in that we should set aside some time every week or even every day to concentrate fully and completely on God and what he has and will do for us. The Bible says that the Law was a tutor leading up to the Christ--in other words, it taught people that they needed a savior because by themselves, they could never be right with God. The Bible also says that all scripture is beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for disciplining in righteousness that the man of God may be fully equipped for every good work. In other words, all the principles in the Bible are good, solid and beneficial for man regardless of the fact that we might not be from the nation of Israel or under the law covenent.

Answer 3

The Old Testament commandments, were general rules to live by. The old testament laws were for the Jews to follow, until Christ. Once Christ came, the laws were no longer needed, and the Jews were free to give them up. They didnt, because the sisnt believe Christ was the Savior they were waiting or, hence they still abide by some of the Old Testament laws.

Now, we are bound to the commandments, but NOT the old laws, as one we are not Jewish, and two, the laws were fulfilled with Christ. Aside from following the 10 commandments, as just a moral way to live, we follow the teachings of Christ, and the New testament.

Hope that makes sense! :)

Answer 4

We are under a new covenant with Jesus. The 10 commandments where the law, which man could not follow. If they had been able to follow the law, Jesus would not have had to die for us. The Old Testament was written for the Jewish people. Jesus gave the greatest commandment of all, love the Lord your God with all your heart and strength. The second, love also your neighbor as your self. If you walk and reside in love, then you don't have to worry. If you love someone you won't kill them, you won't steal from them, etc. Therefore, by loving God and others, we still fulfill all the commandments.

Answer 5

All but 1 of the 10 commandments are somehow addressed in the New Testament.

We still have to follow them.

.....the same Yesterday, Today, and Forever....

Answer 6

The new is hidden in the old. The old is revealed in the new.

How small God would be if his message changed! He is consistent.

The "Romans Road" clearly shows this. Man is "saved" not by works but by faith. Thats what did it Old and New Testament. Works without faith is just as dead as faith without works.

One of the ways to know a cult is that they change the equation:
Grace + Faith = Works
and they try to turn it into
Grace = Faith + Works

Lets try that again.. What fills your heart MUST leak out. If you love your kids, it must show in your actions. If you love your neighbor, it must show.

If you love God it shows too. It leaks out, cant help it.

Boy its late.

Answer 7

Both Testaments are correct. The OT spoke of things to come (Jesus the Messiah) and the NT reveals Jesus to us.

Jesus fulfills the law and the prophets in that He perfectly lived G_d's law. Jesus did for us what we couldn't do on our own.

Jesus dies on the cross and G_d resurrected Him so that we may have eternal life.

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. RO 6:4

For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. RO 6:9

So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God RO 7:4

And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you RO 8:11

That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
RO 10:9


Feel free to email me with further questions :-)

Answer 8

Jesus came not to abolish the law, but to fufill it. (Romans)
That means we shouod follow the law, but not worry about justifying ourselves thru it (Galatians) Basically, we are still under the law of the old tetament, and should follow it, but we no longer have to worry about what happens if we screw up, and ow to make things right, because Jesus made us free!

Answer 9

We are still called to follow the moral laws from the Old Testament. The only one of the ten commandments that we are no longer called to obey is the one about the Sabbath because that command was pointing to the rest we would receive in Christ.

Romans 13:9 The commandments, "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet," and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

Hebrews 4:3 For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, "As I swore in my wrath, 'They shall not enter my rest,'" although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: "And God rested on the seventh day from all his works." 5 And again in this passage he said, "They shall not enter my rest." 6 Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, 7 again he appoints a certain day, "Today," saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts." 8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. 9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, 10 for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.

Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. 16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.

Answer 10

Follow your heart. God is all that is good and beautiful. And remember, "the hardest thing to do, is usually the RIGHT thing to do.
I believe the Bible helps you to understand why and what you should do. It is a guide to help you understand what God wants for all of us. But, God didn't intend for us to take it literally, i.e. "pluck out your eye if it offends thee", " a woman should be stoned to death for committing adultery", etc.