From what I can gather:
The laws regarding sacrifice/offerings used to maintain the relationship with God and for atonement of sin have been replaced by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
The laws regarding how to live properly, such as how to maintain sexual morality, are still in effect; but some, such as certain practices regarding using animals for food, are not.
Can someone tell me if I am on the right track or way out in left field?
Thanks for your help.
2006-08-02 11:56:50 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
You are right on track :)
2006-08-02 12:04:39 · answer #1 · answered by impossble_dream 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The laws regarding sacrifice/offerings used to maintain the relationship with GOD and for atonement of sin has been replaced by the sacrifice of JESUS CHRIST!........you are on the right track concerning the Old Testament Covenant & the New Testament Covenant given by GOD!.....(John 1: 17, 18)!.......
2006-08-02 12:09:15 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Levitical laws were never for the gentile believers. The Old Testament laws were given by God...to Moses...for the Hebrews.
In the new testament, Jesus said that He has fulfilled the law. He also told us that if we love God and each other...that fulfills all the laws and the prophets.
That doesn't mean there isn't still sin. Of course there is. The new testament clearly outlines what our behavior should look like, if we follow Jesus Christ.
2006-08-02 12:02:05 · answer #3 · answered by christian_lady_2001 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Basically, we don't scarifice because their is no longer a temple to bring a sacrifice. We are not to eat pork, crestations things of that nature. Most people think we were freed from those laws, because of the vision. The vision was saying that Jews and Gentiles can live in peace together. I would suggest you study Messianic Judiasm, if you are truly seeking these answers. I would also suggest researching the original language of the bible. Old testament Hebrew, New testament Greek. Most of it has been poorly translated. You are on the right track, because you are asking the right questions.
2006-08-02 12:09:26 · answer #4 · answered by his angel 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you get down to where the rubber meets the road, all of them!
That said- Paul was the first to make a change.
He believed it was to much to ask a gentile in accepting Jesus to become circumcised. And said it is better to be circumcised of the heart.
(Thank you Paul)
Others like Sunday to be the Sabbath, eating laws, passover (for Christ is our passover), and others more or less were taken from Paul's precedent.
Is this good, I don't know (If I knew I would be God)
It kinda comes down to this- To live in the law, you would have to keep the laws from the time you were at the age of accountability and never break them. If your just getting into it at say the age of 21 or more, to late! If you find but one that you broke you are damned to hell by the law.
Same with me!
So I read the laws, and try as close as I can to obey the law, and ask Christ to forgive those I am unaware of or can not obey.
Does this make me a poor christian YES
2006-08-02 13:28:00 · answer #5 · answered by Grandreal 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Keep in mind, any laws that GOD gave Moses was always for the good of the Israelites. You are correct in saying that the sacrificial system is no longer valid. Hebrews 10 describes that this system is no longer needed.
However, the health laws were given to tell us what is edible and what is not. These laws are still applicable. Would you consider eating a cat, dog, or maybe a skunk? Then why eat a pig? I know it tastes good, but, not everything that tastes good is the right thing to eat!
I hope that helps. I only ask you to trust what GOD gave to us in HIS laws.
GOD bless.
2006-08-02 11:59:51 · answer #6 · answered by Exodus 20:1-17 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Great question. I think a really good principle in determing which laws still apply is to realize what Jesus fulfilled by His work on the Cross. This is known as the Christological principle I believe. As God's atoning sacrifice for our sins and as one under the Law (including the laws in Leviticus), He perfectly fulfilled both the letter of the law and God's intent behind all those laws. Then, as it says in Colossians 2:13-17, God nailed the requirements of the Law to the cross, abolishing their requirements for us.
As it says in the verses preceding this passage, we were dead in our sins. As it also says in Colossians 2:6-7, we come into relationship to God by receiving Jesus as our Lord, which means our Master. Our initial acceptance of Him as Lord (as well as Savior) is an experience we are meant to continue in and grow in. We have fullness in God through Jesus' fullness. So, our main concern is to continue to be dependent upon Jesus as Lord and Savior rather than to be concerned about following the levitical laws. As Jesus' disciples (since He is our Lord), we are to follow His teachings and let His Spirit (the Holy Spirit) change us more and more into His image.
The thrust of Jesus' teachings I think has to do with glorifying God and loving God and our neighbor as ourselves. So, those are more the guiding principles that we should look at in following Him rather than any particular law from the Old Testament.
However, that doesn't mean that the Old Testament laws are now useless. They are very good teachers to help educate our minds on what loving God and loving our neighbor can look like. They also remind us that we are incapable of keeping all these laws and that we need alway to cry for mercy and depend on Jesus as the only acceptable sacrifice to God for our sins, which are many.
I think focusing on Christ Himself is very profitable in these kinds of questions (e.g., the Christological principle) and I think that it is the principle that the apostles used in dealing with these kinds of questions (I think that is the case).
2006-08-02 12:41:47 · answer #7 · answered by Mark 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Technically, none of the law applies anymore because Christians are not under law but under grace. However, it remains God's desire that we love Him and love one another, and the moral portions of the Mosaic Law point us in the right direction on how we can do this, which is why you will often hear Christians say, "The moral portions of the law still apply, but the ceremonial portions don't."
2006-08-02 12:00:26 · answer #8 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Levitical laws were for ceremonial cleanliness. They do not necessarily apply, though they are still good. The ten commandments still apply but we are forgiven our sins thanks to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
2006-08-02 12:05:08 · answer #9 · answered by acaykath 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hmmmm Looks to me as if men as shaving these days...the bible is very much a pick-and-choose proposition. It is a work of may people and many ideas. To me, the parts t hat tell us to love each other are the only important ones.
Blessed be!
2006-08-02 12:00:33 · answer #10 · answered by risibility1956 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hahaha... if they like something in the old testament they use it as fact...
if they don't like it... they disregard it as old law...
I see no real reason behind what they pick to believe/not believe... it seems a matter of convenience/personal bias...
there are of course the ideas from the old testament that Jesus echoed... but many often go way beyond those he spoke of...
2006-08-02 12:02:19 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋