Who is the Bible meant for?

Question

Take the Old Testament for example. Obviously Christians weren't around then and they weren't until the middle of the New Testament. So therefore it could be said that the Old Testament is only for Jews. But yet when you say that Christians also should be expected to follow those same teachings, Christians get up in arms about how it is not meant for them. I'm not talking about Kosher eating habits or the like. But God will say "do not follow the practices of these people" and then go into detail on what they do that is considered evil and wrong. Yet those certain things may be considered perfectly normal Christian behavior today that no one bats an eye at. Also they seem to be selective about what they follow and what they don't. God says you can't do that.

I'm wondering why the double standard? Becasue it makes the Christian sound like they don't have to follow what God says because they're too good for it.

So if the Old Testament is totally optional for Christians, then they don't have to follow the 10 Commandments? Or believe anything else that was written? Why not just have New Testament only Bibles for everyone then in that case?

Answer 1

They'll tell you it's because Jesus made a New Covenant, but you'll find outside of saying, 'stop stoning people.' and 'stop to help the injured even if it is the Sabbath,' he said nothing about doing away with all those laws. He just loosened them a little.

Answer 2

Dear Cinnamon,

While it is true that there are parts of the Old Testament that believers do not follow (ie: kosher laws) it does not make the Old Testament invalid and unapplicable.

For example if we don't follow the 10 commandments would that mean that God would be ok with us making idols? There are principals from the Old Testament that we can draw. In fact when we look at men like: Moses, Abraham, David, Samuel, we see both good and bad examples of faith and how to trust and follow God. The Psalms share with us about people's hearts for God (and we get insight as to what is a right and what is a wrong heart to have towards God). Proverbs gives us wisdom, etc.

There are principals in studying the bible-- one being that latter revelation preceeds previous revelation. Ie: The kosher laws of leviticus don't apply because in the New Testament Jesus declared all food to be clean. The sacrifices don't apply because Jesus was the perfect lamb of God sacrificed for all of our sins. So it isn't picked or chosen based on our personal preferences but based on what the Bible has taught.

There is no double standard.

The 10 commandments do apply because nothing has been revealed by God since then in the New Testament to suggest that any of those commandments are things that God no longer wants us to obey. Doesn't God still want us to honor our parents, not steal from our neighbors, and bear false witness?

I would suggest getting a study bible or a commentary which can help you with some of the more difficult passages. Also i think that's what your pastors and older sisters/brothers in Christ are for.

Really hope that helps, and you can email me anytime with your Bible questions... i'm a youth/college pastor...

God Bless. Kindly,

Nickster

Answer 3

There is nothing in the new testament that says that Christians are not supposed to follow the old testament. The early Christian churches developed dogma that negated certain things like dietary law, the sabbath, required sacrifices etc. And yet, Christians today ignore some of this, and pick and choose what they wish to use from the Bible. That is their right, but they get awfully sanctimonious when others believe differently than they do.

Answer 4

You need very desperately to read and understand the Bible. It's for anyone who can read or have it read to them. The Old Testament is a history of mankind and a lineage leading to the birth of Jesus. There were rules that people of the Old Testament had to live under if you were Jewish but after Christ death and Resurrection, the rules changed and all people were able to become Christian and not just the Jewish tribes of Israel. Gentiles were open to salvation. There are many Christian Jews, and that's the glory of it all, anyone is capable of accepting Christ as their Savior and Messiah. All you have to do is accept Him and confess your sins to Him in private and you are saved. As long as your sincere, your saved and you have a direct line to God Himself. I talk to God every day. You should try it, you just might like it. Many people think they have to give up so much to be a Christian, but that's not true. There are some things you will not want to do any more after you've accepted Him and things you will want to do also. This world is a wonderful place to live with the help of God Almighty. I have no fear of dying yet I want to live and do His bidding. Life is wonderful.

Answer 5

The old testament was for the jews, and now is to be used as only a guide and HISTORY and cross refrence, christians now a days only live by the New Testament...2 rules..thats it, how to's are in the whole bible...

they were saved through works in the old testament, we are now saved by grace, just incase you didnt know..

Answer 6

the hebrew scriptures are meant for the jews only. non-jews can follow it if they choose to, but G-d does not care if they do or not.

"So if the Old Testament is totally optional for Christians, then they don't have to follow the 10 Commandments? Or believe anything else that was written? Why not just have New Testament only Bibles for everyone then in that case?"

no, they don't. nonjews are supposed to try to follow 7 basic commandments - don't worship idols, don't murder, don't steal, don't be sexually immoral, don't blaspheme, don't be cruel to animals, and to set up effective courts of law and justice. compared to the 613 laws jews have to follow, nonjews get it pretty easy. christians use the OT because they try to make a stronger case for jesus.

Answer 7

The Word of God is the only perfect truth and Jesus says to "seek the kingdom of God first" In James you will find, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling before the Lord. The only real problem with Christians is that they are people. They would like to do Christianity their way. Thus a double standard. Father God doesn't have one of those.

Answer 8

Christ did not come to abolish the Laws of the Old Testament (the Laws of Moses), but rather He came to fulfill them in the flesh, and by His Redemptive Deed upon the Cross of Calvary to regain from Satan the Keys of Hell, Death and the Grave. The whole Bible is literally meant as an operator's and survivor's manual for living in the Enemy's (Satan's) Territory, being planet Earth, for he is the lord of this world, not God, nor Christ, which is why Christ said to Pontius Pilate, "My Kingdom is not of this world." Hence, the statement, "We are in the world, but not of it."

But those who accept the "Rebirth" through the Resurrected Christ, and accept Yeshua (Jesus) as the Savior, are not bound by the Laws of the old Mosaic Covenant, for Rebirth in Christ establishes for them a new covenant in Christ the Redeemer, Whom acts as payment for the ultimate Blood Sacrifice for their sins, and reconciles them back to the Father God. Whereas, the Jews whom have not accepted Yeshua as the True Messiah (which He happens to miraculously meet every single detailed sign foretold by their very own prophet, Isaiah) are still bound under the blood sacrifices of the Mosaic Laws to atone their sins via a very complex process. Those in Christ are freed from the Mosaic Laws, but honor their significance and intended purpose.

Answer 9

Jesus and the Apostles were Jewish. Chritianity has its roots in Judaism, so the "Old Testament" (more appropriately called the Hebrew Scriptures) speak to Christians also.

God created humans with free will, so we have the freedom to select what we want to believe in regard to how a particular belief connects to our own life. Because no one but God has a monopoly on truth, one cannot say that one belief is better than another, God calls us all to be one with each other and him.

Answer 10

you are absolutely right...god is the same yesterday today and tommorow. the only difference would be that mans realtionship to god changes becasue man has changed.the first man adam was not under law he lived before the law. then when adam ate of the tree of knowledge of good and eveil he became more like god. then came abraham and god made a covenant and mans relationship to god changed again. then came moses wiht the law and mans relationship changed again at this point man came under the law and man found he could not live up to the law...next came jesus christ and he came to fufill the law.mans realtionship with god had cahnged again and after the resurection of jesus we live under the grace of jesus christ.this is the current situation of man and the grace will continue till his return where we will be judged.now understanding that man is progressing in his realtionship with god the current situation for those who have accepted the atonement of jesus is one of grace those who believe that christ paid the price for their sins are not under law but we beleive the law is written on our hearts. now we are saved by faith as weare still alive in our sinful bodies in a sinful world. but by faith we call ourselves save but the fact is that we are still alive and have not been changed. and he who endures to the end will be saved. it is by faith we say that we are saved now we believe that the man of sin is dead with jesus on the cross that we are by faith perfected. so we should live our lives by spirit and not acording to the flesh. the law is written on our hearts. we cannot live our lives according to that sin nature anymore as we by faith consider it dead. this doesnt mean that a christian will not do things he shouldn't as i said we are still in our sinful bodies in a sinful world. but we should not live our lives according to sin because we belong to who we serve....please read Romans chapter 6.