as a christian i ask, what sense does it make to follow the old testament?

Question

those are outdated laws and jesus gave us a new law thats simply love. jesus says that he came to give us life and give it more abundantly. i believe that jesus abolished the laws of the o/t.

i cant understand why some christians still believe in the o/t, when jesus says that we should follow him in order to find life?

i love jews. but this question has nothing to do with jews. its just a question based on thinking and thats all

Answer 1

Do you really want to understand?

If you read only Jesus' words in the New Testament, you will be just fine.

Now, let's look at Paul. Did he know Jesus? NO Did he follow Jesus? NO Did he concoct a story that after Jesus had risen, he spoke to Paul? YOU tell me . Did Paul make up interpretations that conflicted with what Jesus said? Yes he did. Why?

Because he wanted to expand his empire, so his mumbo jumbo convinced the Gentiles in his new empire that they didn't have to be circumcized or follow the 10 commandments to Go to Heaven. Jesus never said that his blood would wash away our sins, that was Paul's excuse to the Gentiles telling them no matter what they wanted to do they could go to Heaven.

Jesus did tell us how to go to Heaven:

"Forgive others when they make mistakes; if you do not forgive others, then your father in Heaven will not forgive you."

(When you die, God will either forgive you, or not; based on whether you were a harmony-loving (forgiving person while on this Earth.)

Why? Heaven is a place with Harmony loving neighbors.

Screaming, "I am saved by the blood of Jesus" does not indicate whether you are a harmony-loving person or not.

Helping charity organizations does not indicate whether you are harmony-loving person or not. (You could give money to the needy during the day, and then go home and scream at your wife and kids)

Remember, Jesus said at the end you call my name "Lord, Lord", but I will deny that I even know you. (If you have not forgiven others while you were on this Earth)

It is not what you do, and it is not what you say that qualifies you for Heaven.

It is your willingness to forgive others, that will make you a harmony-loving neighbor in Heaven.

Religious Empires love to quote paul and misinterpet Jesus in order to build their Empires. - Don't get tricked by their selfishness and get saved quick schemes.

Answer 2

The New Testament is only half of the story. Why not study the Old Testament and explore the rich history and wisdom? Alot of the laws in the OT are still good rules to live by, even if we are not required to follow them strictly now. I think God put many of those laws there because they make sense for better living, health and emotional well-being. I don't think you can fully understand and appreciate the story of and the mission of Jesus without studying everything that happened prior to his human existence. There are also prophesies regarding Jesus and the end-times through-out the OT, another good reason to study.

Answer 3

The Old Testament is our school master, in order to truly understand the New Testament you need to study read and understand to the best that you can, then the New testament will show you the way. Jesus lived the Old Testament and was perfect the only thing he done was , abolished the ceremonial part of the old law.

Answer 4

I'm not sure which parts of the Old Testament you don't follow since much is repeated in the New Testament. As a Christian, I don't follow the Jewish ceremonial Laws because Jesus is the new high priest and we are all part of the new priesthood of Christ. I don't follow the civil laws because they were for Jewish society as a community, and the New Testament Laws of loving our neighbors as we love ourselves seem to pretty much cover all of those Old Testament civil laws. I don't worry about the dietary laws because Paul tells us we don't have to .

Though we know that keeping the letter of the Old Testament Law will not save us, we also know that those laws reveal something to us about the nature and character of God or his plan for man, so I don't see them as irrelevant to our lives.

Some people insist on keeping the Sabbath because it is honoring to God and healthy for us. As a Christian I follow that principle although I don't feel obligated to keep the Sabbath on Saturday or to the extent that Jews took the Jewish law. I do set aside Sunday for worshiping with other believers, resting, praying, and enjoying time with my family. I don't work.

In Matthew 5:17 Jesus says, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." Be careful not to discount the importance of the Old Testament Law.

Answer 5

I´ve always thought the Old Testament is only Jew´s history. I know Jesus was a Jew but he came to this world for all of us (Jews or not). Ancient and modern Jews think Jesus was a great man, but not the Son of God!
Jesus came to teach us how to live, to show us that God keeps his words and that we can go to Heaven, just being good and honest people, and keeping away from sin. Jesus showed us the mercy and love of God. He never said the old laws were wrong but that there was a new one: The law of love. That we have to love everybody specially our enemies and pray for them, not to make them change their minds, but to save their souls from the eternal fire of Hell. He also showed us that there was no need for sacrificing animals in the Temple and accumulating riches and material things, but cultivating our souls (which is the only thing we have that never dies). He said he is the way to get to God.
In the OT, God seems to be a terrible God,very punishing, but after Jesus, everything looks very different. I love God and Jesus!!! This is what i think :)

A piece of advice: take only what you need from the Bible to be a better person, be sure God is not going to reward you for memorizing the whole book. I hope i could help you, my friend.

Answer 6

Even though we are not under the Mosaic Law anymore, we still abide by the basic principles that are stated in Genesis - Malachi. There is excellent counsel found in these books. 1 Tim 3: 16 states that ALL scriptures are inspired an beneficial for teaching, reproving and setting things straight. Jesus himself even quoted from the old testament which shows it's value. The basic principles given to the ancient Israelites still has value today...

Answer 7

Yes, I understand your heart.

We must know and accept the OT however, I feel. Even Paul said everything back in the OT is for us...to increase faith by seeing how its really talking about Jesus the whole time!

Following the spirit in love (New Covenant) will reap good fruit, and we will naturally just start obeying the OT Law and repenting when we don't. We cannot follow it by our own works as the Jews think though, but by the spirit of G-d.

He said He came to fulfill the Law, NOT to remove it.

Blessings
David T

Answer 8

First of all, Jesus did not abolish the law of the Old Testament, he fulfilled it. That being said, you are right in a away because after Christ we do have different commandments than the 613 that are found in the Old Testament.

Answer 9

You don't have to follow the O/T. It is enough when you follow the laws of Jesus from N/T. But you can not abandon the O/T in order to know the basic history of Christianity, from which you can filter the true meaning of life that Jesus has taught us. I also disappointed when ppl quote the O/T line by line.

Answer 10

I've heard it said that the old testament is the new testament concealed; the new is the old testament revealed. As a gentile believer in Jesus, I was never commanded to follow the three hundred plus Levitical laws....but there is still much wisdom and guidance to be found in the Old Testament and I learn from it, as I do the new. Psalms? Proverbs? What wisdom and counsel! I think we are wise to seek out God's direction in all His word.