What's the point of the OT being part of the Bible if...?

Question

...if the Laws (a lot of the OT) were only made for the Jews? What's the point then of having the OT? And, if the Laws were only for the Jews, why do the Christians keep the Ten COmmandments? I mean, they're part of the Laws for the Jews as well...

i'm just curious, not bashing! thnx

Good one, Frankly Frank=)

Armygal_...thanks, God bless you too!

thanks for all your answers, people!

Answer 1

its kind of like your hand being part of your arm. what good would the hand be without the arm?

Answer 2

Jesus did it, and God called it that he would do it. The Law also did something else; it showed us all that we could NOT do it. So that there would be no one who could do the Law. We are all therefore shamed into the knowledge that the Law brought us to repentance.

For those that think that they never did anything wrong in their entire life ( I have known a few), they only have to look in the pages of the Torah, and see very clearly all the things that the Law demanded, and without theior own pride getting in the way, they can see that they are imperfect.


I have NEVER known a Christian that has lived successfully obeserving the Ten Commandments perfectly. If you are around the person long enough who thinks that they are, it becomes apparent that they voluntarily placed a blind spot on their behavior.

Answer 3

This is a very good question. It is sad that so many christians do not know the answer.

The purpose of the OT is to first show the severity of our sins and what are its rightful punishments. It then goes on to prophesy through 'pre-cursor' events to show how people will be saved from their sins from the Son of God.

What christians do not realise is that the law / regulations as set out in the old testament is THE benchmark by which they must live their lives. Jesus Himself said "I came to fulfill the Law". This shows the seriousness of the matter, that God had to come to die UNDER the law in order to save man.

Many christians now think that just because they have believed, they are therefore perpetually saved and free to do whatever they want. The fact is, they must TRULY believe in order to be saved. A person who truly believes in God will see this world as garbage, its desires as a passing of the wind, the saving of the souls, the paramount mission. Such a man will live according to what Jesus has set (fulfilling the law), carrying the cross everyday and following Him. God's grace is available for these people.

This is what it means by a saved BELIEVER.

Hebrews 10: 26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more a sacrifice for sins,

27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which shall devour the adversaries.

* The bible also states that a person who speaks against the Holy Spirit will NEVER be forgiven, neither in this life nor the next. This implies that the concept of "once saved, forever saved" is flawed. Actual salvation only occurs on judgement day ITSELF. Until then, each and every christian must work out his/her salvation with trembling and fear.

Answer 4

The OT was meant to be read as a mythological, and thus theological/cosmological, history of the Jewish people. Like people who tell stories in order to justify their existence, so too did the records of the OT serve as a cultural landmark by which the Jewish heritage could not only survive but sustain, and give explanation to, how they survived.

As Jesus said in the gospels, the old ways were given to the people because that was the level of development they could handle at the time. As the determinor of human/divine law, Jesus said 'ok, that was the old standard, but I am giving you a new/harder standard by which to measure yourself.' Jesus' appearance essentially nullified and voided all the customs, which was actually the custom of God's chosen messenger. Even Jesus said David broke the commandment and gave temple food offerings to feed his people. Those chosen by God can better interpret the laws and customs, and in so doing, decide the 'right' or 'just' course of action.

Just as one wouldn't follow the rules one had as a child, as one grows older, so too do the rules change. Those Christians who follow old testament traditions, and punishments, are essentially disobeying the rules Jesus himself set down. What Jesus said was the 'law' had always been the law (like his parable of the 'good samaritan' had always been the determination of whom God considered his followers to be like) but that one is only given as much knowledge/law as they are able to handle. It is not that the law changes, but the capability/possibility of people do.

One does not disregard the past, for the past is the record of how one came to being where they are now, but neither does one only look to the past. The past is how we came to be, but it is the present (and the future) which will determine where we go.

Answer 5

2Tim3:16,17 tells us that:"All scripture is inspired of God and benefical for teaching,for reproving,for setting things straight,for diiscipling in righteous,that the man of God might be fully competent,completely equiped for every good work."
The Sacred Scriptures,as a collection from Genesis to Revelation form one complete book,one complete library,all inspired by the one Supreme Author.They should not be divided into two parts,so that one part is given less value.The Hebrew Scriptures and the Christian Greek Scriptures are essential to each other.The latter compliments the former to make the one complete book of divine truth.
After describing the creation of the heavens and the earth and the preparation of the earth as mans home,the genesis account takes up the beginnings of human history from the creation of the first man in 4026BCE.The Sacred Writings then narrate important events down until shortly after 443BCE.Then after a gap of more than 400 years,they pick up the account again in 3BCE.,taking it onto about 98CE.Thus,from a historical view point,the Scriptures span a period of 4123 years.It is a magnificent one of a kind record that spans from the beginning of creation and continues into mankinds future.
And yes,while the Law Covenant of which the Ten Commandments was part of,where given to the Ancient Nation of Israel,there are principals in the ten commandements that apply to Christians today.Whilst Christians are not obliged to keep the Ten Commandments as such,they are admonished to love Jehovah God and to love their neighbour.That being the case,a Christian would not steal from his neighbour.Nor would a Christian commit adultery,for example.But as far as keeping a sabbath day,true Christians are not required to do so.True Christians would worship Jehovah every day.They would not need a Sabbath day to do so.

Answer 6

Basis.

It is typical liberal theology to portray the God of the Old Testament as being a harsh God that gave us the Law. And then Jesus of the New Testament is portrayed as the good God.

But in truth the Father and the Son are in total agreement.

Keeping the commandments of God will continue to be important right down into eternity. Does it make sense that God would want disobedient children in his Kingdom? Of course not.

"He that says I know him and keeps not His commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him" (1 John 2:4).

"Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus" (Revelation 14:12).

Have liberal theologians sold you a bill of goods?

Fight back by learning the truth!

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It is an eye-opener.

Answer 7

I have seen some very good answers to your question. To put it simply Jesus came because with out him no one would be saved. To return to God you had to be perfect. The price for not being perfect was death,temporal and spiritual, or the price for sin is death. Jesus was sent to earth to be perfect and to die. By dieing with out sin he was there for able to take his body up again and be with God. He is our advocate with God. He paid the price of sin for all of us if we believe and follow his teachings. God gave animal sacrifices to the Jews (or if you read the old testament all of the people by the Jews, as some of the prophets were told by God to go to other people and preach) as a similitude of Jesus Christ. where for Jesus only fulfilled some of the laws but the higher laws still pertain now we are to sacrifice in a different way, with our heart.

Answer 8

I'll be as brief as possible. The OT is a prelude to the NT. The 10 Commandments are just as applicable today as they were then. If you're referring to dietary laws then those were specifically for the Jews, not for Gentiles. Same goes for circumcision. As for the animal sacrifices? Those were made redundant by the once and for all perfect sacrifice of God through His Son Jesus Christ. However, if one were to follow the dietary and sanitary laws of the OT -which we actually do in most cases, the sanitary laws- we'd all be much healthier. Those laws are there because they are for our own good. We now know that clams, lobsters, shrimps etc are full of cholesterol and it is that type of food that was condemned as unclean. The pharisees prided themselves on strict adherence to all the laws yet Jesus Christ constantly rebuked and condemned them for hypocrisy. Why? Because they had forgotten that God desires mercy, not sacrifice. He is more concerned with the inward man then with the outward man. It is what comes out of the mouth which makes one unclean, not what goes in. The laws are there to prove to us that it is impossible for us to live a perfect life without God's Holy Spirit to empower us. The Law shows us exactly how unworthy and sinful we are and how much we need God's grace and forgiveness. The Pharisees were legalistic and religious, yet they were severely rebuked by the Lord. God doesn't want religious rites and legalism. God wants us to recognize our need for salvation, our utter helplessness to save ourselves, our sinfulness, our love and devotion for Him, our complete reliance upon Him.

Answer 9

The Old Testament is very precious to us as believers in Christ.
First, it lists all of the prophecies of the messiah, without which we could not prove that Jesus was who He said He was.
Second, Paul tells us that ALL of scripture is useful for teaching, and when he says all he means all, OT included.

Think of Old Testament as PICTURE for New Testament truths. For example, the Hebrews were told to rest on the Sabbath and that no work could be done. As Christians we know that Jesus is our Sabbath, in HIM we rest, and no amount of our work can add to the work that was done on the cross.
The ark, the tabernacle, the Hebrew feasts, all of them are beautiful pictures of Jesus Christ. I would urge you read the sermon "the scarlet thread" it's available for free online, do a search for it. It talks about how Jesus Christ is the scarlet thread that runs through the ENTIRE Bible, OT and NT, and how everything points to Christ.
Good question, I am glad you are thinking about these things, and God bless!

Answer 10

The laws are not simply for the Jews and they apply to everyone who is under law.Who is not under law? He that by faith has accepted the atonement of Christ and believe in the resurrection. Jesus taught that not one jot or tittle of law is passed away. Jesus came to fulfill the law not to destroy it. Now understand the law was given to man with the understanding man had a sin nature and could not live up to it and the wages of sin is death. The law condemns every man and is the reason the Christ came to the world to overcome temptation and remain perfect and offer his flesh for a sacrifice to pay the penalty of death for all who will accept it. Now those who accept the atonement are by faith new creatures and no longer under law reckoning there old body of sin as dead with Christ on the cross and resurrected in his glory to worship God in newness of life. does this mean Christians are free to sin? no how can we who are dead to sin abide anymore therein. Read Romans Chapter 6. The law is alive and well and righteous and is a judgment against all who serve sin. Those who have accepted the atonement are no longer under the law but free by faith to be new creatures in the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Old Testament is as true today as it ever were and is valid and important to all of us who worship God.

Answer 11

Because without the OT prophecies, Christians could not have claimed that Jesus (a Jew) was their messiah.