Do you think the Torah should be observed by "Christians"?

Answer 1

Jesus and the Mosaic Law

Many Christians are perplexed when they confront the issue of the Mosaic Law. How binding is the Law on the Christian? Some have said that Jesus abolished the Law of Moses. I would have to disagree, based on the following passage spoken by Jesus Himself:
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. (Matthew 5:17)
Some have suggested that by "fulfil," Jesus meant "abolish." Indeed, "abolish" is one meaning of "fulfil," but it is also the only meaning of "destroy." So if He had meant "abolish," He might as well have said, "I am not come to abolish, but to abolish." We can assume, therefore, that Jesus meant, "to develop the full potentialities of" when He said "fulfil."

So why then do Christians not observe the Mosaic Law? The answer is that they do observe parts, but not all of it. Some parts of the Law were meant to be temporary, while others were intended to be permanent. This is seen in the fact that before Moses, the ancient Jews were not bound to the ritual commands (except circumcision). If the Mosaic Law was not meant to be temporary, then either God changes or the God of the righteous men and women before Moses was a different god. But this is absurd. We know that the God of Abraham was the God of Moses, and that He is our God today. The coming of Christ made parts of the Mosaic law unnecessary.

In order to understand this, we must realize that the Law is made up of three parts: ceremonial, civil, and moral.

The ceremonial law related specifically to Israel's worship. Since its primary purpose was to point to the coming Savior, Jesus made it unnecessary. He did not abolish it, in the sense of destroying it; He fulfilled it. Nowhere do we read that Jesus thought that the ceremonial law was wrong. The principles behind the ceremonial law are still applicable to us today, that is, the principles of worshipping and serving a holy God.

The civil law prescribed rules for the Israelites' daily living. These laws separated the Jews from the Gentiles, and gave the Gentiles the example of how a holy people should live. Since much was given to the Jews, much was expected. But God gave a new covenant in Christ, and there is now no distinction to be made between Jew and Gentile. We are still to follow the requirements of this law as God's people, but the punishments are not for any nation to impose on its people, because we are no longer separated by nations but by God's grace (Christians and non-Christians).

The moral law is basically the Ten Commandments. We are still bound by these laws, not for salvation, but to live a holy life. Jesus not only desired that His followers adhere to these commandments, He wished that they would go above and beyond them. He said, "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: but I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment..." He desired not only an outward observance of these laws, but an inward observance as well.

So we see that the parts of the Law that have been rendered obsolete are those that contain ordinances. An ordinance is either a memorial of something that has already passed or a type of something in the future. The Old Testament laws containing ordinances were not meant to be permanent. There are no ordinances in the Ten Commandment Law.

Now, we must remember that following rules and regulations will not get us into heaven. It is only through the blood of Jesus that we can see heaven. But if we love Him, we will keep His commandments.

Answer 2

No, Christians don't have to observe Mosaic Law except for the seven Noahide Laws. The Torah is about the Israelites and their relationship with God. The Israelites (Jews) have a covenant with God and have promised to obey all of His 613 commandments. Those commandments never applied to Egyptians, Assyrians, Moabites, or any other gentiles.

During the first century of Christianity, Christians were one of many Jewish sects and had to become Jews before becoming Christians. Not being able to find many gentiles willing to be circumcized, Paul soon decreed that Christians were no longer Jews and were free of the law.

Jews consider it an honor and a privilege to perform mitzvot. Many "Jews for Jesus" (Christians) are also finding that observing God's commandments can be fulfilling.
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Answer 3

Yes. It I believe is for the Jew, and the Gentile. But not putting down the Bible. It is a good reference to see the old law, the old covenant. But we are now in the new covenant. We need to walk in it. There are fellowships that are messianic Jews, that believe in Jesus. They respect the Torah, but they use the Bible too. We need to see what is told in Torah, so we may live by it, but with new life, because Jesus Christ toke the sin of the world away, through propitiation. I hope you find new light with both the Torah & the Bible, (Torah is the first 5 books in the Old Testament). May God give you a revelation of Covenant. Blessings!

Answer 4

First of all, I really believe we're saved by grace through faith.

The Old Testament does have tremendous value to us as Christians. Jesus said the law and the prophets are summed up in "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself." So he had very intimate knowledge of the Torah and lived his life on the basis of the Torah.

Sometimes we don't know what it means to love the Lord with all your heart, and reading the Torah -- the Law itself -- can give us an idea of what that looks like. God expects us to live a life of purity, love, and justice. But I've had many conversations with Messianic people in which they take passages in the New Testament and turn it around to mean the exact opposite to what the plain reading of the text indicates.

I don't believe Jews need to eat pork to be saved or worship on Sunday. But I don't believe Gentiles have to give up these things either.

Sorry this is such a long answer. I still feel like I haven't said all I want to, but I never read others' long posts, so I might as well quit while I might still have one or two people reading. Thanks.

Answer 5

Jesus fulfilled the laws within the Torah - we are under a new covenant and do not need to observe the old laws.

Answer 6

I am not sure what you are getting at, if you mean should we live under the Mosaic law, the answer would be a definite no. The Mosaic law was for the Israelites, at that particular time. The Christian is not under law, but under grace. Paul spells this out very thoroughly in his writings. The law could not save, it simply revealed what God's perfect standards are and that we as sinful humans could never achieve righteousness under the law. Salvation is by grace alone, not the law.

Answer 7

Yes and no. Jesus came to fulfill the law, so no. But on the other hand we are to follow the example of Christ's life so yes.
It's a fine line to walk. An example would be Passover. There is no need to observe Passover, but there is no harm in it.

Answer 8

If by "observe" you mean obaying "all" of the "laws"... then no... most do not apply to The Church... for reasons that are to lengthy to go into on YA

Answer 9

Yes, and I think the New Testament should be observed by "Jews"

Answer 10

Only those parts that apply to them and all gentiles....the 7 laws of the children of Noah.