Do all Christians feel this way?

Question

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AhnuFFeoo7ZGKGY_hoiJqrTd7BR.?qid=20070309065332AAFR0CI

The second answer by Esther (and I don't ask this to insult her, I just saw an interesting point brought up here) says that the Old Testament was given to the Hebrews and that Gentiles will not follow the Old Testament laws.

If this is true, then why is the Old Testament still a part of the Bible?
Also, if this is true, then why do you follow the Ten Commandments and believe in the Creation, which were both part of the Old Testament?

Adia: Yeah.. I know.. it's kinda flattering in a way that someone went through all the trouble to set up a new account just to try to mock me.

Answer 1

I think she like "some" Christians believe that the OT is for historic purposes only. With the coming of Christ many believe that that exempts them from the laws of the OT.

But, Jesus said,

Mat 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Answer 2

For starters, the OT is still part of the Bible because it has many valuable lessons. We still get insight into God's views by reading it.

Because the Mosaic law was done away with doesn't mean we suddenly believe it never existed, so there's no reason to not believe the creation account on that basis.

As for the 10 commandments, bear in mind - serving God is different than man's law... it's a matter of principles, not just obeying the "letter of the law". The 10 commandments are obviously standards of God's that did not change. Many aspects of the Mosaic law were specifically to protect his people from dangers back then (such as disease/sickness), others still hold some weight today.

For instance, parents often tell their children, "As long as you're in my house, you obey my rules." This may include things like a curfew, and doing their chores... But also, parents expect their kids not to steal, get into fights, etc.

When the kids move out, the curfew may vanish, but many of the lessons still hold true later in life. Granted, a curfew becomes unessecary, but getting things done around the house in a timely manner is a good habit to be in, and not stealing or being violent is an important lesson to take with you.

Likewise, the old testament had many protections for the time, some things that can prove helpful today, and even more that would still be considered vital lessons.

Answer 3

well The Law was given to Moses for the Hebrews only - Now We the gentiles are part of the Grace, we no longer need to do sacrifices like the Jews used to do for forgiveness.

The Old Testament is a symbolism of The Grace. I'm talking about the Mosaic Law the first 5 books of the Bible, The Rest of the old testament is still The word of God Like psalms and Proverbs!! The 10 commandments are very well explained in the New Testament. Jesus Covered everything we have to know to be his people.

Part of the old Testament is history and stories we could learn form them!!

Answer 4

The Old Testament

121 The Old Testament is an indispensable part of Sacred Scripture. Its books are divinely inspired and retain a permanent value,92 for the Old Covenant has never been revoked.

122 Indeed, "the economy of the Old Testament was deliberately so oriented that it should prepare for and declare in prophecy the coming of Christ, redeemer of all men."93 "Even though they contain matters imperfect and provisional,"94 the books of the Old Testament bear witness to the whole divine pedagogy of God's saving love: these writings "are a storehouse of sublime teaching on God and of sound wisdom on human life, as well as a wonderful treasury of prayers; in them, too, the mystery of our salvation is present in a hidden way."95

123 Christians venerate the Old Testament as true Word of God. The Church has always vigorously opposed the idea of rejecting the Old Testament under the pretext that the New has rendered it void (Marcionism).

Answer 5

The New Testament is a covenant on better terms. The Old Testament required obedience to very stringent laws, many of them mere rituals really. Sins were atoned for by a sacrifice system at the Temple. It says in several places in the Old Testament that God is going to bring a new and better covenant in where laws will be written into people's hearts and not be external.
In the New Testament, for believers who believe the basic message about Christ, the covenant is fulfilled and paid by Jesus. We receive the Holy Spirit. We are still to seek to become righteous, but doing the righteous things is not the precondition for acceptability with God. The Holy Spirit and our new born again spirit make us uncomfortable if we don't progress in righteousness. We can follow Jesus and the apostles' teachings on what is right and good, but also receive moral instruction from the Old Testament. The greatest laws are very well put by Jesus to love God with all ones being, [love oneself - implied], and love one's neighbour as oneself. But we are not bound to fulfil the laws as a prerequisite of worthiness in Gods sight, and certainly not the ritualistic ones. We will be rewarded for obedience though.

I don't eat pork for health reasons, and I keep off seafood like mussels as I have had food poisoning from it. Some of the food rules are very sensible.

Answer 6

Christians are to follow the whole bible. Although the laws given to the Israelites were just that, laws for the Israelites. Which in principle still apply to Christians in many ways. However, Jesus ultimate sacrifice made the law invalid. We are now under the law to love our neighbor as ourselves and to love Jehovah your God with our whole heart, soul and mind and strength. Luke 10:27

If we follow this law, we will not be murdering, stealing, committing adultery etc...against our neighbor and sinning against God.

There are many prophecies in Daniel and Isaiah especially that have not been fulfilled and many apply to our day. Adam and Noah and many other faithful ones from the Old Testament or Hebrew Scriptures are mentioned by Jesus or the apostles.

Christian are to follow the whole bible. As 2 Tim. 3: 16 & 17 says "ALL SCRIPTURE is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness, that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work."

No where in the bible does it say a "true Christians" can believe only what they want to believe.

Answer 7

I think the Old Testament laws are as pertinent today as they were then. I personally enjoy the guidelines about the foods that are acceptable and those which are unacceptable. I think if more people took the trouble to read those, we'd be a lot healthier.

The Old Testament is history in that it tells us how everything began, how and why. The New Testament is our present and our future. We shouild read it and be prepared.

Answer 8

No: In the Old Testament, some Gentile followed God's Law, because God said that a Gentile can be with the Jews as long as they worshiped Him and alone Him as God.

Answer 9

The Old Testament holds not only a great deal of wisdom it gives us insight into our understanding of Christianity. Although we are not under the Law because Jesus came to complete the Law the Old Testament gives us grounds to understand exactly what that means.

Answer 10

The laws regarding cleanliness were done away with. God showed Paul some food that was considered unclean, and Paul objected saying that no unclean thing had ever entered him, and God said that "nothing I have made is unclean." This did away with the laws of cleanliness.

You have to look at the purpose of the laws, not just the laws themselves. Many laws on cleanliness were there to prevent the spread of disease since they didn't have showers or antibiotics back then.

The Ten Commandments and laws regarding our behavior toward one another still apply bc those are the laws by which we will be judged. Obviously murder is still wrong as is rape and theft.

I believe in creation bc it was an historical event, it happened. I can't deny something God said He did.