Christians: Did Jesus abolish the old laws, or did he enforce them?

Question

I seem to be getting two different versions depending on the question I ask. Can someone clear this up?

Here are the questions I asked and their responses.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AmoZm0nMFead9lNT01i1huPsy6IX?qid=20070425134805AAZ9Cyf

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AgsOdlyQ4DD0ks9fMWTVYBPsy6IX?qid=20070425131721AAJdgaz

Which group is right and which group are the false, confused, misguided christians that give all the other christians a bad rap?

Okay, people, you can't have it both ways. Either the Old Law applies or it doesn't. Can someone please tell me which is correct?

Answer 1

Wow.. LOADED question. Seems pretty obvious what you think is the correct answer.

First, I'm kind of humored by the geralizations and limited knowledge in areas. He didn't leave 2 laws (as I said on that question) he said that the other laws are BASED on those two.

Second, have you read the sermon on the mount? He doesn't abolish the laws. He strengthens them.

paraphrased example: You have heard it say, do not commit adultery. But I say if you look at a woman in lust, you have commited adultery in your heart.

Jesus makes it obvious that we don't follow the laws strongly ENOUGH. I don't commit adultery... I go to strip clubs, buy porn, etc.. but I ahve never cheated... same thing.. one physical, one mental/emotional/spiritual.

Third, you are making broad strokes of accusations with little understanding, as far as I can tell. I would do more research in areas. You seem to be doing that with these refinements of questions. For example:

Slavery? Have you read how slaves were supposed to be treated? Every seven years, they are FREED? that is a bit different from how we made people slaves forever, their kids slaves forever and so on. There were to be treated well and cared for. You only became a slave for certain reasons, none of which had to do with your race or group.

Why not ask a question on what the Biblical view of slavery WAS? Look it up yourself. check it out instead of just saying... Oh, in that case I can still own slaves.

Fourth) this is why, as a Catholic, we believe that Jesus left someone in charge. We believe that Peter was the first Pope. The physical representation of Jesus on earth. The leader/head shepherd on earth. It is through him that clarifications are made. Through time, different popes have passed Dogmas giving 'updates' if you will on beliefs.

Fifth) I find it humorous that it is one way or the other. I don't believe that, but for the sake of arguement/logic, it isn't necessarily choice A or B. But you only present it that way. Kind of simplistic to only give two possibilities.

Sixth) If you don't agree, what is wrong with disagreeing? You seem bent on forcing people to your view. Well my view has existed a lot longer and with more support then yours. So why shouldn't YOU change your view. Because it is your view and your opinion.

Seventh) I LOVE your desire to search for the truth, if that is the situation. I just wish it was a bit more open. It SEEMS that you have a set view and these questions are only to foster arguments. I may be wrong .

Eighth) Laws pertaining to restrictions in some areas were lifted. Some food was considered clean and unclean. This was for reasons. Not because "the rock badger" (really mentioned as a thou shall not eat) was evil. It had to do with customs, health and symbology. One of the reasons the Jews were to keep sacrificing animals was that some were still secretly worshipping or longing to worship as their masters (the Egyptians) did. This involved animal-gods. So God said.. OK... I"m going to have you keep sacrificing the animals of these so called Gods to help you to see they are not Gods. (more then just that, but it was a part). Once a certain point reached, it was no longer necessary. Peter's dream and authoritative declaration cleared up the clean/unclean issue in the New testament.

Ninth) I'll be honest. It seems that the Christian view on homosexuality is insulting to you. Maybe you are a homosexual yourself. Maybe you just dont' believe in it. I find it difficult to believe that you think it is either A) all lawas are abolished or b) NONE of them are abolished. There is a difference between laws based on custom and those of morality. Wearing hats in church (one of Paul's letters) was because those who didn't wear hats were considered prostitutes. Not true today, so no law. Killing is bad then and now. So still a law. I would argue that homosexuality is a moral thing and therefore still a taboo/sin.

Good luck on your search for truth. I hope you find peace in whatever source you get it.

God bless.

Answer 2

okay, let's see if I can help.

There were two types of laws. The Mosaic sacrifical systems and such and the 10 Commandments. Many Christians believe that Jesus fulfilled all the laws including the 10 Commandments. If this be so why did He Himself kept the 10 Commandments within His own life.

Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice by dieing on the cross for all mankind. No throat cutting of a lamb (animal) is really going to save anyone. This ritual looked symbolically forward to Christ coming. He was the ultimate sacrifice and thus no need for this sacrifical system of the Mosaic covenant was needed further.

Jesus 1st arrival ushered in the age of grace which we are currently in. His 2nd coming will usher in the time of judgement. What has passed is the temporary Mosaic covenant. What remains is the 10 Commandments God wrote down on stone.

Exodus 20:6
but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments.

Do some research and determine what a "generation" is. Then do some calulations and determine how many generations have passed since Jesus walked the face of this planet. Do you get anywhere near 1000 generations? What then can we conclude from the above verse?

Cheers
http://inhisgracecards.com

Answer 3

ok, let me explain briefly...

the Old Testament is about God and His covenant with the Jews. This is the old laws that you are referring to about why Christian's do not follow much of those rules.
In the New Testament, God made a new covenant with all of mankind. This new covenant is based on faith, not just following a bunch of rules. The reason is: a person can follow all the rules and still not believe in God. It became a question of deeds, not faith.

However, Jesus Christ did command us to follow the Ten Commandments. He also says that a man and woman are to leave their father and mother and become one flesh. (matthew 19:4)

There are more verses which condemn homosexual acts or any other perverse sexual acts.

"For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due."
—Romans 1:26-27 (NKJV)

"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God."
—1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (NKJV)

"Knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine,"
—1 Timothy 1:9-10 (NKJV)

As far as other Christians, many know that this is true. But, go to any College of Engineering and you will hear the same answer explained 100 different and possibly unclear ways. The same is for Christians, most are saying the same thing just in different or unclear ways.

Answer 4

He did not come to do away with the law but to fufill it. the law was just the beginning, something he gave to a people who had known nothing but slavery for generations. It was never meant to be the answer only the beginning. He knew they could not possibly keep them, that is why He set up the whole sacrifice system. Jesus was the final sacrifice..the perfect unblemished lamb who died for the sins of all who would eccept it. releasing the Holy Spirit to come live in us and teach us to live in His will. Those were laws the other two are commandments and they were in the OT too.

Answer 5

There are several sects that believe we should still be under the law given in the Old Testament. Seventh Day Adventists are a good example.

Many, and I mean MANY Christians do not understand what the purpose of the law was for. This would explain much of the confusion that you have witnessed.
After Jesus' resurrection, He began to teach them how the law (Moses) and the prophets were speaking about HIM.

And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. - Luke 24:25-27

Jesus confirmed this by saying to the experts of the Torah, "You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me." - John 5:39

So what is Jesus saying? He is saying that both the Law and the prophets were prophetic. The Lamb of God that was to come was symbolized in type by the Levitical sacrificial lamb. This lamb had to be without spot or blemish. But by who's standard? By the standard dictated by the law. So who kept the law perfectly? Nobody except one. The perfect Lamb for sacrifice for the sins of the world. This is why He said in Matthew 5:17,
“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill."

With the prophecy fulfilled by the perfect Lamb, there is now no need to use the law as a benchmark for perfection. Rather, all of our imperfection is removed by His blood. that is why it says clearly in Colossians 2:13-14,

He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all
trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

The Greek for "wiped out" is exaleipho which means "obliterate". So because we are in Christ, the law has no effect on us. Not to do as we please, but because we are dead--period. When we accept Christ as Lord and Savior, we die, and we are born again, and no longer under the law for condemnation.

Or do you not know, brethren, that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives? But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter. Romans 7:1 & 6

This is very difficult to understand, even for older Christians. I detail this in my study at the link below. I hope this helped.
http://www.schneblin.com/studies/pdfs/keeping_the_commandments.pdf

Answer 6

Hi.

I believe that Jesus did confirm the old laws, but also confirmed there were new laws that are more important than fully sticking to the old law letter for letter. Those are (as you have previously noted):

1) Love God Our Father with all our soul, body and mind.
2) Love our neighbor as we would love ourselves.

The third thing I think that is expressed by the presence of Jesus is to remind us that we are ALL sinners. It is impossible to fully live to all things in "the law". If you stick to one - chances are you're gonna mess up another. It's just human nature. No one has a "right" to expose the splinters in the eyes of others because we have logs in our own.

He also teaches us tolerance for others (their sinful natures and their desires to "follow the law"). Some people are more sensitive to some of the law than others and we are not to try to foist our opinions on them by trying to "make" them follow the law- or - to try to dissuade them from following the law.

But to straight answer your question I think that those who focus all their time and energy to "lay down the law" aren't exactly showing Christ's Love. And I think that those who express their interpretation of the "old laws", let you digest it and make your own decisions and love you anyway, because (whether you acknowledge it or not) God made you, too...are
really "working the program".

Hope this might help.

Answer 7

He said he did not come to destroy the law or the prophets, but to fulfill the law. The old laws were after a lower or carnal law of physical obediences. Christ brought the higher law of spiritual obedience as well. A perfect example of this is the woman taken in adultery and brought before Christ. The Pharisees demanded Christ tell them if they should enforce the old laws and stone her. Christ did not tell them no, but rather, let the one who is without sin cast the first stone. Convicted by their own guilt they knew they were not right in carrying out the stoning and the one who, by the old law, one who was without sin, simply asked her where her accusers were. And then he said he did not condemn her either and to go and not sin again. This is the higher law. Forgiveness and obedience is a part of it.

Answer 8

couple of questions...

I believe Jesus to be pretty consistent with his attitude pertaining himself and the law. And it was that he was in no way here to abolish the law but to fulfill it. He made a new covenant forgiving the sins of his brothers and sisters in order to have them focus on spirituality.

Through faith is the gift of righteousness and through righteousness the gift of relationship with our heavenly father; leading to a desire to follow the law.

He does say that we will all be judged by the laws of moses at the end of days. I do not think all these terms can be accomplished simultaneously so at a certain point of purity is when the law is easy.

Answer 9

he fullfilled the law. the law was setup to create a bridge to God as we are sinful, and God is just. So a sacrifice was required, whether it be an animal or grain. But Jesus put an end to that (i.e. tearing of the current in the temple) and made the ultimate sacrifce, thus there is no need for sacrifce, only acceptance of the sacrifice that he made. hope that helps.

Answer 10

Neither. Jesus fulfilled the law.

"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill."--Matt. 5:17
"fulfill"-Gr.- plero= to satisfy, to expire, and to end by fulfilling like other prophecies when fulfilled. (Matt. 1:22; 2:15, 17, 23; 4:14; 8:17; 12:17; 13:35)

The first post is right. Those are the two great commandments. If we follow these, we basically are doing God's will. The first great commandment, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart....soul....and mind.", is more than just saying we love God. It means we must know Him and the way He wants us to live. Love is an action word. Jesus also said this, "If you love Me, keep My commandments."--John 14:15 God is very clear in His word about how we are to live our lives, and what He has said is pleasing to Him, and what is sin against Him. We can't say we love Him and ignore His word. If He didn't intend for us to know and obey His word, He wouldn't have given it to us. Those two great commandments involve much more than just saying, I love God and my fellow man.
1 John 2:3-6 says that whoever says they know God but doesn't keep His commandments is a liar, but whoever keeps His word, God's love is perfected in them. And God's word involves more than just those two commandments.
James 1:22-"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."
2 Tim. 2:15-"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."