Why do a lot of christians resort to the Old Testament when they want to convict someone of sin?

Question

The same ones who claim to be under a 'New Covenant', and "saved by Grace through faith" will repeatedly turn back to Old Testament laws and stories when arguing about sins. Paul himself did this. What's the deal? OT, NT, or both?

I have yet to find a saying of Jesus that is not already in the OT, or about the OT!

Answer 1

what about all the dribble that Christ made the old testament obsolete???

Answer 2

We do not throw out the Old Testament because it is what gives proof of the fulfillment in the New Testament. Some would tell you that whatever Jesus and his disciples reiterate is what is valid. This works up to a point. Many things in the Old Testament have faded away. The Temple, specific Sabbath day etc... Dietary laws were for Gods people and are still valuable to follow, but even they take it to extremes he did not command.

It is a difficult question you ask and truly a can of worms. For myself I do not worry about most items in Leviticus. I focus on The Ten or as Jesus said the "law of the prophets." If a person asks a question and the answer is best from the OT if the NT has the answer that is what I give. If they both have a good answer I give them both.

For example. Some one asks is homosexuality a sin. I can go to the OT and follow up with the NT to show that it is indeed wrong.

Answer 3

The punishments listed in the Old Testament do not apply if we are under Christ. Christ has redeemed us from those punishments. We are not free to break the law, through the Holy Spirit we uphold the law. Personally I don't really quote the Old Testament to show something is a sin, the New Testament is sufficient.

Answer 4

It's simple when Christians can't find anything in the Old Testament to support their belief such as racism or homophobia they simply turn to the Old testament and rip a few passages out of it and add their own meaning.

Answer 5

Are Old Testament laws still binding on Christians?
Christians often wonder, Are Old Testament laws still in force this is your question?

The New Testament gives two basic answers to this question: Yes, and no. Some verses indicate continuity, and others indicate change. Some verses maintain the validity of the law; others describe it as having been superseded by Christ.

Let's start with an emphasis on continuity. A passage like Matthew 5:17-19 can be used to argue that all OT laws are still in force. Jesus didn't do away with any of God's laws. Rather, he emphasized that we ought to obey God not only in our actions, but also in our hearts. We have to keep every OT law in the spirit, in its attitude and purpose. God's laws are written in our hearts and minds (Heb. 8:10). They are internalized, so we should want to keep them. Hebrews 8:10 is a quote of Jeremiah 31:31-33, one could argue, and the laws that Jeremiah had in mind were the laws that were valid in his day: the old covenant laws. They were all given by God.

If this line of reasoning is correct, our love for God will motivate us to be circumcised, to keep the Jubilee year and sabbatical years. We will be diligent to avoid all forms of uncleanness, and we will wear phylacteries and only pure fabrics. We will offer sacrifices, not only for sin but also for fellowship offerings and thank offerings. When Jeremiah described the kingdom of God, old covenant customs were included. This is what Jeremiah meant.

These laws are still valid – but, as we know, they are applied in a spiritual way. The application of the law has been transformed by the coming of Jesus Christ. If our hearts are circumcised, it does not matter whether we have been circumcised in the flesh. If we are offering spiritual sacrifices, we do not need to offer animals.

If we are always forgiving debts and liberating people from bondage, we do not have to do anything different on sabbatical years. If we are treating our livestock and farmland properly, we do not have to do anything different on sabbatical years. If we live by the spirit, the letter of these laws is not required.

If we examine our hearts for corruption and are being cleansed by Jesus Christ, then we do not have to be fanatical about destroying houses that have mildew. If our thoughts are pure, we don't have to worry about our fabrics. If we are always thinking of God and his laws, we don't have to wear phylacteries. The laws are valid, but the way in which we obey them has been transformed by the coming of Jesus Christ.

Spiritual dimension : Sacrifices were part of correct worship long before Moses, so the end of the old covenant simply means that sacrificing is no longer the exclusive duty of Levites. Some OT laws are spiritualized. Almost everyone can agree on that.

Once we recognize that some OT laws, although still valid in purpose, are obsolete in the letter, then we are free to accept the implications of what Paul wrote in Colossians 2:16. We should not let anyone judge us regarding Sabbath days, just as we shouldn't let them judge us regarding new moons. Each person should be convinced in his own mind, but he should not judge other Christians regarding such matters.

Now, if we have the spirit of the law written in our hearts. Christ, by bringing a new covenant, has transformed the law. The same underlying law still exists—But the law of love. Jesus did not change that law at all. Rather, he fulfilled it.

We are new creatures, by our new covenant. Therefore we are spiritual not carnal. But "in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit." Romans 8:3-5 (in Context) Romans 8 (Whole Chapter)

Galatians 6:8
The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

Answer 6

Because in 2 Timothy 3:16, 17 it tells us that ...

"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."

The Hebrew Scriptures (or Old Testament) are definitely part of Scripture. Further, Jesus himself quoted hundreds of times from the Hebrew Scriptures, he is our example to follow.

Jesus fulfilled the law. He put us under the Law of love, and he told us “‘You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind.’ 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 The second, like it, is this, ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments the whole Law hangs, and the Prophets.”” (Matthew 22:37-40)

Answer 7

Cuz anything of this day in age has been remade with B.S. and fallacy so you have to go to the old school to get the real deal

Answer 8

Hebrews alone has all you need to convict someone of sin.

Answer 9

Because self-contradiction and hypocrisy are the foundations of most religions.

Answer 10

Well, whatever supports their opinion and belief.