Hello. What about the NT?

Question

Hey, my name is Phil.

Just a question for other, older Christians out there...

Are we supposed to follow the scripture of the Old Testament or not?

Or are we supposed to follow the New Testament and simply treat the old as "background information" (to see which prophecies are fulfilled etc. etc.)

Does a new covenant come with new rules, or does it merely add to the Old T.

Any thoughts appreciated,

Phil

Answer 1

Jesus nailed the old law to the cross....we are no longer under any law, except the law of grace, the law of spirit and the law of life.

I am the wrong one to ask - I don't think we're supposed to follow the New Testament either!

Answer 2

As a Seventh-Day Adventist, who upholds both the Old and New Testaments as part of the same Bible (It's ALL God's Word, and should be obeyed), I can tell you that the only part of the OT that is no longer binding are the Mosaic ordinances, like sacrificing animals and keeping YEARLY sabbaths (like Yom Kippur, etc.), because Christ is the Lamb of God who was sacrificed once for all. Animal sacrifices are no longer needed. Also, the yearly sabbaths all pointed forward to Christ, who has already come, so those are no longer needed either. We say that these ordinances were "nailed to the cross".
However, the keeping of the weekly Sabbath is the 4th Commandment, which is just as binding as the other 9. How can someone say that the 4th commandment has been "nailed to the cross", when the commandment about not killing people (the 6th commandment) is still binding? God was quite specific in describing which day was the holy Sabbath. "Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work, but the SEVENTH DAY is the DAY OF THE LORD [the Lord's Day] thy God; in it you shall do no work."
Sunday worship was introduced into the church by the pagan Romans and enforced by around 345 AD, but the early church still kept the 7th-day sabbath. Sunday worship became a non-scriptural tradition throughout the Dark Ages and passed down to the Protestants, but it still isn't Scriptural even to this day.
Another thing that hasn't been "nailed to the cross" is the distinction between "clean" and "unclean" animals. God was describing which animals are safe to eat and which are not safe. This has nothing to do with Jews. This has to do with you keeping a healthy body. These animals aren't just "ceremonially" unclean, they are intrinsically unclean. Even science today has proven this. The FDA won't grade pork like it does beef. It says, "eat at your own risk". It is a very unhealthy meat. The same goes for shellfish. Keep in mind these animals are garbage-eaters, so their flesh is made of garbage. Not something you want to put in your body.

Answer 3

Phil, glad you asked. The name "Old Testament" makes it sound obsolete. It really is First Covenant and Second Covenant. There are new provisions to follow, but the only thing abolished was the ritual animal sacrifices. The blood of bulls and goats was never intended to take away sin...it merely rolled our sins forward and piled them up in a big trash pile.

That's why the Second Covenant is better. Our sins are totally forgiven and forgotten... we are washed white as snow in the blood of the Lamb. However, all of the other commandments, statutes, and judgements are still in effect. There's a couple of good books you might like to read that will help you understand where organized Christianity went wrong. Divine Law by Howard B. Rand
http://mlf1070.wordpress.com/2007/08/29/divine-law/

Answer 4

Some view the relationship between the OT and NT as a progressive revelation of God's character that culminates in Christ. What this means is that the old testament, in the way it is written and the events it describes, gradually develops a separation between the One God and the various pagan gods of the ancient times. For example in the story of Abraham, we are often horrified that God asks him to sacrifice his son. Knowing that pretty much all gods at the time demanded human child sacrifice, we are suddenly surprised at the end of this story by a god who shows that he wants a different, comparatively more humane system of sacrifice (animals)--leading up to the abolition of sacrifice for the followers of Christ in the NT.

Much of Christ's teaching and actions in the gospels are a living expression of what the prophets said about God in the old testament, such as love for your neighbor, mercy for the oppressed, etc. So in that sense it can be helpful to read the two together almost as a narrative that evokes themes that are later repeated, refined and amplified as it goes on.

Answer 5

This is the old dispensation debate.

The Old Testament law is fulfilled in us by Christ. We are under a new covenant and are to live by the new Covenant. But the OT is still God's word and still useful for teaching and rebuking and discovering WHO God is and WHAT he expects from us.

Answer 6

"Do not think that I [Jesus] have come to abolish the Law (the Old Testament) or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke or a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law (the Old Testament) until everything is accomplished. (Matthew 5:17-18)"

"Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 'The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. So you must obey them and do EVERYTHING they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.' (Matthew 23:1-3)"

…

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Answer 7

Jesus PREDICTED the END of the law!

…Jesus said he didn’t come to destroy the law, but to fulfill it, (Matthew 5:17) but this DOES NOT MEAN THE LAW IS STILL IN EFFECT. The RESULT of this fulfillment was the same as if he had come to "destroy" it, once fulfilled, the law was no longer in effect...

Now, we must recognize in the very next verse, Matthew 5:18, Jesus is LOOKING FORWARD to the time when the law WOULD BE SET ASIDE. "...Not even the smallest stroke of a pen will disappear from the Law UNTIL EVERYTHING IS COMPLETED."

This “UNTIL...” clause REINFORCES THE TEMPORARY NATURE OF THE LAW. It ONLY makes sense when we understand that the law was intended FROM THE BEGINNING to be SET ASIDE at its fulfillment.

Of course this fits perfectly with Paul’s later teaching concerning the law:

Ephesians 2:15 Through his body on the cross, Christ put an END to the LAW WITH ALL ITS COMMANDS AND RULES. He wanted to create one new group of people out of the two. He wanted to make peace between them.

Colossians 2:14, 16, &21 (excerpts) He wiped out the written Law with its rules. The Law was against us. It opposed us. He took it away and nailed it to the cross… No one can be made right with God by obeying the law.... What if a person could become right with God by obeying the law? Then Christ died for nothing!

Romans 3:20 So it can’t be said that anyone will be made right with God by obeying the law. Not at all! The law makes us more aware of our sin. 21 But now God has shown us how to become right with him. The Law and the Prophets give witness to this. It has nothing to do with obeying the law.

Galatians 5:4 Some of you are trying to be made right with God by obeying the law. You have been separated from Christ. You have fallen away from God’s grace... The ONLY verse that talks about falling from grace, and they did it by trying to follow the law!

... The 10 commandments along with the rest of the law (described as "commands and rules" in Ephesians 2:15) were "set aside" when they were fulfilled or completed at Jesus' resurrection. We are no longer bound by that law.

BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN (AS SOME HAVE CLAIMED) THE LAW IS WORTHLESS OR MEANINGLESS!

Paul makes this clear in Romans 15:4 -- Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us. The Scriptures give us strength to go on. They cheer us up and give us hope.

We see that Paul's teaching on the law is exactly in line with Jesus' own prophecy about it.

Early in Paul’s ministry, the other apostles and the elders in Jerusalem were asked about non-Jewish converts to Christianity and their relationship to the law. This letter was their UNANIMOUS RESPONSE to non-Jewish converts to Christ:

"The apostles and elders, your brothers, To the non-Jewish believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia:

Greetings.

We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said. We all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul— men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements:

YOU ARE TO ABSTAIN FROM FOOD SACRIFICED TO IDOLS, FROM BLOOD, FROM THE MEAT OF STRANGLED ANIMALS AND FROM SEXUAL IMMORALITY. YOU WILL DO WELL TO AVOID THESE THINGS.

Farewell." -- Acts 15:23-29

Notice that the entire body of rules contained in the Old Testament was reduced to one sentence. This is NOT a "moral license," rather, the command of Christ that we LOVE EVERYONE makes much of the old moral code unnecessary.

Answer 8

Scriptures are given by God and are True from the Beginning

ALL Scripture is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness (2 Pe.1:21, 2 Tim.3:16, 2 Samuel 23:2, Eph.3:5 below).

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God (2 Tim.3:16 below).

God’s word is true from the beginning (Ps.119:160 below).

When writing to the law and to the testimony: if the writing does not speak according to the Holy Bible there is no light in them (Isa.8:20 below).

God is the God of truth (Ps.31:5, Deut.32:4, Ps.25:5, Jn.17:17 below).

The Holy Scriptures are not the private interpretation of men (2 Pe.1:20 below), but they are given by God through the Holy Spirit.

The spirit of Truth will guide you into ALL truth (Jn.16:13 below)


Isa.8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, [it is] because [there is] no light in them.

Ps.119.160 Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

2 Pe.1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

2 Pe.1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost.

2 Tim.3:16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2 Samuel 23:2 The Spirit of the LORD spake by me (David), and his word [was] in my tongue.

Eph.3:5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

Ps.31:5 Into Thine hand I commit my spirit; Thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.

Deut. 32:4 He is the Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are judgment, a God of truth and without iniquity; just and right is He.

Ps.25:5 Lead me in Thy truth and teach me, for Thou art the God of my salvation; on Thee do I wait all the day.

Jn.17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

2 Tim.3:16 ALL scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Jn.16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.



Pat (ndbpsa ©)

Answer 9

It should be in the bible someplace