Our present United States of America has been under 3 different Laws in under 230 years. 1) the first “law” was the law of England. 2) then, after we won our freedom, we were under The Laws of Confederation, 3) Now, we are ruled by The Constitution of the United States of America—in under 230 years.
It’s not hard to see how God has changed His “laws” in the THOUSANDS of years man has been in existence.
In the Bible, there also are 3 different “laws” that are portrayed as being in effect at different times. In the beginning ( Genesis), early mankind did not have a “written law.” We see God communicating to people directly from heaven. Sometimes in dreams, sometimes in visions, sometimes speaking from heaven. Historians sometimes call this the “Patriarchal Law”— when God spoke directly to the “fathers”. Patriarch” means “father.” God chose a man named Abraham through whom He would bring a chosen nation of people and the Christ into the world. After the book of Genesis, in Exodus, we see God giving a written “law” to his people, the Jews, when they come out of Egypt. This covenant between God and the Jews was ONLY for the Jews. It was not for gentiles. God did not make a covenant with Gentiles. Deut. 5:3. This covenant with the Jews lasted 1500 years and was a “written” law. This was and is the Old Testament law. It was a law of “works.” There were many, many sacrifices to be offered; holy days to be kept; feast days, festivals, offerings, new moons, laws about foods, At this time Israel was a NATION of people. This Old Testament law contained laws for CIVIL government as well as their RELIGIOUS laws. So you have laws for different offenses and crimes along with what punishments went with each crime. The Old Testament books of Exodus, Leviticus, numbers and Deuteronomy are called “the books of the law.” Read those and you will get a good understanding of what the “ Old” law was about.
However, even in the Old Testament, God spoke through Jeremiah the prophet and said, that ONE DAY, He would MAKE A NEW COVENANT with His people, NOT LIKE that first covenant He made with them when He brought them out of Egypt.
This “Old Testament law” was still in effect and governed the Jews in the first four books of the New Testament. Jesus lived under this law and kept it perfectly. Jesus had been circumcised the 8th day, according to the “law”; He kept the “Passover”; the rich young ruler came to Him asking about the “law” and Jesus told him to keep the commandments found in this law. God wants every one of His followers to obey whatever law they are living under. We are not to be “lawbreakers.” Romans 13:1. Jesus often contended with the Jewish leaders—Pharisees, Sadducee's, and priests —about this law because they distorted it adding their own interpretations and traditions.
Here is what religious people today do not understand. THIS LAW CAME TO AN END. It is not in force or in effect today. Even the Jews today are no longer required to keep that old law. And certainly NOT GENTILES!! If it was not for gentiles in the Bible and gentiles did not keep it then—then it is not for gentiles today and gentiles today are not required to keep it.
Jesus said He did not come to destroy the old law but to FULFILL it, and fulfill it He did. He says NOT ONE WORD would PASS AWAY UNTILL….until what? UNTIL ALL IS FULFILLED. Matthew 5:17-18. Jesus fulfilled EVERY prophesy about Him that the Old Testament ever made. Someone said that there were more than 30 prophesies about Christ in the Old Testament. He FULFILLED THEM ALL! When Jesus died on the cross, Some of His final words were, “It is finished.” What was finished? I can think of several things: His WORK here on earth that the Father gave Him to do, was finished. The fulfilling of every prophesy about him was finished. The Old Testament law was finished. It was fulfilled. The theme of the Old Testament was “A MESSIAH IS COMING!” The purpose of a “chosen” people was to bring the Messiah into the world. Jesus came; Jesus fulfilled; Jesus offered the last, supreme sacrifice. Jesus died. It is finished. All is fulfilled; the will of God is complete; the work is done.
Here is what the NEW TESTAMENT says about the old law:
Colossians 2:14, “…having WIPED OUT the handwriting of requirements ( old law) which was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has TAKEN IT OUT OF THE WAY nailing it to His cross.”
Hebrews 9:16-17, “ For where there is a TESTAMENT, there must also be the DEATH OF THE TESTAOR. For a testament ( or will) is in force AFTER MEN ARE DEAD. Since it has noPOWER at all while the testator LIVES.” The Old law of the Jews ended, that Old Testament law given by Moses on Mt. Sinai, ENDED when Jesus died on the cross. He took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross.
The death of the testator—Jesus, brought into force His “ NEW” covenant, the law of Christ, the law of “FAITH”, without the “works” of the old law. That Old Testament law.
To be continued in another thread.
It’s not hard to see how God has changed His “laws” in the THOUSANDS of years man has been in existence.
In the Bible, there also are 3 different “laws” that are portrayed as being in effect at different times. In the beginning ( Genesis), early mankind did not have a “written law.” We see God communicating to people directly from heaven. Sometimes in dreams, sometimes in visions, sometimes speaking from heaven. Historians sometimes call this the “Patriarchal Law”— when God spoke directly to the “fathers”. Patriarch” means “father.” God chose a man named Abraham through whom He would bring a chosen nation of people and the Christ into the world. After the book of Genesis, in Exodus, we see God giving a written “law” to his people, the Jews, when they come out of Egypt. This covenant between God and the Jews was ONLY for the Jews. It was not for gentiles. God did not make a covenant with Gentiles. Deut. 5:3. This covenant with the Jews lasted 1500 years and was a “written” law. This was and is the Old Testament law. It was a law of “works.” There were many, many sacrifices to be offered; holy days to be kept; feast days, festivals, offerings, new moons, laws about foods, At this time Israel was a NATION of people. This Old Testament law contained laws for CIVIL government as well as their RELIGIOUS laws. So you have laws for different offenses and crimes along with what punishments went with each crime. The Old Testament books of Exodus, Leviticus, numbers and Deuteronomy are called “the books of the law.” Read those and you will get a good understanding of what the “ Old” law was about.
However, even in the Old Testament, God spoke through Jeremiah the prophet and said, that ONE DAY, He would MAKE A NEW COVENANT with His people, NOT LIKE that first covenant He made with them when He brought them out of Egypt.
This “Old Testament law” was still in effect and governed the Jews in the first four books of the New Testament. Jesus lived under this law and kept it perfectly. Jesus had been circumcised the 8th day, according to the “law”; He kept the “Passover”; the rich young ruler came to Him asking about the “law” and Jesus told him to keep the commandments found in this law. God wants every one of His followers to obey whatever law they are living under. We are not to be “lawbreakers.” Romans 13:1. Jesus often contended with the Jewish leaders—Pharisees, Sadducee's, and priests —about this law because they distorted it adding their own interpretations and traditions.
Here is what religious people today do not understand. THIS LAW CAME TO AN END. It is not in force or in effect today. Even the Jews today are no longer required to keep that old law. And certainly NOT GENTILES!! If it was not for gentiles in the Bible and gentiles did not keep it then—then it is not for gentiles today and gentiles today are not required to keep it.
Jesus said He did not come to destroy the old law but to FULFILL it, and fulfill it He did. He says NOT ONE WORD would PASS AWAY UNTILL….until what? UNTIL ALL IS FULFILLED. Matthew 5:17-18. Jesus fulfilled EVERY prophesy about Him that the Old Testament ever made. Someone said that there were more than 30 prophesies about Christ in the Old Testament. He FULFILLED THEM ALL! When Jesus died on the cross, Some of His final words were, “It is finished.” What was finished? I can think of several things: His WORK here on earth that the Father gave Him to do, was finished. The fulfilling of every prophesy about him was finished. The Old Testament law was finished. It was fulfilled. The theme of the Old Testament was “A MESSIAH IS COMING!” The purpose of a “chosen” people was to bring the Messiah into the world. Jesus came; Jesus fulfilled; Jesus offered the last, supreme sacrifice. Jesus died. It is finished. All is fulfilled; the will of God is complete; the work is done.
Here is what the NEW TESTAMENT says about the old law:
Colossians 2:14, “…having WIPED OUT the handwriting of requirements ( old law) which was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has TAKEN IT OUT OF THE WAY nailing it to His cross.”
Hebrews 9:16-17, “ For where there is a TESTAMENT, there must also be the DEATH OF THE TESTAOR. For a testament ( or will) is in force AFTER MEN ARE DEAD. Since it has noPOWER at all while the testator LIVES.” The Old law of the Jews ended, that Old Testament law given by Moses on Mt. Sinai, ENDED when Jesus died on the cross. He took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross.
The death of the testator—Jesus, brought into force His “ NEW” covenant, the law of Christ, the law of “FAITH”, without the “works” of the old law. That Old Testament law.
To be continued in another thread.
