Until you understand the difference between the Old Jewish law given by Moses on Mt. Sinai, and the new law of Christ called the law of faith in
Romans 3:27, you may arrive at wrong conclusions about such issues as Sabbaths, tithing, and even God’s plan of salvation.
Jesus was born a Jew. That means He was born under the Old Testament Jewish law of Moses. Of course He kept the Sabbath day and EVERY other law of that OLD covenant. He kept Passover. He was circumcised the 8th day just as the Old law required. In fact Jesus was the only one who ever kept that law perfectly. But that does not prove that Christian’s today should do that; because Jesus came to bring in a NEW COVENANT.
-a BETTER covenant,
Heb. 7:22
-a NEW covenant,
Heb. 8:8-9
-He is the Mediator of the NEW covenant,
Heb. 9:15
This NEW COVENANT was to UNITE Jews and gentiles- one fold and one shepherd.
But here is the thing, Roman’s 7:1-6 says we CANNOT be married to the Old law of Moses and the New law of Christ at the SAME TIME! He uses the illustration of a husband and wife, but he says in verse 1 that he is speaking to people that “know the law.” The language here is very plain and very specific.
“IF WHILE HER HUSBAND LIVES, SHE MARRIES ANOTHER MAN, SHE SHALL BE CALLED AN ADULTRESS. BUT IF HER HUSBAND DIES SHE IS FREE FROM THAT LAW…”
Now notice verse 4,
“YOU ALSO HAVE BECOME DEAD TO THE LAW (of Moses). THAT YOU MIGHT BE MARRIED TO ANOTHER—TO HIM THAT WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD.”
The Holy Spirit is saying that we cannot be married to the Old Law of Moses and the New Law of Christ at the same time. That would be SPIRITUAL adultery.
Notice carefully verse 6.
“NOW WE HAVE BEEN DELIVERED FROM THE LAW ( of Moses) HAVING DIED TO WHAT WE WERE HELD BY, so that we should serve in the NEWNESS OF THE SPIRIT and MOT in the OLDNESS OF THE LETTER. We have to be “dead” to that old law before we can be married to Christ.
The Old Law of Moses, with all of its “handwritten requirements” was nailed to the cross of Jesus.
Col. 2:14-16. It died there with Christ.
Hebrews 9:16-17- “ FOR WHERE THERE IS A TESTAMENT, THERE MUST ALSO BE THE DEATH OF THE TESTATOR. For a TESTAMENT IS IN FORCE AFTER MEN ARE DEAD, SINCE IT HAS NO POWER AT ALL WHILE THE TESTATOR LIVES.”
As long as Jesus was alive on earth, the Old law of Moses was in effect and everyone had to obey it. BUT….,when Jesus died, His NEW COVENANT OF FAITH came into force. or came into effect; just like any “will” does today. Now, see how Hebrews describes the Old law of Moses:
- the FORMER COMMANDMENTS HAVE BEEN ANNULLED.
Heb. 8;
18
-“He took away the FIRST so that He might establish the SECOND.
Heb. 10:9
-the LAW HAS BEEN CHANGED
Heb. 7:12
-In that He says a NEW COVENANT, He has made the FIRST ( covenant) OBSOLETE. Now what is becoming OBSOLETE and GROWING OLD ( Old Jewish law of Moses) is ready to VANISH AWAY!” Heb. 8:13. The Holy Spirit uses the word OBSOLETE, which means: NO LONGER USED; OUT OF DATE.
This is why Jesus nor any apostle ever told anyone or any church to “keep the Sabbath, after his death. It can only be a perpetual law if it is taught in the New Law of Christ; and it is not. For example, all of God’s moral principles are taught in every dispensation of the Bible/- in the beginning in the book of Genesis, in the old law of Moses AND IN THE NEW LAw OF CHRIST. We say they are eternal. But not so with the Sabbath. Jesus said it has been taken away and nailed to His cross. Colossians 2:12-16.