Why Do Christians Ignore Most of the Old Testament Rules?

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Lillywolf

Well-known member
Aug 29, 2018
1,562
543
113
#1
The OT laws are typically a topic that comes up in most Bible forums. This article brings out some very good points when we ask ourselves this question today.
Blessings.



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Reading through the Old Testament can be a jarring experience, even for Christians. The early Bible is practically brimming with commands and laws which sound contrary to Christ’s message today. Do you enjoy eating shrimp? Sorry, that’s against the rules (Leviticus 11:10). Not a fan of beards? Well that’s just too bad (Leviticus 19:27). Showing off your new tattoo? You ought to be ashamed (Leviticus 19:28)!

To someone outside the Church, it looks as though Christians are cherry-picking which verses they want to follow. That’s why author and theologian J.D. Greer believes it’s necessary for Christians to educate themselves on the three categories of Old-Testament law. In a recent blog post he writes,
“One of the most helpful ways to think about this is to look at the types of laws there are in the Old Testament. The 16th-century Reformer John Calvin saw that the NT seemed to treat the OT laws in three ways. There were Civil Laws, which governed the nation of Israel, encompassing not only behaviors, but also punishments for crimes. There were Ceremonial Laws about ‘clean’ and ‘unclean’ things, about various kinds of sacrifices, and other temple practices. And then there were the Moral Laws, which declared what God deemed right and wrong—the 10 Commandments, for instance.”
“For OT Israel, all three types of laws blended together. Breaking a civil or a ceremonial law was a moral problem; conversely, breaking a moral law had a civil (and often ceremonial) consequence. But they only went hand-in-hand because Israel was in a unique place historically, as both a nation and a worshiping community. ‘Separation of church and state’ wasn’t one of their core tenets. That’s not the case for the Church today, so the way we view the Law would have to look different.”


Greer goes on to argue that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus fulfilled the purpose of the law (Matthew 5:17). By this, he means that the original laws pointed toward God and his design for humanity. Jesus now serves as a living embodiment of both law and grace, allowing us to put aside the Civil and Ceremonial laws of Israel. This traditional approach is shared by the majority of Biblical scholars, including men such as Dr. Roger Barrier, who writes,
“Like many of the Ten Commandments, prohibitions against stealing and adultery and coveting transcend time and space. Jesus fulfilled the moral law by His perfect righteousness. Every commandment He obeyed. Every requirement He met. He lived up to every standard. He died for it on the cross...”
“In considering which parts of the Old Testament we can ignore and which we keep, we must delve into the concept of cultural differences. Many of the Laws are not applicable for us. We must compare their culture to ours in order to have good application.”


Instead of avoiding the complex subject of Old Testament laws, Christians should embrace the chance to study their faith. The world expects us to have answers when they start probing our beliefs, and it’s vital that believers be ready to speak the word of God with conviction. So don’t be afraid to read books like Leviticus and Deuteronomy, they’re just the beginning of God’s great story.
*Published 4/5/2016
 
Dec 12, 2013
46,515
20,395
113
#2
Why is it so hard to understand that the O.T. law was designed to prove our guilt before God and point to the only cure.....The imputed righteousness of Christ dia faith without the deeds/ works of the law.

Why is it so hard to acknowledge this SIMPLE TRUTH!

Why must many CONFLATE the two covenants into one.......and in SO DOING VOID THE NEW....!!!!!
 

GraceAndTruth

Well-known member
Sep 28, 2015
2,031
637
113
#3
Jesus Christ FULFILLED the Law.
The Law was under the covenant to the Jews
The Law under the covenant of grace is our tutor to lead us to Christ
Under Grace the Law is for the Lawless
and " by the Law no man can be justified"

613 Laws for you to live by if you want to try
 

JaumeJ

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2011
21,195
6,508
113
#4
Jesus Christ FULFILLED the Law.
The Law was under the covenant to the Jews
The Law under the covenant of grace is our tutor to lead us to Christ
Under Grace the Law is for the Lawless
and " by the Law no man can be justified"

613 Laws for you to live by if you want to try
Jesus teaches us who believe Him that the law is not destroyed, only the curse of the law, death, died on the cross with Him.

Becasue of Jesus we no longer need fear the law, but He said it will still be in effect while heaven and earth are yet yere, they may even pass away but it will be here.

If the Holy Spirit does not give you understanding, ask for it, for Jesus wet on to say anyone who teaches agains the least of these laws will be least in the Kingdom.

Now you seem to like the number 613 as teh number of laws. How can that be when Jusus fulfilled almost all of them. Apparently you know nothing of th elaw except what some have voted upon and tried to put in the mouth of Jesus...

By the way, the people who go out and preach the goepl to different towns are to shake the dusto off of their feet when they depart if they are not eceived, it is towns not nations.

You misquote the New Testament and you do not realize the New Testament is in the Old TEstament................ Please do not condemn others calling them reprobate, remember any evil you or I do will come back on our own heads, so I pray ñ you be blessed with true understanding, and never deny the teaching of Jesus Christ in favor of any flesh... (You know I do not refer her to Jesus the Perfect One.)
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
24,167
12,763
113
#5
Why Do Christians Ignore Most of the Old Testament Rules?
Because it is tough enough for Christians to obey just the ONE RULE GIVEN BY CHRIST -- love God perfectly and love others selflessly.

This one rule covers all the other rules (in case you did not know).
 

Lillywolf

Well-known member
Aug 29, 2018
1,562
543
113
#6
Jesus Christ FULFILLED the Law.
The Law was under the covenant to the Jews
The Law under the covenant of grace is our tutor to lead us to Christ
Under Grace the Law is for the Lawless
and " by the Law no man can be justified"

613 Laws for you to live by if you want to try
Remember Jesus brought forth certain OT laws into the new covenant teachings.
 

Lillywolf

Well-known member
Aug 29, 2018
1,562
543
113
#7
Because it is tough enough for Christians to obey just the ONE RULE GIVEN BY CHRIST -- love God perfectly and love others selflessly.

This one rule covers all the other rules (in case you did not know).
It is my thread. Of course I know.
Why do you find you always need to answer people using sarcasm?
?
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
24,555
13,320
113
#8
Jesus ministered under the Law. He explained the deeper meaning behind some of the commandments, but He didn't "bring forward" some commandments and leave others behind. The Law is a unit; break one ordinance, you've become guilty of all.

There isn't a single verse of Scripture that divides the Law into moral, civil, and ceremonial. While it's a nice idea, its end result is to make Christians self-righteous because they pick and choose as it suits them. Living by the Spirit requires constant attention to the nudges of the Spirit; merely following a written ordinance isn't sufficient. There are too many situations in life where following the written code doesn't work.
 

Lillywolf

Well-known member
Aug 29, 2018
1,562
543
113
#9
Jesus ministered under the Law. He explained the deeper meaning behind some of the commandments, but He didn't "bring forward" some commandments and leave others behind. The Law is a unit; break one ordinance, you've become guilty of all.

There isn't a single verse of Scripture that divides the Law into moral, civil, and ceremonial. While it's a nice idea, its end result is to make Christians self-righteous because they pick and choose as it suits them. Living by the Spirit requires constant attention to the nudges of the Spirit; merely following a written ordinance isn't sufficient. There are too many situations in life where following the written code doesn't work.
Exodus 20:1-17 (moral law)*
Deuteronomy 24:10-11 (civil law)* Sometimes overlapped with the moral laws*
Leviticus 1:1-13 (ceremonial law)

  1. Civil - Deals with disputes between individuals. Expired with the demise of the Jewish civil government
    1. Be just with the poor, (Lev. 19:15)
    2. Cattle, of neighbor (Deut. 22:1-4)
    3. Children, rebellious (Deut. 21:18-21)
    4. Debt (Lev. 23:34-43; Deut. 31:10)
    5. Divorce (Deut. 22:19)
    6. Dress, attire (Deut. 22:5)
    7. Do not hate in your heart (Lev. 19:17)
    8. Inheritance (Num. 18:26; 26:53-56; 36:8-12)
    9. Justice practices (Lev. 24:17-23)
    10. Kidnapping (Exodus 21:16)
    11. Landmarks (Deuteronomy 19:14)
    12. Property redemption (Lev. 25)
    13. Murder and killing (Deut. 21:1-4)
    14. Retain just scales in commerce (Lev. 19:35f)
    15. Robbery, extortion, false witness, and restitution (Lev. 6:1-7)
    16. Sabbath breaking punishment (Num. 15:32-36)
    17. Theft (Deut. 5:19; Lev. 19:11)
    18. Warfare (Deut. 20:1-20)
  2. Ceremonial - Expired with the fulfillment of priestly work of Christ (Matt. 3:15)
    1. Cleaning house of leper (Lev. 14:33-57; Num. 5:2)
    2. Festivals (Lev. 23:1-25; Nu. 29:39)
    3. Laws on animals for food (Lev. 11:1-47)
    4. Law of Atonement (Lev. 16:1-28;17:1-16)
    5. Offerings (Num. 29:39)
    6. Priest, consecration of (Ex. 29:1-46)
    7. Priestly duties (Lev. 7:1-37)
    8. Regulations for Priests (Lev. 21,22)
    9. Various sacrificial offerings for sin (Lev. 1,2,3,4,5,6)
  3. Moral - No Expiration because it is based on God's character. "You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy," (Lev. 19:2)
    1. Idolatry (Lev. 26:1-13)
    2. Love God (Deut. 6:4)
    3. Love your neighbor as yourself (Lev. 19:18)
    4. Oppress your neighbor (Lev. 19:13)
    5. Stealing or lying (Lev. 19:11)
    6. Sacrifice children to Molech forbidden (Lev. 20:1-5)
    7. Sexual sins: adultery, incest, bestiality, homosexuality, etc. (Lev. 18:20; 20:9-21; Num. 5:12-15)
SOURCE


“For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise,
Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary,”
(The Apostle Paul, Galatians 3:18-19, ESV).
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
24,555
13,320
113
#10
Exodus 20:1-17 (moral law)*
Deuteronomy 24:10-11 (civil law)* Sometimes overlapped with the moral laws*
Leviticus 1:1-13 (ceremonial law)

  1. Civil - Deals with disputes between individuals. Expired with the demise of the Jewish civil government
    1. Be just with the poor, (Lev. 19:15)
    2. Cattle, of neighbor (Deut. 22:1-4)
    3. Children, rebellious (Deut. 21:18-21)
    4. Debt (Lev. 23:34-43; Deut. 31:10)
    5. Divorce (Deut. 22:19)
    6. Dress, attire (Deut. 22:5)
    7. Do not hate in your heart (Lev. 19:17)
    8. Inheritance (Num. 18:26; 26:53-56; 36:8-12)
    9. Justice practices (Lev. 24:17-23)
    10. Kidnapping (Exodus 21:16)
    11. Landmarks (Deuteronomy 19:14)
    12. Property redemption (Lev. 25)
    13. Murder and killing (Deut. 21:1-4)
    14. Retain just scales in commerce (Lev. 19:35f)
    15. Robbery, extortion, false witness, and restitution (Lev. 6:1-7)
    16. Sabbath breaking punishment (Num. 15:32-36)
    17. Theft (Deut. 5:19; Lev. 19:11)
    18. Warfare (Deut. 20:1-20)
  2. Ceremonial - Expired with the fulfillment of priestly work of Christ (Matt. 3:15)
    1. Cleaning house of leper (Lev. 14:33-57; Num. 5:2)
    2. Festivals (Lev. 23:1-25; Nu. 29:39)
    3. Laws on animals for food (Lev. 11:1-47)
    4. Law of Atonement (Lev. 16:1-28;17:1-16)
    5. Offerings (Num. 29:39)
    6. Priest, consecration of (Ex. 29:1-46)
    7. Priestly duties (Lev. 7:1-37)
    8. Regulations for Priests (Lev. 21,22)
    9. Various sacrificial offerings for sin (Lev. 1,2,3,4,5,6)
  3. Moral - No Expiration because it is based on God's character. "You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy," (Lev. 19:2)
    1. Idolatry (Lev. 26:1-13)
    2. Love God (Deut. 6:4)
    3. Love your neighbor as yourself (Lev. 19:18)
    4. Oppress your neighbor (Lev. 19:13)
    5. Stealing or lying (Lev. 19:11)
    6. Sacrifice children to Molech forbidden (Lev. 20:1-5)
    7. Sexual sins: adultery, incest, bestiality, homosexuality, etc. (Lev. 18:20; 20:9-21; Num. 5:12-15)
SOURCE

“For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise,
Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary,”
(The Apostle Paul, Galatians 3:18-19, ESV).
The divisions are artificial and not specified in Scripture. They are one man's interpretation only.
 

GraceAndTruth

Well-known member
Sep 28, 2015
2,031
637
113
#11
Remember Jesus brought forth certain OT laws into the new covenant teachings.
I see Jesus saying, if you love God and love your neighbor, you have fulfilled the Law. Of course He said that to people still living under the Law.
 

BenFTW

Senior Member
Oct 7, 2012
4,834
981
113
33
#12
Righteousness does not change, it is objective. While people may be well-meaning, they dissect God's Law into portions so that what remains is the moral law. This they say must be followed, but you cannot be under the old covenant and the new covenant simultaneously. One, technically, leads to the other in that once the law has been your tutor leading you to Christ, you have then entered through faith into a covenant of grace. No longer under law but grace (and sin shall not have dominion over you for this reason).

For them to declare that we must be obedient to the moral law (a part of the Law of Moses), one would have to combine the two covenants. There is already a movement that does this, and they refer to it as the "Renewed Covenant" instead of the "New Covenant." Issues arise from this because lack of obedience would have to be understood under the new covenant as opposed to the cursing that ensues under the law. Secondly, we cannot isolate one aspect of the Law of Moses when it is to be received as a unit, it is after all a covenant (and if you fail in one part, you fail in all of it).

This isn't to say that the moral aspects of the Law of Moses are not good for sensitizing our conscience, and learning right from wrong in child rearing. All scripture is profitable, right? Read Psalm 119 for example, it really gives you an appreciation for the Law understanding the beauty of righteousness and holiness in comparison to corruption and evil. Those of us who are in the light, love the light.

I suppose where the rubber meets the road is in how we define the process of sanctification. Is it through the Law of Moses or the Spirit of God? Does morality sanctify us, or does God? What does this process look like?
 
L

Locoponydirtman

Guest
#13
Exodus 20:1-17 (moral law)*
Deuteronomy 24:10-11 (civil law)* Sometimes overlapped with the moral laws*
Leviticus 1:1-13 (ceremonial law)

  1. Civil - Deals with disputes between individuals. Expired with the demise of the Jewish civil government
    1. Be just with the poor, (Lev. 19:15)
    2. Cattle, of neighbor (Deut. 22:1-4)
    3. Children, rebellious (Deut. 21:18-21)
    4. Debt (Lev. 23:34-43; Deut. 31:10)
    5. Divorce (Deut. 22:19)
    6. Dress, attire (Deut. 22:5)
    7. Do not hate in your heart (Lev. 19:17)
    8. Inheritance (Num. 18:26; 26:53-56; 36:8-12)
    9. Justice practices (Lev. 24:17-23)
    10. Kidnapping (Exodus 21:16)
    11. Landmarks (Deuteronomy 19:14)
    12. Property redemption (Lev. 25)
    13. Murder and killing (Deut. 21:1-4)
    14. Retain just scales in commerce (Lev. 19:35f)
    15. Robbery, extortion, false witness, and restitution (Lev. 6:1-7)
    16. Sabbath breaking punishment (Num. 15:32-36)
    17. Theft (Deut. 5:19; Lev. 19:11)
    18. Warfare (Deut. 20:1-20)
  2. Ceremonial - Expired with the fulfillment of priestly work of Christ (Matt. 3:15)
    1. Cleaning house of leper (Lev. 14:33-57; Num. 5:2)
    2. Festivals (Lev. 23:1-25; Nu. 29:39)
    3. Laws on animals for food (Lev. 11:1-47)
    4. Law of Atonement (Lev. 16:1-28;17:1-16)
    5. Offerings (Num. 29:39)
    6. Priest, consecration of (Ex. 29:1-46)
    7. Priestly duties (Lev. 7:1-37)
    8. Regulations for Priests (Lev. 21,22)
    9. Various sacrificial offerings for sin (Lev. 1,2,3,4,5,6)
  3. Moral - No Expiration because it is based on God's character. "You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy," (Lev. 19:2)
    1. Idolatry (Lev. 26:1-13)
    2. Love God (Deut. 6:4)
    3. Love your neighbor as yourself (Lev. 19:18)
    4. Oppress your neighbor (Lev. 19:13)
    5. Stealing or lying (Lev. 19:11)
    6. Sacrifice children to Molech forbidden (Lev. 20:1-5)
    7. Sexual sins: adultery, incest, bestiality, homosexuality, etc. (Lev. 18:20; 20:9-21; Num. 5:12-15)
SOURCE


“For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise,
Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary,”
(The Apostle Paul, Galatians 3:18-19, ESV).
This is great I'm going to quote it.
 

JaumeJ

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2011
21,195
6,508
113
#14
Remember Jesus brought forth certain OT laws into the new covenant teachings.
You cannot reason with anyone who claims to love Jesus yet will not hear him.

Pray for all souls, it is our due. God bless you and all, amen.
 

JaumeJ

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2011
21,195
6,508
113
#15
Jesus Christ FULFILLED the Law.
The Law was under the covenant to the Jews
The Law under the covenant of grace is our tutor to lead us to Christ
Under Grace the Law is for the Lawless
and " by the Law no man can be justified"

613 Laws for you to live by if you want to try
You are saying here that the law only came to bring Jews to repentance. By translation of the word Jew, I suppose you are absolutely correct, but if you mean only the earthly descendants of Israel, I am afraid your understanding of what the law is for is completely amiss.
 

Blik

Senior Member
Dec 6, 2016
7,312
2,424
113
#16
Why is it so hard to understand that the O.T. law was designed to prove our guilt before God and point to the only cure.....The imputed righteousness of Christ dia faith without the deeds/ works of the law.

Why is it so hard to acknowledge this SIMPLE TRUTH!

Why must many CONFLATE the two covenants into one.......and in SO DOING VOID THE NEW....!!!!!
Just how in the world could you come up with the conclusion that God worked for 4,000 years, until Christ came in the flesh, to make you feel guilty!!! God's purpose for us is to live on with Him, God established the world to work toward this as soon as man rebelled and knew sin. From THIS you get God wanting you to go on a guilt trip?
 

Blik

Senior Member
Dec 6, 2016
7,312
2,424
113
#17
Jesus Christ FULFILLED the Law.
The Law was under the covenant to the Jews
The Law under the covenant of grace is our tutor to lead us to Christ
Under Grace the Law is for the Lawless
and " by the Law no man can be justified"

613 Laws for you to live by if you want to try
This makes absolutely no sense when It is compared to what scripture tells us.

From the beginning, Christ was part of God, and Christ was the plan for our salvation. Christ didn't "fulfill the law". The law is given to us for our guidance and blessing. What Christ fulfilled was the plan for our salvation.

You are not the only one who speaks of grace as beginning with Christ. Grace is part of God, the OT speaks often of grace. All the plans for us is full of grace. All the covenants that God made with us are made with to express God's love for us. The last covenant promises us the Holy Spirit to guide us when people were given rituals to guide before. The old covenants are covenants of grace and the newest covenant is a covenant of grace.

Paul tried to explain that to obey the law in a legalistic way with no spirit of the Lord is not really obeying the law. It is as simple as that.

People say God of the OT is not a God of love!! When evil men ruined our world and made it unsafe for God's people to live here God gave a flood and started over. Modern humans identify with the evil men and say God was a cruel mean God for reaching down and protecting us.

People lived with no police or jails to make life safe, only neighbors to call on. God guided people so they lived without harming each other and established a sort of law enforcement. Today's people say they can't even read about it.

God gave us a large book of scripture that is very like a manual for any operation that explains in great detail just how the people and world God created works best and man has been complaining about it saying it is full of laws they don't like instead of reading it as an explanation of their selves and their world.
 
Dec 12, 2013
46,515
20,395
113
#18
Just how in the world could you come up with the conclusion that God worked for 4,000 years, until Christ came in the flesh, to make you feel guilty!!! God's purpose for us is to live on with Him, God established the world to work toward this as soon as man rebelled and knew sin. From THIS you get God wanting you to go on a guilt trip?
Take 2 seconds, quit lip flappin and read Romans 3 and then try to actually understand what I said in my post!....I said nothing of a guilt trip....!!!
 

Blik

Senior Member
Dec 6, 2016
7,312
2,424
113
#19
Take 2 seconds, quit lip flappin and read Romans 3 and then try to actually understand what I said in my post!....I said nothing of a guilt trip....!!!
I went back to copy from your post to check myself and it came out: O.T. law was designed to prove our guilt. Doesn't seem hard to understand. I read something entirely different in the 1195h Psalm. That tells me God wrote the law to show us His love for us.
 

JaumeJ

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2011
21,195
6,508
113
#20
Take 2 seconds, quit lip flappin and read Romans 3 and then try to actually understand what I said in my post!....I said nothing of a guilt trip....!!!

I like lip flappin, but it does get tiresome at times.