Jesus came to fulfill the Law (Mat 5:17–20). The Law is essential the Torah;
the first five books of the Old Testament containing the Mosaic Laws. Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of the Law and the prophets (Heb 1:1–2), see Listen to Jesus.
These laws which are part of the Old Covenant were given to the people of Israel
(Mal 4:4, Deu (5 Mos) 4:10–14), and not to the Body of Christ. It's a physical Covenant. Their promises made no provision for eternity, they are all for this life.
The purpose of the Mosaic Laws is as follows:
- The Mosaic Laws weren't given to the people of Israel as a means of being
saved, see What Happens to Those Who Have Never Heard About Jesus?
The people of Israel's possession of the Promised Land depended of their obedience to keep the Mosaic Laws. - These laws reveal God's righteousness but can't make anyone righteous
(Gal 2:16, 21). Through these laws we become aware of our sin
(Rom 3:20), see The Book of Galatians. - God doesn't give us the Holy Spirit because we obey the Mosaic Laws
(Gal 3:2). We receive the Holy Spirit because we believe and trust in Jesus. - The Mosaic Laws are meant to lead us to Christ, but we are no longer under them (Gal 3:24–25). We should now be led by the Holy Spirit who has taken up residence within us as born again Christians, see The Book of Peter.
Notice then that God will not tell us to do anything that violates his own word. It also doesn't mean that we're doing it perfectly, but we are learning.
The Mosaic Laws contain three types of laws:
- Ceremonial laws:
It deals with ceremonials in which Israel participated, such as religious festivals, offerings, and Sabbath keeping. - Civil laws:
It's about things that apply to daily life in Israel. For example, how to treat the poor, dispute between individuals, tithe. - Moral laws:
It deals with sexual relations and most of The Ten Commandments.
God told the Jews in the Old Testament that he would make a New Covenant
with them (Jer 31:31–34, Heb 8:6–13, 10:15–18), see from time 10:12 in
Hebrews 8 • A better covenant and at time 38:00–41:53 in 1 Peter 1 (Part 1) :1-2.
It's the covenant of grace we now have through Jesus Christ. Even the Jews can
no longer claim the promises of the Old Covenant. God has offered them a
New Covenant through his Son. That they have rejected his Son and the
New Covenant doesn't mean that the Old Covenant applies for them
(Rom 6:14, Heb 8:13), see The Parable of Putting New Wine into Old Wineskins.
with them (Jer 31:31–34, Heb 8:6–13, 10:15–18), see from time 10:12 in
Hebrews 8 • A better covenant and at time 38:00–41:53 in 1 Peter 1 (Part 1) :1-2.
It's the covenant of grace we now have through Jesus Christ. Even the Jews can
no longer claim the promises of the Old Covenant. God has offered them a
New Covenant through his Son. That they have rejected his Son and the
New Covenant doesn't mean that the Old Covenant applies for them
(Rom 6:14, Heb 8:13), see The Parable of Putting New Wine into Old Wineskins.
Jesus said: "The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it. But it is easier for heaven and Earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void." (Luk 16:16–17). John the Baptist was like the last Old Testament prophet.
Until the time of John, the Law and the Prophets ruled as the Old Covenant for the people of Israel. Jesus came and spoke about the kingdom of God and introduced
the New Covenant at the Last Supper for all people on Earth based on him
(Luk 22:19–20, 1 Cor 11:23–26). It was activated through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ through his blood so that we can be forgiven.
Until the time of John, the Law and the Prophets ruled as the Old Covenant for the people of Israel. Jesus came and spoke about the kingdom of God and introduced
the New Covenant at the Last Supper for all people on Earth based on him
(Luk 22:19–20, 1 Cor 11:23–26). It was activated through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ through his blood so that we can be forgiven.
The Old Covenant was a physical covenant for Israel. The New Covenant is a spiritual covenant for Jews and Gentiles (2 Cor 3:6, 8). We aren't "slaves" to the Mosaic Laws. (Gal 2:4, 2 Cor 3:16–17). "Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, 'If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'" (John 8:31–32). And Jesus also said:
"If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." (John 8:36). See differences between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant explained at time 21:12–25:43 in Bible Q&A With Pastor Paul │March 2024.
"If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." (John 8:36). See differences between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant explained at time 21:12–25:43 in Bible Q&A With Pastor Paul │March 2024.
The Law will not go away because it's a reflection of God's character, his holiness and purity, see God's Attributes, and that will never change. Jesus created a completely new relationship to the Law by dying on the cross and sending the Holy Spirit
(who is the lawgiver) into our hearts. Now we as Christians have an inner voice
of the Holy Spirit, who merges with our own spirits, see Sanctification.
(who is the lawgiver) into our hearts. Now we as Christians have an inner voice
of the Holy Spirit, who merges with our own spirits, see Sanctification.
The ceremonial laws point to and lead us to Jesus (Gal 3:24), who fulfilled these laws (Mat 5:17). (See the celebration of Christmas explained at time 48:31–51:47 in Bible Q & A With Pastor Paul │December 2023.) The civil laws and the moral laws are brought into our minds by the Holy Spirit as Christians in the New Covenant, described in the New Testament (Jer 31:33, 2 Cor 3:3, Rom 7:6, Gal 3:23–25, 5:18,
Heb 7:18–19). As Christians, we should be led by the Holy Spirit within us. Christ is the end of the Law, so that there is righteousness for everyone who believes and trusts in him (Rom 10:4). However, the moral laws are the same and even stricter in the New Covenant as in the Old Covenant (1 Tim 1:8–11), see
The Ten Commandments. See what Jesus said at The Sermon on the Mount.
See also Life in the Spirit in The Book of Romans.
Heb 7:18–19). As Christians, we should be led by the Holy Spirit within us. Christ is the end of the Law, so that there is righteousness for everyone who believes and trusts in him (Rom 10:4). However, the moral laws are the same and even stricter in the New Covenant as in the Old Covenant (1 Tim 1:8–11), see
The Ten Commandments. See what Jesus said at The Sermon on the Mount.
See also Life in the Spirit in The Book of Romans.
There is always a risk of falling into Legalism which isn't biblical. It's keeping
man-made rules and regulations so that we can be considered righteous in God's sight. It's done to be acceptable to God. See Legalism in The Book of Colossians
and Disputable Matters in The Book of Romans.
man-made rules and regulations so that we can be considered righteous in God's sight. It's done to be acceptable to God. See Legalism in The Book of Colossians
and Disputable Matters in The Book of Romans.
Tithing is under the Mosaic Laws of the Old Covenant. See it explained (Mal 3:8–10)
in The Book of Malachi. As Christians we aren't under the Mosaic Laws. We are under the New Covenant described in the New Testament. The New Testament doesn't require believers to tithe. The principles of giving in the New Covenant are described at the end part of The Book of Corinthians.
in The Book of Malachi. As Christians we aren't under the Mosaic Laws. We are under the New Covenant described in the New Testament. The New Testament doesn't require believers to tithe. The principles of giving in the New Covenant are described at the end part of The Book of Corinthians.
Jesus came to fulfill the Law (Mat 5:17). It includes all the three types of laws above. It means that he came to satisfy the demands of the Law and to fulfill all that it points to. The requirements of the Law are the requirements of righteousness that God has established. None of us can measure up to them. Whoever keeps the whole Law and yet stumbles at one point is guilty of breaking them all (James 2:10).
Because we fail, we are under the curse of the Law which is death (Rom 7:9–11).
The wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23a).
Because we fail, we are under the curse of the Law which is death (Rom 7:9–11).
The wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23a).
By fulfilling the demands and the requirements of the Law, Jesus released
us from the curse. Jesus kept the Law perfectly as a man but also as Son of God (Heb 4:15). Keeping them perfect gave Jesus the ability to pay the debt we owe to the Law. Through his physical death on the cross he payed the price and fulfilled the requirements of the Law for us all (Heb 9:15), see
The Crucifixion of Jesus. Whoever is hanged on a pole is under God’s curse
us from the curse. Jesus kept the Law perfectly as a man but also as Son of God (Heb 4:15). Keeping them perfect gave Jesus the ability to pay the debt we owe to the Law. Through his physical death on the cross he payed the price and fulfilled the requirements of the Law for us all (Heb 9:15), see
The Crucifixion of Jesus. Whoever is hanged on a pole is under God’s curse
(Gal 3:13, Deu (5 Mos) 21:23). Jesus took the curse for us. By doing so, he satisfied the requirements of the Law. Our part in this is to acknowledge it, believe and trust Jesus, and invite him into our heart (John 1:12), see Salvation.
This can be compared with dispensationalism, see time 22:32–27:31 in
Bible Q & A With Pastor Paul │ January 2024.
Bible Q & A With Pastor Paul │ January 2024.
See also Some stories in the gospels at the bottom of The Four Gospels.
