The Christian’s Relationship to the Old Testament
by
Jake E.
Kohl
Thesis
This paper will show
the differences between the Mosaic Law in the Old Testament and the New
Covenant in the New, specifically how the three types of laws (moral, civil,
and ceremonial) relate to the cross; why the moral law is still valid and the
civil and ceremonial laws are fulfilled.
The Mosaic “Law has a most important place
in the religion of the Old Testament. The first five books of the Bible, called
by Christians the PENTATEUCH, are called the Torah (tôrâ, law) by the
Jews.”[1] “The
Mosaic Law begins with the Ten Commandments and includes the many rules of
religious observance given in the first five books of the Old Testament.”[2]
The Mosaic Law in the Old Testament was a law given by God to Moses (Mosaic) as
a covenant to Israel. This covenant is very important to the Jews of the Old
Testament as well as to the Jews today. These laws set the standard to living a
holy life according to God. However, the Old Testament must be looked at as an
historical background to the New Testament and the ultimate theme of being
centered on Christ. Its central message is salvation through faith and faith
alone.
Laws were established as early as Adam and
Eve in the Garden. They were commanded not to eat from the tree of knowledge of
good and evil (Genesis 2:17). This law was given because God wants faith to be
a human choice. He desires mankind to fully trust and obey Him. When Adam and
Eve broke this command, there was a consequence that resulted in not only
banishment from the Garden, but both spiritual and carnal death. Because of
their sin, sin entered the world, and thus, mankind became a disobedient
creation.
The specific laws of the Mosaic were in
nature, three types. These types were the way the people of God was to maintain
holiness through obedience. “The law that God gave to Moses had many aspects –
e.g., civil, dealing with the legal system of the people of God considered as a
state, with courts and penalties; moral, the law of holy living; and religious,
the law of the ceremonies and sacrifices.”[3]
These laws set the stage for Christ’s Law and eventually a new covenant made by
Christ.
First, the moral law as previously stated
dealt with living holy lives. It is this holiness that we are in communion with
God. The moral law is the standard of all
righteousness; it is an expression of His will that we are to follow, even
today. The Ten Commandments are all examples of moral law except the fourth
which is to keep the Sabbath day holy. Second, civil laws are laws designed to
regulate the nation of Israel. It was laws that explained the punishments for
civil crimes, such as murder, theft, adultery, etc. Since there are no biblically
sanctioned theocracies in any nation today this law is not applicable. Finally,
there are the ceremonial laws that were for “Jews alone”[4] in which the sacrifice of animals were used to atone for
sins.
In time, the people of Israel became disobedient;
because of their disobedience, God allowed the Israelites to become entrapped
in Egyptian bondage. After God, hearing their cries and freeing them from this
bondage, the Israelites wandered in the desert moaning, groaning, and
complaining. Their obedience became non-existent, which brought about the
Mosaic Law given to Moses on Mount Sinai. The Law was a covenant between God
and His chosen people. BURNSIDE states in the Oxford Law Journal:
“In
fact, the giving of the Law at Sinai is presented as part of a covenantal
relationship, initiated by God, with His people. This is summed up in the
covenant formula: ‘I will be your God, and you will be My people’ (and
variations thereof). This means that biblical law cannot ultimately be detached
from any notion of covenant or response to God. The laws are there to deepen
and enable a response to God.”[5]
“Hence the entire history of
deliverance is aimed towards the nation's obligation to the laws.”[6]
The laws within the Torah are many, in which many during that time tried
to keep and maintain the laws. The Jews were devout in the ritualistic methods
contained in the ceremonial law and abided by the civil and moral laws.
However, this became more of an act of works throughout time and the central
message began to diminish. “… The dialectic
between "grace" and "merit," divine action and human
achievement, especially within a life of obedience to the Law, stood in danger
of becoming one-sided. In Romans, Paul calls it "seeking to establish
their own righteousness" (10:3).”[7]
Today
our culture has a hard time understanding the laws set by God in the Old
Testament. Mankind cannot fathom how some of the laws in Leviticus even make
sense. For example; Leviticus 19:19 states, "'Keep my decrees. "'Do
not mate different kinds of animals. "'Do not plant your field with two
kinds of seed. "'Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material.”
There are many instances where our culture today questions these particular
laws. Many view these laws as ridiculous, unwarranted, crazy, and/or insane.
Many look at only these texts of scripture and cast out the rest of the Bible
as being a fairy tale. However, as strange as these laws may sound, these were
the laws set forth for the Israelites during that time. It was the covenant
that God made with His people. It is out of pure ignorance and the lack of
study that people fail to understand and grasp these laws.
The fourth commandment of keeping the
Sabbath day holy has been disputed as to what category this would fall under.
Many believe that this commandment falls under the moral law because it is
listed with the other nine commandments. However, in Romans 14:5 “the
apostle Paul refers to the ceremonial law and its regard, for instance, of
certain days such as Passover, Pentecost and other feast or festival days.”[8]
The Mosaic Law was a standard to living.
It was the means to live a godly life; it was the way the Jews believed they
were to be saved and justified through God. Apostle Paul mentions Abraham in
Romans 4 and how his faith saved him. It wasn’t the law that saved him, it was
his faith. His justification was by faith! Paul was speaking to the Gentiles in Rome who
also understood who Abraham was. They believed that Abraham was a “key figure
in God’s plan of salvation as revealed in the Old Testament.”[9]
With this being said, and because of
Abraham’s obedience through faith and his love for God. God promised that the
world would be blessed through him (Genesis 12:1-3). This blessing is what will
bridge the Old Testament with the New; this is what will be the fulfillment of
the law, and this will bring forth a new covenant in Christ Jesus!
Throughout the Old Testament, we see the
central message within every detail of the text. We see Jesus as this central
truth as being the redeemer of the word. With this being said and given the
Mosaic Law; we still as New Testament believers view the moral law as valid and
both the civil and ceremonial laws as being fulfilled. . This is in part
because Jesus reiterates certain moral laws of the old-covenant and renews them
in the New Testament (Mat 22:37; c.f. Deut 6:5, Mat 22:39; c.f. Lev 19:18, Mat
5:21-37),[10]
in which it becomes part of the “law of Christ”[11] After citing several Old
Testament commandments (Rom 13:8-9), Paul concludes that “love is the
fulfillment of the law” (Rom 13:10).”[12]
In light of the moral, civil, and ceremonial laws; “some interpreters use these
distinctions to argue, for instance, that Paul is claiming in Romans 6:14-15
and Romans 7:4, 6 only that believers are no longer obligated to obey the civil
and/or ceremonial parts of the law.”[13]
The Jews “did not divide up the law in this way, and evidence from the New
Testament that early Christians did is slim.”[14]
MOO states it best when he says, “We conclude, then, that we cannot restrict
Paul’s claim that believers have been “released from the law to a certain
function of the law or to certain parts of the law. The believer has been set
free from the commanding authority of the Mosaic Law – period.”[15]
The relationship mankind has today to the
Old Testament is gapped together by Christ. Our relationship to the laws has
been a fulfillment through the blood of Christ. As the ceremonial law required
sacrifice to atone for sin; Jesus came as the Son of God, both human and divine
in nature to be that final sacrifice for atonement, thus the fulfillment of the
law. Jesus validated His claims of who He was by His resurrection. “Christ
alone was ‘true God of true God’ and was able to fulfill the divine plan of
recreating the fallen creation. It was all but universally accepted that the
work of salvation is completely God’s work on our behalf and that without God’s
initiative toward us in Christ, Adam’s race has no hope.”[16]
Today, the laws are
still debated in regards to being fulfilled or still being valid.
“… Orthodox
Judaism believes the Mosaic laws constitute a unified system and that all the
laws are equally binding.”[17] MEYER states in
his commentary: "In nomos (law), however, to think merely of the
moral law is erroneous; and the distinction between the ritualistic, civil, and
moral law is modern."[18] To compound on this argument, “orthodox Jewish tradition, able commentators, and the
Scriptures themselves recognize that the Law of Moses is an indivisible unit.”[19]
Furthermore, ALDRICH states, “It needs to be emphasized that the end of the
Mosaic law, including the Ten Commandments, does not cancel or detract one iota
from the eternal moral law of God. The moral principles of the ten laws did not
begin with Sinai but are as eternal and immutable as the character of God.”[20]
These moral laws have been in place from
the beginning. “The moral principles embodied in the law of Moses Paul calls
"the righteousness of the law" (Rom. 8:4), and shows that such
principles are the goal of the Spirit-directed life in the same context in
which he teaches the believer is not under the Mosaic law (Rom. 6-8).”[21]
Our relationship to the Old Testament
today is just as important. The Mosaic Law has not been abolished but has been
fulfilled through Christ. We use the law in the Old Testament as a stepping
stone, or a standard to living a godly life, but it is the moral law in which
we are convicted of. Paul states that
these laws were written on the hearts of mankind (Romans 2:15); that we know
what is morally right and wrong – this is a general revelation.
An interesting verse to examine in light
of the law is Galatians 3:24-25. It states: “So the law was
our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. Now that
this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.” (NIV) If the law was
our guardian “until” Christ came and since he has already came, verse 25 states
that we are no longer under a guardian, thus, we are no longer under the law,
but under faith which is through the grace of Jesus.
Some will look into this verse and others
like it, such as Romans 7:4 and come to the conclusion that the law, all parts
of it are abolished, or done away with - particularly, the New Covenant
Theologians (NCT). The NCT view the
entire Mosaic Law as being done away with in favor of the Law of Christ. Jeremiah 31:33 states: "I will put My law
within them and on their heart I will write it." Many believe that this
law is referring to the Mosaic Law which was reinstated with Israel, yet on the
other hand, others say that the New Covenant Law is a “renewed” form of the
Mosaic Law.[22] The confusion rests on
what kind of “Law” Jeremiah was speaking about. Was it the Mosaic Law or was it
the New Law of Christ?
Several facts support the
belief that the law in which Jeremiah wrote about in 31:33… is to be identified
with "the law of Christ," which Paul referred to in 1 Corinthians
9:21 and Galatians 6:2.”[23]
According to Olufemi Adeyemi of Liberty University, these facts are:
“(1) Both the New Covenant
and the law of Christ stand in contrast to the Mosaic Covenant and its Law in Paul's
writings.(2) Both Jeremiah and Paul emphasized that the two covenants (New and
Sinaitic) were different. The fact that one is "New" suggests that it
replaces the Old Covenant. (3) Both Ezekiel 36:27 and Paul point to the
ministry of the Holy Spirit as being unique. Furthermore, the following
syllogism suggests how this may be reasoned. First premise: New Testament
believers are under the New Covenant and not the Mosaic Covenant. Second
premise: New Testament believers are under a new law, the law of Christ, and
not the Mosaic Covenant. Conclusion: The law of Christ is the New Covenant law of
which Jeremiah wrote.”[24]
In viewing the Mosaic Law with the New
Covenant Law, it can be seen that the New Testament believers are in fact under
the Law of Christ. However, this law is not a free ride, or an off-the-hook
sin-free lifestyle. It is one in which Galatians 6:2 tells us that we are to
“bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the Law of Christ”; walking in
and with the Spirit of Christ which is now possible “because believers are free from the demands of the Mosaic Law (5:1).”[25]
Therefore, the human race is now justified through Christ Jesus by faith
in Him and not by the law. Romans 4:25 states that Jesus, “who was put to death
for our trespasses and raised for our justification” places Christ as our Law.
“In this way, the sinner is acquitted from law, sin, and death - is reconciled
with God; and has peace and life in Christ through the Holy Spirit—is not
merely declared just but is truly made just.”[26]
Mankind still holds the moral law as being valid. We still hold that the
Ten Commandments, outside of the Sabbath, as explained earlier, are in effect. The
Law of Christ or the New Covenant through Christ has this moral code written on
our hearts. If the human race bears one another’s burdens, this fulfillment
will be complete. Love is the greatest commandment – if we can obey this one,
the others will not be broken.
In conclusion, the relationship today to the Old Testament is centered
on Christ Himself. If the Mosaic Law was non-existent, mankind would have no
redemption. The Mosaic Law in truth was a law given to Israel as a covenant
between God and the nation of Israel. It was a stepping stone that Christians
use today as a standard of living. The Law was fulfilled at the resurrection of
Christ which ushered in the New Covenant or New Law in Christ. This Law was
written on the hearts of man from the beginning of time. To walk in faith,
justification ensues, and thus, the human race dies and will one day be
resurrected again with Christ.
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[1] Law, Mosaic. New
Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 8. 2nd ed. Detroit: Gale, 2003. p396-397.
[2] "Mosaic law." The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy,
Houghton Mifflin. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2002. Credo Reference. Web. November
05, 2012
[3] Motyer, J.A. ,
Elwell,
Walter A. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic,
2001, p 675
[4]
Jackson,
Bernard S. 1984. "The ceremonial and the judicial : biblical law as sign
and symbol." Journal For The Study Of The Old Testament no. 30:
25-50. ATLASerials, Religion Collection, EBSCOhost (accessed
November 9, 2012).
[6] Braulik, Georg
[7]
ibid
[8]
Confusion reigns over sabbath laws. (2012, Feb 02). The Belfast News Letter.
Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/919522988?accountid=12085
[9]
Moo, Douglas J. p 144
[10]
2010. “The Christian's Relationship to the Old Testament (7:1-8:39).” Liberty
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(accessed November 20, 2012).
[11] Moo,
Douglas J. Romans: The Niv Application
Commentary: From Biblical Text to Contemporary Life. Grand Rapids,
Michigan: Zondervan, 2000. P 222
[12]
The Christian's Relationship to the Old Testament (7:1-8:39.)
[13]
Moo, Douglas J. P 223
[14]
ibid
[15]
ibid
[16] WILLIAMS, D. H.
"Justification by Faith: A Patristic Doctrine."
[17] Aldrich,
Roy L. 1959. "Has the Mosaic law been abolished?." Bibliotheca
Sacra 116, no. 464: 322-335. ATLASerials, Religion Collection, EBSCOhost
(accessed December 8, 2012).
[19]
Aldrich, Roy L. 1959. "Has the Mosaic law been abolished?."
[20]
ibid
[21]
ibid
[22]
Adeyemi,
Olufemi I., "The New Covenant Law and the Law of Christ" (2006). Faculty
Publications and Presentations. Paper 273.
http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/lts_fac_pubs/273
[23]
ibid
[24]
ibid
[25]
ibid
[26]
"justification."
Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia
Britannica Online Academic Edition. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc.,
2012. Web. 09 Nov. 2012. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/308779/justification>.
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