Are Christians Under The Law Of Moses?Are Christians under the Law? Must we keep all 613 commands of the Old Testament Law?
Moses Presents The Ten Commandments. Here is the Bible answer to that question. God gave His Law to Moses and the Jewish nation, on Mt. Sinai, in Arabia, after the children of Israel left Egypt, in approximately 1450 BC. There were no Christians around when God gave the Law. Prior to God giving His Law to Moses, sin existed in the world but God did not impute sin to humankind when there was no formal law.
"For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses." Romans 5:13-14.
An old Torah scroll, containing the Law of Moses. Note the sterling silver Torah Pointer.
In the years from Adam to Moses, people still died, proving that sin existed in the world. But the Covenant of the Law, what scripture calls the Law of Moses, was a new thing. God had not made the Covenant of the Law with Adam and the people who lived before the Law of Moses.
Can You Keep All 613 Commandments?Are Christians under the Law? People sometimes have the idea that the Law is just 10 Commandments. Actually, the Law of Moses contains 613 commandments covering everything from blood sacrifices to men's haircuts to rape and murder to clothing restrictions to gardening to sexual worship of false gods to sewage disposal. These 613 Commandments are found in the first five books of the Bible. Christians usually call the five books of Moses the Pentatuch. Jews refer to the five books of Moses as Torah.
Torah scrolls were copied by hand and therefore, extremely valuable. To keep from wearing out the parchment or smudging the text, it became the custom to use a Torah pointer, often made of wood, sometimes of sterling silver, so the reader's hands did not touch the text. Are Christians now under the Law? I suspect no one alive today can even name all 613 of God’s commandments in the Law. If you cannot even name the commandments, how could you ever keep all 613? For two thousand years Christians have grappled with questions about Christians under the Law. 1. Are Christians under the Law? 2. How do we decide which commandments must still be obeyed? 3. How do we decide which commandments in the Law are no longer applicable to us? 4. How do we determine how the Law applies to us, since Christians are not under the law but under grace, Romans 6:14?
Covenant Theology or Dispensational Theology?Christianity can be divided into two schools of thought about the Law of God.
Covenant Theology.1. In Covenant Theology, Continuity is the important factor. Because they see Continuity between all of God's covenants, Covenant believers view Old Testament Law as representing God's eternal standard, always in force and always reflecting the will of God. Are Christians under the Law? Covenant Theology says Yes.
Dispensational Theology.2. In Dispensational Theology, Discontinuity is the important factor. Because they see Discontinuity between God's covenants, Dispensational believers view Old Testament Law as temporary, not the standard under which Christians must now live. Are Christians under the Law? Dispensational Theology says No. Covenant and Dispensational theology hold some views in common. Both believe that Christians are no longer obligated to offer the sacrifices commanded under Law because Jesus Christ was our Ultimate sacrifice. Some Covenant theologians believe that Christians are under the Law of Moses, which commands the stoning of homosexuals, rebellious children, adulterers and witches. Most Covenant and all Dispensational theologians agree that Christians are not obligated to obey verses like Deuteronomy 7:25, which commands us to burn the idols of the heathen.
Are Christians Under The Law?Both Covenant and Dispensational believers understand that Old Testament law also contains eternal moral principles. These eternal moral principles include most of the Ten Commandments, but exclude the Sabbath commandment, since the Sabbath Commandment is never enforced on Christians in the New Testament. Are Christians under the Law? The point of disagreement is whether or not Christians are still under Moses'Law. Must Christians keep the commandments to be in right relationship with God? Or does the New Covenant offer a different, better, more glorious way for Christians to relate to God? Covenant theology says Christians are under the law, although they generally assert that the Law must be adapted for today's culture. Dispensational theology says that while the law does contain moral principles, there is no command in the New Testament which obligates Christians to live under Old Testament Law. In fact, the New Testament clearly states that we are not under law but under grace, Romans 6:14.
Are Christians Under The Law?No, New Testament scripture is clear that Christians are not under the law. 1. "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." Romans 6:14. 2. Christians are ”dead to the law." Romans 7:4. 3. Christians are "delivered from the law." Romans 7:6. 4. "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster “ [the law]. Galatians 3:24-25. 5. For Christians, the Law is "that which is done away." II Corinthians 3:11. 6. For Christians, the Law is "that which is abolished." II Corinthians 3:13. Are Christians under the Law? Our scriptural conclusion is that Christians are Not under the law of Moses.You’ve read about Jonathan and David. Click Here To Return To Gay Christian 101.com Home Page.
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