Introduction
There is a common perception among Christians that the law of Moses and the Old Testament in general are only in the Bible for historical purposes, or something to that effect. Many will reply with something along the lines of "we're under grace now, not the law". The problem is they are throwing the baby out with the bathwater. On the other hand, there are those that say we still need to keep the law, feasts and festivals etc. Let's look at what the Bible says regarding the law.
What is meant by the "law"?
Generally, this will refer to the Ten Commandments, found in Exodus ch 20 as well as other laws and ordinances in the books of Exodus, Leviticus and Deuteronomy. These laws prescribed the types of punishments for certain types of sin, ordinances for the priests, dealing with sacrifices and offerings, various ways to keep clean and many other things. Many of the things mentioned would seem harsh by todays standards.
Saved by Grace, through faith alone
There are so many places in the New Testament that salvation is of faith and faith alone. Paul spent a great deal of his epistles hammering this very subject. Here are but a few examples:
Saved by grace through faith, not our works Ephesians 2:8,9
By His mercy Titus 3:5
Justified by faith without the law Romans 3:28
Grace or works? one or the other, it cant be part both Romans 11:6
All Scripture is still relevant
Profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction II Timothy 3:16
Not subject to your private interpretation II Peter 1:20
God promised to preserve His Word Psalms 12:6,7
Sodom and Ghomora still an example today Jude 1:7
Things that happened to their fathers are to be examples for us I Corinthians 10:11
Paul dealt with Judiazers
In the book of Galatians, Paul dealt with those that tried to bring believers back under jewish traditions with feasts, observing new moons etc.
What then serveth the law?
So if a Christian is to be justified by faith alone, yet ALL Scripture is still relevant for us, how then should they view all the things mentioned in Exodus through Deuteronomy. As mentioned in the beginning, many will typically throw the baby out with the bathwater, casting aside punishments for adultery, theft or even murder.
Do whatever we want because we're not under the law? No! Romans 6:14,15
Paul accused of saying, do evil. Romans 3:8,9
However, the law is still good, if used lawfully, according to the gospel I Timothy 1:8-11
Jesus referenced the law in Matthew 15:4 which is referring to Ex 20:12 and Ex 21:17
Summary
- One is saved by grace through faith, without the deeds of the law
- Christians are not under the law, but under grace
- Being under grace doesn't give us the right to do whatever we want
- The law is still good and we can look to it for examples of what is right and wrong for those things that still apply, eg. murder etc.
- America for most of its early history used the Old Testament laws as a template for it's own laws. Some were taken straight out of Leviticus.
