The Mosaic Law, a set of commandments given by God to the Israelites through Moses, has been a subject of debate among Christians. Some argue that these laws are no longer applicable as Christians are under the New Covenant, while others maintain that they still hold relevance as the Old Testament is God's eternal Word. This dispute has led to questions about how Christians should relate to Mosaic Law and whether it should be obeyed.
What You'll Learn
- The Mosaic Law is no longer in effect because of the change in priesthood from Levite to Judah
- The New Covenant made the Old Covenant obsolete
- The Mosaic Law was a shadow pointing to the reality of Christ
- The Mosaic Law was given to the Israelites, not Gentiles
- The Mosaic Law is holy, good, and spiritual, but it is also weak because it is dependent on man's ability
The Mosaic Law is no longer in effect because of the change in priesthood from Levite to Judah
The Mosaic Law was given to Moses on Mount Sinai, where God gave specific commandments to the Israelites through him. These commandments were then written down and included in the Torah, the first five books of the Old Testament. The Levitical priesthood, which began with Aaron, Moses' older brother, was responsible for mediating between man and God and offering the sacrifices required by the Mosaic Law.
However, the book of Hebrews in the New Testament explains that the new covenant in Christ is superior to the old covenant, and this includes a change in priesthood. While the Levitical priesthood was meant to be temporary, Jesus, who is from the tribe of Judah and not Levi, has become our High Priest, serving in the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 7:11-17). This change in priesthood brings about a change in the law as well (Hebrews 7:11-12).
Jesus' priesthood is far superior to that of the Levites, as it is based on the power of his resurrection rather than genealogy (Hebrews 7:16). His sacrifice on the cross superseded the animal sacrifices of the Levitical law, and through his death and resurrection, we now have direct access to God's presence (Hebrews 6:19-20).
The apostle Paul reiterates this point, stating that Christians are no longer under the law of Moses but under the law of Christ (1 Corinthians 9:21). While the Old Testament still holds authority and is applicable to our lives, the Mosaic Law no longer carries the same weight of covenantal force (Romans 2:14).
The change in priesthood from Levite to Judah, therefore, signifies a shift from the old covenant to the new, and as a result, the Mosaic Law is no longer in effect.
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The New Covenant made the Old Covenant obsolete
The Mosaic Law, a set of commandments given by God to the Israelites through Moses, has been a source of debate among Christians, with some arguing that none of the Mosaic laws apply anymore, while others claim they all do. This is because, while the New Covenant states that the Old Covenant is obsolete, the Bible also says that Jesus did not come to abolish the law but to fulfil it.
The New Covenant and the Old Covenant
The New Covenant, established by Jesus, is based on God's grace and is open to both Jews and Gentiles. It is a promise that God will write his laws on people's hearts and minds, and it is this covenant that Christians follow today.
The Old Covenant, or the Mosaic Law, was a contract between God and the Israelites. It stipulated that if they followed the 613 laws, they would live safely and prosperously in the Promised Land.
The New Covenant has made the Old Covenant obsolete for several reasons. Firstly, the Old Covenant was only a shadow of the good things to come, and with the coming of Christ, the ultimate manifestation of God's grace, a new and better law was established.
Secondly, the Old Covenant was dependent on human ability and was weak and ineffective in making people perfect. In contrast, the New Covenant is based on God's power and provides the means for people to live righteously.
Thirdly, the Old Covenant was temporary and was never intended to be a permanent rule of life. It served as a tutor or guardian to guide the Israelites until the coming of Christ and the establishment of the New Covenant.
Finally, the Old Covenant was meant specifically for the Israelites and could not be obeyed by other peoples or nations.
The Moral Law Still Applies
While the Mosaic Law as a whole does not apply to Christians, the moral law within it, such as the Ten Commandments, still stands. This is because the moral law reflects God's standard of righteousness and is eternal and immutable. It existed before the Mosaic Law and is applicable to all people at all times.
In conclusion, while the Mosaic Law itself is no longer in effect, the moral law within it remains authoritative and applicable to Christians today.
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The Mosaic Law was a shadow pointing to the reality of Christ
The Mosaic Law served several purposes. Firstly, it provided a standard of righteousness, revealing God's holiness, righteousness, and goodness. Secondly, it identified sin and showed mankind their sinful and fallen condition before a holy God. Thirdly, it pointed people to Christ by revealing their need for a Saviour.
With the coming of Jesus Christ, the Mosaic Law was fulfilled and no longer has the same force as it did under the old covenant. This is because Jesus, from the line of Judah, instituted a new Melchizedekian priesthood and, therefore, a new law by the power of his resurrection. As such, Christians are now under the law of Christ rather than the Mosaic Law.
However, this does not mean that the Old Testament has lost its authority or relevance. It still contains moral commands that are completely authoritative, and it also provides principles and patterns of wisdom for Christians to follow. The Mosaic Law was a shadow pointing to the reality of Christ, and now that Christians have Christ, they are no longer under the shadow but have the substance.
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The Mosaic Law was given to the Israelites, not Gentiles
The Mosaic Law was given to the Israelites, not the Gentiles.
The Mosaic Law was given to Moses by God on Mount Sinai and was then written down and included in the Torah, the first five books of the Old Testament. The Mosaic Law was a bilateral covenant made specifically for Israel alone to govern her life in the promised land. From the Abrahamic Covenant, we see that Israel was a chosen nation, an instrument of God to become a channel of blessing to all nations.
The Mosaic Law was not given to the Gentiles, and they were not expected to keep it. The Law of Moses, also called the Law or the Old Covenant, was a "contract" between God and Israel. It stipulated that if they followed the laws, they would live safely and prosperously in the Promised Land.
The Mosaic Law was never designed to be a permanent rule of life. It was a temporary tutor or guardian to guide Israel in all areas of her life until Christ. The Law was terminated by the Lord Jesus. The coming of Christ brought an end to the Mosaic Law.
The New Covenant, established by Jesus, is what Christians are under. This is made clear in the book of Hebrews, which was written to convince Jewish Christians not to go back to the elements of the Law of Moses. The entire book of Galatians was also written to Christians who were puzzled by the question of whether they needed to be circumcised and keep the Law as part of Christianity. Paul tells them no.
The Mosaic Law was given to the Israelites, not the Gentiles.
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The Mosaic Law is holy, good, and spiritual, but it is also weak because it is dependent on man's ability
The Mosaic Law, which was given to the Israelites by God through Moses, is considered holy, good, and spiritual. It provided a standard of righteousness and revealed God's character, serving as a guide for Israel to live a blessed life. However, the Mosaic Law is also described as weak because it depends on man's ability to obey it perfectly.
The Mosaic Law was never intended to be a permanent rule, but rather a temporary guardian or tutor to guide the Israelites until the coming of Jesus Christ, who fulfilled the Law. The Law was weak in that it could not justify, give life, provide the Holy Spirit, sanctify, or permanently deal with sin. It was dependent on man's ability to keep it perfectly, which is impossible due to human sinfulness.
The New Testament makes it clear that Christians are no longer under the rule of the Mosaic Law. This is because the Mosaic Law has been terminated and is no longer in force, having been replaced by the New Covenant in Jesus' blood. Believers are now under the law of Christ or the law of the Spirit, which gives them the power to obey God's commands.
While the Mosaic Law is no longer binding, it still has value and can be used to reveal sin and lead people to Christ. It also contains moral principles that are eternal and reflect God's standard of righteousness. These moral principles, such as the Ten Commandments, still apply today and are summed up in the commands to love God and love others.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Christians are not under the Mosaic Law but under the New Covenant. The Mosaic Law was a contract between God and the Israelites, which does not apply to Christians.
The Mosaic Law was terminated by the coming of Christ and the New Covenant. However, some Jewish believers today voluntarily celebrate the Jewish festivals in the Mosaic Law.
The Mosaic Law was given to the Israelites and did not apply to non-Jews.
The Mosaic Law is no longer in effect. However, the moral law is still applicable as it is part of God's universal moral law.