Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:17-20
This topic of the law is something that has always intrigued me. I am not a scholar, did not attend seminary, and I am no theologian, far from it.
But the one thing I do desire, is to know the word of God and understand it.
When I’m writing devotions, usually it’s from my daily studies of scripture, one that might jump out at me. Sometimes it can be a question someone has asked about.
One question often asked about is OT and NT (Old Testament, New Testament ) law. Then and now.
This question can sometimes be used to try to stump believers.
For instance;
In the book of Leviticus (OT), you’ll find many laws that were given, some include the food you can, and cannot eat, how to cut your beard, the kind of material you can wear in clothing, how to breed animals and the list goes on and on.
Here’s my take from scripture.
Some might ask and study this topic to better themselves in Christ.
The bad part is, when someone is using this topic of OT and NT law, just looking for a loophole to pacify their sin, usually they’re very angry and unless they allow the Holy Spirit to penetrate their heart, they’ll stay in angry mode. Because in essence, they’re looking for loopholes to contradict God’s holy word and to do whatever they want and to live however they please.
As Christian’s, we’ll probably figure it out quickly, after just a brief conversation with people. We’ll know who’s serious and who’s just looking to pacify their sin.
You see, Christ came to fulfill every law and hanging onto the old law is a refusal to submit to God‘s plan for the fulfillment of the law in Jesus.
“Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.”
After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable.
“Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them?
For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.)
Mark 7:15-19
The Old law was temporary, because with Christ, a different way to govern his people was established. Remember, He came as the High Priest to fulfill the law.
If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also.
Hebrews 7:11-12
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.
Hebrews 4:14
In essence, one sacrifice (Jesus, He alone crucified at Calvary) replaces all previous sacrifices. The OT laid the foundation for all of this.
I believe the OT was a type and shadow of what was to come of the new foundation, Christ. Because the OT prophecy was pointing us towards a Savior.
The New Covenant was prophesied in the Old Testament. In fact, many of the OT prophets alluded to the Coming Messiah, our New Covenant.
The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.
John 1:29
And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
Luke 22:20
Before the coming of this faith, we 👉🏻were (past tense) held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. 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.
Galatians 3:23-25
But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”
Galatians 4:4-6
After I studied scripture on this topic, I came to the conclusion that if a true believer reads scripture and prays for understanding, they should know Gods truth, pretty quick.
If they reject it, then they’ll be answering to God for it. Either way, we should seek the truth out for ourselves. We need to learn to rightly Divide it. Then, nobody can deceive us and we won’t deceive others.
“Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
2 Timothy 2:15
It does us no good to twist scripture just to eliminate our guilty action’s, because whether you agree or not, you must repent. You will not get to argue at the judgment. That’ll be too late, unfortunately.
You can’t get ready, you have to be ready.
No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.
Luke 13:3
For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins.
Hebrews 10:26
My prayer for you today is that God’s truth will fall fresh on you, today!
Many Blessings,
Connie
