Applicability of the Old Law

Examining Questions, Challenges, and Objections to the Annulment of

the Old Law

Goal

1. To show the Old Law is no longer binding.

2. To defend that the New Covenant contains the only law, the Law of Christ, for Christians to obey and keep.

3. To demonstrate the rightful place and application of the Old Law.

Motivation

• “Peculiar People” (Titus 2:14; I Peter 2:9)• Pressure to Conform (Romans 12:2; I

Corinthians 15:33; I Peter 1:13-15)• Test Unique Truth (John 17:20-23; Ephesians

4:2-7; I Thessalonians 5:21; I John 4:1, 6)• Defend Unique Truth (James 3:17-18; I Timothy

1:18-20; 6:3-5, 12; II Timothy 2:15; Jude 1:3)• Promote Unique Truth (II Timothy 2:24-26; 4:1-2)

Definitions• Covenant = agreement, arrangement, alliance,

treaty, or pact• Laws = Statutes = Ordinances = Commands:

Rules that govern under the penalty of cursing (punishment) or under the hope of blessing (reward) – Deuteronomy 27-30; Leviticus 18:5.

• The Law = set of laws that define a covenant.• Law and Covenant are interdependent and

virtually synonymous in Scripture (Deuteronomy 4:13; 5:1-3; Exodus 34:27-28; Ephesians 2:14-15; II Corinthians 3:14-15).

“Has the Old Law passed away?”

• Ephesians 2:14-16

• Colossians 2:13-23

• Galatians 3:19-25

• Hebrews 7:11-15

• Romans 7:1-7

• Romans 10:4-5

• Romans 8:4-5

• Hebrews 9:11-20

• Hebrews 8:7-13

• Hebrews 10:8-10

• I Corinthians 7:17-19

YES!

Hebrews 7:11-14

Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.

“Jesus did not come to destroy.”“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:17-19)

“Jesus did not come to destroy.”“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy, but to fulfill” (Mat 5:17)

• “destroy” (Gr, kataluo) – overthrow completely, dissolve, dismantle– Compare to: Matthew 24:2; Acts 5:38-39; II

Corinthians 5:1

– Contrast with: Ephesians 2:15 (katargeo), Hebrews 10:9 (Gr, anaireo)

• Not-But Construction: Emphasis is on “fulfillment”.– Does not entirely eliminate “destroy”.

– Compare to: John 6:27; 12:44; I Corinthians 1:17

“The law is good if one uses it lawfully”

• Judge ancient Jews (Romans 2:12)• Taught, affirmed, and obeyed by Jesus (Matthew

5:19; Mark 10:17-20; Galatians 4:4)• Is still historically true (II Peter 1:19-21)• Considered “Scripture” (II Timothy 3:15-17; I

Timothy 5:18; Deuteronomy 25:4; Luke 10:7)– doctrine– reproof– correction– instruction in righteousness

“The law is good if one uses it lawfully”

• Profitable for learning and instilling hope (Romans 15:4)

• Provides evidence and witness to New Testament claims, refuting disbelief (Hebrews 12:1-2; II Peter 1:19-21)

• Provides corrective examples and admonition (I Corinthians 10:6-11)

• Instructs how to behave righteously in demonstrating new principles in action (I Corinthians 9:9)

• But, it cannot directly authorize or prohibit!

Instrumental Music?

• Instrumental music was commanded as part of tabernacle and temple worship (II Chronicles 29:25-28):And he stationed the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with stringed instruments, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, of Gad the king's seer, and of Nathan the prophet; for thus was the commandment of the LORD by his prophets.

• Vocal music is commanded today (Colossians 3:16).

Consistency? Modesty?

• Modesty is commanded in Old and New Covenants (I Timothy 2:9-10).

• Definition of modesty:– Applied to Jews in Old Covenant and outside Gentiles

(Exodus 28:42; Genesis 3:10-11, 21; Isaiah 47:2-3).– Immodesty identified with biological anatomy and acts of

procreation (Leviticus 18:6-19; Song of Solomon 4, 6)– Therefore, minimum limits of modesty (for example,

thigh) are as universal, transcendent as our bodies.

“A liberal, lawless Messiah?”• God has given other laws in the past (Genesis

2:16-17; 9:12-17; Revelation 4:3)• The New Covenant has a New Law!

– Messianic kingdom and law (Isaiah 2:1-3; 42:1-6)– Jesus would exile observers of “lawlessness” (Matthew

7:21-23; 13:41)– Jesus removed the first law to establish the second

(Hebrews 10:8-10)– Subject to Jesus’ commands and will be judged by them

(I John 2:1-5; John 12:48)– Subject to the “law of liberty” and will be judged by it

(James 2:12-13)

“Under law toward Christ!”

… I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. (I Corinthians 9:19-22)

“Ceremonial versus Moral Law?”

… Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another -- to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. … What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.” (Romans 7:1-7)

(see also, Romans 13:8-10))

“Paul kept the law!”

• Once Paul made a point to openly keep the law to dispel rumors that he was telling people not to keep the law (Acts 21:17-26).

• Key: Option versus Obligation, Tradition versus Law.

• Timothy was circumcised, but Titus was not compelled (Galatians 2:1-5)

• Paul rebuked those who withdrew from Gentiles, who did not keep the law (Galatians 2:11-14)

I Corinthians 7:17-19

But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches. Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters. Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called.

“The purpose of the Old Law?”

What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; … For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. (Galatians 3:19-21)

Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful. (Romans 7:13)

… Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. (Galatians 3:24-25)

“No one can annul the Old Law”• And this I say, that the law, which was four

hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. (Galatians 3:17)

• The Old Law had a built-in limitation of scope and purpose – to bring us to Christ.

• For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God (Galatians 2:19)

“What must I do to be saved?”

• OC: You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the LORD. (Leviticus 18:5; Galatians 2:10; Acts 15:10)

• NC: Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:37-38)