Large Group #4: The Law

On April 22nd, Tim tried to address the question(s): how should we, as New Testament believers, interpret all of the laws in the Old Testament? What do they teach us about God? And how do we know which ones to follow and which ones we are free to ignore?

They're tough questions to answer, and whether we can truly know the answer...who knows. But at the very least we can study God's word diligently and seek wisdom from Him :)

So here are some notes about the law (written by Tim):

The Law

I’ve classified the Law into four main categories. This is entirely my own classification, and I’m no expert, but I’ve found this division helpful for myself.

Moral law: Ten Commandments, etc.

These are the laws that we definitely ought to keep today, because they reflect God’s character. There are many lists of do’s and don’t in the Bible. One example is Galatians 5, where the works of the flesh are contrasted with the fruit of the Spirit. But Jesus told us that the entire Law can be summed as loving God with everything we have, and loving our neighbors as ourselves (Luke 10:25-28; Matthew 22:34-40)

Other laws:

    - Laws with spiritual symbolism: Passover (Exodus 12), sacrifices (Leviticus, esp. chapter 16, describing the day of atonement)

Note the symbolism present. The Passover lamb was required to be a one-year-old male, without any blemish or defect. But these signs, having been fulfilled are no longer required. 1 Corinthians 5:7 identifies Christ as “our Passover lamb.” Hebrews 9:24-26 explains that because of Christ’s sacrifice, the old sacrificial system has been abolished.

Today, we have a new ritual of spiritual symbolism to replace these: the Lord’s Supper. The disciples were commanded by Christ, “Do this in remembrance of me.” The old rituals looked forward to Christ’s coming. The Lord’s Supper looks backward to commemorate it.

    - Laws for protection: handwashing

Washing hands before a meal was not explicitly commanded in the Mosaic Law, but there are many purification laws in the Old Testament that included ritual washing. So the Pharisees introduced it as a requirement. It was not until the 1800’s, when the germ theory of disease was developed, that the health benefits of washing one’s hands before eating were discovered. Jesus explains in Mark 7 that these are not necessary, because what we eat does not defile us.

    - Laws for separation: Circumcision (Genesis 17)

Circumcision was instituted as a requirement for the Israelites as part of God’s covenant with Abraham. It was taken seriously. Note God’s anger with Moses in Exodus 4:24-26.

However, Paul notes in Romans 4 that circumcision came after Abraham’s faith was counted as righteousness (Genesis 15:6), not before. Today, we are set apart by God’s Spirit working within us. We have the “law written on our hearts,” which God promised in Jeremiah 31:33. Circumcision is now inward rather than outward (Romans 2:28-29).

Controversy today: Keeping the Sabbath

Some people believe that since the Sabbath is included in the Ten Commandments, it ought to be kept rigorously today. Against this, others will point out Romans 14:5 - “One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.” Either way, we should remember Jesus’ instruction that “the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27)