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The Old Testament teaches that it was to be succeeded by a “new covenant” between God and His people (Jer. 31:31–34) and the New Testament teaches that it fulfills the Old Testament and succeeds it (Heb. 10:16–17). After the death of Christ, none of the inspired writers ever taught that men should obey the Old Testament. Numerous references teach that since the death of Christ, the authority of the Old Testament no longer exists and men are thenceforth responsible to the New Testament (Acts 15:5–11; Rom 7:1–6; Gal. 3:23–25; Eph. 2:14–16); Col. 2:14; Heb. 9:15–17, etc.). This being true, what are some of the implications of this fact?
We are no longer under the Ten Commandments. This is startling and disturbing to many people upon first hearing it. However, when properly understood, it is not disturbing at all. With a bit of reflection, it will be understood that it was contrary to God’s law for men to have other gods before Jehovah, to kill, to steal, to commit adultery, etc., before these were ever written down in the Law of Moses in about 1500 B.C. In fact, because God is perfect in every moral attribute, He has required these traits in men from the beginning. Therefore, these great moral principles are included in the New Testament as well. His moral nature has not changed, neither has His moral law changed. To say that we are no longer responsible for the Ten Commandments is not to argue that we have license to do what they forbid. Certainly, we must continue to abide in God’s moral law, but not because of the Ten Commandments. Rather, because they are incorporated in the New Testament, which has been God’s law for man since Christ died.
If one surveys the Ten Commandments in comparison with the New Testament teaching, he will find that they are all found in the New Testament except the law concerning the Sabbath. Rather than meeting on the Sabbath, Christians met (and yet meet) on the first day of the week to worship God (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1–2). Keep reading…
[Note: I wrote this article for, and it was published in the “Bible Thoughts” Column for the Hood County News, Granbury, Texas, November 6, 1977.]
Attribution: From thescripturecache.com; Dub McClish, owner and administrator.
