Views: 1<\/p>
[Note:\u00a0 <\/strong>This MS is available in\u00a0 <\/strong>larger font on our Brief Articles 3<\/b>\u00a0page.]<\/span><\/p>\n In the context of convincing the Galatian Christians that the Law of Moses was inferior to the Law\/Gospel of Christ, Paul anticipated the foregoing question of our title (Gal. 3:19). Much confusion still reigns on the relationship between the Old and New Testaments, causing many errors in doctrine and practice.<\/span><\/p>\n Some see the New Testament as a mere continuation of the Old, with men responsible to both. However, they are two separate bodies of law containing various contradictory statutes (e.g., days and acts of worship, circumcision, offerings, priesthood, et al.).<\/span><\/p>\n The Old Testament foretells the coming of a new covenant (Testament) (Jer. 31:31\u201334), which the Bible identifies as the \u201cbetter covenant,\u201d mediated by Christ (Heb. 8:6\u201313). In several direct statements, the Bible declares that the authority of the Old Testament has been replaced by that of the New (e.g., Gal. 3:23\u201325; 5:1\u20136; Eph. 2:15; Col. 2:14; Heb. 1:1\u20132; 10:9; et al.). Various illustrations make the same point (Rom. 7:1\u20134; Gal. 4:22\u201331; Heb. 7:12; 9:15\u201317). The cross is the epochal event that closed the Old Testament age and opened that of the New.<\/span><\/p>\n Questions immediately arise: \u201cAre we no longer under the Ten Commandments?\u201d No, we are not. However, all of them except the sabbath law are also found in the New Testament. We are obliged to obey them, not because they are in the Old Testament, but in the New. \u201cIs the Old Testament not inspired?\u201d Yes. The passing of its authority does not imply anything concerning its inspiration or accuracy. \u201cDoes the Old Testament have any practical value today?\u201d Yes. Paul said that its contents are for our \u201clearning\u201d and our \u201cadmonition\u201d (Rom. 15:4; 1 Cor. 10:11). Consider:<\/span><\/p>\n The Old Testament\u2019s basic purpose was to reveal man\u2019s sinfulness and need of a Redeemer and to point to that Redeemer in advance of His coming (Rom. 7:7; Gal. 3:19, 24).<\/span><\/p>\n [Note: <\/strong>I wrote this article for and it was published in The Lighthouse, <\/em>weekly bulletin of Northpoint Church of Christ, Denton, TX, June 5, 2011, of which I was editor.]<\/span><\/p>\n Attribution: <\/strong>From thescripturecache.com<\/em>; Dub McClish, owner and administrator.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Views: 1[Note:\u00a0 This MS is available in\u00a0 larger font on our Brief Articles 3\u00a0page.] In the context of convincing the Galatian Christians that the Law of Moses was inferior to the Law\/Gospel of Christ, Paul anticipated the foregoing question of our title (Gal. 3:19). Much…<\/p>\n\n