WHY WE DON'T FOLLOW THE OLD TESTAMENT
Our bibles are composed of two major parts, an Old Testament and a New Testament. why were this name selected? A testament is a will or a covenant. We still use the word today when we speak of a "person's last will and testament" These names indicate that the Bible is composed of two wills of God "an old will and a new will" The change in wills is discussed at length in the letter to the Hebrews in a Hebrew 1:1-2 the author says God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, [2] Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; God has changed the manner in which he direct his people. This change was foretold in Jeremiah 31: 31-34 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: [32] Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they break, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord : [33] But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord , I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. [34] And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. notice that God said the Covenant (or Testament) would be different from the law given at Mount Sinai. Why would God change his law? Did he change His mind? I think not. Rather, the change in the law was planned from the very beginning before the world was created, God planned to send his son and that through Jesus we would obtain salvation 1Peter 1:19-20,2tim1:9, 2thess 2:13-14. such a salvation through Jesus Christ could not take Place under the law given by Moses. The Hebrew writer list several proofs that the Covenant between man and God has changed.
1. There was a change in the priesthood. The author Hebrews proves that Jesus is now our high priest (heb 5:1-10) However, Jesus was not a descendants of Aaron, he was not even a tribe of Levi. Rather, we find that the order or Aaron was not meant to be permanent (Hebrew 7:11) hence, it change in the order implies there was a change in the law (Hebrew 7:12-17) Suppose for a moment that the law of Moses was still in effect. We would be forced to say that Jesus violated the law when he became our high priest. However, no violation of the law has occured because there's a new law in effect.
2) There was a change in the covenant. there was a problem with the old Testament. the people did not keep it. There was nothing wrong with the old law itself, but it did create a dilemma. The Law define what sin was, but it brought no relief from sin. it's could only offer a future hope of salvation (romans 7:7-13) the law bound sin to men but Christ freed us from sin. (Gal 4:21-31;5:1-4)
3. There was a change in sacrifice (heb 9:16-28;10:1-8) the old law had yearly sacrifice which could not free us from sin. The new law had a single sacrifice that did free us from sin. Jesus fulfilled the law (Matthew 5:17-18). In other words, he brought it to its completion (Romans 10 vs 4).Before Christ, no one could petfectly keep the law but Jesus proved that it was possible to keep the law. Jesus showed that God's law was good, it was man who was the sinner.
so when did this change take place? Paul said that the old law was nailed to the cross (col 2:14) in (Ephesians 2:15) we are to told that it was put to death on the cross. Hence, the law changed when Christ died on the cross of Calvary the author of Hebrew put it this way...For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. [17] For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth..Hebrew 9:16-17. At the acceptance of old law, Moses sprinkled the people with blood (Exodus 24:8). the new covenant also began with the shedding of blood--- Christ death on the cross. Christ Testament could not come into effect until he, it author, died.
Though the Laws are different can't we follow both of them? Does it makes any difference which Law we turn to? Since both laws came from God. God said that He took away the first to established the second (Hebrew 10:9) We became dead to old law so that we might the joined to a new law (romans 7:4-6) it is the same situation as a husband who's wife had died. while his wife is alive, he cannot be joined to a second woman (romans 7:1-4) but after his first wife dies, he is free to marry. In the same manner, we can't join ourselves to the new law until the first law was taken away. if we didn't wait until that point in time we would have committed spiritual adultery. we cannot even keep it select portion of the old law. The first problem is how do we determine which portion to keep a which to discard? We know that we are inadequate to make such a decision .......O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps....Jeremiah 10:23) besides, it wouldn't work. If we justify ourselves by one part of the law, we obligate ourselves to uphold the whole thing ..For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law... Gal 5:3). it is this very point that caused Paul to argue so strongly against the false teacher of his day. Some Christians, who came from the Jewish faith where teaching that those who were once gentiles must become Jews. However, notice Paul's strong words,Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.(gal 5:4) why then is the old Testament still a part of oir Bible (Romans 15:4) tells us that, it was written for our learning.. To bring us patience, Comfort and hope. it's contains example for us so that we will not be caught unaware and make the same mistakes that isrealites made (1Corinthian10:1-12) in Galatians 3:24-25 we find that the old law is a school master to bring closer to Christ. Now that Christ has come we are no longer under its Dominion. Therefore, we see that we can learn from the examples found in the old Testament but when we must determine what God would have us to do today we must turn to His current will "The New Testament."
by
Jeffrey W Hamilton
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