The Relationship Between Christians and Old Testament Law
> Christianity, while rooted in Jewish tradition and scriptures, has a distinct approach to the laws of the Old Testament. The relationship between Christians and these laws has been a subject of theological reflection since the inception of the faith. Central to Christian belief is the conviction that Jesus Christ fulfilled the Old Testament law, establishing a new covenant with God that both continues and transforms the old.
The Fulfillment of the Law in Christ
The key to understanding why Christians do not follow all the Old Testament laws lies in the teachings of Jesus and the writings of the New Testament. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Romans, articulates a foundational Christian belief: “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes” (Romans 10:4). This statement encapsulates the view that the coming of Christ brought the Old Testament law to its intended completion.
– The New Covenant
In the book “God’s Big Picture,” Vaughan Roberts provides a panoramic overview of the Bible’s narrative, including the transition from the Old to the New Covenant. The Old Covenant, given to the Israelites, included moral, ceremonial, and civil laws that governed every aspect of life. These laws were not only regulatory but also pointed forward to the coming Messiah.
With the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, Christians believe that the Old Covenant is fulfilled. Jesus inaugurates the New Covenant, which is marked by grace rather than law. The Sermon on the Mount, for example, reflects a deepening of the moral law that focuses on the heart and not merely external compliance.
– The Law’s Threefold Division
Theologians traditionally divide Old Testament law into moral, ceremonial, and civil categories. While the moral law, encapsulated in the Ten Commandments, reflects God’s character and is timeless, the ceremonial and civil laws were specific to the cultural and historical context of the Israelites.
– Moral Law: Christians see the moral law as enduring, providing ethical guidelines that reflect God’s character.
– Ceremonial Law: These laws related to the system of worship and sacrifices, which Christians believe were a shadow of the work of Christ (Hebrews 10:1).
– Civil Law: The civil laws were specific to the nation of Israel and its governance, which does not directly apply to the Christian context.
The Role of the Holy Spirit
Another significant aspect of the New Covenant is the role of the Holy Spirit. Christians believe that the Holy Spirit writes the law on their hearts (Jeremiah 31:33, Hebrews 8:10), guiding them in truth and empowering them to live in a way that pleases God. This internal guidance replaces the external adherence to a complex code of laws.
Continuity and Discontinuity
While Christians affirm a continuity between the Old and New Testaments, there is also a clear discontinuity regarding the law. Jesus’ teachings often reinterpreted Old Testament laws, emphasizing mercy, justice, and faithfulness over strict legalism (Matthew 23:23).
The Council of Jerusalem
The early Christian church, as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, faced the question of whether Gentile converts needed to follow the Old Testament law. The Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15) concluded that Gentiles were not obligated to adhere to the entirety of Jewish law, signaling a decisive moment in the Christian understanding of the law.
Conclusion
Christians do not follow all the Old Testament laws because they believe that in Jesus, the law has been fulfilled. This fulfillment does not negate the law’s value but rather reframes it in the light of Christ’s life and teachings. Through Jesus, Christians are invited into a relationship with God that is mediated not by law but by grace, with the moral principles of the Old Testament law finding their true expression in a life led by the Spirit. This nuanced relationship with the Old Testament law allows Christians to honor their heritage while living out the transformative reality of the New Covenant.
