Several weeks ago now, I was scrolling through TikTok and came across a guy doing a livestream, inviting viewers to join him on a call and discuss an image that he was showing.
The image said “Christians can’t eat these” and had pictures of several things that would have been deemed unclean by Old Testament standards. I distinctly remember it being bacon, crabs, lobster, and clams.
I had time, so I decided to hop into his call and discuss the topic. I started reading from Galatians 3, and before I could get through the passage I was reading, I realized I was kicked from the call, banned from chatting, and could only listen to him talk about how I was “sowing confusion” and “misguiding people into a false Christianity.”
Anyone who has spent any time in Galatians knows the context; but for those who don’t, here’s a brief overview.
Paul is writing to a group of churches in the region of Galatia who are being led to believe that in order to be fully obedient to Christ, new converts to the Way must also keep the old law (namely, circumcision). Paul’s whole point in the letter is that through Christ, we’re no longer slaves to the old law, but instead we are free to live by the Spirit.
I’m also reminded of a set of posts on Facebook I saw a while back of someone I went to school with that were supporting a similar principle. If I remember correctly, it was a doormat that said something along the lines of, “In this house, we keep Torah.” Folks, that’s a dangerous statement to make.
James tells us that “whoever keeps the entire law, and yet stumbles at one point, is guilty of breaking it all.” Going back to one of Paul’s point in Galatians, nobody could ever keep the old law. It was a guide – a teacher – to show just how difficult (or nigh impossible) it is to live a life that’s truly pleasing to God, which is why Christ came to fulfill it and give us a better way.
The same person also has made posts about keeping Jewish holidays; since Jesus was a Jew, the idea is that we should honor and do the same things Jesus did that were important to Him. But again, those things are part of the Old Law. Jesus was certainly born into that culture and did was appropriate as a member of the Jewish nation, but that’s not the case for us today as Christians. It wasn’t even the case for first century Gentile converts to the Way, who had no idea what the Old Law said, let alone what feasts to keep (again, see Galatians).
As Christians, it’s understandable that there may be questions and confusion about the relationship between the Old Testament law and the teachings of the New Testament. Even though it is clearly addressed in the New Testament several times, we can still see even today that some New Testament Christians have this idea that we are somehow bound to the Old Testament law. To address this, it’s essential to explore the theological and scriptural foundations that clarify how 21st century Christians should view the Old Testament.
The Fulfillment of the Law in Christ
One of the most significant points in understanding the relationship between the Old and New Testaments is recognizing the role of Jesus Christ. In Matthew 5:17, Jesus says, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” This statement is crucial because it emphasizes that Jesus’ mission was not to nullify the law but to complete its purpose.
The Old Testament law was given to the Israelites as a covenant with God, outlining moral, ceremonial, and civil guidelines. These laws were a means to set Israel apart and guide them in righteous living. However, with the coming of Christ, the need for these laws as a means of achieving righteousness was transformed. Jesus fulfilled the law by living a sinless life and offering Himself as the ultimate sacrifice for sin, thus meeting the law’s requirements.
The New Covenant
The New Testament introduces the concept of a new covenant. In Jeremiah 31:31-34, God speaks of a new covenant that will be different from the one made with the ancestors of Israel. This prophecy is fulfilled in Jesus, as explained in Hebrews 8:6-13. The new covenant is established on better promises and is based on the grace of God rather than the adherence to the law.
Under this new covenant, believers are justified by faith in Jesus Christ and not by the works of the law (Romans 3:28). This shift signifies that our righteousness comes from faith in Christ’s finished work on the cross rather than our ability to follow the Old Testament laws.
Paul’s Teachings on the Law
As I’ve covered a bit already, the apostle Paul talks about the relationship between the Old and the New and the role of the Old Testament for Christians quite extensively. Again, in Galatians 3:24-25, he describes the law as a “guardian” or “tutor” that pointed God’s people to Christ. Once faith in Christ is established, we are no longer under this guardian. This metaphor illustrates that the law served a temporary purpose until the coming of Christ, who brings a new way of relating to God.
In Romans 7:6, Paul explains, “But now we have been released from the law, since we have died to what held us, so that we may serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the old letter of the law.” This verse highlights the transition from following a written code to living by the Spirit, which empowers believers to live according to God’s will.
The Role of the Law Today
While New Testament Christians are not bound to the Old Testament law for justification or salvation, the moral principles underlying the law remain relevant. Jesus summarized the law in two great commandments: to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-40). These commandments encapsulate the essence of the Old Testament law and are foundational to Christian ethics.
The moral teachings of the Old Testament, such as the Ten Commandments, continue to guide Christians in righteous living. However, these are now understood through the lens of Christ’s teachings and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The ceremonial and civil laws specific to the nation of Israel do not apply to Christians in the same way, as they were fulfilled and transcended by Christ’s sacrifice.
Conclusion
To put it simply, New Testament Christians are not bound to the Old Testament law as a means of achieving righteousness or salvation. Instead, through Christ’s fulfillment of the law and the establishment of a new covenant, believers are justified by faith and empowered to live by the Spirit. The moral principles of the Old Testament continue to inform our conduct, but they are understood and applied in the light of Christ’s teachings and the grace of the new covenant. This understanding frees us to live in the fullness of God’s love and grace, reflecting His character in our daily lives.
3 responses to “From Law to Grace: Understanding the Old and New”
Great thoughts! I read in the book of Ephesians, especially chapters 2 and 3, as a continuation of Paul’s thought presented in Galations: a new covenant. This covenant includes baptism.
The “mystery” as defined in Eph 3:4-6 is that the gentiles now have access to righteosness and are fellow heirs to the body of Christ defined as the church in Eph 1:22. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Eph 2:8-9) confirms that here Paul is referring to the “works” required by the law of Moses as described in Galations and not the good works we were created for in Christ Jesus (Eph 2:10). Our salvation is NOT dependent on keeping the works of the law of Moses.
He touches on this also in the letter to the church at Colosse in 2:11-12 as being “circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, buried with him in baptism, in which you also were raised with him through faith in the working of God…” I’ve never seen a dead man bury himself and Paul here says the subject of baptism doesn’t raise himself but is raised by someone else and it is through faith. Imagine if your name was recorded in Hebrews 11: “by faith Michael was joined IN Christ through baptism and added to the church.” Or even better, this statement is proclaimed on That Day. This is our version of Solomon’s Ecclesiastes 12:13.
So in Christian baptism who does the work? GOD DID!
Great point, Stacy! I’m planning to write an article about the doctrine of salvation soon, so we’ll definitely be touching on that!
The old Testament was like a parent and child. The children of Israel were given a list of things to do, much like a parent telling a child clean your room, wear a coat today, don’t get to close to the street. The new Testament is like the child that has grown up. Now he has to take what he learned and make his on decision. Like you stated the old law was describes as a “guardian” or “tutor” to prepare us for Christ. The roll of a guardian is eventually out grown, but the lessons learned shape how you make decisions.