Christianity and The Law of Moses

Introduction

A very common Biblical question has to do with the relationship between the Old Testament and the New Testament believer. There are two very common views. 

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The first is often held by the non-believer who struggles with Christianity because of the seemingly harsh things that happen in the Old Testament. Not only do they miss the context of the event, but they also see no distinction between the Old Covenant of Israel and the New Covenant in Jesus Christ. 

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The Second take is one commonly held by Christians. We are taught the Old Testament no longer applies therefore we are not bound by anything in it. This allows us to distance ourselves from rules and some of the difficult topics found in the Old Testament. 

Neither camp is completely right. Both often miss the truth about the relationship between the Old and New Testaments. Christians often conflate the Law of Moses with the entirety of the Old Testament. What is debated typically centers around the Law of Moses, so we will start there.

The Law of Moses 

The Law of Moses falls under what is called the Sinaitic or Mosaic Covenant. This is a covenant that God made with the nation of Israel when they were at Sinai. 

Parties of the Covenant

So, the two parties of the covenant are God and Israel (the nation) and the stipulations of the covenant is what constitutes the Law, which begins with the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20). This Law became the constitution and set of laws by which Israel was to be governed. This type of government is called a theocracy. 

The Law applied to Israel specifically. They were to be a kingdom of priests who displayed God’s goodness and righteousness to the world. More of the Law code was revealed and reiterated in subsequent chapters and books.  

Does the Law of Moses still apply today?

There is some debate as to whether the Law of Moses still applies to Christians. In fact, this is one the problems that the Apostle Paul addressed frequently throughout the first century churches that he wrote to. God made a specific covenant with a specific people (Israel) in a specific time. The stipulations (Law) of that covenant applied only to the ones with which the covenant was made (Israel). 

Jesus fulfilled the Law (Matt. 5:17) and through His work of atonement made it no longer necessary thus bringing it to its conclusion. Jesus instituted the New Covenant through His blood. Therefore, we can conclude that we as Christians are not bound by the Law of Moses. This is made clear in several passages in the New Testament. 

Similarities Across Time

However, we should notice that the moral directives that predate the Mosaic Law, that are contained in the Mosaic Law, and that came after the Mosaic Law are strikingly similar. Jesus affirmed many of the Laws of the Old Testament. This is because they all originate from the attributes of God. They all come from the same place. 

Moral Law vs. Ritual Law

Typically, the place where we can make a distinction is between the moral law and the ritual law. The moral law, murder, stealing, etc., are true for all time. These laws are reiterated in the New Testament. The ritual law, like food laws, washing laws, etc., were for the nation of Israel in a specific time and place for specific reasons. 

One of the primary reasons was to distinguish them, as God’s chosen people and beacon unto the world, from the other peoples and nations. God gave the stipulations of the Mosaic covenant to distinguish his people from the surrounding cultures, to preserve the lineage of the Messiah, and to shed light on our sin. 

The Sacrificial System 

The New Testament makes clear that the sacrifice of animals was never sufficient to take away sins. It helped mankind understand that sin could only be covered by blood (death) and helped man understand the importance of a repentant heart. This is also why the penalty for many of the laws within the theocracy was death. It showed that sin brings death, but faithfulness to God brings life. So, the Law and animal sacrifice could not save: 

Copy of Heavenly Things

In the Old Testament ritual system, the specifications of the items and buildings, like the tabernacle, were given by God as copies of the heavenly things. So, too is the animal sacrificial system a copy of the true heavenly sacrifice that was to come.

When Jesus fulfilled the Law and the work of atonement, the Sinaitic (Mosaic) Covenant, along with the sacrificial system, was terminated as it was no longer needed. We no longer needed the representation because the real had come. So began the New Covenant of the blood of Jesus Christ for all those who believe.  

By Birth and By Faith

One primarily became a member of the Sinaitic (Mosaic) covenant through birth (promise 1 – a physical nations and land), but one becomes a member of the New Covenant by faith (promise 2 – a spiritual people). 

Yet, it’s clear from reading the Old Testament that not everyone born under the Mosaic Covenant was saved. So, how were they saved? The same way that those before and after them were saved, through faith. 

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Jesus: Sufficient For All Sin for All Time

Those who had faith in the Old Testament were also saved by the blood of Jesus. His sacrifice was sufficient to cover all sin for all time, past, present, and future. The sins of the Old Testament believers were set aside until the anticipated Messiah could come and cover them.

Conclusion

God’s two promises to Abraham (1. A Land and a Nation (a physical people), 2. Father of many nations (a spiritual people)) set the lineage of the chosen people and the Messiah, Jesus. Israel was a covenant people governed as a theocracy by the Laws of the covenant of Moses until the time of the Messiah. 

When the Messiah, Jesus, came and lived a sinless life, died, and rose again He fulfilled the Sinaitic (Mosaic) covenant, thus concluding it. Jesus at that time instituted a New Covenant. This is a faith covenant not bound by physical lineage or geographic location. It is for all who accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Blessings