Today, there are those who would lead us to believe that the Old Testament is all about law and that it is just for the Jews. On the other hand, they would tell us that the New Testament is all about grace and that it is just for the church. As a result, many believers are unaware of what is written in the Old Testament. Even though Jesus said that Moses wrote of Him they have been persuaded that any effort to keep the commandments as recorded in the Old Testament is to Judaize.
For many years now I have been telling everyone who will listen that we should be keeping the commandments of our Creator - The Ten Commandments - all ten. I call attention to the fact that sin is defined in the New Testament as the transgression of the law and caution that we must not break our Creator's commandments by following the traditions of men. After twenty years of sharing what I have learned there is one thing that has become abundantly clear. There is a great deal of confusion about the law - and God is not the author of confusion.
In the book of Acts we learn that the first "church members" if you will, were Jewish people and that they were all zealous of the law. Does that mean that they believed that salvation is obtained by way of the law? Absolutely not. They understood - by way of the law - that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin. They understood perfectly what Jesus had done for them and that they were saved by grace through faith and not by works of the law. Why then were they all zealous of the law? It is because by way of the Holy Spirit they understood that the law defines sin and that they must not practice sin, for to do so was to despise the Spirit of Grace.
The first "church members" because they accepted Jesus as their savior were empowered by the Holy Spirit to be able to keep the commandments of God. The same is true today. The commandments of our Creator stand fast for ever and ever; and as believers we must not practice sin.
The scriptures Old and New were written for our admonition.
Earnestly contending for the faith once delivered to the saints; I’m Richard Rives with Just the Facts.
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