I'll never forget the first time I broke the law.
The year was 2008—I was driving down a long road in California with my girlfriend. For some reason, the speed limit was low; like 45 or 50 MPH. Adding to our boredom, it was late at night and dark, and we were trying to get back to campus because we had class and work and everything the next day. Out of nowhere, my windows and mirrors were flooded with flashing blue lights. I looked down at the dash and noticed I was driving over 80 MPH.You know the feeling—that guilt and shock you get after being caught, like when your Mom catches you sneaking a cookie before supper. You find it hard to breathe, you become alert, your heart rate accelerates, your pupils dilate.
All of us have broken a law or two. Big ones or little ones. There are literally too many rules and regulations out there to count, so most of us have broken laws without even knowing it.
Have You Ever Broken God's Law?
Specifically, have you ever broken a law recorded in the Old Testament, in the first five books of the Bible?Whenever the Bible uses the words "the law," it is almost always referring to the Mosaic Law. The Mosaic Law refers to the first five books of the Bible, written by Moses. For the sake of clarity, I use the terms “Old Testament law,” “Mosaic law,” and “Jewish law” interchangeably. Care to guess how many laws are written in the Old Testament law? Six hundred and thirteen.
What Should We Do with the Old Testament Law?
Are we supposed to follow it all as best we can? As you read this, you are probably disobeying a few in live time (see Deut. 22:11). Are we supposed to trash it? A lot of people would love to cut Leviticus off their reading list. Are we supposed to pick and choose for ourselves which laws to follow? (I don't like the "no pork" rule, but I'm gonna tell my kids about the "no tattoo" rule!)In this article, we will learn from a devout Jewish man who learned about Jesus and converted to Christianity. His conversion completely changed how he read and applied the Jewish law.
Romans 8:1-4 (NIV) — "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit."
Three Ways Christians Should Apply the Old Testament Law
This Jew-turned-Christian, Paul, tells us three ways Christians should apply the Mosaic law. First, he tells us we are “Free from the Law.” This means, if you are a Christian, you are not under the law and Christ is the end of the law. Second, you should Learn from the Law.The law teaches us about God and the type of people He is trying to form. Third, and most importantly, you can Fulfill the Law. The New Testament teaches us that Jesus has "fulfilled" the law, and our job is to "fulfill" the law.
Christians don't follow the law; they fulfill the law.
What to Learn If You Are Not a Christian
You have probably grown up hearing Christians tell you "The Bible says..." But that is very confusing to you, because the Bible says a lot of stuff—how to perform animal sacrifices, what to do if you get a skin disease, what kind of meats you cannot eat, and so forth.Maybe some of you have had the Bible pushed into your face, and you have concluded that you want nothing to do with a religion of Do's and Don'ts. Neither do I.
I want you to hear two things: First, we will learn exactly what Jesus taught Christians to do with the Jewish law. Second, we are all law-breakers in God's eyes. We all deserve punishment for our sin. This text explains that Jesus died for us, taking our punishment, and if you trust in Jesus "there is no condemnation" for your sin.
What to Learn If You Are a Christian
Knowing what to do with all the Old Testament laws is one of the most confusing things about Christianity. It almost tore apart the early church (see Acts 15). How do we know which laws to follow and which ones to toss?I want you to finish this article equipped, knowing exactly how you should read, understand, and apply the 613 laws contained in the first five books of your Bible.
#1: You Are FREE from the Law
Romans 8:2 (NIV) — Jesus... has set you free from the law.
Almost every time you see the word "law" in the New Testament, it’s a reference for the Mosaic Law. Moses was famous for bringing down the 10 commandments from Mount Sinai. But he also had a team of scribes who compiled the first five books of the Bible. It includes a variety of statues and regulations: Warfare law, Tort law, Contract law, Property law, Food laws, Sabbath laws, Family law, Medical law, Criminal law, and so forth.
Romans 8:2 tells us we are "Free from the law." To understand what that means, let’s take a look at some similar phrases in the New Testament.
"You Are Not Under the Law"
Over a dozen times, Jesus’ first followers told us that we are “not under the law.” (Rom. 6:14-15; 2:12; 3:19; Gal. 3:25; 4:5; 4:21; 5:18; Heb. 9:22; 1 Cor. 9:20; Phil. 3:6; Heb. 7:11; 9:22)In America, we pride ourselves in saying "nobody is above the law." Well, for Christians nobody is under it. To be "under the law" means the law is an authority "over you." Each of us has a boss, an authority over us, who tells us what to do and what not to do. We must obey. These verses mean Christians are under no obligation to obey the Jewish law. (Schriener, Law and It’s Fulfillment, 128-129.)
"Released from the Law"
Twice in Romans 7 we see that Christians are “released from the law.” (Rom. 7:4, 6. See also Gal. 2:19; 3:13; 3:23-25; Eph. 2:15) In other words, if the law says you have to do something, now you are released from having to do it. If the law forbade something, you are now released from that prohibition. (Dunn, Paul and the Mosaic Law, 301.)"Christ Is the End of the Law"
Furthermore, “Christ is the end of the law.” (Rom. 10:4. See also Jn. 1:17; Rom. 8:2; Eph. 2:15). When Jesus resurrected, he marked the end of an era. It was an era in which humans pleased God by following a list of do's and don'ts; and, if they messed up, they must sacrifice an innocent animal to pay their sin debt. Christ ended this arrangement (or covenant) and instituted a new covenant."Set Free from the Law"
Being “set free from the law” (Rom. 8:2) means two things: First, if you are a follower of Jesus, the penalty of your sin is handled. There is "no condemnation." Second, you are no longer "under" the Jewish law code. You are under a new law, which we'll discuss next.So then, does this mean we can chop the law out of our Bibles? May we skip over Leviticus and Deuteronomy as we read the stories of scripture? No! These commandments are intended to teaching us something.
#2: You Should LEARN from the Law
The Law Is Not Bad.
The law is not unimportant. The law is good! In fact, the founders of our faith loved the law. Moses told us to "Keep this book of the law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night" (Joshua 1:8). David said to "Delight in the law of the Lord" (Psalm 1:2). Psalm 119 reads "I love your law!" Paul says "I delight in God's law." Timothy was told, "the law is good if you use it lawfully" (1 Timothy 1:8). God says he will one day put his law in our minds and hearts (Hebrews 8:10).God Created These Laws to Teach Us Something
The Mosaic Law teaches us that there is right and wrong: Morality is not subjective or up to each person’s personal preference.The Mosaic Law teaches us that we have all sinned: All have fallen short of God's holy standard.
The Mosaic Law teaches us that we cannot be good enough to be acceptable in God's presence: If you want to get your life right with God, the answer is not to try really hard to be really good. The only way is to humble yourself before God, recognize that Jesus has died for your sin, and devote your life to Him.
Christians Have a New Law Code to Follow
We are no longer under the law, or under the obligation to obey the Jewish law. Instead, we Christians are under the authority of a new law: the “law of the Spirit.”Romans 8:2 (NIV) — through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.
"The Law of Sin and Death"
This “law of sin and death” in Romans 8:2 is referring to the Mosaic or Jewish law. It is the "law of sin" because that's what laws do: They prove that you sinned. It is the "law of death" because if you try to get to heaven by following the law, it won't work.“The Law of the Spirit"
This "law" has several nicknames:- Law of Christ (Gal. 6:2; 1 Cor. 9:21)
- Law of Liberty (James 1:25, 2:12)
- Law of Righteousness (Rom. 10:4)
- Perfect Law (James 1:25)
- Royal Law (James 2:8)
- New Commandment (Jn 13:34; 1 Jn. 2:8)
Here’s how it works: Christians apply the laws of the Bible the same way Jesus did. And the same way Paul did. And the same way the first followers of Jesus did. We read the law, meditate on the law, and then learn the intent of each law. Our task is to study the law, searching for the moral essence of the commandment. (Garland, Romans, Rom. 8:2.)
The Moral Essence of the Law
Every law in the Old Testament has a purpose. Allow me to give you a modern day example. In a 1919 Supreme Court case, it was decided that you may not yell "Fire!" in a crowded theatre. Does this mean I am permitted to yell “Fire!” in a crowded restaurant? Or can I yell something else, like “Active shooter!” in a theatre? Of course not. The intent of the law is to not spread panic without cause. I am not allowed to cause a room or building full of people to fear for their lives and erupt in panic. That is not morally acceptable behavior.Jesus intends for his followers to read the law, and allow God's Spirit to show them why that law exists.
This Is Far Less Complicated, but Far More Demanding
Christians do not follow the Mosaic law; we follow Jesus. Following Jesus rather than following the law is far less complicated, but far more demanding. (Andy Stanley, Irresistible: Reclaiming the New That Jesus Unleashed for the World [Zondervan, 2018], 200.) Let’s explore some differences.Hate: According to the Old Testament law, if I hate someone, all I have to do is avoid them. All I have to do is restrain myself from strangling them. According to Jesus, however, I have to do everything in my power to reconcile the relationship. I am called to love my enemy and pursue those who offend me.
Divorce: According to the Old Testament law, if my wife and I are not getting along, I just have to wait for a reasonable excuse to divorce her. And there is a long list of options to choose from in the Mosaic law. According to Jesus, however, I have a much higher calling. I must love my wife as Christ loved the church, I must exhaust every option to fix the relationship. The law of Christ calls me to repent, pursue, and commit.
Employees: According to the Old Testament law, I need to compensate my employees and be fair. The Mosaic law has commands which specify how quickly I must pay my workers, but nothing about how hard or how long I make them work. According to Jesus, however, I need to go the extra mile and treat them how I would want to be treated.
In other words, Jesus had a practice of studying the laws of the Old Testament, discerning the moral essence or intent of the commands, and then raising the ethical bar.
An Example
I recently met up with a friend who owns a business in town. It was the first time I met him at his office. As soon as I entered his office, I was unimpressed. It was cramped, the door opened at an inconvenient angle, there was a set of stairs right by the door that went to storage, his office space was barely able to house his desk, and he had nowhere for me to sit.He said "Hey Nik, let's go down the hall where we can sit and chat." He then led me into another office—spacious, with a larger desk and a bookshelf, two windows with a nice view, a separate seating area with cushioned chairs, and plenty of space. I said "Hey man, why isn’t this your office? You literally own this business!" He responded, "Jesus told us to treat others the way we want to be treated. I didn't feel like giving that other office to anyone was the right thing to do. Nobody else wants that tiny space, so I took it."
Where did my friend learn to have an attitude like that? He didn't get that from reading line by line through the Mosaic Law. He got that by following Jesus' example, who told us “Anyone who wants to be a leader among you must be the servant." (Matthew 20:26) Jesus would customarily read and teach the Jewish law by reading a text, explaining the moral essence of the commands, and then preaching about the kinds of people we need to become. This is the spirit of the law versus the letter of the law. It is the law of Christ.
The Law was Written for our Learning
The early followers of Jesus, most of whom had converted to Christianity from Judaism, loved the law. They continued to read, study, and rely on the Jewish law in order to follow Jesus well. Paul taught repeatedly that the law was written for “our” (believers in the New Testament era) instruction.Romans 15:4 (ESV) — For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction...
1 Corinthians 9:9-10 (NLT) — For the law of Moses... was written for us...
1 Corinthians 10:6 (ESV) — Now these things took place as examples for us...
1 Corinthians 10:11 (ESV) — Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction...
When a Christian Reads the Old Testament Law, They Should Be Learning
Many Christians are in the habit of picking and choosing which Jewish laws to keep and which ones to discard. Some believe we should divide the laws into three categories: Moral, Civil, and Ceremonial, and then only obey the moral laws. But who decides which laws are marked “moral?” And to what extent do we need to obey these laws?This is a hypocritical, unreliable way to read the Mosaic law. Do not read the Jewish laws and ask "Should I keep this law, or not?" Do not look at the commandments and decide which one to put in the Obey category or the No Longer Applies category. This is not the way Jesus or his early followers taught us to read the Old Testament.
Instead, read the Jewish law and ask "What kind of people was God trying to form? What kind of person does he want me to be, based on this commandment?”
Brian Rosner Puts It This Way: (Brian S. Rosner, Paul and the Law: Keeping the Commandments of God, ed. D. A. Carson, vol. 31, New Studies in Biblical Theology [Downers Grove, IL; England: InterVarsity Press; Apollos, 2013], 113.)
"Believers do not rely on the law, but on Christ; do not boast in the law, but in God through Christ... and are not obliged to obey the law, but rather apostolic instruction."
In other words, in the New Testament, believers are not told to follow the law. We are told to follow Jesus. We are told to follow Paul, as he follows Jesus. We are told to follow the example of the apostles.
How did these Christians apply the laws of the Old Testament? They read the Law. They learned the intent, the purpose, the moral essence. They reapplied it. That is the Law of Christ. And that is how we “fulfill” the law.
#3: You Can FULFILL the Law
Romans 8:3-4 (NIV) — For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son... that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Laws never make people good. Laws only make people guilty.
“The law was powerless”
The Mosaic law has one major flaw: It is powerless to make people good. (Craig S. Keener, Romans, New Covenant Commentary Series [Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2009], 99.)Want to make the citizens of your city into good people? Do not make a bunch of laws. Want to make your coworkers into better people? Do not create a thicker HR handbook. Want your kids to be well behaved, good kids? Do not post a long list of rules on the fridge. That’s not how things work. Laws never make people good; they only prove that people are guilty.
Laws do not make people good. Laws make people guilty.
Don’t Follow the Law; Fulfill the Law
Romans 8:4 (NIV) — ...in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
The writer tells us we are free from following the law. Instead, we should fulfill the law.
- Matthew 5:17 says Jesus did not come to abolish the law, but "fulfill" the law.
- James 2:8 tells us to "fulfill the royal law."
- Galatians 5:14 tells us the whole law is "fulfilled" when we love our neighbor.
- Romans 8:4 says the law is "fulfilled in us."
- Romans 13:8 says he who loves his neighbor has "fulfilled the law."
- Romans 13:10 says love is the "fulfillment of the law"
- Galatians 6:2 says to bear one another's burdens and so "fulfill" the law.
Question: Where Does the Law Say "Bear One Another's Burdens?"
Answer: It doesn't. The law never states to bear another's burden.Here's what the law does say: Is your neighbor broke? Then give them a loan. Hopefully they pay you back. Is your neighbor starving? Next time you are gleaning crops from your field, throw some of the stalks on the ground so they can come back at night and take your scraps.
But the law of Christ says this: The intent, the purpose, or the moral essence of the law is to “bear one another's burdens.” Forget the gleaning laws, forget the loan laws, and help your neighbor. In so doing, you are fulfilling the law. There is no need to obey, or even remember, all the ins and outs of the Jewish law. If you are in the habit of bearing the burdens of your neighbor, you have fulfilled the law. It is as though the law is written on your heart. (see Jer. 31:33; Heb. 8:10, 10:16)
We fulfill the law when we read it and meditate on what we've read. When we learn the heart of God in the subtext of the law. When we fulfill God's intent in the law.
God doesn't want us to be rule followers. He wants us to become the types of people who do not need any rules to follow. Who seem to have the law written on our heart.
Far less complicated. Far more demanding.
Caution: New Driver
Have you ever seen one of those "Caution: New Driver" stickers on a car? I don't know about you, but I get nervous when I see these stickers. I remain aware of that driver and what they are doing. I give extra space and extra grace because new drivers are usually not good or safe drivers.But they just finished the class! They just studied the rules! They just passed the test! I, on the other hand, have forgotten my drivers' education class, forgotten many of the rules, and would do poorly on a written driver’s test. Shouldn't new drivers be the best drivers?
Of course not. Anyone experienced driver knows that safe driving is more about getting the "feel for the wheel" than following the rules. Eventually you forget the rules and you go into autopilot.
All those rules they taught you in driving school go out the window (pun intended): Put your hands on 10 and two... Check your mirrors every 5 seconds... Don't play the radio or use sunglasses, that's distracting... Keep a 3-second rule when following another car... Turn the wheel hand-over-hand...
You just get the feel for it. It becomes second nature. Today, I do not follow the exact instructions of my driver's ed teacher. Nevertheless, I am a much better driver now. I have a feel for how I should behave myself in traffic. I know what to look out for.
Jesus never wanted us to read the Jewish law by choosing which laws go into the Obey basket or the Forget It basket. That is not how Christians read the Jewish Law. He wants us to learn the intent of the laws and fulfill them.
If You Are a Christian Over 40 Years Old, Read this Carefully
If you are over 40 and have been a Christian for a while, you probably remember the Apologetics days. People were asking "Is God real? Is the Bible scientific? Was Moses a historical person?" Thankfully, Sean McDowell and Lee Strobel got us through those days.Emerging adults are not asking those questions anymore. They are very open to spiritual things. Today, they are asking "Is Christianity good? Does it work? Does Jesus really provide abundant life?"
I am very concerned about dropping rates of Christianity among younger generations. We will not win them back with a list of rules. By the way, I don't want to be part of a "thou shalt / thou shalt not" religion either.
Emerging adults want to know if our faith is good. And let me tell you, Jesus is so good! This book is so good! So don't just prove the Bible is true. Prove it's good. Do that by fulfilling the law.
If You Are Not a Christian, This Is My Hope for You
I hope this article explains why there is so much confusion about what “the Bible says." I hope it's inspired you to open the Bible and read it for all its worth. The Bible is such a good book, when you know how to read and apply it correctly. I hope reading this has relieved any pain you may have experienced from Christians who have tried to shove the Bible, full of it’s tedious Jewish laws, in your face.Most of all, I hope this makes you want to follow Jesus Christ.