A lot of you seem to bring up OT law, commands, and or instances of wrath and ask why Christians do not follow these examples? Some of you even point to Christ's words in Mt 5 where He tells us that "I did not come to abolish the Law but to full fill it." As some sort of binder for the Christian to smash babies against rocks or stone non virgins on their wedding day or whatever the case maybe. So the question is Why do Christians seem get to pick and choose what they adhere to?
The Short answer is that Christians are not OT Jews. (For that matter NT Jews are not OT Jews. Meaning they are not bound by all of the laws and regulations found in the OT.)
Explanation: The OT Law is/was divided up into three parts. The Moral code Which includes the thou shalt not as in the ten commandments.
The Ceremonial law, which dictated how to worship, Who had what role in the temple, what was to be sacrificed and how, Holy days and general observances.
The Civil law. This dictated the day to day life of the OT Jew. It concerned Loans, living arrangements, slaves, food, hygiene and the like.
Because the civil Law, and the Ceremonial law only concern the day to day life and worship of OT Jews (pre sacrifice/atonement of Christ) They do not apply to the NT Christian. Why? Because all of those laws were "full filled" in Christ sacrifice. What does that mean? It means "we" are allowed to be outside the Laws that governed OT Judaism Because all of those laws rules and observances all pictured or pointed to what Christ did for us on the cross. The short answer is that all of those things are still sin, but atonement has covered those sins. Hence "completion of the Law."
So why are we bound to the Moral law? In truth the believer is not.(Or so says Paul in Romans) Not as a means to obtain righteousness anyways. The moral law is the template of what a believers life looks like when it belongs to Christ. In otherwords we do not follow the Law to become believers. The Law follows the life and heart of a true believer. "If you love Christ and the Father, you will Keep their commands."
The Short answer is that Christians are not OT Jews. (For that matter NT Jews are not OT Jews. Meaning they are not bound by all of the laws and regulations found in the OT.)
Explanation: The OT Law is/was divided up into three parts. The Moral code Which includes the thou shalt not as in the ten commandments.
The Ceremonial law, which dictated how to worship, Who had what role in the temple, what was to be sacrificed and how, Holy days and general observances.
The Civil law. This dictated the day to day life of the OT Jew. It concerned Loans, living arrangements, slaves, food, hygiene and the like.
Because the civil Law, and the Ceremonial law only concern the day to day life and worship of OT Jews (pre sacrifice/atonement of Christ) They do not apply to the NT Christian. Why? Because all of those laws were "full filled" in Christ sacrifice. What does that mean? It means "we" are allowed to be outside the Laws that governed OT Judaism Because all of those laws rules and observances all pictured or pointed to what Christ did for us on the cross. The short answer is that all of those things are still sin, but atonement has covered those sins. Hence "completion of the Law."
So why are we bound to the Moral law? In truth the believer is not.(Or so says Paul in Romans) Not as a means to obtain righteousness anyways. The moral law is the template of what a believers life looks like when it belongs to Christ. In otherwords we do not follow the Law to become believers. The Law follows the life and heart of a true believer. "If you love Christ and the Father, you will Keep their commands."
