Our article this week is a companion lesson to this morning sermon “Important Changes Have Been Made.”  One of the most controversial and confusing topics about the law is has the Old Testament  (Mosaic) law been removed and replaced with a new law, the Law of Christ (the New Testament). The misunderstand of the Biblical answer to this question is the primary cause of several false teachings in the religious world.

Let us consider the answer to this question from the pages of God’s word. We will begin with the text for today’s sermon. “If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? 12  For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. (Heb. 7:11-12) Notice the Hebrew writer says with a change of  Levitical the priesthood to the priesthood after the order of Melchisedec priesthood (priesthood of Christ, clearly stated in the book of Hebrews) it is necessary for a change of the law. Why,  for Christ was not of the Levitical tribe and could not be a priest under the law of Moses (the Old Testament). One question affirms we cannot be under the Old Testament Law today in regard to our obedience to God and the salvation of our souls. That question is, “are we  under the Levitical priesthood or the priesthood of Christ?”  The answer is no we are not under the Levitical priesthood, so we are of necessity  under a new law.

That brings us to the second part of the controversy, is there a distinction made in the scriptures between what is called the ceremonial law and the moral law, or as stated by some between the law of God and the law of Moses?  Man has tried to make this distinction to not follow the ceremonial part of the Old Law, that is offering animal sacrifices, offering incense and other actions pertaining to the temple worship. They attempt to separate this part of the law from the morals laws of the Old testament, specifically the  ten commandments given by God to Moses at Sinai. This is done primarily to seek to hold on, to bind the keeping of the Sabbath day. Having said that, it must be stated that many who do not try to bind the Sabbath day today still make a distinction between what they call the ceremonial and moral law. Let me hasten to affirm that the principles of  all of the ten  commandments, except ‘keeping the Sabbath day’ are taught in the New Testament.

There are many scriptures that relate to this error in the book of Hebrews, but let us focus on two outside of Hebrews that make it clear that the “law of God“ and the “law of Moses” in the Old Testament are one and the same and are not binding as such today.  

Rom 7:4-7  “Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. 5  For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. 6  But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. 7  What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.”

First Paul states in verse four that we are “dead to the law by the body of Christ, that we should be married to another.” In verse six  he says we are “delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held, that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.”  In verse seven Paul makes it abundantly clear that the moral law or ten commandments were part of the law to which we are to die, from which we are delivered when he specifically mentioned  the command, “Thou shalt covet.” There is no mention of the worship commands except when he said I “for I speak to them that know the law” in verse one. Space will not allow us to insert the entire text of 2 Corinthians 3:6-16, but I encourage you to read it.  I will mention a few key points that show the “law of Moses,”  the ten commandments, are what are spoken about in this text. In verse six Paul said they were ministers of  the new testament,  not of the letter (Old Testament).

In verse seven that which was glorious was written in stone (ten commandments) and to be done away and in verse eleven the glorious is done away.  In verse eight the ministration of the spirit is more glorious (i.e. the New Testament).  In verse 16 the veil of the Old Testament removed in Christ.  In Hebrews chapter six Jesus is the mediator of a new and better covenant and in verse thirteen that which is old was ready to vanish away.  In Hebrews 9:15 Christ is the mediator of the new covenant by which the sins under the old covenant were remitted.  Eph 2:15-16  “Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;  16  And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:”

No we are not under any of the Old Testament in regard to the forgiveness of our sins and our worship and service in the Lord’s church.  There have been many important necessary changes.