John Cooper (@no_mark_ever)

The New Testament teaches that we are not under the Old Testament. The Epistles teach that we are not subject to the Law of Moses. This confirms of the decision of the Council of Jerusalem - Acts chapter 15. 'Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses' (Acts 13:38,39) 'Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law' (Romans 3:28) 'Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified' (Galatians 2:16) This teaching of the New Testament (that we are not under the Law) is frequently abused to suggest that Christians are at liberty to do whatsoever they wish and that there is no rule which governs their life. This is however refuted by the New Testament. Christ's teaching: 'Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets' (Matthew 7:12) 'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets' (Matthew 22:37-40) So Jesus summarises the Law into one simple principle. This is confirmed by the apostle Paul: 'he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law' (Romans 13:8-10) 'For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself' (Galatians 5:14) If we follow Christ, that is, his teachings, then we shall observe his teaching about loving our neighbour. In doing so, we shall be fulfilling the righteous requirements found in multiple Old Testament laws. Christ does not leave us without instruction, but instead of giving us multiple laws, he gives us one simple principle, which by following, all the righteous requirement of the Old Testament is fulfilled. Christ is not only a redeemer in whom to trust, but also a lawgiver whom to obey. 'Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ' (Galatians 6:2). Paul became all things to all men, in order to maximise the appeal of the gospel. When dealing with Jews who lived under the Mosaic Law, he behaved like a Jew. When dealing with Gentiles who did not know the Law of Moses, he behaved as a Gentile. However he did not live a lawless life, but was subject to the Law of Christ (i.e. the gospel) - 1.Corinthians 9:21. Christ's law (the Gospel) is a much easier yoke and a much lighter burden than the Law of Moses - Matthew 11:28-30. This is also known as the law of liberty - James 1:25. Does Christ's Law do away with the righteous requirements of the 10 Commandments? Let us see what the apostles had to say about idolatry, taking the Lord's name in vain, dishonouring parents, murder, adultery, theft, bearing false witness, and coveting. 'Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God' (1.Corinthians 6:9,10) 'Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God' (Galatians 5:19-21) 'no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God' (Ephesians 5:5) 'I have delivered [Hymenaeus and Alexander] unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme' (1.Timothy 1:20) 'But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel' (1.Timothy 5:8) 'the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death' (Revelation 21:8)