The Law of Moses and the Christian Faith

Matthew 5:17-19 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."

You see how this statement hinges upon the meaning of "till all is fulfilled." Depending on the interpretation of this phrase, all Christians are either on the hook to obey the whole Law of Moses and the complete provisions of the book of Leviticus or we are not. How can we ever know for certain how to interpret it? That seems rather important, don't you think?

On the one hand, some who advocate for the keeping of the law argue that not all is yet fulfilled. What remains to be fulfilled? Well, Jesus has not yet returned to earth. But does our redemption from sin and adoption as sons rely upon Jesus's return, or is it already complete?

It seems to me that the most reliable means of interpreting the words of Christ are his own disciples. Paul seems to be the most prodigious writer and analyst of the meaning of the Christian faith juxtaposed with the Mosaic Law. He was a well-educated Jew who practiced the law assiduously before Jesus appeared to him and changed the course of his life. The other disciples who had actually walked with Jesus acknowledged Paul's authority and respected him as a fellow apostle (Galatians 2:9).

One time Paul called out Peter's hypocrisy for acting like a Jew when in the company of Jews and like a Gentile when in the company of Gentiles. (Galatians 2:11)

Peter himself was given a vision by the Lord of "unclean" animals (animals that Moses had forbidden the Israelites to consume) that the Lord commanded him to kill and eat. Peter interpreted this to mean that he was to spread the Gospel to the Gentiles and said the following to a centurian that the Lord had sent to him: “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean." So God Himself told Peter, the apostle to the Jews, to ignore what Peter understood to be Jewish law. (Acts chapter 10)

In Paul's theology, the practice of circumcision is the symbol and the representation of the whole law. We see in the book of Galatians, which was entirely written as a treatise against Judaisers teaching the necessity of keeping the law to Christian believers, Paul sums up his argument with this in chapter 5:11-12 And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased. I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off (or "emasculate themselves")!

So are we saved by grace? Of course! Are we saved by the keeping of the Law? Paul said that if we could be saved by keeping the Law then Christ died in vain.

Galatians 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” 11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” 12 Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.”

13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Galatians 5:2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. 3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. 4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.

Galatians 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.

We see in the book of Acts when the apostles in Jerusalem were given the news that Gentiles were accepting the Gospel and how Jewish believers had come down and told the new Gentile converts that they must be circumcised if they were to be saved. The council of Jerusalem was asked if there were any admonitions or rules they would put upon the new Gentile believers. Their answer concluded with only the following admonitions:

Acts 15:28-29 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well.

I think we've safely concluded our study with that; but you will also notice that Paul even declares that meat whether or not offered to idols is a matter of personal conscience, along with the observance of festivals or holy days, as opposed to a definitive black-and-white legal matter. (Colossians 2:16)

If you want to celebrate Jewish holidays, that's fine. If you don't, that's also fine.