There should be no contest between the Law of Moses, the Old Testament and the Gospel of Christ. Many, not understanding that the New Testament has superseded and replaced the Old, (insofar as being our authority in religion today), hold on to practices and beliefs not intended to be believed and practiced in this age under the authority of Jesus Christ, the Gospel dispensation, (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:1-13).
At least three N. T. books are devoted to proving that the Gospel of Christ is a system separate and independent of Judaism. These books are Romans, Galatians, and Hebrews. Also a complete chapter in (2 Corinthians 3:1-18). Many religionist today do not hesitate to go back to the O. T. in an effort to find "authority" for people to "keep the Sabbath," practice "infant membership," the "burning of incense," the use of "instrumental music," and to have a special "priesthood," the "eating of certain (foods) meats or not eating" which ever the case might be. These and many other false doctrines are taught by well meaning people simply because they do not differentiate between the law of Moses (the Old Testament) and the Gospel of Christ.
One wonders why these same folks do not practice everything which the O. T. authorized,
allowed, or commanded? To be consistent, they must! Still, it would only condemn them unless
they kept it perfectly, which none did (Acts 15:6-12; Galatians 5:1-6). The same "door" through
which these things already mentioned were brought in, would likewise allow and even authorize
multiple marriage partners, concubines, owning slaves, circumcision, animal sacrifices, three
annual trips to Jerusalem by the male members, etc., etc., etc. Again (Galatians 5:3)!
The Definition Of Terms Used..
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In order to study any subject it becomes necessary as well as advantageous to define terms to be used in said study.
We learn that the word "Law" is sometimes divided into three parts in the N. T.: "The Law," "the Prophets" and "the Psalms", (Luke 24:44).
(A). Sometimes the word "Law" is used to refer to the Ten Commandments as is the case in (Romans 7:7), "..I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, "Thou shalt not covet" (Exodus 20:17).
(B). Sometimes the word "Law" has reference to the Pentateuch, the first five books of the O.T., such as quoted in (Matthew 12:5) from (Numbers 28:9-10); (Luke 2:22-23) from (Leviticus 12:2 & Exodus 13:2; (John 8:5); from (Leviticus 20:10).
(C). Sometimes the word "Law" refers to the Psalms, (John 10:34), from (Psalms 82:6).
(D). Sometimes the word "Law" refers to the entire O. T. system which began to be given at Mt. Sinai, (Ephesians 2:15; Romans 7:4, 6).
The N. T. refers to only two great lawgivers. They are of course Moses and Jesus Christ, (John 1:17; Hebrews 1:1-2; Acts 3:22-23; James 4:12; See Matthew 17:1-5).
The word "gospel" refers to the entire system of truth as given by Christ, His apostles and other men whom He inspired and as is recorded in the New Testament, (Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians 15:1-3). It is called "The Faith" in (Jude 3, Galatians 1:23 and Acts 6:7). In (Romans 10:8) it is called "the word of faith"; & "grace and truth" in (John 1:17); the "perfect law of liberty" in (James 1:25) & "Faith" in (Romans 3:28 & Galatians 3:23-25).
In (Galatians 3:1-18) Paul teaches that God promised that He would bless all nations through Abraham's seed which is Jesus Christ (V-16). This promise was made about 1921 B.C. Once God makes a covenant (contract or promise) it cannot be voided, he will keep His promises.
God made this covenant this promise, this agreement with Abraham that He would one day "bless all nations through his seed." But four hundred and thirty years afterwards or about 1491 B.C. God gave the "Law of Moses" to Israel.
Paul's teaching in (Galatians chapter three) is this: The giving of the Law of Moses could not invalidate His previously made promise to Abraham to bless all nations though Abraham's seed (Genesis 12:1-3) which is Jesus Christ. Redemption for all nations is therefore through the promise (Christ) and not through the Law of Moses. See?
Anticipating their reaction to what he taught them, Paul by inspiration asked the following question and gives God's (Christ's) answer: "What purpose did the Law serve then, if there was no salvation under that law?" Paul says:
(1). "It was added because of transgressions "till the seed (Christ) should come" (Galatians 3:19). Through the "Law" came the knowledge of sin (Romans 3:20). so the "Law" was given to show sin up for what it really is, to define what sin is,(Romans 7:13).
(2). The "Law" held its subjects in bondage (Galatians 4:8-10); they were "shut up under sin," (Galatians 3:22). All were under a curse who did not keep it perfectly, so "all sinned and came short of God's glory" (Romans 3:23). Under the "Law" the only provisions for forgiveness of sin was the blood of bulls and goats which could never take away sin, (Hebrews 10:1-4). So, by the works of "the Law" no flesh shall be justified (Galatians 2:16). It remained therefore for the "perfect Lamb of God" to shed His blood to free even those who were under the "Law" from their guilt of sin (Romans 3:21-26; Hebrews 9:15; Matthew 26:28; Ephesians 1:7; 1 John 1:6-7). The "Law", therefore, held its subjects in bondage to their guilt of sin (Romans 7:23-25).
(3). The "Law" was to bring those under it to Christ. That was its purpose in addition to showing up sin for what it really is and what it costs mankind. Paul says it was a "Schoolmaster or tutor" to bring them to Christ (Galatians 3:24).
(1) The "Law" contained hundreds of prophecies telling the people what Christ would be like and the nature of His redemptive work. These identified the Messiah or Christ and the nature of His kingdom when He came into the world (John 5:39, 46-47; John 18:36).
(2) Since people were in bondage to sin, they were led to seek a Savior. Their guilt made them realize they needed help. So the "Law" led those who believed and knew its purpose to the "Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world" (John 1:29; 2 Timothy 3:14-15).
(1). It was said to be "weak" (Romans 8:3).
(2). It had to be "fulfilled" (Matthew 5:17). When it was "made full" or fulfilled, it had accomplished its very purpose and so was "done away" (2 Corinthians 3:11; Colossians 2:6-14).
(3). It was temporary (Galatians 3:19) to last "till" the seed should come to whom the promise was made." Jesus was promised the "throne of His father, David" (Luke 1:32-33 ; Acts 2:29-36; Philippians 2:9-10).
(4). It could not provide complete forgiveness of sins (Galatians 2:16; Romans 3:20; Hebrews 10:1-4, 9, 10).
(5). It was "Imperfect." How was it imperfect when it is called "perfect" in (Psalms 19:7)? Because sins were not removed from God's memory until blotted out in the blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, never to be remembered again (Jeremiah 31:31-34). Imperfection was not a problem of the "Law" per-se, if one lived it perfectly and never broke it, one would be sinless. I Know this is so, for Christ lived and died under that law (Galatians 4:4), fulfilling its every command and requirement, and He was the only one who ever did such, He had no sin (Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 1:18-19; 1 Peter 2:21-25). He asked the Jews "Which one of you convicts Me of sin (John 8:46)?"
(5a). Those who lived and died under that law had those sins totally forgiven when Jesus died on Calvary's cross according to (Hebrews 9:11-16). We often use this passage (and properly so) to show why the thief on the cross was not subject to New Testament baptism.
(1). (Ephesians 2:14-16)-"For He is our peace, who hath made both (Jew & Gentile ket) one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in His flesh the enmity (hatred), even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in Him self of twain one new man, so making peace; And that He might reconcile both (Jew & Gentile ket) unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity (hatred) thereby."
(2). (Romans 7:4)- "Wherefore, my brethren, you also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ (His death on Calvary ket); that you should be married to another, even Him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God."
(3). (Romans 7:6)- "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."
(4). (Colossians 2:14)- "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross."
(5). (Hebrews 7:12)- "For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law."
(6). (Hebrews 10:9)- "Then said He, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that He may establish the second."
(7). (Galatians 3:24-25)- "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster (tutor) to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster (tutor)."
(1). (Galatians 5:2)- "Christ will profit you nothing."
(2). (Galatians 5:3; Romans 3:23)- "Become debtor to do the whole law-the only hope is living so perfect as to merit salvation by law keeping. None has done that save "the Christ" and so, all are sinners in need of His salvation "by grace through faith" through gospel obedience (Ephesians 2:8-10; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Romans 1:16-17; Romans 6:1-6; 6:15-18).
(3). (Galatians 5:1)- "Entangled again in the yoke of bondage."
(4). (Galatians 5:4)- "Have fallen from grace."
(5). (Acts 15:24)- "Your souls have been subverted..we (the apostles ket) gave no such commandment."
As to be circumcised, and to keep the law. Such teaching is not apostolic. It is therefore sinful to bind parts of the law.
Some will ask then, "since we are not under the law (the O.T.), may we disobey the 10 commandments without guilt?" The answer is no, but not because they are in the 0.T. The 10 commandments with one exception are also taught and bound on followers of Christ in the New Testament. The one exception being the Sabbath. It is absent from the N.T. and a new day, of significance is given, the "first day" of each week (Acts 20:6-7; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2). See (Romans 13:8-10). The Old Testament teachings are still useful "for examples" of God's dealings with mankind (1 Corinthians 10:11), and "for our learning" (Romans 15:4).