Bible Studies

Compliance With Old Testament Principles

by Doug Laird 
01/23/22
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In an attempt to self-justify behaviors inconsistent with Biblical principles, many Church Age believers point out that they are not “under” The Old Testament Law.

Such rationalization has led many Church Age believers to think they can dismiss such commands without there being any earthly (Heb. 12: 6) or heavenly (1Cor. 3: 15) consequences.

The Old Testament Law primarily consists of the requirements and prohibitions found in the Torah. The Jewish Torah is also the first five books found in Christian Bibles.

Many take the position that these principles are old-fashioned, and therefore irrelevant.

However, no one is more old-fashioned, and yet as currently significant, as God, to Whom all of us are going stand before and give a personal account (2Cor. 5: 10/Romans 14: 10) of ourselves. The basis of this accounting is going to be what has been recorded in the pages of Scripture.

The concept of eternal security found in such verses as Romans 8: 1, is referring to the integrity the salvation of a saved soul. Having been saved by (unearned) grace of God, the saved soul remains here on Earth to serve, not to sin.

Granted, many of the prescribed practices that were (past tense) required by Old Testament Scripture did in fact represent the ultimate atoning and final sacrifice that would be, and has been, made by the Person and Work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

With the last and final sacrifice (relating to salvation) having been made on the cross (Hebrews 10: 10), there are no more sacrifices (relating to salvation) to be made or offered.

The purpose for celebrating Communion (The Lord’s Supper) during the Church Age is not to REPRODUCE the body and blood of Jesus, but to bring into REMEMBRANCE (1Cor. 11: 24, 25) the final sacrifice that was finished on the cross nearly 2,000 years ago.

Throughout the course of the Old Testament dispensation and during the Church Age as well, there were and are times when going through the motions of worship and participation in good deeds can become like soiled rags (Isa. 64: 6) in the eyes of God. This takes place if one’s heart (Matt. 15: 8) is not in it, or the spiritual significance (Heb. 10: 5/1Cor. 11: 23, 24/Matt. 3: 11) of the symbolic ritual or activity is not recognized.

“For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment… (Isa. 64: 6 NASB).”
“This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me (Matt. 15: 8 NASB).”

“For it is impossible for the (symbolic) blood of bulls and goats (sacrificed during the Old Testament dispensation) to take away sins. Therefore, when He (Jesus Christ) comes into the world, He says, "Sacrifice and offering You (God the Father) have not desired, But a body You have prepared for Me; In whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You have taken no pleasure (Heb. 10: 5 NASB parentheses mine).”

“…and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "This is My body, which is for you; do this in REMEMBRANCE (not reproduction) of Me. In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in REMEMBRANCE of Me (1Cor. 11: 24, 25 )."

"As for me, I (John the Baptist) baptize you with water for (identifying with my message of) repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize (Eph. 4: 30/Titus 3: 5) you with the Holy Spirit and fire (Matt. 3: 11 NASB parentheses mine).”

In defiance of the Proverbs 30: 6 warning, and to the devil’s pleasure, both Old Testament and Church Age religious leadership have added requirements to what Scripture has to say about salvation and post salvation discipleship (Acts 20: 30). In doing so, they distort the Gospel Message, and promote Matt. 15: 9 scenarios.

'But in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men (Matt. 15: 9 NASB).'"

Such additions to the Gospel Message are not merely inaccuracies, but amount to blasphemy as they are an assault on the integrity of the Person and the Work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Distorting Scripture (2Pet. 3: 16) and the resulting false practices have been an issue from the beginning of the Church Age. 1Timothy 4: 1 tells us it’s only going to get worse.

All of the more than 300 New Testament commandments, when accurately interpreted, are still in force. But this is another lesson for another day.

For the purpose of this presentation, let’s stay focused on the concept that there are Old Testament commands that are, and some that are not, applicable to Church Age believers.

For example, having fulfilled their purpose, the Old Testament animal sacrifices serve no purpose and have no place in the worship rituals or daily lives of Church Age believers. On this point there is consistent agreement among the different denominations within the Christian Community.

However, when it comes to Old Testament commands addressing such things as marital authority, sexual immorality, and the means of securing logistical support for religious organizations, there is much disagreement.

Tithing, required by Old Testament Scripture, was to provide the means of Tabernacle and Temple worship and the logistical support of the type of priesthood that WAS in place during the Old Testament dispensation. The last Old Testament Temple was destroyed in 70 AD.

There will be a new temple built in Jerusalem that plays a role during the future dispensation of the Tribulation period.
The present Temple of God for the Church Age, consists of the collective body of all the individual bodies of born-again believers (1Cor. 3: 16).

The Old Testament priesthood and its high priest was replaced by the royal priesthood of born-again believers (1Pet. 2: 9), with Jesus Christ as its high priest (Hebrews 4: 14).

Having fulfilled its purpose (Matt. 5: 18), the Old Testament command to tithe in support of the Old Testament temple and priesthood, has been replaced with the New Testament principle of the financial support of the local assemblies coming from the free- will, non-compulsory (2Cor. 9: 7), giving by the local congregation it serves.

Advancing disciples (Job 23: 12) WILL consider the maintaining of their personal source of spiritual food MORE important as maintaining their source of the natural food they eat (Job 23: 12/Luke 12: 23)!

If the local assembly or missions is the type that God established, doing it’s job making disciples (Matt. 28: 19) by feeding its flock (John 21: 15-17) with the Word of God, it will receive the financial support it needs (Matt. 6: 33).

There will be no need for religious extortion, placing congregations on false guilt trips, or making promises of financial gain by quoting Old Testament Scripture (Malachi 3: 8 - 10) that does not apply to the Church Age.
If the local assembly is feeding its flock by teaching the Word of God, God will provide all the logistical support that it needs to execute HIS plan (Phil.4:19). If any given local assembly is not receiving the logistical support it desires, the first place its leadership should look in order to determine why is in the mirror! It’s own failure to feed the flock is one of the reasons it’s financial support is first to go during hard times.

Note that the plan for each individual (or local assembly) does not always include financial prosperity, perfect justice, social equality, perfect health, or political freedom. Making such promises or having such expectations sets the stage for disaster if God has other plans in mind.

I think of all the generations of ancient Jews that were born into, lived, and died during the 400 years of slavery; Job who suffered poor health and loss of ten adult children; Joseph who was imprisoned on a false accusation of sexual assault; and the thousands of Church Age believers who were tortured and died for their faith.
. . .

The purpose for the Old Testament animal sacrifices were fulfilled by the ONE-time sacrifice and atoning blood shed of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross (Hebrews 10: 10).

However, does this mean that God has repealed all of the laws of God, recorded in Old Testament scripture?
Absolutely NOT!

Do not think that I came to abolish (all) the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke (detail) shall pass from the Law U-N-T-I-L all is accomplished (Matt.5: 17, 18 NASB parentheses mine).”

This verse affirms the applicability of God’s laws that are in effect, but also confirms that there does a time that certain laws and rituals, having fulfilled their purpose, no longer apply.

Jesus was clearly speaking of the sacrificial animal sacrifices, whose purpose He came to fulfill.

While having NOTHING to do with retaining salvation, compliance with many applicable Old Testament commands, as well as compliance with more than 300 New Testament commands, IS necessary if one is to live the life of post salvation discipleship.

By embracing discipleship, one brings glory to God, and avoids divine discipline (Heb. 12: 6) that is the result of committing post salvation sin.

The obvious Old Testament example of “applicable” Old Testament commands are found in the Ten Commandments. The various sections of the Christian Community are in universal agreement that God still forbids such things as murder, adultery, stealing, and idolatry.

The Christian Community is in universal agreement that the required animal sacrifices have no place in the worship services of the Church Age, but are in disagreement over what Old Testament commands relating to everyday life, and what if anything, should be done to or with violators.

The rule of thumb is clear. If by doing or failing to do anything that Old Testament scripture forbade or required can put our spiritual, physical, familial, political, or social well-being in jeopardy, the command is still in effect.
The classic example of different viewpoints concerning commands addressing every daily life, is the Genesis 3: 16 principle of marital authority, that is still in effect here in the Church Age (Eph. 5:22).

Knowing how great the challenge to obey Eph. 5: 22 can be, compliance with this command is one of the things in which the observing angels (1Cor. 11: 10) take note. The equally challenging command (Eph. 5: 25) directed towards husbands is of equal importance if the marriage is going to glorify God.

The respect for authority, promoted in both Old and New Testament Scripture, is the glue that provides stability in familial (Eph. 5: 22), parental (Eph. 6: 1), and governmental (Romans 13: 1) scenarios.

Note by complying with the Golden Rule (Matt. 7: 12), one will find he or she is automatically in compliance with most of the existing laws of God when interacting with other people. For example, by treating others they way you want them to treat you, you won’t lie to them, you won’t cheat them, steal from them, take advantage of them, neglect them, or gossip about them.

"In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you… (Matt. 7: 12 NASB).”
This is not an option. It is a commandment (Matt. 22: 38 - 40). Note that it is the we WANT others to treat us, and not necessarily the way they do.

To our own hurt, Man has a long history, dating back to the Garden of Eden, of doing things that we think are good for us (Gen. 3: 6), only to suffer negative consequences. As the old saying goes, the road to Hell is paved with good intentions.

As for what is to be done with violators of the laws of God, it is the divinely ordained function of the secular government (Romans 13) to enforce the laws of the land, many of which are (or at least used to be) in agreement with the Biblical laws of God.

Unless compliance with the laws of the secular government would cause one to violate a law of God, Church Age believers are subject to the secular laws of the land.

As for the laws of God that are not (or no longer) addressed by secular law, the principle of individual and national discipline (Heb. 12: 6/Lev. 26) is still in view.

Violations of many Old Testament Commandments was punishable by death, providing there were at least two eye-witnesses to the actual event (Deut.17: 6).

In the times in which we are living, if every rebellious teenager (Deut. 21: 18 – 21), adulterer (Leviticus 20: 10), fornicator (Heb. 13: 4), homosexual male (Leviticus 20: 13) or female (Romans 1: 26), thief (Exodus 20: 15), or teacher of false religion claiming to be a spokesperson of God (Deut. 13: 5) were to be put to death, there would a purge unlike one that has ever been experienced by Man since God reduced the world’s population to eight individuals in the days of Noah.

Note that New Testament Scripture (Heb.13: 4) warns of divine discipline for violating God’s laws, even though the laws of Man addressing such activity have been tossed aside. The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah was recorded In Scripture for OUR edification.

So, what ARE Church Age believers to do, in these end days of great apostasy, violence, and immorality in which we are presently living?

I believe the answer is found in Matthew 13: 24-30 and Matthew 28: 19, 20.
In the Matt. 13 parable, we read of tares growing up in the same crop as wheat. The tares representing evil activity and evil people. The wheat representing divine activity and saved souls. Rather than destroy the standing wheat crop by way of an act of divine destruction on a global level (Gen. 6: 7), during the the tares are allowed to remain until the harvest.

Such tolerance is neither acceptance nor approval of the tares.

This provides time for the unsaved souls to seek forgiveness and receive eternal life.

Unlike the natural tares in the parable that cannot change, there is hope for the lost or wandering souls, for, “Such were some of you (speaking of Church Age believers); but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God (1Cor. 6: 11 NASB parenthesis mine).”
Paul spoke of “some of you,” referring to some of the Corinthian believers to whom this letter (epistle) was initially addressed. Some of the believers had engaged in some of the specific sins listed in the preceding verses (1Cor.6: 9, 10).

“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God (1Cor. 6: 9, 10 NASB).”

The “unrighteous” (in this verse) refers to a born-again believer who chooses not to embrace Biblical discipleship. Biblical discipleship involves the learning (2Pet, 3: 18) and the application (James 1: 22) of Bible principles to one’s choices and actions throughout the course of one’s post salvation spiritual life.

Because of the grace of God, the loss of inheritance is referring to the loss of heavenly reward and privileges (1Cor. 3: 15/Rev. 2,/Rev. 3) and not the loss of eternal life (Romans 8: 1).

In the natural realm, a son or daughter can be disinherited, but never the less remains to be a son or daughter. The same permanency is true in the spiritual realm. The Eph. 4: 30 seal, eternally identifying one as a child of God, that God places on the saved soul, is irremovable (Romans 8: 1), and the child of God status with his or her gift of eternal life are irrevocable (Romans 11: 29).

In Matt. 28: 19, 20, we read the marching orders given to the Church. The preaching of the Gospel Message and the making of disciples (students and appliers of the Word of God) was, is, and is to be, the primary work that the Lord Jesus Christ gave His Church to do.

This ongoing work is to take place in all seasons throughout the course of the Church Age, including the period of great apostasy leading up to the Rapture (1Thess. 4: 17).

No one is excluded from eligibility to be saved (1John 2: 2), as long as he or she is willing to listen to and respond to a presentation of the Gospel Message when God calls.

It is never too late for a born-again believer to engage in Biblical discipleship, glorifying God by conforming to the likeness of the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 8: 29) in thought, speech, and behavior.

Here in the Church Age, one glorifies God by learning and obeying the applicable commands found in both the New and the Old Testaments of Scripture.

The glorification of God and not the promotion of self is the reason that God created the human race in the midst of an ongoing battle in the spiritual realm.