Old Testament
Christians: What exactly pertains to you in the Old Testament if you do not follow it?
I have talked to several Christians and the consensus seems to be that none, and I repeat, none of the rules from the Old Testament applies to them since the New Testament came. Is this true? If so, why do you guys follow the Bible and not just the New Testament?
Thanks, Peace.
Just know that there are exceptions to every rule. Your question to Christians about why follow some but not all rules of the Bible is a very good one. It also happens to be one that needs to be addressed to today's Christians.
General consensus may be, and often is, simply incorrect. Majority rules is not a factor in the Kingdom living or Kingdom principles. ALL SCRIPTURE applies to Christians so that we may live godly/holy/sanctified lives:
"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." [2 Timothy 3:14-17 NIV]
When written Paul was addressing saved Jews who had indeed studied the Torah since childhood. They ALREADY knew about living holy. They were no longer keeping commands in order to be saved/righteous but were keeping commands to live as God had purposed them to live.
Gentiles did not KNOW the Torah--the commands of God but it was and is still available to be studied. There are many Christians living today who have set aside sanctification. This IS the work of the Holy Spirit however we must submit to the Holy Spirit. So many do not know what God deems right or wrong because they do not look at His first commands--those of the Old Testament. They ignored the Holy Spirit when He taps them or gives them a nudge because so much has become acceptable by society that it seems right to live as the world lives. However, God still wants us holy/sanctified and that is a lifelong process after one is reborn. Ignoring the Old Testament and God's commands is basically saying that what God said then doesn't matter. He's still the same God and He's still got the same purpose for mankind: to worship Him and live sanctified lives.
Do we kill every enemy because the OT says so? No. Jesus fulfilled the OT laws so we are not "BOUND" by or "under" them in order to be saved. Jesus gave us a fulfilled command regarding our enemies: Pray for them and love them. That does not take away from the OT but fulfills it. Through the OT we know moral codes by God's standards which should not be set aside and Jesus confirmed this in His teachings (Matthew 5, 6, 7).
There is a somewhat "watered down" Gospel being preached. A gospel that keeps people happy and coming to church--an "easy gospel." In addition since the first century, there have been divisions and disputes within the Christian faith and this has been ongoing to today. Of course, as with all faiths there are also instances of either incorrect or incomplete teaching--and lax studies of God's word--the Bible. Bible study has boiled down to how to be happy and self-help techniques and is often failing in the primary goal Christians should be striving for: HOLINESS/SANCTIFICATION (how we live our daily lives NOT FOR OURSELVES BUT UNTO GOD). Everything is relative.
Sanctification refers to the process of being made holy/being set apart. It might seem that Christians no longer want or strive to be that but want to be "normal" or like everyone else in the world. Our lives as Christians do not stop at being saved; it starts. Unfortunately, for most it involves putting on an "I'm a Christian t-shirt or badge" and going on with life as usual adding going to church and singing with each other on Sundays--MAYBE. Still some need to look back to God's laws on holy living because OBVIOUSLY the epistles are not enough which is why we are reminded in 3 Timothy that all scripture is for teaching and correction.
What Jews and some Christians are aware of: In order to be deemed righteous by God Jews must keep the commands of God--the 613 commands of the Torah. These commands are throughout what Christians refer to as the Old Testament. Jesus told us that He came to fulfill the laws not abolish them:
"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven." [Matthew 5:17-20 NIV]
Continued: http://www.geocities.com/jeme1252/Misc/Continuation2.html
 |
 BIBLE OLD TESTAMENT King James Version Audio Book mp3 $5.99 Time Remaining: 2h 22m Buy It Now for only: $6.99 |
 Teaching Company Old Testament Audio CD NEW Bible $49.99 Time Remaining: 13h 50m Buy It Now for only: $49.99 |
 Various Old Testament CD Box Set NEW $30.93 Time Remaining: 14h 46m Buy It Now for only: $30.93 |
 Alexander Scourby Old Testament on Cassette 3 Volumes Complete $9.99 Time Remaining: 21h 36m |
 Audio Compact Discs The Old Testament Volume 1 28 Disc $49.95 Time Remaining: 22h 41m Buy It Now for only: $49.95 |
 NKJV Audio Bible MP3 CD Old New Testament DRAMATIZED $0.99 Time Remaining: 1d 56m Buy It Now for only: $0.99 |
 NASB Old and New Testament on CD read by Steven B Stevens $25.00 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 1d 3h 38m |
 60 CD KJV AUDIO BIBLE James Earl Jones+Jon Sherberg Old New Testament Complete $42.89 Time Remaining: 1d 5h 17m Buy It Now for only: $42.89 |
 NEW AUDIO BIBLE 60 CDs The Bible Experience OLD Testament Dramatized TNIV $34.22 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 1d 6h 52m |
 Zondervan NIV Bible on Cassette tape Old Testament New International Version $4.99 Time Remaining: 1d 18h 41m |
 AUDIO KJV HOLY BIBLE Old New Testament King James Version Complete Word Of GOD $39.89 Time Remaining: 1d 20h 19m Buy It Now for only: $43.99 |
 Exodus 1 13 Old Testament Bible Volume 4 Book On CD $9.95 Time Remaining: 1d 20h 33m Buy It Now for only: $9.95 |
 1 Samuel 1 16 Old Testament Bible Volume 19 Book On CD $9.95 Time Remaining: 1d 20h 34m Buy It Now for only: $9.95 |
 Nehemiah Old Testament Bible Volume 32 Book On CD $9.95 Time Remaining: 1d 20h 37m Buy It Now for only: $9.95 |
 Job 1 27 Old Testament Bible Volume 34 Book On CD $9.95 Time Remaining: 1d 20h 39m Buy It Now for only: $9.95 |
 Psalms 117 150 Old Testament Bible Volume 39 Book On CD $9.95 Time Remaining: 1d 20h 41m Buy It Now for only: $9.95 |
 Ezekiel 36 48 Old Testament Bible Volume 52 Book On CD $3.95 Time Remaining: 1d 20h 42m Buy It Now for only: $3.95 |
 Daniel Old Testament Bible Volume 53 Book On CD Audio $9.95 Time Remaining: 1d 20h 44m Buy It Now for only: $9.95 |
 BIBLE OLD TESTAMENT King James Version Audio Book mp3 $5.99 Time Remaining: 2d 3h 43m Buy It Now for only: $6.99 |
 Bible on Cassette Cliff Barrows Old Testament New King James $4.99 Time Remaining: 2d 3h 44m |
 AUDIO KJV HOLY BIBLE Old New Testament King James Version Complete Word Of GOD $43.99 Time Remaining: 2d 4h 16m Buy It Now for only: $43.99 |
 Inspired By The Bible Experience Old Testament CD $67.73 Time Remaining: 2d 5h 26m Buy It Now for only: $67.73 |
 Set of FOUR Great Figures of the Old Testament The Teaching Company $39.99 Time Remaining: 2d 7h 5m |
 Great Stories of the Old Testament Reverand John R Claypool IV Audiobook $29.00 Time Remaining: 2d 19h 20m Buy It Now for only: $29.00 |
 1953 Vintage Holy Bible Old Testament Audio Phonograph $10.99 Time Remaining: 2d 19h 22m Buy It Now for only: $10.99 |
 Old New Testament Bible on Cassette NIV DeLuxe Fully Dramatized Like New $25.00 Time Remaining: 2d 20h 34m |
 World English Bible Old Testament Audiobook on 1 MP3 DVD $4.49 Time Remaining: 3d 2h 28m Buy It Now for only: $4.49 |
 World English Bible Old Testament Audiobook on 2 MP3 CDs $4.49 Time Remaining: 3d 2h 28m Buy It Now for only: $4.49 |
 The Bible Experience Old New Testament 80 CD New $83.33 Time Remaining: 3d 4h 7m Buy It Now for only: $83.33 |
 Bible On Audio CD KJV Old Testament Exodus 26 40 New $1.59 Time Remaining: 3d 18h 1m Buy It Now for only: $1.59 |
 Holy Bible on cassettes NIV Old New Testament $15.00 Time Remaining: 4d 24m |
 BIBLE OLD TESTAMENT King James Version Audio Book mp3 $5.99 Time Remaining: 4d 28m Buy It Now for only: $6.99 |
 AUDIO KJV HOLY BIBLE Old New Testament King James Version Complete Word Of GOD $42.89 Time Remaining: 4d 2h 17m Buy It Now for only: $42.89 |
 Complete audio Holy Bible King James Ver Scourby Old JE Jones New Testament $39.99 Time Remaining: 4d 2h 31m Buy It Now for only: $43.99 |
 FINDING CHRIST IN THE OLD TESTAMENT SCOTT HAHN LIVE $19.99 Time Remaining: 4d 3h 45m |
 Nostalgic James Earl Jones New Testament Old Radio Bible Audio Book Cassette $9.95 Time Remaining: 4d 3h 51m |
 The Book Of Mormon Bible Scriptures Audio Book CD Religion New Old Testament $8.95 Time Remaining: 4d 5h 9m |
 24 COMPLETE CASSETTES THE OLD TESTAMENT 2 EZRA THROUGH MALACHI AUDIO BOOKS $19.95 Time Remaining: 4d 22h 45m Buy It Now for only: $19.95 |
 THE BIBLE ON CASSETTE KING JAME VERSION OLD NEW TESTAMENT BY HOSANNA $19.95 Time Remaining: 5d 2h 41m Buy It Now for only: $19.95 |
 Great Courses THE OLD TESTAMENT Religion History Parts 1 2 24 LECTURES $7.99 Time Remaining: 5d 3h 15m |
 Bible Eyewitness Old Testament by Focus on the Family Organization 1999 U $4.99 Time Remaining: 5d 16h 16m Buy It Now for only: $5.99 |
 The Cassette Bible NASB Complete Old Testament $5.00 Time Remaining: 5d 19h 27m |
 HOLY BIBLE OLD TESTAMENT AURORA MINISTRIES+ BONUS BOOK $9.99 Time Remaining: 5d 21h 51m |
 BIBLE 59 CASSETTE TAPES OLD NEW TESTAMENT ISBN 1574490230 LACalif pu del $29.99 Time Remaining: 5d 21h 57m Buy It Now for only: $34.99 |
 BIBLE OLD NEW TESTAMENT King James Version DVD mp3 $5.99 Time Remaining: 5d 23h 15m Buy It Now for only: $6.99 |
 BIBLE OLD TESTAMENT King James Version Audio Book mp3 $5.99 Time Remaining: 5d 23h 15m Buy It Now for only: $6.99 |
 ZONDERVAN AUDIO BIBLE ON 64 CDS NIV COMPLETE DRAMATIZED OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT $99.99 Time Remaining: 5d 23h 37m Buy It Now for only: $99.99 |
 World English Bible Old Testament 3 MP3 CDs $7.00 Time Remaining: 6d 11m Buy It Now for only: $7.00 |
 The Bible Experience New Old Testament complete audio cd set $1.28 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 6d 32m |
 THE OLD TESTAMENT AUDIO CASSETTES THERE ARE 24 TAPES LDS MORMON TAPES $12.00 Time Remaining: 6d 4h 33m |
 Word of Promise Old Testament NKJV NEW $67.06 Time Remaining: 6d 5h 8m Buy It Now for only: $67.06 |
 2 Lot Great Courses The TEACHING COMPANY Cassette OLD TESTAMENT Bible Divinity $14.95 Time Remaining: 6d 5h 26m Buy It Now for only: $19.95 |
 Scripture Scouts The Wonderful Story of Old Musical Theatre on Old Testament $9.99 Time Remaining: 6d 17h 5m Buy It Now for only: $9.99 |