Which Laws In The Bible Still Apply Today?

Someone emailed me a very good 'GOD QUESTION' this past week and I thought I would share my response on this blog.  Here's the question, and my answer.

Q.  I was watching a tv show last night ("It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia").  In that episode someone was telling a homosexual that the Bible said homosexuality is detestable.  The homosexual responded by asking if we should still observe Exodus  21: 20-21 if we continue to follow laws about homosexuality.  If not, are we just picking and choosing what to follow and what not to follow?  What are your thoughts?

A.  The technique used in this example is one that is very common in today's 'sound bite' world.  What it does it pull a 'law' from the Old Testament without any Biblical or cultural context, and then use the shock of the verse (without context) to dismiss the authority and integrity of the Bible.

So what is the context of Old Testament Law?  There are three types of laws that we find in the OT:

#1 - Ceremonial Law - which provided specifics about how to offer sacrifices and what is all involved in celebrations and festivals specific to the people of Israel.  Christians believe that Jesus was the fulfillment of all of the symbolism included in these sacrifices and celebrations.  Therefore, these laws no longer apply to us in terms of our practice.  But they do teach us a lot about the meaning behind the sacrifice of Christ.

#2 - Cultural Laws - many of these laws deal with diet, hygene, dress, and other 'kosher' practices.  God provided these laws to protect the people of Israel and to define them as distinct from their idolatrous neighboring tribes.  In the book of Acts, chapters 10-15, the early church struggled to define which of these 'cultural' laws should be binding on non-Jewish believers.  They determined NOT to require believers from other cultures to be bound by these Jewish laws. 

While these laws are not binding, they are still instructive and offer wisdom on healthy practices.

#3 - Moral Laws - these laws deal with timeless descriptions of right and wrong.  The TEN COMMANDMENTS would fit into this category.  Laws against child sacrifice, incest, pre-marital sex, and homosexual practice would be considered moral laws.  These moral laws are almost all affirmed in some fashion in the New Testament as well.  These laws are still binding upon us today.

But even the MORAL LAWS given to us by both the OT and NT are not intended to make us righteous.  They describe to us the character of God and also remind us that we FALL WAY SHORT of his righteousness.

The MORAL LAWS POINT US TO OUR NEED FOR FORGIVENESS.  The law is designed to drive us to God and seek His mercy through the cross of Christ.

One final note.  The verses in Exodus, listed above, provide some rules of practice for how slave owners should treat their slaves.  A few things need to be clarified with this as well.

• Slavery at that time was not 'racially' based - nor was it permanent in most cases.  Most often it was a way of dealing with an unpayable debt.  A person became an 'indentured' servant (slave) for a period of years to pay off debt.
• The laws provided for us in the Old Testament have are the source material for most of the laws that help to govern 'just societies' today.  Those who designed the US Constitution, Bill of Rights, and other legal practices as a foundation for American practice - were instructed by and inspired by the principles in the OT.
• The concept of the 'laws' given to the people of Israel at that time - 4000 years ago - were radical for the societies of their day in that they provided the balance of JUSTICE and COMPASSION. 
• There is a reason why these Old Testament principles are still being read today - because they have provided the foundation for a moral, just, and merciful society for thousands of years.

Comments

[LOIS JANKE]

WOW....SOME GREAT INFORMATION HERE...CLEARING UP A LOT OF MURKY SUBJECTS THAT HAVE MUCH NEED OF ADDRESSING!!!! THANKS PASTOR JEFF FOR THIS POST!!

[Nick]

Pastor Jeff, I found this site on Google and I can't begin to tell you how grateful I am to see such complicated issues laid out in a basic form. It's just something that seems so obvious now that the veil is pulled away. Thank you again.

[Jenna]

I'm not so sure we should be "excused" from cultural laws. What about this verse? Matthew 5: 18 - 19 - 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.

[Jeff Leake]

Acts 15 is the time when the church leaders released us from all of the cultural laws. Their decision still applies for us today.

[dr chatter]

you are actually endorsing slavery? What about the passage that says a man fighting in war can take a beautiful woman as his bride even if he is already married and she must serve and be obedient at all times? She just has to be beautiful! and as for being a foundation for the law documents of the founding fathers... how do you explain all of jefferson's letters on his research into Cyrus the great who promoted religious tolerence of all faiths? Ammendment 1 gives us the right to believe in any god. Commandment #1 forbids it. To go against a commandment is sin and the wages of sin is death. I.e. death penalty! how is that justice and compassion? Deuteronomy 21:18-21 -- if your kid is rebellious tell the elders he won't listen to you and that he's a glutton and drunkard... then everyone watching must stone the kid to death. There is no "balance" in that. And as for being obsolved for breaking the covenant... jesus said in matthew to follow the laws. Acts was written by Luke the Evangelist who was a memeber of the Pauline version of Christianity. Paul was never a disciple and I highly doubt God told Pauls followers that it was okay to break the covenant. But maybe you will just dismiss me for not knowing cultural context despite I just pointed out something you might have overlooked. I understand you believe in your book but did you even really research the authorship? Frankly Pastor if you aren't shocked by what the Bible says then I worry for the soul you believe you have.

[C.Goss]

where did they release us from the eating of strangled animals and bloody meat? in vs 29 it still says we can't eat those things?

[John]

Can you tell me about the murder law in the bible?