Alot of believers battle with this question, as did I.
The Bible however is quite clear that as believers, we are not.
You see, the law of Moses was given to a specific nation, Israel, and NOT to every nation.
It was meant for a specific people, Jews, and NOT everyone.
The Bible makes that very clear.
In Romans 3:1-2 Paul says:
“What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God.”
In Romans 9:4 he goes on to say:
"For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises."
In Deuteronomy 4:8 the Bible says:
“And what other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today?”
In Psalm 147:19-20, the Bible says:
“He has revealed His word to Jacob, His laws and decrees to Israel. He has done this for no other nation; they do not know His laws. Praise the LORD.”
So we can clearly see that the law of Moses was tailor-made for a specific nation and people.
Infact Paul bluntly states the law is not for Gentiles (non-Jews). (see Acts 2:14)
This means, by subscribing to the law of Moses as a Gentile (non-Jew) believer, you are basically taking someone else’s medicine.
Peter says you are trying to bear a yoke even they (Jews) could not bear. (see Acts 15:10)
You see as many Jews began to believe in the gospel in the early church days, Gentiles also began to believe and certain Jews began to teach that Gentile believers needed to be circumcised and keep the law of Moses to be truly saved. (see Acts 15:1)
This ofcourse sparked a huge disagreement with Paul’s group, and they resolved to send Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem to seek a response from the apostles and elders on this matter. (see Acts 15:2)
After meeting and deliberating on the issue, the apostles and elders resolved that Gentile believers did not need to keep the law of Moses and they sent Paul and Silas back with a written letter on the same. (see Acts 15:6-31)
James later reiterates the same resolution in Acts 21:25.
So as gentile believers, we are not required to keep the law of Moses.
Paul says we are no longer under the law but under grace. (Romans 6:14)
This verse pretty much puts this matter to bed.
So why is it in your Bible?
Well, here are a few reasons...
1) So you can understand the history of the faith you have subscribed to and that the law was how God kept His people, the Israelites, from whom the Savior of the world was to come from, from going completely rogue and self destructing. (see Galatians 3:19)
2) So you can understand that the law cannot save you (make you right with God) or keep you saved (keep you right with God). (see Romans 3:20-22)
3) So you can understand that only Jesus can save you (make you right with God) and keep you saved (keep you right with God). (see Romans 8:3-4)
So the law of Moses is not in your Bible so you can keep it.
That's not God's heart or intention.
Infact, trying to keep the law of Moses as a believer is tantamount to a woman trying to have two husbands.
I didn’t say that, Paul did in a wonderful analogy in Romans 7:2-4 which says:
"For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law that binds her to him. So then, if she has sexual relations with another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress if she marries another man. So, my brothers and sisters, you also DIED TO THE LAW THROUGH THE BODY OF CHRIST, that you might belong to another, to Him who was raised from the dead (Jesus Christ), in order that we might bear fruit for God."
So you died to one husband (the law) to belong to Another (Jesus Christ).
The problem is many believers are trying to have their cake and eat it too.
But the Bible says you can only pick one, Jesus or the law, you can't have both.
You cannot have two husbands.
Bottom line, the believer is not under the law of Moses.
Now this is not to say that the believer is not under any law and is at liberty to do whatever they want in the guise of ‘I am under grace’.
The Bible is clear that although we are not under the law of Moses, we are clearly under the law of Christ which the Bible also calls the law of liberty or the law of faith.
In 1 Corinthians 9:21 Paul says:
“And to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law;”
In Galatians 6:2 he says:
“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
In Romans 3:27 he says:
"Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith."
The Bible says in James 1:25:
“But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.”
So clearly we did not come out from under the burdensome law of Moses’ to be lawless and do whatever we want, but to be under the liberating law of Jesus.
To belong to Another, as Paul puts it.
A lot of believers mistake liberty for license and think that living under grace permits them to live anyhowly.
But grace is not a license to sin any more than electricity is a license to electrocute yourself.
Grace is the freedom from sin.
Show me a believer who walks in sin and I will show you a believer who does not understand the true grace of God.
If someone is living in sin and their defense is ‘they are under grace’, they have subscribed to counterfeit grace.
Paul says the grace of God that brings salvation teaches us to say no to ungodliness. (see Titus 2:11-12)
As a believer, you no longer need to keep the law of Moses.
You couldn’t even if you tried, and if you say you can, you’ve already broken the 9th commandment, "Thou shall not life".
I bet even the clothes you're wearing as you read this make you a lawbreaker according to the law of Moses.
You see, the law of Moses says you must not wear clothes of mixed material. (see Deuteronomy 22:11)
Many of us think the law of Moses just consists of 10 commandments but there are 603 additional by-laws for a total of 613 laws in total!
And I should mention that they are like a pearl necklace which means if you keep one, you must keep them all and if you break one, you have broken them all. (see James 2:10-11)
If this doesn't break your pride if you are one of those believers who are adamant that we must keep the law, then maybe Paul's words in Galatians 4:21-31; 5:1-4, will do the trick.
You may be sincere in trying to keep the law, but in truth, you're sincerely wrong.
No matter how honorable it may look, the truth is it dishonors the finished work of Christ.
It's practically saying you want to be married to two husbands, Jesus and the law.
But you only get to pick one.
So my questions is, would you rather have the husband you can never please, who constantly points out all your faults but offers you no solution (i.e. the law) or would you rather have the Husband who loves you despite all your faults and is keen to liberate you from all of them (i.e. Jesus)?
Seems like a no-brainer to me.
God bless you.
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