Difference Between Old and New Testaments
by Dave Brown
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Did you know that if Christians bind Old Testament teachings today they will fall from grace?
Galatians 5:2-4
2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that, if ye receive circumcision, Christ will profit you nothing.
3 Yea, I testify again to every man that receives circumcision, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
4 Ye are severed from Christ, ye would be justified by the law; ye are fallen away from grace.
Circumcision was the pet doctrine of deceit used by the Judiazing teachers (i.e., those trying to pull Christians back under the Old Testament -- see Acts 15). While many were saying it is all about circumcision, it is clear from Acts 15 that these teachers wanted to subjugate the Gentile Christians by imposing all of the Law of Moses. Such would make Jesus' death on the cross meaningless and would put their faith in themselves as keepers of the law instead of in the truth of Jesus Christ, the gospel.
If you picked ten people at random off the street and asked them: "what is the difference was between the Old and New Testaments?" what response do you think you would get? Would they even know that you were talking about the bible? We pose this as a rhetorical question only, since we feel it is worthy of thought. Perhaps you can try it some time as an experiment. The results will speak for themselves. How can people say they believe the bible when they do not even have this basic knowledge. Even worse, how can critics of the bible claim to be truthful when they constantly confuse Old Testament civil law with the teaching of Jesus. See Matthew 5 for some of the differences.
We feel that most who are reading this article know the difference between the testaments, mainly because you have a concern for spiritual things. For a basic review of the historical context of all of the books of the bible, click here. The goal of this article is to clarify which of these testaments apply to us today. Given this understanding we can rightfully divide (or handle aright) the word of truth and give particular priority and emphasis to what applies directly to us today (2 Timothy 2:15).
Even given the basic knowledge of when the Old and New Testaments were written and their basic subject matter, a large number of religious people are still confused as the role of the Old and New Testaments in determining religious authority today. On an individualized basis, this is evidenced by their attempt to master the bible by starting with Genesis 1:1 and trudging on through all of the Old Testament before even getting to that portion of the scriptures that contains the authoritative commands of Jesus that deal with our salvation. On an organized basis, some religious groups practice things that they state are based upon the Old Testament. Is this what God wants?
The New Testament is very adamant and clear in this regard, especially the first five chapters of the book of Galatians and the first ten chapters of the book of Hebrews; we urge you to study them carefully. While every word in the Old Testament is true (being inspired of God -- Matthew 5:18), we are not under the Old Testament today. This statement can be clearly verified by a review of the scriptures that respond to the question of what God is using to communicate with His people today. Please check the context of the following to assure that these passages indeed teach that, while the Old Testament is perfectly true, it has served its purpose, and today we are to give our primary attention to those teachings authorized by God's son, our Savior Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 8:1, 6-8
8:1 Now in the things which we are saying the chief point (is this): We have such a high priest [from the context, Jesus Christ-dbb], who sat down on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, ...
6 But now hath he obtained a ministry the more excellent, by so much as he is also the mediator of a better covenant, which hath been enacted upon better promises.
7 For if that first (covenant) had been faultless, then would no place have been sought for a second.
8 For finding fault with them, he saith, "Behold, the days come," saith the Lord, "That I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah; ..."
Colossians 2:13-14
13 And you, being dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, you, (I say), did he make alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses;
14 having blotted out the bond written in ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us: and he hath taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross;
Ephesians 2:14-16
14 For he is our peace, who made both one, and brake down the middle wall of partition,
15 having abolished in the flesh the enmity, (even) the law of commandments (contained) in ordinances; that he might create in himself of the two one new man, (so) making peace;
16 and might reconcile them both in one body unto God through the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: ...
Romans 7:6-7
6 But now we have been discharged from the law, having died to that wherein we were held; so that we serve in newness of the spirit, and not in oldness of the letter.
7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Absolutely not! Howbeit, I had not known sin, except through the law: for I had not known coveting, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet: ...
1 Corinthians 9:20-21
20 And to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, not being myself under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
21 to them that are without law, as without law, not being without law to God, but under law to Christ, that I might gain them that are without law.
Galatians 3:23-29
23 But before faith came, we were kept in ward under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
24 So that the law is become our tutor (to bring us) unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25 But now that faith is come, we are no longer under a tutor.
26 For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ.
28 There can be neither Jew nor Greek, there can be neither bond nor free, there can be no male and female; for ye all are one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if ye are Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, heirs according to promise.
It is generally understood that God has given people different specific commands at different times. We understand, for example, that Adam and Eve had the command to abstain from the forbidden fruit, Noah was to build an ark, and Abraham was commanded at one point to leave his homeland. The fact that we are not under these commands does not mean that they were any less the commands of God at that time.
It is prejudicial and dishonest to accuse Christians of not believing in the inspiration of the Old Testament because we follow the teaching of Christ as opposed to the Old Testament law. God has made it clear that the Old Testament laws have served their purpose and that there is a new law (a New Testament) that we are subject to today (Hebrews 10). This principle was taught as prophecy in the Old Testament (see, for example, Jeremiah 31:31ff and its explanation in Hebrews 8).
Galatians 5
Taking this one step further, it is clear from Gal. 5:2-12 that not only are we not under the Old Testament, but the binding [see definition below] of Old Testament doctrines after Christ died on the cross is sinful. Paul stated to Christians: "I testify again to every man that is circumcised [i.e., sees circumcision as a requirement -- dbb], that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace." These are some of the strongest words in the bible. "Fallen from" necessitates that they had previously been "on" or "in" the thing that they fell from, in this case "grace" or salvation through the gospel of Jesus Christ. But compelling their fellow Gentile Christians to go back under the Old Testament law, they had so sinned as to be lost themselves. Paul was pleading for them to repent, cease to teach salvation by keeping the Old Testament law, and begin to truly walk by the Spirit (Galatians 5:15ff).
Clearer words could not be written. It should be noted that circumcision was just the detail that represented the push of some to go back to the Old Testament. Circumcision in and of itself (i.e., not as a religious rite) was not condemned (see Acts 16:3). In addition, the Jews were free to practice any of the Old Testament traditions as long as they did not bind them on the church. Their attempts to bind Old Testament edicts were met with consistent opposition from the Apostles (See Acts 15). It is so important for us today to see the difference between a person: (1) practicing something personally in good conscience and (2) binding that personal practice on the church as a doctrine. The first of these is allowed; the second is definitively condemned.
The argumentation of Paul that if we bind one part of the law, we are bound to bind it all, is devastating to any thought that the Old Testament could apply and be bound on us today. Not even Orthodox Jews in Israel practice the entire Old Testament law. We are not free to pick and choose those parts of God's law which we wish to practice. Such is simultaneously adding to and taking away from God's written word, which are both condemned (Revelation 22:18-19). It is God who has determined that today we are under the New Testament declared by His Son, Jesus Christ (read Hebrews 1). Understanding the passages referenced within this article will lead us to place our priority and concentration on the New Testament, since that is what applies directly to us today. At the same time we will recognize the great value of Old Testament study if for no other reason than to enable us to better understand the New Testament.
As a final exhortation, consider Hebrews 2:2-4, where verse 2 is referring to the angels (literally, messengers) who brought the Old Testament:
2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward;
3 how shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation? which having at the first been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed unto us by them that heard;
4 God also bearing witness with them, both by signs and wonders, and by manifold powers, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will.
"So great a salvation" is the salvation that Jesus Christ died to bring to us. The answer to the rhetorical question in verse 3 is that there is no way to escape. If you have been neglecting your salvation, the time to repent is now! To neglect your salvation is to despise the gift of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
[Some might not understand what we mean by "binding" in the article able. This simply means that it is made the doctrine or practice of the local church. When this is done then all who attend that local church must be in agreement and support it, or else division will result (see 1 Corinthians 1:10). The local church must bind all that the New Testament requires; however, to go beyond the teaching of Christ is clearly putting a man or a group of men in the place of God (2 John 9; 1 Corinthians 4:6). The bible is sufficient.]
Question posed by reader: What about Matthew 5:17?
Matthew 5:17
Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfill.
We hope that nothing in this article indicated that the Old Testament laws were evil or that they needed to be destroyed. We have laws on our books today that are not necessarily evil, but they no longer apply. Since Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament laws by living a perfect life, he fulfilled all of the Old Testament laws for us (Acts 13:28-33). Most of the moral laws, and nine of the ten commandments have been incorporated into the New Testament, so it is not that the spirit of the Old Testament has been destroyed. But we are no longer subject to the ceremonial and civil laws, and thus we must look to the New Testament for those laws that apply to us today. The entire chapter 3 of Galatians is applicable to this subject, some of which we quoted above.
The Old Testament laws were good and they served a good purpose to bring us to Jesus; but Christians are condemned if we go back under them today (Galatians 5:3-4 discussed above). If we can be saved by the Old Testament laws then there would be no reason for the death of Jesus. And finally, if we are going to be saved by the Old Testament, then it is essential that we obey ALL of the laws given there (James 2:10) and not just those that we feel comfortable with. No man except Jesus Christ ever did that.
Please realize that the Old Testament is still good for us to study today since it is impossible to understand major parts of the New Testament without a basic knowledge of the Old Testament. Finally, a good part of the Old Testament are civil laws that governed the ancient Jewish nation, and, like many of our laws today, they regulate things that are not necessarily approved by God.
What are the conditions of salvation given by Jesus?
Did you know that if Christians bind Old Testament teachings today they will fall from grace?
Galatians 5:2-4
2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that, if ye receive circumcision, Christ will profit you nothing.
3 Yea, I testify again to every man that receives circumcision, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
4 Ye are severed from Christ, ye would be justified by the law; ye are fallen away from grace.
Circumcision was the pet doctrine of deceit used by the Judiazing teachers (i.e., those trying to pull Christians back under the Old Testament -- see Acts 15). While many were saying it is all about circumcision, it is clear from Acts 15 that these teachers wanted to subjugate the Gentile Christians by imposing all of the Law of Moses. Such would make Jesus' death on the cross meaningless and would put their faith in themselves as keepers of the law instead of in the truth of Jesus Christ, the gospel.
If you picked ten people at random off the street and asked them: "what is the difference was between the Old and New Testaments?" what response do you think you would get? Would they even know that you were talking about the bible? We pose this as a rhetorical question only, since we feel it is worthy of thought. Perhaps you can try it some time as an experiment. The results will speak for themselves. How can people say they believe the bible when they do not even have this basic knowledge. Even worse, how can critics of the bible claim to be truthful when they constantly confuse Old Testament civil law with the teaching of Jesus. See Matthew 5 for some of the differences.
We feel that most who are reading this article know the difference between the testaments, mainly because you have a concern for spiritual things. For a basic review of the historical context of all of the books of the bible, click here. The goal of this article is to clarify which of these testaments apply to us today. Given this understanding we can rightfully divide (or handle aright) the word of truth and give particular priority and emphasis to what applies directly to us today (2 Timothy 2:15).
Even given the basic knowledge of when the Old and New Testaments were written and their basic subject matter, a large number of religious people are still confused as the role of the Old and New Testaments in determining religious authority today. On an individualized basis, this is evidenced by their attempt to master the bible by starting with Genesis 1:1 and trudging on through all of the Old Testament before even getting to that portion of the scriptures that contains the authoritative commands of Jesus that deal with our salvation. On an organized basis, some religious groups practice things that they state are based upon the Old Testament. Is this what God wants?
The New Testament is very adamant and clear in this regard, especially the first five chapters of the book of Galatians and the first ten chapters of the book of Hebrews; we urge you to study them carefully. While every word in the Old Testament is true (being inspired of God -- Matthew 5:18), we are not under the Old Testament today. This statement can be clearly verified by a review of the scriptures that respond to the question of what God is using to communicate with His people today. Please check the context of the following to assure that these passages indeed teach that, while the Old Testament is perfectly true, it has served its purpose, and today we are to give our primary attention to those teachings authorized by God's son, our Savior Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 8:1, 6-8
8:1 Now in the things which we are saying the chief point (is this): We have such a high priest [from the context, Jesus Christ-dbb], who sat down on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, ...
6 But now hath he obtained a ministry the more excellent, by so much as he is also the mediator of a better covenant, which hath been enacted upon better promises.
7 For if that first (covenant) had been faultless, then would no place have been sought for a second.
8 For finding fault with them, he saith, "Behold, the days come," saith the Lord, "That I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah; ..."
Colossians 2:13-14
13 And you, being dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, you, (I say), did he make alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses;
14 having blotted out the bond written in ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us: and he hath taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross;
Ephesians 2:14-16
14 For he is our peace, who made both one, and brake down the middle wall of partition,
15 having abolished in the flesh the enmity, (even) the law of commandments (contained) in ordinances; that he might create in himself of the two one new man, (so) making peace;
16 and might reconcile them both in one body unto God through the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: ...
Romans 7:6-7
6 But now we have been discharged from the law, having died to that wherein we were held; so that we serve in newness of the spirit, and not in oldness of the letter.
7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Absolutely not! Howbeit, I had not known sin, except through the law: for I had not known coveting, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet: ...
1 Corinthians 9:20-21
20 And to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, not being myself under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
21 to them that are without law, as without law, not being without law to God, but under law to Christ, that I might gain them that are without law.
Galatians 3:23-29
23 But before faith came, we were kept in ward under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
24 So that the law is become our tutor (to bring us) unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25 But now that faith is come, we are no longer under a tutor.
26 For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ.
28 There can be neither Jew nor Greek, there can be neither bond nor free, there can be no male and female; for ye all are one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if ye are Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, heirs according to promise.
It is generally understood that God has given people different specific commands at different times. We understand, for example, that Adam and Eve had the command to abstain from the forbidden fruit, Noah was to build an ark, and Abraham was commanded at one point to leave his homeland. The fact that we are not under these commands does not mean that they were any less the commands of God at that time.
It is prejudicial and dishonest to accuse Christians of not believing in the inspiration of the Old Testament because we follow the teaching of Christ as opposed to the Old Testament law. God has made it clear that the Old Testament laws have served their purpose and that there is a new law (a New Testament) that we are subject to today (Hebrews 10). This principle was taught as prophecy in the Old Testament (see, for example, Jeremiah 31:31ff and its explanation in Hebrews 8).
Galatians 5
Taking this one step further, it is clear from Gal. 5:2-12 that not only are we not under the Old Testament, but the binding [see definition below] of Old Testament doctrines after Christ died on the cross is sinful. Paul stated to Christians: "I testify again to every man that is circumcised [i.e., sees circumcision as a requirement -- dbb], that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace." These are some of the strongest words in the bible. "Fallen from" necessitates that they had previously been "on" or "in" the thing that they fell from, in this case "grace" or salvation through the gospel of Jesus Christ. But compelling their fellow Gentile Christians to go back under the Old Testament law, they had so sinned as to be lost themselves. Paul was pleading for them to repent, cease to teach salvation by keeping the Old Testament law, and begin to truly walk by the Spirit (Galatians 5:15ff).
Clearer words could not be written. It should be noted that circumcision was just the detail that represented the push of some to go back to the Old Testament. Circumcision in and of itself (i.e., not as a religious rite) was not condemned (see Acts 16:3). In addition, the Jews were free to practice any of the Old Testament traditions as long as they did not bind them on the church. Their attempts to bind Old Testament edicts were met with consistent opposition from the Apostles (See Acts 15). It is so important for us today to see the difference between a person: (1) practicing something personally in good conscience and (2) binding that personal practice on the church as a doctrine. The first of these is allowed; the second is definitively condemned.
The argumentation of Paul that if we bind one part of the law, we are bound to bind it all, is devastating to any thought that the Old Testament could apply and be bound on us today. Not even Orthodox Jews in Israel practice the entire Old Testament law. We are not free to pick and choose those parts of God's law which we wish to practice. Such is simultaneously adding to and taking away from God's written word, which are both condemned (Revelation 22:18-19). It is God who has determined that today we are under the New Testament declared by His Son, Jesus Christ (read Hebrews 1). Understanding the passages referenced within this article will lead us to place our priority and concentration on the New Testament, since that is what applies directly to us today. At the same time we will recognize the great value of Old Testament study if for no other reason than to enable us to better understand the New Testament.
As a final exhortation, consider Hebrews 2:2-4, where verse 2 is referring to the angels (literally, messengers) who brought the Old Testament:
2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward;
3 how shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation? which having at the first been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed unto us by them that heard;
4 God also bearing witness with them, both by signs and wonders, and by manifold powers, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will.
"So great a salvation" is the salvation that Jesus Christ died to bring to us. The answer to the rhetorical question in verse 3 is that there is no way to escape. If you have been neglecting your salvation, the time to repent is now! To neglect your salvation is to despise the gift of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
[Some might not understand what we mean by "binding" in the article able. This simply means that it is made the doctrine or practice of the local church. When this is done then all who attend that local church must be in agreement and support it, or else division will result (see 1 Corinthians 1:10). The local church must bind all that the New Testament requires; however, to go beyond the teaching of Christ is clearly putting a man or a group of men in the place of God (2 John 9; 1 Corinthians 4:6). The bible is sufficient.]
Question posed by reader: What about Matthew 5:17?
Matthew 5:17
Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfill.
We hope that nothing in this article indicated that the Old Testament laws were evil or that they needed to be destroyed. We have laws on our books today that are not necessarily evil, but they no longer apply. Since Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament laws by living a perfect life, he fulfilled all of the Old Testament laws for us (Acts 13:28-33). Most of the moral laws, and nine of the ten commandments have been incorporated into the New Testament, so it is not that the spirit of the Old Testament has been destroyed. But we are no longer subject to the ceremonial and civil laws, and thus we must look to the New Testament for those laws that apply to us today. The entire chapter 3 of Galatians is applicable to this subject, some of which we quoted above.
The Old Testament laws were good and they served a good purpose to bring us to Jesus; but Christians are condemned if we go back under them today (Galatians 5:3-4 discussed above). If we can be saved by the Old Testament laws then there would be no reason for the death of Jesus. And finally, if we are going to be saved by the Old Testament, then it is essential that we obey ALL of the laws given there (James 2:10) and not just those that we feel comfortable with. No man except Jesus Christ ever did that.
Please realize that the Old Testament is still good for us to study today since it is impossible to understand major parts of the New Testament without a basic knowledge of the Old Testament. Finally, a good part of the Old Testament are civil laws that governed the ancient Jewish nation, and, like many of our laws today, they regulate things that are not necessarily approved by God.
What are the conditions of salvation given by Jesus?