Question 9

Some have erroneously concluded that members of the church of Christ "do not believe in the Old
Testament." Interestingly, others are critical of our frequent preaching and teaching from the Old
Testament. Let us allow the scriptures to determine what our relationship as Christians should be to
the Old Law.

First, it is clear that the Old Testament was always intended to be limited and temporary. It was
limited in that it was a covenant between God and Israel, and was not intended to govern all nations
(Deut. 5:1-5, 14-15). That it was to be temporary is seen in the fact that Jeremiah and other Old
Testament prophets foresaw a new covenant which would replace the one made at Sinai (Jer.
31:31-34). According to the writer of Hebrews, that new covenant was established by Jesus upon his
death (Heb. 8:8-13; 9:14-18). In establishing the New Testament, Christ removed the Old (Heb.
10:9). Paul wrote that Christ "abolished…the law of commandments in ordinances" (Eph. 2:15) and
"took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross" (Col. 2:14). Jesus Christ was and is "the end of the law"
(Rom. 10:4). So the Old Testament governed Israel, not all people, and its governing force ending
with its replacement by the New Testament of Jesus Christ. Gentiles have never been subject to the
Law of Moses, and Jews have not been under it for nearly 2,000 years.

Second, while the Old Law is no longer in effect as a governing force, it is yet to be studied and loved
by Christians. "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we
through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope (Rom. 15:4)." And, "all these things
happened unto them [Israel] for our examples: and they are written for our admonition (1 Cor.
10:11a)." Constant New Testament allusions to Old Testament passages and events make it
impossible to fully understand or appreciate God’s relationship to man without knowledge of the Old.
We are interested in studying it because Christ is the heart of its message (Acts 3:24; 10:42-43; Luke
24:44; etc.).

We do not consult the Old Testament to determine the terms of entrance into the New Testament
church, the organization of the church, Christian worship, etc. We do, however, learn about the
nature of God (it has not changed), the nature of man (we have not changed), what God loves, what
God hates, how God views sin, and so on.

So, we certainly "believe in the Old Testament," but, while we love it and learn from it, the New
Testament alone is our law today (Gal. 6:2).