When General Sam Houston defeated the Mexican General Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto, the Texans were no longer under subjection to the laws of Mexico. Although, no doubt, copies of that law were still in their land, they were now to be under the new law of the Republic of Texas.
When Jesus defeated Satan by His death, burial, resurrection, ascension, coronation and establishment of His kingdom, no longer was any man to be in subjection to the law of Moses. Although copies of that law still exist, man is now under subjection to the new law of Christ.
Colossians 2:14 makes clear that the old law is no longer in effect. It states that Jesus blotted it out. In those days people would use a pointed tool to etch letters upon a heavily waxed board. If corrections were to be made, a spoon-shaped tool would rub out the letters. Such removal was “blotting out.” Thus, Jesus rubbed out the old law—it was removed. The verse also declares that Jesus took the old law “out of the way.” Thus, it is no longer an obstacle on man’s pathway—it is gone. Furthermore, the verse reveals that Jesus nailed the old law to the cross. Thus, just as Jesus died upon the cross, so did the old law. It was dead–ineffective. No, the old law is no longer in effect, and we do not obtain our religious laws nor authority from it.
Galatians 3:19 also teaches that the old testament law has ended. It states that the old covenant was to be in effect “till the seed should come.” Thus, when the seed came, the law ended. Who was that seed? That seed was Christ (v.16). And Christ has come.
Yes, the old law has been taken out of the way. However, some people have erroneously concluded that such verses teach that ALL religious law has been taken away. Thus, they claim, we are under grace, not law. They then proceed to do in religion whatever they want—after all, there’s no law. Yet, and quite contrary, the Bible teaches that we ARE under a law–the law of Christ. Notice these revealing phrases: “…fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2); “…under the law to Christ” (1 Cor. 9:21); “…the perfect law of liberty” (Jas. 1:25); “… the law of the Spirit of life in Christ” (Rom. 8:2). Yes, the old law has been taken out of the way, and the new law is now in effect.
Someone might ask, “If this is so, then why do we still have the Old Testament in our Bibles?” The answer is found in 1 Corinthians 10:1-11 (see also: Rom. 15:4; Jude 5).
So, which law are we under today?–old law, new law, neither or both? Today, you and I are amenable and only amenable to the law of Christ–the New Testament.
Gary Henson
May 02
Old Law, New Law, Both, or Neither?
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