Spring Warrior Church of Christ

7432 S. Red Padgett Road

Perry, FL 32348
584-5176

Prove All Things Vol. 1 No. 6

“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” 1 Thessalonians 5:21

The Limits of Old Testament Authority by Bill Blue, bill@bibleweb.com

[3/14/01]

In last week’s article we read about many reasons why the Old Testament is
still of value to Christians today. At the conclusion of the article, I asked the
following question: “May we use examples of Old Testament worship activities
[such as observing the Sabbath or the use of musical instruments] to justify the
same activities today?” I respectfully suggest that the answer is no.

The purpose of the Old Testament was fulfilled in Christ’s death.

Paul wrote that Christ “wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was
against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way,
having nailed it to the cross” (Col. 2:14). Paul then says that as a result of this
“wiping away” or “nailing to the cross,” that the Colossians should “let no one
judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or
sabbaths, which are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance is of
Christ” (Col. 2:16-17). No longer do we have to worry about clean and unclean
food from a spiritual point of view, nor do we have to observe the three festivals
or a sabbath because they were part of the old law. We are not under the old law
(Gal. 3:24-25). Paul wrote that those who seek to justify themselves by the old
law estrange themselves from Christ (Gal. 5:4).

Sometimes Christians err by trying to authorize an act or practice in worship

today by pointing to an Old Testament example where Israelites performed the
same act or practice, forgetting that the old law governed Israel’s worship. Paul
addressed such issues in the First Century because the church originated in
Jerusalem (Acts 2), and many, if not all, of the church’s first converts were
Jewish. Some of the Jewish brethren insisted that Christians had to keep both
the old law and the Law of Christ.

In multiple letters, Paul addressed the issue of whether Christians had to keep
the Law of Moses (Rom. 3-7, Gal. 2:11-5:4). He concludes that the old law was
“abolished” (Eph. 2:15), and that anyone “who becomes circumcised,” [or keeps
part of the old law – Blue] “is a debtor to keep the whole law” (Gal. 5:3). Why

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then do people resort to the Old Testament as authority for observing sabbaths,
paying tithes, or using musical instruments when worshipping God?

Although the Law of Moses has been abolished, the Old Testament
is still useful for Christians today. We can benefit from studying its
passages. Although we cannot cite it as authority for a particular act or practice
of worship today, nor consult it to determine how one is to be saved, we can still
learn from it (Rom. 15:4). Studying the Old Testament can make us wise (2 Tim.
3:15) because “All Scripture [not simply the New Testament] is given by
inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly
equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). The Old Testament serves to
warn us of the consequences of sin (1 Cor. 10:11), supports our belief in the
inspiration of the Bible, and helps us better understand the need for the New
Testament. However, our failure to understand its proper place in our spiritual
lives can prevent us from “rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).

Perhaps you believe in keeping the Sabbath (which is Saturday), or you like to
use instrumental music in your worship to God. Why? When we remember (1)
that worship in the Jewish era was governed by the old law, (2) that the old law
has been fulfilled, and (3) that we are not under the old law, it should become
obvious that simply because something occurred in the Old Testament does not
necessarily mean that the same act or practice is authorized today. Perhaps you
have other reasons for performing these acts or practices. If so, where is your
authorization?

We will continue to discuss authority over the next two weeks. These articles
will discuss how to find authority in the New Testament, and whether silence can
be authority for an act or practice. In the meantime, should you want to discuss
this week’s article, please do not hesitate to telephone me.

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