By COGwriter
A reader of the COGwriter.com website asked me which laws were nailed to the cross. I presume that the questioner had felt that the Bible in some places teaches that certain laws were nailed to the cross. But is that what the Bible teaches?
Do Christians need to observe laws like the ten commandments? Were they "nailed to the cross"?
What were the laws of the Levitical priesthood and the old covenant? What is the new covenant? Doesn't Colossians 2:17 apply?
What about the 603 regulations and statutes in the Old Testament?
This article will briefly attempt to answer those questions.
What Was Nailed to the Cross?
There is only one only scripture that uses the "nailed it to the cross" expression (AV/NKJ), it is Colossians 2:13-14, in which Paul states,
"And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having 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".
We will look at what it does and does not say.
First though, let's look at what the last chapter of the last book of the Bible teaches:
"Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city" (Revelation 22:14, NKJV throughout unless otherwise noted).
Since it is only "those who do His commandments...{who} have the right to enter...the city" (Revelation 22:14), the ten commandments could not be "contrary to us". Actually, it is only those who will not keep the ten commandments that are denied access. Revelation specifically shows that those who break one of at least four of the ten commandments will be outside God's city (Revelation 22:15).
So then, if the ten commandments were not "nailed to the cross", what was?
Look again at what the Bible actually says:
"having 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" (Colossians 2:14).
The handwriting of requirements (often also called the hand-writing of ordinances) was wiped away and nailed to the cross.
Which requirements were wiped out?
Please understand that the expression "the handwriting of requirements" is a Greek legal term that signifies the penalty which a lawbreaker had to pay--it does not signify the laws that are to be obeyed--only the penalty. It is only through the acceptance of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ that the penalty was wiped out ("the handwriting of requirements"). But only the penalty, not the law!
Even some Protestant commentators realize this is so. Notice what Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible states about Colossians 2:14:
Whatever was in force against us is taken out of the way. He has obtained for us a legal discharge from the hand-writing of ordinances, which was against us (v. 14), which may be understood,
1. Of that obligation to punishment in which consists the guilt of sin. The curse of the law is the hand-writing against us, like the hand-writing on Belshazzar's wall. Cursed is every one who continues not in every thing. This was a hand-writing which was against us, and contrary to us; for it threatened our eternal ruin. This was removed when he redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us, Gal 3:13. (from Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1991 by Hendrickson Publishers, Inc.).
In addition, let us look at the Greek term exaleipho translated as "wiped out" in Colossians 2:14:
NT:1813
exaleipho (ex-al-i'-fo); from NT:1537 and NT:218; to smear out, i.e. obliterate (erase tears, figuratively, pardon sin) (Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright (c) 1994, Biblesoft and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
In other words, exaleipho has to do with wiping out sin. This is also confirmed in Acts 3:19 where Peter also uses the term exaleipho, which is translated as "blotted out" below:
Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.
Hence, it is sin and the related penalties that are to be blotted or wiped out.
But what about the law of God? Was the law of God to be wiped out?
Remember that the Bible clearly teaches that sin is lawlessness:
Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. (I John 3:4-5).
Notice that Paul wrote:
Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? (Romans 6:1-2).
Thus the New Testament makes clear that the law of God continues, thus it was not nailed to the cross or somehow wiped out.
The Bible, however, also shows that the requirements of the Levitical priesthood (Hebrews 9:1,6-10), which were part of the penalty of sin, were blotted out.
And why?
"For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins...By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus once for all" (Hebrews 10:4,10).
Jesus' one sacrifice was and is sufficient--we do not have to sacrifice animals any morel
Another requirement (which is related) would be the death penalty of sin, as "the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23) or other specific ceremonial penalties associated with the Old Testament statutes (such as making a sin offering or washing).
The Levitical Priesthood Was Changed
Notice that Paul wrote that it was necessary for the Levitical priesthood to change:
11 Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. 13 For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar (Hebrews 7:11-13).
But some will argue that the above also talks about the law that people received.
That is true.
But what law?
Certainly not the ten commandments because they were given before the Levitical priesthood came into existence.
Not only were the ten commandments in affect before they were given at Mount Sinai (this is documented in the articles Were the Ten Commandments in Effect Before Mount Sinai? and Job and the Ten Commandments), the Levitical priesthood did not even come into being until after Moses came down from Mount Sinai. And because of this, the Levitical laws were later given.
The Bible shows that because the Levites decided to be on God's side, that God made them His priests. Notice the following accounts which are in your own Bible if you have one:
25 Now when Moses saw that the people were unrestrained (for Aaron had not restrained them, to their shame among their enemies), 26 then Moses stood in the entrance of the camp, and said, "Whoever is on the LORD's side, come to me." And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together to him. 27 And he said to them, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'Let every man put his sword on his side, and go in and out from entrance to entrance throughout the camp, and let every man kill his brother, every man his companion, and every man his neighbor.' " 28 So the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And about three thousand men of the people fell that day. 29 Then Moses said, "Consecrate yourselves today to the LORD, that He may bestow on you a blessing this day, for every man has opposed his son and his brother." (Exodus 32:25-29).
49 "Only the tribe of Levi you shall not number, nor take a census of them among the children of Israel; 50 but you shall appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of the Testimony, over all its furnishings, and over all things that belong to it; they shall carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings; they shall attend to it and camp around the tabernacle. 51 And when the tabernacle is to go forward, the Levites shall take it down; and when the tabernacle is to be set up, the Levites shall set it up. The outsider who comes near shall be put to death. 52 The children of Israel shall pitch their tents, everyone by his own camp, everyone by his own standard, according to their armies; 53 but the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the Testimony, that there may be no wrath on the congregation of the children of Israel; and the Levites shall keep charge of the tabernacle of the Testimony." (Numbers 1:49-53).
5 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 6 "Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may serve him. 7 And they shall attend to his needs and the needs of the whole congregation before the tabernacle of meeting, to do the work of the tabernacle. 8 Also they shall attend to all the furnishings of the tabernacle of meeting, and to the needs of the children of Israel, to do the work of the tabernacle. 9 And you shall give the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they are given entirely to him from among the children of Israel. 10 So you shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall attend to their priesthood; but the outsider who comes near shall be put to death." 11 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 12 "Now behold, I Myself have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of every firstborn who opens the womb among the children of Israel. Therefore the Levites shall be Mine, 13 because all the firstborn are Mine. On the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I sanctified to Myself all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast. They shall be Mine: I am the LORD." (Numbers 3:5-13).
Later, the ordinances and laws of the Levitical priesthood were given.
Please understand that the Bible makes it clear that the sacrifices were not part of the original law that God wanted obeyed. And that the Levitical sacrifices were added because of the sins of the people:
22 For I did not speak to your fathers, or command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices. 23 But this is what I commanded them, saying, 'Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you.'
24 "Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but followed the counsels and the dictates of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward.
25 Since the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt until this day, I have even sent to you all My servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them. 26 Yet they did not obey Me or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck. They did worse than their fathers (Jeremiah 7:22-26).
God always wanted to be obeyed.
Yet the truth is that since the Israelites never would obey God, He implemented the sacrifices, even though His plan was always that they would obey Him. That is why the Bible speaks of a new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-33).
Perhaps I should add here that even the Pharisees did not properly obey God's law. An article of related interest may be Were the Pharisees Condemned for Keeping the Law or Reasoning Around it?
The Old Covenant and the New Covenant
Many seem to misunderstand the difference between the old and new covenants.
Paul wrote:
In that He says, "A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away (Hebrews 8:13).
Some (like the Jehovah's Witnesses and many Protestants) teach that the old covenant was the ten commandments, while the new covenant means that those same commandments are done away. Yet look at the verses that immediately follow Hebrews 8:13 as they show what the Bible states was the first (the old) covenant:
1 Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary. 2 For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary; 3 and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, 4 which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; 5 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. 6 Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. 7 But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people's sins committed in ignorance; 8 the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. 9 It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience-- 10 concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation (Hebrews 9:1-10).
The old covenant, then, consisted of the ordinances of the Levitical priesthood, washings, and fleshly ordinances like animal sacrifices.
Paul wrote what the new covenant was:
"This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them" (Hebrews 10:16).
Notice that he did not write that the ten commandments were to be done away and that in the new covenant it was acceptable to kill, steal, bear false witness, covet, or break any of the ten commandments (more information can be found in the article Were the Ten Commandments "Nailed to the Cross"? Because of the writing of the law on our hearts, this no longer requires that followers of God need to wear external signs of the law, hence this is why people in the Churches of God do not tend to wear tzitzits (little scrolls of the ten commandments).
Also, notice that those with a new heart and a new spirit will walk in God's statutes:
Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God. But as for those whose hearts follow the desire for their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their deeds on their own heads," says the Lord GOD (Ezekiel 11:19-21).
This covenant in Hebrews is the same new covenant that the Prophet Jeremiah foretold:
Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah-- 32 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the LORD. 33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people (Jeremiah 31:31-33).
Jesus and the New Testament writers made it clear that the ten commandments are still to be kept. But they are kept in the spirit of the law, which does not mean (as Jehovah's Witnesses and many Protestants teach) that you do not literally have to obey the ten commandments. The spirit of the law as Jesus and others expounded means to go beyond the literal requirements and keep the intent--that is why Jesus taught that hate was like murder and lust like adultery. He absolutely did not teach that one spiritually can keep the ten commandments while literally breaking them.
Although this new covenant was made with spiritual Israel, it should be clear that God had intended for physical Israel to keep it, but they did not have a heart to obey (see also Deuteronomy 5:29).
Below are several articles, which are mainly quotes for the New Testament, about the Ten Commandments (and the last article shows that essentially all early Church leaders who wrote on the commandments stated that Christians needed to keep them):
What Did Jesus Teach About the Ten Commandments? This article quotes what Jesus actually said about them (His words are in red).
Were the Ten Commandments Nailed to the Cross? Some have said so. This article provides some biblical quotes to answer this important question.
What Did Paul Actually Teach About the Ten Commandments? Many say Paul taught against the ten commandments. Is this true? This article quotes Paul with his words in green.
Are the Ten Commandment Still in Effect? This article quotes the ten commandments and combines some of the previous articles into one article about the ten commandments. The commandments are shown at Mount Sinai, before Mount Sinai, in the teachings of Jesus, after the crucifixion, and in the teachings of Paul. It addresses the most common "traditions of men" regarding them as well.
Were the Pharisees Condemned for Keeping the Law or Reasoning Around it? Many believe that the Pharisees were condemned for keeping the law, but what does your Bible say? If they were not condemned for that, what were they condemned for?
The Ten Commandments Reflect Love, Breaking them is Evil Some feel that the ten commandments are a burden. Is that what Jesus, Paul, Peter, James, and John taught?
Was the Commandment to Love the Only Command? Some have stated that John's writings teach this, but is that what the Bible really says?
The Ten Commandments and the Early Church Did Jesus and the Early Church keep the ten commandments? What order were they in? Here are quotes from the Bible and early writings.
Why would anyone want to be part of a church that ignores the Bible and the teachings and practices of the early church?
What About Colossians 2:16-17?
The most common portion of the Bible that I have heard cited as "proof" that the sabbath and the biblical holy days are done away with is Colossian 2:16-17. So, let's examine one slight mistranslation of it:
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ (Col 2:16-17,KJV).
The above translation is close, however, it added a word that is not in the original Greek.
The word added is "is". Truly literal translation leave it out as it is not in there. Notice the Strong's words for verse 17:
3739. 2076 4639... 3588....... 3195...... 3588 1161 4983 9999 3588 5547
Which are a shadow of things to come; the.. but.. body ....is.... of... Christ.
(Interlinear Transliterated Bible. Copyright (c) 1994 by Biblesoft).
It should be noted that 9999 means that there was no word in the biblical text. It should also be noted that #3588 is often translated as "the"other.
Because the same three Strong's words (#4983, 3588, & 5547) are used four other times in the New Testament and in those times the KJV translates it as "body of Christ" (Romans 7:4; 1 Corinthians 10:16; 1 Corinthians 12:27; Ephesians 4:12)--as does the NKJV.
Therefore, if all the translators were simply consistent with themselves, they would have translated Colossians 2:16-17 to state:
16 Therefore let no man judge YOU in eating and drinking or in respect of a festival or of an observance of the new moon or of a sabbath; 17 for those things are a shadow of the things to come, but the body of Christ.
Or in other word, do not let those outside the body of Christ (the church, Colossians 1:18) judge you regarding holy days, but only the church itself. Colossians 2:16-17 is not saying that the sabbath and holy days are done away. It is poor exegesis (biblical interpretation) to rely on a mistranslation to claim that the holy days are done away with.
Even the early Orthodox bishop Ambrose of Milan recognized that Colossians 2:17 was referring to the "body of Christ" as he wrote (after someone mistranslated Colossians 2:17):
Let us, then, seek the body of Christ (Ambrose of Milan. Book II. On the Belief in the Resurrection, verse 108).
Now some have claimed that since the Sabbath command is not listed after Jesus died, that it is not in effect. The problem with this is that it was listed at least twice as a command as well as many times it was shown to be observed by early New Testament Christians.
Here are two times after Jesus died that the Sabbath command is listed:
And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment (Luke 23:56, NKJV).
Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, "So I declared on oath in my anger, 'They shall never enter my rest.'" And yet his work has been finished since the creation of the world. For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: "And on the seventh day God rested from all his work." And again in the passage above he says, "They shall never enter my rest." It still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had the gospel preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience...There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience (Hebrews 4:3-6,9-11, NIV).
This clearly shows that the command to keep the seventh day Sabbath is in the New Testament. It also shows that only those who will not observe it because of their disobedience argue otherwise. And that is why Paul observed it. Even Origen understood some of what Paul wrote above as he wrote:
But what is the feast of the Sabbath except that which the apostle speaks, "There remaineth therefore a Sabbatism," that is, the observance of the Sabbath, by the people of God...let us see how the Sabbath ought to be observed by a Christian. On the Sabbath-day all worldly labors ought to be abstained from...give yourselves up to spiritual exercises, repairing to church, attending to sacred reading and instruction...this is the observance of the Christian Sabbath (Translated from Origen's Opera 2, Paris, 1733, Andrews J.N. in History of the Sabbath, 3rd editon, 1887. Reprint Teach Services, Brushton (NY), 1998, pp. 324-325).
Acts 13:42-44 shows what Paul did,
...the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God.
Also Acts 18:4 states,
And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.
Hence the New Testament is clear that Paul kept the Sabbath, regularly preached on the Sabbath, and that he wrote that there remains "a Sabbath-rest for the people of God".
Hopefully, that includes you. (For more information, please read the article The Sabbath in the Early Church and Abroad.)
Which of the 603 Rules in the Old Testament Still Apply?
If you are supposed to keep the ten commandments, which laws are done away? Are you to keep all 603 of the ordinances and other regulations in the Old Testament.
This is a question that surfaces from time to time. What do those of us in the Churches of God (COGs) tend to think?
I was asked about this recently.
Notice the following from a reader of the COGwriter.com page:
Dear COgwriter
You say the Ten Commandments are still in effect today and are mentioned
throgh out the New Testament which I partly agreee with however how about
the other laws friend, such as the, various washings, non cutting of the
beard and head hairs, not mixing certain materials together, not having any
physical contact at all with your wife during her {menstrual period}...The problem is how can I find out which laws are done away with I mean
aside from the Ten Commandments there's around 603 laws (Old Covenant laws)
How do can I find out which 1's were specifically abolished on the cross
this is the main problem I have because when Paul talks about us being dead
to the law (Book of Romans, Hebrews, Galatians etc etc) through christ etc
etc he makes no distinction.thnx and i eagerly wait your reply.
So I basically responded with:
The book of Hebrews makes it clear that various washings and physical sacrifices were done away.
However, all the principles of the laws still apply. We in the COGs do not knowingly wear clothes made from specifically prohibited combinations, nor do we have intercourse when our wives are menstruating.
Some statutes were superceded. For example, the OT says that in the new covenant the law would be in our hearts. While this does not mean that we do away with the law, it does mean that we do not have to wear little scrolls or have wide blue marks to show that we keep the law.
Those 603 rules have many that have to do with washings and sacrifices, and we do not do them literally. Most of the others we do.
The same writer responded to me with:
the only problem is you've just said all principles of the law still stand but doesn't the bible state that Sacrifical Laws and Diver washings (just a few examples) are not to continue under the new covenant?
And I basically responded with:
Yes, but notice that the principle that the shedding of blood is needed for the remission of sins was and is shown in Christ.
Furthermore, the Bible says that we are to be living sacrifices (Romans 12:1). We are to repent and confess our sins and be washed through baptism (1 Corinthians 6:11; Hebrews 10:22). In addition, we will be washed in the blood of Jesus (Revelation 1:5).The Book of Hebrews probably gives the most details, or at least principles, to determine what is or is not literally still applicable.
Matthew Henry's Commentary states that not only the penalty of the law was nailed to the cross, but that according to Ephesians' 2:15 Jesus also eliminated the obligation to keep various regulations, called ordinances, or the ceremonial aspects of the law.
That is consistent with Hebrews 9:6-15 which discusses that washings and sacrifices and related regulations are no longer needed because of Christ:
6 Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. 7 But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people's sins committed in ignorance; 8 the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. 9 It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience-- 10 concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.
11 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance (Hebrews 9:6-15).
The Bible does show that physical circumcision is not required as that has been changed to a circumcision essentially through baptism:
In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead (Colossians 2:11-12).
The New Testament itself states that circumcision is not required as it is now of the heart (Romans 2:28-29)--however, we in the COGs normally do circumcize our sons, but we simply do not require it of male converts.
Furthermore, while the kingdom of Israel had a civil government whose king was supposed to study the laws and statutes in the Hebrew scriptures (Deuteronomy 17:14-20), notice what Jesus said:
My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here (John 18:36).
Jesus made it clear that since His kingdom was not of this world, that His servants would not fight in the military (hence the military statutes essentially do not apply) and that His servants (generally speaking) would not normally be enforcing the penalties of the laws and statutes. (An article of possibly related interest may include Military Service and the Churches of God: Do Real Christians Participate in Carnal Warfare?)
The Apostle Paul essentially confirmed this when he explained that civil authorities were given that responsibility:
Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God's ministers attending continually to this very thing (Romans 13:1-6).
Which Laws Matter? Which Laws Remain?
Notice that the Apostle Paul wrote that while physical circumcision is not required any more, keeping the commandments still do:
Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters (1 Corinthians 7:19).
Other than the ten commandments that the Bible and early church writings clearly show are still applicable, which laws remain?
Notice that the Apostle Paul encouraged the Thessalonians for following the practices of the church in Judea:
For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 2:13-14).
Jesus and Paul both kept the biblical Holy Days (please see the article Is There "An Annual Worship Calendar" In the Bible?) and the Sabbath (please see the article The Sabbath in the Early Church and Abroad). But Paul observed them without the sacrifices.
He also taught to imitate him as he imitated Christ:
Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1).
So, this then is the clue. Christians should look to the Bible and those who knew the disciples and follow their practices as they followed Christ's! And in cases where matters are unclear, we should look to the Bible, for Paul also wrote:
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
This is why we know that the sacrifices and Levitical practices were done away--the Bible in the New Testament clearly tells us so. The Bible, however, does not tell us that God's laws are done away. Nor did early Christians think they were.
Furthermore, no one called of God is ever shown in the Bible or in early church history to have eaten unclean meats (this is documented in the article The New Testament Church and Unclean Meats). Nor did Jesus or Paul.
Tithing was practiced by Christians (this is documented in the article Tithing Questions and Some Answers) and endorsed by Jesus.
A more complete listing of the doctrines and practices of the early Christian Church can be found at the History of Early Christianity page. The beliefs documented there may better assist you in understanding what God expects of His people.
Conclusion
The Bible and early church history show that the new covenant involved more fully keeping God's law of love as expressed in the ten commandments.
Many practices based upon laws and statutes in the Old Testament were observed by early Christians and still are observed by true Christians today.
However as the New Testament clearly states, Jesus' sacrifice does atone for our sins, hence we no longer need animal sacrifices nor the Levitical priesthood nor its related practices or civil matters. And that was what was "done away". The Levitical priesthood has been changed. And Jesus' kingdom is not of this world.
Christians truly are under the new covenant.
But we still show the love of God by keeping His commandments (more information on that can be found in the article The Ten Commandments Reflect Love, Breaking them is Evil).
COGwriter 2007 0917