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Why Do We Only Keep Part Of The Law?

Mike Focht 1/24/2025

Every student of Scripture will eventually find themselves having to answer this question. The New Testament clearly teaches that we are no longer under the law. We don’t keep the Sabbath, offer sacrifices, observe the dietary law, or concern ourselves with how we trim our beards or mix linens. We don’t keep all of the law. 

   Then again, we also know it is still morally right for us to refrain from stealing, lying, adultery, murder, and other moral instructions given in the law. Logically, some of the laws are still binding, but not all. How do we answer this problem? How do we draw the line between honoring our mother and father and putting to death those who gather sticks on the Sabbath?

   A standard answer is to split the law into three sections. The moral law. The civil law. The ceremonial law. Theologians and commentators tell us that the moral law is still binding for all believers because it relates to God’s character, but the civil and ceremonial parts of the law relate to the nationality of the Jews and is, therefore, null and void to believers. This sounds semi-reasonable but becomes very arbitrary in its actual divisions for numerous reasons: all the law reflected God’s character—not just His moral commands; early believers were of Jewish nationality; which laws fall into which categories are not easy to decipher, etc. The most important reason this is not a suitable answer to the question is that the Bible never says anything like that.   

   Fortunately, this confusing question has a straightforward answer. The problem is that the answer is so simple many have largely overlooked it, and the inevitable outcome of ignoring Biblical simplicity is always confusion. If we focus on what the Bible teaches, we will see clearly why modern-day Christians do not follow all of the commands found in the Old Testament law. 

   First, the Bible teaches that New Testament believers—the church—are not under the law. At all. Not a single part. Period. It also teaches clearly that the law is not divided. One keeps the whole law or nothing at all. Paul teaches this very clearly, saying, Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. . . But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law (Galatians 5:2-4+18). Nothing could be clearer. Anyone seeking to keep any part of the law—no divisions possible—is under the whole law and falls from the grace of Christ. Believers are no longer under the law. 

   Second, the Bible teaches that believers are called and commanded to do things that the law also calls and commands. Numerous Scriptures could be put forward, but here is one example where Paul mentions one of the Ten Commandments: Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth” (Ephesians 6:1-3). What do we do with this? 

   Here is the answer. Every follower of Christ is called to observe and teach the commandments of Jesus Christ. We see this in the Great Commission. As a follower of Jesus, I keep all the commandments of Christ as seen in the gospels and as taught by the apostles who heard Christ firsthand and were then commissioned by Him to lay the foundation of the church. Sometimes, the commands of Christ and His apostles are the same or similar to those found in the Old Testament law—in those cases, I am not keeping the law; I am keeping the commands of Christ. The overlap is not law-keeping but Christ-keeping. 

   I am one hundred percent free from the law now and always. I am also one hundred percent under the commands of Christ. Christ commanded that children should still honor their fathers and mothers, and in doing so, I am keeping Christ’s command, not the law. In fact, Christ’s commands often go further than the law. Christ commands me not to commit adultery, and also not to lust after a woman in my heart. In like manner, if Christ has not commanded something, I am under no obligation to keep that thing, which is why we no longer keep large portions of the law. 

   As believers, we are not under the law. We are free from the law. We don’t keep a single command because it is the law. We are under the commands of Christ. If someone tells me that I must keep any part of the law, my answer should be simple: Show me where Jesus or His apostles commanded me to do so because I am not under the law; I am a follower of Jesus Christ.