rms said:
2.If there is an Old Testament law that isn't ceremonial in nature (not fulfilled by Christ's life and sacrifice on the cross) and if that law is not explicitly changed or ended by something found in the New Testament, is that Old Testament law still in force for New Testament believers? Please use scripture when you answer.
Much depends on what your pastor means when he says "Old Testament law". If he is referring to the Mosaic law (specifically the law given to the nation of Israel at Sinai), then no element of that law is applicable to New Covenant Believers.
Hebrews 8:6-13: "
But now He has obtained a more excellent service, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was constituted on better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. For finding fault with them, He says, "See, the days are coming," says Yahweh, "when I shall make with the house of Yisra'el and with the house of Yehudah a new covenant, not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Mitsrayim, because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them," says Yahweh. "Because this is the covenant that I shall make with the house of Yisra'el after those days", says Yahweh, "giving My laws in their mind, and I shall write them on their hearts, and I shall be their Elohim, and they shall be My people. And they shall by no means teach each one his neighbour, and each one his brother, saying, "Know Yahweh", because they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. Because I shall forgive their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawlessness I shall no longer remember. By saying, "new", He has made the first old. Now what becomes old and growing aged is near disappearing."
It is clear that a distinctly new and different covenant was going to replace the Old Mosaic Covenant given at Sinai. This would not be the same old covenant recycled, but a brand new covenant, a BETTER COVENANT, constituted on BETTER PROMISES. The first covenant, the Mosaic Covenant, was not faultless, but the fault wasn't with God's law but rather with the children of Israel. We are clearly told that the Old Covenant, the Mosaic Covenant, was growing aged and near disappearing. It was being replaced by the New Covenant, the Messianic Covenant.
Hebrews 7:11-12: "
Truly, then, if perfection were through the Lewitical priesthood - for under it the people were given the Torah - why was there still need for another priest to arise according to the order of Malkitsedeq, and not be called according to the order of Aharon? For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also."
Be sure to point out to him that the Greek word here for "change" is "metatithemi", which refers to a change in one's state. It is a radical replacement of one thing for another.
In Acts 2:20, it says "
the sun will be CHANGED ("metatithemi") to darkness".
In James 4:9, it says, "
Let your laughter be TURNED ("metatithemi") into crying".
This isn't adding something to an existing something. This is an abolishment of one thing for another. It is taking away one thing and putting another in its place. The Levitical Priesthood was inextricably connected with the Mosaic Covenant. The Old Covenant was, by necessity, being superceded, because the priesthood was being superceded.
Hebrews 7:17-19: "
for He does witness, "You are a priest forever according to the order of Malkitsedeq." For there is indeed a setting aside of the former command because of its weakness and unprofitableness, for the Torah perfected naught, but the bringing in of a better expectation, through which we draw near to Elohim."
The term "setting aside" is "athetesis", which literally means to set aside, to completely annul, to refuse to recognize its validity, or the complete removal of something. The Mosaic Covenant was done away with because it was inferior to the New Covenant.
Hebrews 8:6-7: "
But now He has obtained a more excellent service, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was constituted on better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second."
2 Corinthians 3:5-8: "
Not that we are competent in ourselves to reckon any matter as from ourselves, but our competence is from Elohim, who also made us competent as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit, for the letter kills but the Spirit gives life. But if the administering of death in letters, engraved on stones, was esteemed, so that the children of Yisra'el were unable to look steadily at the face of Mosheh because of the esteem of his face, which was passing away, how much more esteemed shall the administering of the Spirit not be?"
What are the only letters engraved on stones anywhere in all of Scripture? The Ten Commandments. Paul is going out of his way to identify these stone tablets by name as he mentions the "administering of death in letters". This isn't simply some symbol of sacrificial elements of the Mosaic Law, this is a clear, deliberate reference to the very words God wrote by His own hand on tablets of stone at Sinai.
Galatians 3:23-29: "
But before belief came, we were being guarded under Torah, having been shut up for the belief about to be revealed. Therefore the Torah became our trainer unto Messiah, in order to be declared right by belief. And after belief has come, we are no longer under a trainer. For you are all sons of Elohim through belief in Messiah Yahushua. For as many of you as were immersed into Messiah have put on Messiah. There is not Yehudite nor Greek, there is not slave nor free, there is not male and female, for you are all one in Messiah Yahushua. And if you are of Messiah, then you are seed of Abraham, and heirs according to promise."
Numerous passages tell us, in no uncertain terms, that the
ENTIRE MOSAIC COVENANT SYSTEM has ended. Just a few references you can discuss with him....Gal. 5:18, Rom. 7:1-7, Eph. 2:14-16, 2 Cor. 3:5-11, Rom. 3:19-20, Col. 2:13-17, Gal. 3:23-25, Rom. 10:4, Gal. 5:4, Heb. 10:1, Rom. 6:14-15, Gal. 3:10-13, Rom. 3:28...it's almost hard to read through the NT and NOT find a passage that tells us what exactly has passed away.
In his love,
David
