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Why do Christians follow the old testament?

Elliott

Member
i have heard over the years that since jesus times the rules in the old testament are no longer relevant, is this true and if so why?
 

Rival

Si m'ait Dieus
Staff member
Premium Member
Because they try to use Tanach to prove their messiah and consider the prophecies and 'moral law' still relevant.

If you are Jewish, why are you using the awful 'old testament' phrase?
 

Kuzcotopia

If you can read this, you are as lucky as I am.
I think it's because the Old Testament sets up a worldview where God requires blood sacrifice to appease his wrath and atone for sin.

The New Testament is about God coming to earth in a human body, serving himself as a blood sacrifice to himself, to appease himself and allow people to not die because of their sin. It's the ultimate blood sacrifice.

Without the necessary preconditions for blood magic appeasement outlined by those religious people who lived in Iron Age deserts and wastelands, we wouldn't have the faith in Jesus' blood sacrifice that many follow in our modern 21st century society today.

See how it all works out?
 

Rival

Si m'ait Dieus
Staff member
Premium Member
I think it's because the Old Testament sets up a worldview where God requires blood sacrifice to appease his wrath and atone for sin.

The New Testament is about God coming to earth in a human body, serving himself as a blood sacrifice to himself, to appease himself and allow people to not die because of their sin. It's the ultimate blood sacrifice.

Without the necessary preconditions for blood magic appeasement outlined by those religious people who lived in Iron Age deserts and wastelands, we wouldn't have the faith in Jesus' blood sacrifice that many follow in our modern 21st century society today.

See how it all works out?
Except that not all sins require a sacrifice and not all sacrifices are for sin. One could also bring grain offerings.
 

Kuzcotopia

If you can read this, you are as lucky as I am.
Except that not all sins require a sacrifice and not all sacrifices are for sin. One could also bring grain offerings.

I could actually consider being a Christian if some told me that Jesus baked a marble rye for my sins. . .

:)
 

Kenny

Face to face with my Father
Premium Member
i have heard over the years that since jesus times the rules in the old testament are no longer relevant, is this true and if so why?

In my Christian understanding, there are three things the Cross did:

1) Eliminated some things
2) Kept some things
3) Changed some things.

But definitely doesn't eliminate all things.

The reason is that Jesus became fulfillment of many of the OT (I prefer using the word Tanakh) and thus no longer necessary. For an example, the requirement to sacrifice a lamb for the Passover. Since for Christians, Jesus is the sacrificial lamb, it is no longer needed to be done for He has become our Passover.

Likewise, the sacrificing of a goat by the high priest (while another is taken away after the high priest lays his hands on it), for Christians, it represented Jesus taking our sins to a far away place as He became the sacrifice. Again, no longer needed to be done on a yearly basis.
 

Elliott

Member
In my Christian understanding, there are three things the Cross did:

1) Eliminated some things
2) Kept some things
3) Changed some things.

But definitely doesn't eliminate all things.

The reason is that Jesus became fulfillment of many of the OT (I prefer using the word Tanakh) and thus no longer necessary. For an example, the requirement to sacrifice a lamb for the Passover. Since for Christians, Jesus is the sacrificial lamb, it is no longer needed to be done for He has become our Passover.

Likewise, the sacrificing of a goat by the high priest (while another is taken away after the high priest lays his hands on it), for Christians, it represented Jesus taking our sins to a far away place as He became the sacrifice. Again, no longer needed to be done on a yearly basis.
Can you give me examples of things that were kept and changed perhaps?
 

Elliott

Member
I know they take the incidents described in the OT as true, but what do you see them following?

.
Perhaps i don't understand the question correctly but if i do understand then it seems to me they follow the new testament and the old testament is just kinda there. i don't mean any disrespect, just how it seems.
 

Elliott

Member
Because they try to use Tanach to prove their messiah and consider the prophecies and 'moral law' still relevant.

If you are Jewish, why are you using the awful 'old testament' phrase?
Just using a language i think everyone will understand, not everyone knows it as Tanakh.
 

sun rise

The world is on fire
Premium Member
Perhaps i don't understand the question correctly but if i do understand then it seems to me they follow the new testament and the old testament is just kinda there. i don't mean any disrespect, just how it seems.
There are passages that are the same in both. The NT brings things to the fore and highlights them. Such as, for example the two "greatest commandments" which are also in the OT Deut: 6:5 and Leviticus 19:17
 

Skwim

Veteran Member
Perhaps i don't understand the question correctly but if i do understand then it seems to me they follow the new testament and the old testament is just kinda there. i don't mean any disrespect, just how it seems.
Well, you asked, "Why do Christians follow the old testament?" intimating there's definitely something in the OT that Christians follow.

You also asked, "I have heard over the years that since Jesus times the rules in the old testament are no longer relevant, is this true and if so why?" intimating that as far as you know whatever Christians are following in the OT may not be (not definitely) its rules. Hence my question: if it isn't the OT rules that Christians definitely follow, and we both know most take the incidents described in the OT as true, then just what is it you're asking about in your question "Why do Christians follow the old testament?"

.
 

RedDragon94

Love everyone, meditate often
i have heard over the years that since jesus times the rules in the old testament are no longer relevant, is this true and if so why?
As a Christian I have come to believe after studying a certain book of the New Testament that the law is not the standard, God himself is. Therefore the laws of the Tanach have been replace with certain principles.
 

Spiderman

Veteran Member
Christians love to cherry pick the Old Testament as a means of puffing themselves up and judging and condemning others.

For example, I can't tell you how many times I have seen Catholics and Orthodox Churchs condemned for graven images.yet nothing in the New Testament speaks against images. That was for the ancient Israelites.
 

idav

Being
Premium Member
i have heard over the years that since jesus times the rules in the old testament are no longer relevant, is this true and if so why?
Jesus took the Torah and made it all about him. All the Jacob stuff about being a light for gentiles, Jesus, prophesied Elijah, Jesus, who is Israel, Jesus, they even took the three day whale story and made it about Jesus. Why dont they believe the OT, well they do just not what you'd expect. NT quoted the Torah quite extensively to say it's about Jesus.
 

metis

aged ecumenical anthropologist
Aquinas felt that the "OT" should be accepted but not interpreted literally since that approach would mean that Jesus could not have been the "Messiah" because he wouldn't have fulfilled all the prophecies.
 

Maccabeaus

New Member
i have heard over the years that since jesus times the rules in the old testament are no longer relevant, is this true and if so why?

Hi Metis. The rules in the Hebrew Scriptures still do apply. Who told you that they no longer apply? The sacrificial laws have been fulfilled by the Messiah, but the rest of the laws, such as the seventh day Sabbath and the dietary laws still apply.
 

Father Heathen

Veteran Member
I know they take the incidents described in the OT as true, but what do you see them following?

.

The laws that forbid homosexuality (while ignoring the laws that forbid tattoos, eating pork/shrimp, rotating crops, wearing mixed fabrics, etc.)
 

metis

aged ecumenical anthropologist
Hi Metis. The rules in the Hebrew Scriptures still do apply. Who told you that they no longer apply? The sacrificial laws have been fulfilled by the Messiah, but the rest of the laws, such as the seventh day Sabbath and the dietary laws still apply.
What I gave was Aquinas' opinion. As for me, I really don't get into the issue of "the Messiah".

However, in regards to the Law, why do you seeming think that Jesus picked & chose for his followers which of the 613 Commandments to follow and which could be ignored? Judaism 101: A List of the 613 Mitzvot (Commandments)
 
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