1. Can Christians follow the Jewish laws of the Old Testament?

     I strongly believe that much of the Old Testament is still helpful for Christians to follow. As Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart affirm, “that which is explicitly renewed from the Old Testament law can be considered part of the New Testament 'law of Christ.'” For example, this includes the Ten Commandments and the Old Testament commands to love. Both are encouraged by Jesus and the early apostles. Likewise, much of the other ethical guidance of the old covenant, such as that which is found in Proverbs, is often applicable to God's people today.

     Because the same Holy Spirit inspired both the Old and New Testament, both should be extremely relevant to the contemporary Church. According to Andrew Hill and John Walton, “Even if one is inclined to draw distinct, separating lines between the covenants, the organic unity of the covenants must not be overlooked.” There is beautiful agreement found in these two parts of the Bible, and it is silly to claim that the instructions given in one section of the Word have completely lost their value since Jesus died and rose again.

     God did make a promise of the latter days saying, “I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts” (Hebrews 8:10, Jer. 31:33). So I am certain that the Holy Spirit leads modern people through their hearts in a way that was not done as commonly in ages past. Nevertheless, the ability of believers to receive God's spiritual direction increases in them as they listen to Paul's exhortation to be “transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2). The Holy Writ (both testaments) is the primary agent of the transformation and renewal in people's minds. So they cannot overlook any part of the Bible when seeking to be sensitive to the voice of the Spirit.

     I also agree with Fee and Stuart in that “Two kinds of old-covenant stipulations have clearly not been renewed in the new covenant...(1) the Israelite civil laws and (2) ritual laws.” Jesus surely has fulfilled all requirements concerning sacrifices for sin, and the narrative of Acts 15:19-29 reveals that ancient Israel's cultural mandates are not all beneficial for everyone to obey in this time period. Yet even these guidelines can show men characteristics of God's personality as they study them, and therefore assist Christians in knowing how to express His nature through their own lives.

References

Fee, Gordon D. and Stuart, Douglas. How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2003. Pages 169 and 167.

Hill, A. E. and Walton, J. H. A Survey of the Old Testament, Third Edition. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2009.

2. Well, shouldn't we rely on Jesus for salvation rather than the Law?

     As a born-again Christian I understand that Christ is the only One who can set me in right-standing with the Father. However, as I gain confidence in my righteousness before God, that righteousness should manifest by me doing good deeds for His glory. This is why Jesus stated, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). These commands He spoke of are sometimes direct quotations from the Old Testament, which He wrote by His Spirit. Even the command to love is a guideline given originally to the Israelites. We do not follow these rules in order to become accepted, but because we have become accepted and empowered to walk out a godly lifestyle.

     Our Messiah said in Matthew 5:17, “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.” So the Law has clearly not been done away with entirely. It can still influence our lives significantly. As Paul proclaimed, “Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law” (Romans 3:31).

     No, we do not have to be condemned by the Law any longer. We do get to adhere to a great deal of it though, and receive the benefits of heeding God's advice.