Introduction
Many people wonder if the laws given in the Old Testament are still important for believers today. Some think these laws are outdated, while others believe they still matter. Let's look at what 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says to understand why these laws are still relevant.
What the Scripture Says
2 Timothy 3:16-17 says:
“All scripture is given by inspiration of Yah, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of Yah may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
When Paul wrote this, he was mainly talking about the Old Testament, including the laws given to Moses.
The Law as Teaching
The laws in the Old Testament teach us about Yah's standards and how we should live. Yahshua confirmed that these laws are important in Matthew 5:17-18, which says:
“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”
When Yahshua said He came to fulfill the law, it means He took upon Himself the penalty that the law demands for sin; thus fulfilling the law. Yahshua became the sacrificial lamb, offering His life to pay the price for our sins. His death on the cross satisfied the requirements of the law, which demands a penalty of death for sin. This does not mean that the law is abolished; instead, it means that its demands have been fully met in Yahshua. The law remains a guide for holy living, showing us how to live in a way that pleases Yah.
The Law for Pointing Out Wrong
The laws act like a mirror, showing us where we go wrong. Paul says in Romans 7:7:
“What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Yah forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.”
By showing us our mistakes, the law helps us see our need for Yahshua and encourages us to turn back to Yah. James 2:10 emphasizes the strict requirement of the law:
“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”
This verse highlights that we cannot meet Yah's standard of perfection concerning the law's requirements. Without Yahshua's substitution, we would have died in our sins because the law's demands are unrelenting. The scripture clearly states in Ezekiel 18:20:
“The soul that sinneth, it shall die.”
This underscores the need for a redeemer. Yahshua's sacrifice freed us from the penalty of the law because we could never please Yah ourselves. As Psalm 51:5 says:
“Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.”
Additionally, 1 John 1:8 reminds us:
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”
Born in iniquity, we could not meet the standards of the law without the perfect lamb of Yah. However, we are still called to follow and obey the law as it guides us in righteous living and shows us how to align our lives with Yah's will.
The Law for Correcting Us
When we stray from the right path, the laws guide us back. Psalm 19:7 says:
“The law of Yah is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of Yah is sure, making wise the simple.”
This means that the laws help us change and become better people by showing us how to live rightly. The law is a light unto our path in a dark world.
The Law for Teaching Right Living
The laws also teach us how to live in a way that pleases Yah. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 emphasizes teaching these laws to our children, saying:
“And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”
By following these laws, we learn to live with justice, mercy, and humility, as Micah 6:8 highlights:
“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth Yah require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy Elohim?”
Conclusion
2 Timothy 3:16-17 makes it clear that the laws in the Old Testament are still important for believers today. They teach us, correct us, show us our wrongs, and guide us in right living. These laws help us grow in our faith and live in a way that pleases Yah. Yahshua’s death did not nullify the law; instead, it freed us from the penalty of the law because we could never please Yah on our own. The law continues to guide us and shape our lives according to Yah's will, emphasizing the necessity of the perfect sacrificial lamb of Yah to bridge the gap created by our iniquities. We are still to work at perfecting ourselves by being obedient to the law, as it is not obsolete or done away with. As 2 Timothy 2:15 instructs:
“Study to shew thyself approved unto Yah, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
By diligently studying and obeying the law, we demonstrate our commitment to living righteously and pleasing Yah.
This is a clear breakdown on how the law was never made obsolete, and we are to obey the full counsel of Yah until his return...
Funny how the called out ones were easily spotted when it came down to persecuting them. They kept the law, hence they stood out and they kept the Sabbath.
I wonder how modern day Christians think they'll be identified when that persecution comes. Sad to say, they look just like the world and upholds the world's standard.