Grace and peace for you,
When I visited some websites some time ago, I was looking for something about Messianic believers (Jewish believers in the gospel) and I saw some interesting things. One of the points where he did not agree with his doctrine was:
- “The Gentiles who convert to the Lord Jesus do not need to keep the law.
- But we.
- Who are Jews justified by the blood of Jesus.
- Must keep it.
- “.
They presented several New Testament texts that “prove this. ” If I remember correctly, they say that they are justified only by faith, but that because the Holy Ghost is in them now, they can keep the Law that before, by the flesh, They could not.
Do Jews who convert to the Lord need to keep the law?
I’ll give you a simple answer, but I hope that’s enough.
Before answering your question, we must understand what they (or you) mean by law. From a theological point of view, the Law is divided into three parts: civil law, ceremonial law and moral law (see this article by Solano Portela for a more detailed study). )
Civil and ceremonial law refers to issues such as: form of government, circumcision, pig, sacrifices, who can be a priest, etc. These aspects of the law have been abolished. See:
For if the priesthood is changed, the law must also be changed (Hebrews 7:12).
As we read the context, it is clear that the law to which the author of Hebrews refers is the law that constitutes priests (Hebrews 7:28), that is, ceremonial law.
Then he said unto them, Give Caesar what is caesar’s and God’s what is of God. (Luke 20:25)
Showing the separation between human and divine government in this new era, which is different from Israel’s (for a deeper understanding of this age difference, read this article by John Piper).
Then we know that Jesus said
Do not think that I came to abrogate the law or the prophets: I came not to abrogate, but to fulfill (Matthew 5:17).
Then, when Jesus came, he fulfilled all divine law, both the shadow of ceremonial law (unique and perfect sacrifice, eternal priest, etc. ) and civil law (assuming mesianic rule, etc. ), as a moral law.
However, the moral law has not been abolished, because it cannot, because it is not a reflection of God’s holiness and it is the divine character that defines something as sin. This moral law is summarized in the 10 commandments and is further summarized in the two great commandments.
It should be noted that Jesus did not come to bring a new law. In the sermon on the mountain, Christ does not abrogate divine law, but the misunderstandings and human commandments they put there; And he did so by showing the deeper meaning of the Law. In fact, the two great commandments, which are one, are also not a new law, but Jesus was responding to the Pharisee who asked what, the great commandment of the law?(Matthew 22:36).
Therefore, the moral law is still in force and every believer (Jew or pagan) must comply with it. If the Messic Jew meant this law, then I agree; and we can truly achieve this only through the regenerating and sanctifying power of the Holy Ghost.
However, I believe that the law to which the mesianic Jews referred is ceremonial law, so it is important to say that although some Jewish believers continue to hold certain ceremonies in the NT, this was not done because they were obliged to do so, but by in the NT, there is no longer any difference between Jews and Gentiles, they are all under the same condemnation , everyone has access to God in one Spirit and everyone must comply with the same Law, the Law of Christ, which is the Divine Moral Law.
To better understand the danger of keeping the ceremonial law seeking to be accepted by God, I suggest reading Galatians, Colossans, and Hebrews.
By Vin-cius M. Pimentel. © Return to the Gospel. Website: VoltemosAoEvangelho. com Permissions: You are authorized and encouraged to reproduce and distribute this material in any format, provided that you add the above information, do not edit the original content and do not use it for commercial purposes.
IProde does a series of? Prodcast? About the 10 commandments.