Theology 24 — Challenging the New Covenant

In our last episode, we laid the theological foundation for a new covenant doctrine: Christ fulfilled the Law and ratified the new covenant, which opened a new way of relating to God apart from obedience to Torah.  Now we will discuss a number of texts that sometimes confuse Christians into thinking the Law is still in effect today.  We’ll cover Jesus’ obedience to Torah, several scriptures that imply the Torah is forever, the sabbath’s association with creation, and a number of prophecies that mention keeping aspects of the Law in the kingdom.  Although, I realize these are not all of the texts and strategies that Torah-observant Christians use to make their case, these are some of the significant ones.

—— Notes ——

State the Doctrine Simply

Because of Christ’s obedient life, atoning death, and justifying resurrection, he has opened a new way of relating to God via the new covenant.  Thus, the old covenant (the Law of Moses) is obsolete for both Jews and Gentiles.

Texts that Support This Teaching

Acts 15.23-29; Rom 2.25-29; 3.21-31; 4.13-16; 6.14-15; 7.1-7; 8.1-4; 13.8-10; 1 Cor 9.20-21; 2 Cor 3.1-18; Gal 2.14, 19-21; 3.10-29; 4.21-31; 5.1-6; 5.13-25; 6.15-16; Eph 2.11-19; 3.4-6; Col 2.11-17; Heb 7.11-12, 21-22; 8.4-13; 9.11-15; 10.8-22; 12.18-29

The Example/Teaching of Jesus

Hebrews 4.15 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

• in the context of Jesus’ life, sinless means he kept the Law
• just b/c Jesus kept the law, doesn’t mean we should continue to keep it, especially if his whole mission was to open a new way for us to relate to God
• Think of the generation that first received the Torah in the time of Moses. They were not free to continue living the old way if they wanted to relate to God through the new way Moses had delivered to them.

Numbers 15.32-36 (the guy who collected sticks on the Sabbath) 32 While the people of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day. 33 And those who found him gathering sticks brought him to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation.  34 They put him in custody, because it had not been made clear what should be done to him.  35 And the LORD said to Moses, “The man shall be put to death; all the congregation shall stone him with stones outside the camp.”  36 And all the congregation brought him outside the camp and stoned him to death with stones, as the LORD commanded Moses.

Matthew 5.17-20 17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.  18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.  19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.  20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

• booster rocket analogy of N. T. Wright
• Jesus did not abolish, but to fulfill the Law, but once he fulfilled it, a new way became available
• what is a covenant? it’s a way God has set up to relate to him
• all of Hebrews teaches that the new way is better
  • he is a better mediator of the covenant than the angels (Heb 1)
  • he offers better salvation (Heb 2)
  • he is better than Moses as a son is better than a faithful servant (Heb 3)
  • his priesthood is better than Aaron’s b/c it’s after Melch