Who knew there were so many Old Testament scholars? I was reading an article about political policy and scrolled through the first few comments when I stumbled into a thread of sage experts in Mosaic law. You see, one individual suggested that the Christian worldview might have some perspective on the issue being discussed, and a chorus of helpful voices immediately responded with a well-reasoned counter-argument of, “YOU HYPOCRITE! YOU ARE ALL HYPOCRITES! AAAHHHHHH!!!!!???????” Or something to that effect. They then trotted out a nearly exhaustive list of obscure Old Testament commands that this Christian surely did not adhere to (though they didn’t bother to ask first) as examples of how all Christians are hypocrites because we only believe the parts of the Bible that we like and ignore the rest.

Believe that God created the world, but eat shrimp? Hypocrite!

Believe that marriage is between a man and a woman but wear a Terry-Cotton shirt? Hypocrite!

Believe that salvation is through Jesus alone but don’t offer animal sacrifices in Jerusalem? You guessed it – hypocrite.

So where does that leave us as Christians reading a Bible with an Old and a New Testament? Are we hypocrites as many suggest? Do we read our Bibles squinty-eyed so we only have to see the parts we want? Do we proclaim Scripture as truth and then glue the first half of the Good Book shut so we don’t have to deal with it?

Fortunately for us, the Bible, as always, speaks for itself on this issue. And this is why our men’s breakfasts often feature bacon.

The Old Testament Law given to Moses instructed the people of Israel in how they were to relate to Yahweh morally, civilly, and ceremonially. Those who came to believe in the true and living God were brought into fellowship with the people of God and came under the Law as well. Generation after generation proceeded this way until a very important declaration was made.

Matthew 5:17–18
17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished."

Here Jesus dropped a bombshell of theology. In preaching His famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells His listeners that they are not about to hear an antinomian, or anti-Law message, but rather they are about to learn from someone who is able to do a thing never before accomplished in the history of God’s people. Jesus is going to fulfill the Law.

The Law, which was the standard by which people demonstrated their holiness and acceptability before a holy God, had proven to be the undoing of God’s people. Not that the Law was bad, but it has shown a spotlight on the depravity of fallen man. As Paul wrote:

Romans 7:12–13
12 So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. 13 Therefore did that which is good become a cause of death for me? May it never be! Rather it was sin, in order that it might be shown to be sin by effecting my death through that which is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful.

So the Law creates a visible gulf between God the Holy One, and man, dead by sin. The only one to successfully traverse that gulf by walking in perfect obedience to the Law was Jesus Christ. The good news of the Gospel is that He has made a way for us to cross that divide as well in Him.

Paul celebrates this reality in Romans 3:21-31.

Romans 3:21–31 (NASB95)
21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; 26 for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. 27 Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. 28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one. 31 Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law.

To gain salvation by faith in Jesus is not to deny the importance of the Old Testament Law, it is rather to declare that the Law of God is perfect, that only Jesus has ever fulfilled it, and that we can stand justified before God not on our own merits, but on His merits. By faith in what Jesus accomplished, I am declared guiltless before the Law because I have been credited with Jesus’ righteousness, and I am forgiven of my lawbreaking because Jesus died to pay my penalty. Thus the demands of the Law are not simply abolished, they are fulfilled.

Therefore we now live in a new age. An age in which God tells Peter he can eat bacon and pheasant (Acts 10), Paul can enjoy being a carnivore (Rom 14:2), and the Sabbath and feast days are no longer mandatory (Col 2:16). Christ changes everything. As the author of Hebrews declares, “When He [Jesus] said, ‘A new covenant,’ He has made the first obsolete. (Hebrews 8:13)”

What is the value of studying the Old Testament Law then?

As 2 Timothy 3:16 says:
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;

We do not study the Old Testament Law because it is binding on us today, but because it is instructive for us.

God’s Law is still a good expression of His character. We see the importance of living lives of holiness, set apart from the world. We learn His standards of justice and how to care for others. We understand how a society can function together in love. We find concrete examples of moral principles taught in both the Old and New Testaments.

In short, when we look to the Old Testament for our justification before God, we deny the Gospel. However, when we study the Old Testament as those justified by faith in Jesus, we find rich instruction and illustration of those principles our Savior has commanded us to live by. And we are also reminded how good it is to live in the freedom of the New Covenant in Jesus.
So here’s a helpful New Testament believer’s decision tree for the Old Testament Law:

Wow, look at this Old Testament law!

Am I obligated to obey it to be justified before God? Nope, that’s what Jesus did for me.

Am I commanded to obey it by Christ in the New Testament as an expression of my love for Him or others? If yes – well, alrighty then.

If no – does this law illustrate a principle about the nature of God or His will that I do need to pay attention to? If yes – well, alrighty then.
If no – read it again and don’t forget 2 Timothy 3:16.

From one forgiven gentile to another, praise the Lord, and pass the bacon. #notahypocrite