Um... so how come he overturned so much of the law? Thing called the new covenant?
First, we have God's divine moral law, that arises from God's nature. They are unchanging. We must difine the difference between moral law and the Cultic/Cultural law. Each are different in form and purpose.
God's moral law is the basis of love in every aspect, how to abide and function in it with God and humanity where love seeks no harm. God's laws relate into our purpose how we serve him and other humans. These moral laws protect and secure humanity.
Almost all of human law stems from God's moral law. Even though we deny God in our legal system, the whole system stems form God or religion, "you shall not steal, kill, ect." Moral law is cross cultural, for all people at all times.
The Cultic/Cultural law was given to the nation of Israel specifically. These laws are not cross cultural, they were for the purpose of building a nation, that would be God's chosen people and the linage of Christ. These laws seperated Israel from other nations. Laws of sacrifice of animals. Some of the laws are of Messianic linage, some to guarantee tribal inheritance of land. Of course many of these laws prohibited many behaviors. Rules were given that seem strange and cruel to our culture, but were specific to maintaining Israels total dependence on God.
All of these laws ceased when their purpose was fulfilled, when Christ ended them. Most of these laws are contained within the holiness code outlined in Lev. 17-27. THis code was to seperate Israel from other secular culture and religious practices. Christ did away with all these laws. For anyone to attempt to keep them would be vainful and useless.
Christ freed us from all this law. It serves no purpose. We live under one law..the law of love. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, "You shall love your
neighbor as yourself." (Galatians 5:14 RSV)
It amazes me that people are bound to so much legalism. We are under grace, but many churches still abide in laws, rituals, ect, that have nothing to do with love. That's why so many churchs are filled with gossip, hyprocrisy, judging, ect...Truly miserable christians.
There were so many of these issues that were historical or cultural and they were dealt with as such. Paul left openings and decision making, based on future culture and circumstances.
Rom. 8.13, "Nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything is unclean, to him it is unclean. That's clear and biblical. Nothing is unclean in itself. Clearly, sin can differ from individual as he views sin.
This often changes one way or the other as people grow and study scripture. If it does not break the law of love and you can be happy in your concscience, the bible says you can freely act, as long as you don't become a stumbling block for someone that is weaker. Somethings you may not do in front of a weaker person. However, if you doubt in your conscience, you should not act, until it is resolved, Cor. 8:12.
Eaach person must exercise their faith before God. Roms. 14: 22-23 "The faith you have, have as your OWN CONVICTION before God. "HAPPY is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves."; This does two things. You are to base your decisions on love and not harming others, decide for yourself, do not let others decide for you, a church, Pastor, friend, ect. You must answer for your conscience, not theirs. It also takes away your right to judge others.