Leviticus

[ReligiousGirl]

I am sure this has been asked before and will be asked again, but I need your help!

A friend of mine has been asking questions about God and the Bible (which is awesome!) but has some questions about why Christians follow some laws set out in Leviticus and not others.

I tried talking through this, but can't seem to find the right way of explaining it all. I know that I'll end up saying something that no one could decipher and it could put her off.

I have prayed - and now I am asking for advice on how to explain this book to someone who is very new to the Bible and is looking for explanations and understanding.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Wgw]

I am sure this has been asked before and will be asked again, but I need your help!

A friend of mine has been asking questions about God and the Bible (which is awesome!) but has some questions about why Christians follow some laws set out in Leviticus and not others.

I tried talking through this, but can't seem to find the right way of explaining it all. I know that I'll end up saying something that no one could decipher and it could put her off.

I have prayed - and now I am asking for advice on how to explain this book to someone who is very new to the Bible and is looking for explanations and understanding.

Thanks in advance!

I suspect he is talking about the Levitical Code rather than Leviticus per se; most Chrostoans do not observe those portions of the Torah relating to ritual purity, animal sacrifices et cetera, on the basis of the ultimate purification of Baptism and the all-sufficient sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Leviticus itself is very interesting as an example of a liturgical manual for the old Levitical Priesthood.

 

[Soyeong]

I am sure this has been asked before and will be asked again, but I need your help!

A friend of mine has been asking questions about God and the Bible (which is awesome!) but has some questions about why Christians follow some laws set out in Leviticus and not others.

I tried talking through this, but can't seem to find the right way of explaining it all. I know that I'll end up saying something that no one could decipher and it could put her off.

I have prayed - and now I am asking for advice on how to explain this book to someone who is very new to the Bible and is looking for explanations and understanding.

Thanks in advance!

Hello,

What I used to believe was that the law could be divided up into moral, civil, and ceremonial laws. It was given to Israel, not to us, but moral laws are universal, so we should still follow them even if they weren't directly given to us. However, I've come to realize that the Bible does not divide up the law in that way, all of God's laws are inherently moral laws, and the violation of any of God's laws is sin (1 John 3:4). God's law was given to His chosen people (Deuteronomy 7:6) and Christians are by faith fellow citizens of Israel (Ephesians 2:19) and part of God's chosen people (1 Peter 2:9-10).

God is holy, righteous, and good and His law is holy, righteous, and good (Romans 7:12) because it based on God's character. So obeying God's law is not about identifying with Jews, but rather it is about identifying with God. Jesus gave us a perfect example to follow by obeying the law perfectly, and we are told to follow his example (1 Peter 2:21) and walk as he walked (1 John 2:4-6). It is just as important for Jews to have a holy, righteous, and good conduct as it is for non-Jews (1 John 3:10, 1 Peter 1:14-16).

The reason why we don't stone people is because Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sins, so there is no need to enforce a penalty that has already been paid. There is now therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ (Romans 8:1), so we are not under the law, but those who are in Christ are those who practice doing good works (Ephesians 2:10), bear much good fruit (John 15:8-10), practice righteousness (1 John 3:10), all in accordance with God's instructions in the law.

 

[faroukfarouk]

I am sure this has been asked before and will be asked again, but I need your help!

A friend of mine has been asking questions about God and the Bible (which is awesome!) but has some questions about why Christians follow some laws set out in Leviticus and not others.

I tried talking through this, but can't seem to find the right way of explaining it all. I know that I'll end up saying something that no one could decipher and it could put her off.

I have prayed - and now I am asking for advice on how to explain this book to someone who is very new to the Bible and is looking for explanations and understanding.

Thanks in advance!

Hebrews 7.12 explains that the law was changed. In Hebrews 7.19 we read that what the believer in Christ now has is better than the law.

Blessings.

 

[Soyeong]

Hebrews 7.12 explains that the law was changed. In Hebrews 7.19 we read that what the believer in Christ now has is better than the law.

Blessings.

The law changed only in regard to the Levitical priesthood and indeed what we now have is better than the law, but it is still in accordance with it.

 

[faroukfarouk]

The law changed only in regard to the Levitical priesthood and indeed what we now have is better than the law, but it is still in accordance with it.

The New Testament believer is not under the law. Even Hebrews 7 makes it clear that it's after the order of Melchizedek that the Lord Jesus is made a priest for ever, and it's on His priesthood that we depend, not on law-keeping.

 

[Soyeong]

The New Testament believer is not under the law. Even Hebrews 7 makes it clear that it's after the order of Melchizedek that the Lord Jesus is made a priest for ever, and it's on His priesthood that we depend, not on law-keeping.

Indeed, I have already stated in this thread that we are not under the law's power to condemn us to death for transgressing it and I would never suggest that we need to depend on law-keeping - that was never its purpose. We are to obey God's law because we depend on Him to lead us away from sin and into doing what is holy, righteous, and good.

 

[ReligiousGirl]

To get others views on this. What Laws do you believe Paul is talking about in Galatians? He doesn't specify.

 

[Soyeong]

To get others views on this. What Laws do you believe Paul is talking about in Galatians? He doesn't specify.

Is this question directed at me? Where specifically in Galatians are you asking about?