The written code was set aside, even nailed to the cross because it made nothing perfect.
We are told this in Scripture....
"But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not
in the oldness of the letter." (Romans 7:6).
The New Testament Scriptures were still being formed during the time of when Paul was writing to the church in Rome. Paul is telling them to serve in newness of Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter (i.e. the laws contained in the Old Testament Scriptures). Paul and others had written down by the Spirit new commands as a part of the New Covenant as to how they are to serve and obey God. That does not mean the written code is no more. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says all Scripture is profitable for doctrine, and training in righteousness so that the man of God may be perfect unto every good work. The Law is only lawful, if a man uses it lawfully (1 TImothy 1:8). Meaning, a believer can use the Old Law only as it applies (or aligns with) to the laws or commands given to us in the New Testament. The Old Covenant is no longer a binding Covenant anymore (Note: I will address this below with verses).
Yes, it is true that Hebrews 7:19 says,
"For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope
did; by the which we draw nigh unto God."
But what does this mean that the Law has made nothing perfect?
Is it saying that God made a mistake in giving us the Law?
No. The Law was a school master to bring us unto Christ (Galatians 3:24).
The author of Hebrews is saying that the Law in and of itself alone (without God in our lives) made nothing perfect. Remember, in Ezekiel 36, it says,
Ezek 36:26 "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
Ezek 36:27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do
them." (Ezekiel 36:26-27).
Did you catch that? It says that God will not only give us a new heart and a new spirit, but He will put His Spirit within you to walk in His statutes and to keep His judgments. So having God in one's life is the focal point in obeying His good ways. For without God we can do nothing; But with God, nothing is impossible (Matthew 19:26). Jesus said in John 15:5 that without Him, we can do nothing. Jesus forever perfects those who are sanctified in this life (i.e. those believers who went through the Sanctification process). For God has placed His laws in their hearts and minds so as to obey Him.
Heb 10:14 "For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
Heb 10:15
Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
Heb 10:16 This
is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;" (Hebrews 10:14-16).
"And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him." (Hebrews 5:9).
As for Colossians 2 that says,
"Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross." (Colossians 2:14).
Again, this is a true verse. But what is it saying?
What handwriting of ordinances were against us (that were blotted out)?
The "Moral Law"? No.
Jesus taught that the breaking of the moral law still had dire consequences for a person's soul in the after life (Matthew 5:22, Matthew 5:28-30, Matthew 6:15, Luke 9:26). Even after Christ's death (Which officially began the New Covenant or the New Testament), John tells us that hating our brother is like being a murderer, and no murderer has eternal life abiding in them (1 John 3:15). So this shows us that the "Moral Laws" (that are eternal from the beginning) are not the ordinances that were against us that were blotted out. The ordinances that were against us (from the Old Law or the Law of Moses) that were blotted out are the "Ceremonial Laws", like: the Sabbaths, the Passover, circumcision, etc. The ordinances that were against us were the "Judicial Laws", like: being put to death for disobeying certain laws of God. These ordinances were against us because certain ceremonies were hard to keep if you were not around other brethren, and you could physically die for not obeying certain laws of God. Paul says we fulfill the Law by loving our neighbor in Romans 13:8-10. Paul is talking about the "Moral Law" here; Laws like: Do not murder, Do not covet, Do not steal, etc.; These are all "Moral Laws" that are fulfilled in the 2nd greatest command Jesus mentioned to us (Which was taken from the Old Covenant).
Pau says, if you seek to be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing (Galatians 5:2). Paul says we are not to judge according to Sabbath Days, etc. (Colossians 2:16). Paul says we are not to carry out justice into our own hands. Paul quotes God as saying, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay saith the Lord." (Romans 12:19). This lets us know that the "Ceremonial Laws" and "Judicial Laws" are those ordinances that were against us that had become blotted out and nailed to the cross (according to Colossians 2:14).
The written code or words of Scripture were not set aside. We still have to obey Jesus and the doctrine according to Godliness. For Paul says if any man speaks contrary to the words of Jesus Christ and the doctrine according to Godliness, they are proud, and they know nothing (1 Timothy 6:3-4). James says God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble (James 4:6).
You said:
That doesn't mean the Covenant was abolished because God never gave up on Israel and will never fail to keep his end of the Covenant. We were in grafted into the covenants and promises.
No. We were grafted into God's chosen nation of Israel through faith in Jesus Christ; However, after Christ's death, we (Gentiles) were not grafted into the Old Covenant. The Old Covenant is no more.
This is evident if you were to look at a few things in Scripture, my friend.
Jesus says,
Matt 5:38 "Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
Matt 5:39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also." (Matthew 5:38-39).
Here we see Jesus quoting the Old Law on an eye for an eye, but then Jesus tells them to do something different. He says turn the other cheek instead.
A woman was caught in the act of adultery, and according to the Law, it is said that she should be stoned; Yet, Jesus did not use the Old Law to have her stoned, but He did something different. He said to them, he that is among you who is without sin, cast ye the first stone (John 8:7). Important Note: This is not a case against "Sinless Perfectionism." Jesus is not pointing to a person who is walking faithfully in God and not sinning currently by God's power. Jesus is pointing to a person who has never sinned before ever in their life. Seeing all of us sinned at one point in our past, this would exclude everyone present (Besides Jesus obviously; For Jesus was without sin).
We see a change in the Law when God tells Peter to eat unclean animals (Acts of the Apostles 10:9-16). But to eat unclean animals is a violation of OT Law!
Paul says those who seek to be circumcised, Christ will profit them nothing (Galatians 5:2). Yet, the Old Covenant commanded circumcision or you could be cut off (Genesis 17:14). So clearly there is a change in the Law taking place here.
Paul says that we are not to judge according to Sabbath Days, etc. (Colossians 2:16). Yet, a man who collected sticks on the Sabbath was killed under the ruling of God in the OT (Numbers 15:32-36).
When Christ died upon the cross, the temple veil was torn from top to bottom; This was letting us know that the Laws on animal sacrifices and the priesthood from the Old Covenant were no more (Matthew 27:51). Hebrews 7:12 says the priesthood has been changed.
In fact, in addition to that, Hebrews 7:12 says that the Law has changed.
Jesus says I come not to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17).
Hebrews 8:13 (NIV) says the Old Covenant is obsolete.
For it is why Romans 7:6 says we are to serve in newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.
It's why Jesus says, men do not put new wine into old wine skins, otherwise they will burst (Matthew 9:17).
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