If God condemned something in the past does that mean the law remains?

Question: Hello! I came across a website today about Leviticus and homosexuality. At the bottom it said the following: “Now, if God never changes and never goes back on His word, what He says in Leviticus stands for all time. Thus, what He condemns in the Old Testament remains condemned into the New Testament and…

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Do Christians celebrate Yom Kippur?

Question: Hello! Do Christians celebrate Yom Kippur? Should Christians fast on Yom Kippur? Why or why not? Is there anything that Christians should do on Yom Kippur? Thanks! Answer: Yom Kippur and the other Jewish feasts are a part of the Old Testament. Jews continue to celebrate them because they refuse to believe that the…

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Could you explain the importance of waiting eight days for circumcision?

Question: Could you explain the importance of waiting eight days for circumcision? Answer: “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘If a woman has conceived, and borne a male child, then she shall be unclean seven days; as in the days of her customary impurity she shall be unclean. And on the eighth day the…

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How many priests carried the ark of God across river Jordan?

Question: How many priests carried the ark of God across river Jordan? Answer: In the building of the ark we find: “You shall cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in its four corners; two rings shall be on one side, and two rings on the other side. And you shall make…

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Do we still need to redeem our firstborn?

Question: Does the Bible still expect us to redeem our firstborn with offering in the New Testament? Answer: Jesus is the one and only sacrifice in the New Testament. “By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:10). There are no other sacrifices…

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An Eye for an Eye and a Tooth for a Tooth

by Steve Dewhurst Such is modern man’s ignorance of God’s word, as well as His justice and mercy, that we often misunderstand the simplest Bible expressions and concepts. For example, the age-old principle of justice contained in the phrase “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” is frequently seen as a…

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Was a woman forced to marry her rapist?

Question: So in Deuteronomy 22:28-29, it says “If a man finds a girl, a virgin not engaged, and lays hold on her, and lies with her, and they are found, then the man who lay with her shall give to the girl’s father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife. Because he…

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Why Messianic Jews follow the Old Law

Question: Shalom brother, If the commandments of Yahweh were done away with by Yahshua, then why does it say in I John 2:4-7; II John 1:6; Revelation 12:17; Revelation 22:14. Yahshua also said in John 14:15, John 15:10.  Yahshua took away the sacrificial laws and the death penalty, his blood is so pure that there…

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Would you explain Hebrews 13:10-13?

Question: I’m having a little trouble trying to wrap my mind around what Hebrews 13:10-13 is teaching. What is your understanding of these verses? I really do value your observations and commentary. Answer: I’m going to expand the range just a little bit so we get a complete thought: “Do not be carried about with…

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What commandments of Jesus are we to keep?

Question: In John 14:15, Jesus says, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” What commandments would that be? Is Jesus the God of the Old Testament? Answer: The same commandments Jesus told the apostles to teach: “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on…

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Why were women valued less than men in the Old Testament?

Question: I love God.  I am a strong woman and have always asserted myself and believe that men and women are equal in the eyes of God.  There is actually a scripture that says “all of mankind is created equal in the eyes of God.” I do know there are different roles for each sex,…

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Will Jews be judged under the law or the new covenant?

Question: Will Jews be judged under the law or the new covenant? Answer: There is only one covenant in effect today. “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Everyone is judged according to Jesus’ teachings. “He…

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Did the Levitical priesthood replace the priesthood of Melchizedek?

Question: “For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law” (Hebrews 7:12). Did the Levitical priesthood replace the priesthood of Melchizedek? Answer: Under the Old Law of Moses, priests came from the tribe of Levi and, starting with David, kings came from the tribe of Judah. Melchizedek was…

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Jesus’ Relation to the Law of Moses

Matthew 5:17-20 by Bobby Graham When Jesus was teaching in the Sermon on the Mount, was he merely explaining the Law to bring the Jews into closer alignment with God’s will, or was he setting forth principles that would operate in the coming kingdom?  It is understood that there was already a kingdom operating, from…

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Did the Old Law not end until the destruction of Jerusalem?

Question: In your lesson, “The Sermon on the Mount: The Law,” you keep to the literal meaning of Heaven and Earth in Matthew 5:18.  Additionally, you argue the best understanding of the passage is to read the two “until” phrases be joined with an “or” rather than an “and.” I am currently studying with a…

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Did an Israelite have to be born again under the Old Law?

Question: I have two questions: Did the Old Testament believers’ experience being “born again” or “regeneration” as experienced with the New Testament believers through Jesus Christ? Are born again believers still considered to be “sinners” or “saints” and why? Answer: There are several passages that use the allegory of birth to explain the change that…

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The Law and the Gospel (Kiser)

by M. W. Kiser via, The Sower, Vol. 53, No. 5, Sept/Oct. 2008. “Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they…

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What about the Ten Commandments?

by Jerry Blount It seems a constant source of confusion among Christians to determine our relationship to the Ten Commandments. How do we sort all this out? On the one hand, Paul said, For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing…

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What was the flaw in the Old Covenant?

Question: Is the flaw of the Old Covenant (Hebrews 8:7) that there was no way for sins to be completely forgiven (Hebrews 10:1-10)? Or was the law impossible to completely follow as well? If it was possible to completely follow, then what is Peter talking about in Acts 15:10 and what is the meaning of…

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Why were the laws regarding food changed?

Question: I’m not sure why Jesus changed the law about what is OK to eat.  Why did he allow us to eat pork? Answer: To understand why the law changed, you first need to understand why those laws were there in the first place. I would like you to read an article that I wrote…

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The Ten Commandments and the Old and New Testaments shall stand forever!

Question: Do not mislead the people with your manipulation of the Word of God and your omissions about the “Ten Commandments.” His Word and Commandments were, are and forever shall remain true! He alone is the Creator and the destroyer! No mortal with limited knowledge can change what He tells through the only Living Book, the…

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Why do we cite Matthew regarding divorce since Jesus lived under the Old Law?

Question: As I understand Matthew 19:9 and Matthew 5:32 concerning divorce, Jesus is answering the Pharisees (Jews) as they were tempting him on this question. His answer was the same as the law that they were under (except for fornication). Such as in the case that Joseph thought Mary was in. Why do we in the church today…

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Was there a ritual that a Levite had to go through before becoming a high priest?

Question: Was there a ritual (cleansing, education, ceremony, etc.) that a Levite must go through before he became the high priest? Answer: Among the Levites, only descendants of Aaron could become priests or high priests. Other Levites served the Lord but in different functions. The consecration of a Levite before his service is covered in…

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Someone upset that the Old Testament is no longer in effect

Question: do we read the same bible? But then again this is how things have to be for the prophecies to come to past the road to destruction is broad and alot of you people are on it you claim to be christians and luke 4:16 shows you live contrary to how christ lived you…

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Do Methodists understand we are not under the Old Law?

Question: I am about to begin a study of why Christians no longer keep the Old Testament Laws with a very special lady, soon to be my wife, who is a lifetime Methodist. My mention that the Law is no longer kept piqued her interest.  She expressed she would like to see that in Scripture. …

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A Change in Law

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/ChangeInLaw.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Hebrews 8:7-13   I.         Among those calling themselves Christian, many have a difficult time understanding the place the Old Testament has in God’s scheme of redemption             A.        A few cling to the laws regarding the Sabbath and so modify the New Testament teaching of worship on the first day of the…

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What sins under the Old Testament remain as sins today?

Question: Hi there. I really like your work and biblical analysis. I read your answer on “Which scriptures are applicable today?” and I have some questions to ask. I am currently dealing with which sins are applicable to life today. I have to, of course. check myself that I am not motivated to discard these…

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Why did Paul have Timothy circumcised after the council in Jerusalem?

Question: I was scanning the questions and found the Jewish lineage one. Timothy was counted as Jewish because of his mother. Paul circumcised him and we know that Timothy’s father was a Gentile while his mother and grandmother were Jewish. Why did Paul have Timothy circumcised after the council at Jerusalem? As stated in, “Was Hebrew…

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Can a Christian eat anything?

Question: Everything documented fine until your statement that a Christian can eat anything. This contradicts the statement of Jesus that He did not come to change the Law but to complete it. The dietary laws of Deuteronomy are still in effect. And for very good reason. Look carefully at the forbidden animals. The list is…

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Where have you seen that the Law was done away with?

Question: So because he follows the law statutes and commandments of the Old Testament, you assume that the Hebrew Israelites are not correct? You need to do some more reading, where, in the Scriptures, have you seen that the law, statutes, and commandments were done away with? If you read Exodus, that will answer your…

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Can you explain levitate marriages?

Question: I need some help with marriage laws in the Old Testament, concerning the death of a brother. Under the Old Law, if a man’s brother died was he to take his dead brother’s wife as his own wife?  What if he (the man still alive) was already married?  What if the women (of the…

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