This Bible study explores the continuity of God’s law, the transition from the Old to the New Covenant, and the distinction between ceremonial "shadows" and eternal moral commands.
1. The Foundation: The Ten Commandments as Covenant Law:
The Ten Commandments are not merely a list of rules but the "words of the covenant" (
Exodus 34:28). While the Old Covenant was written on stone, the New Covenant promises a internal transformation. The Ten commandments stand as is:
* Unchanging Character: Because God does not change (
Malachi 3:6), the moral standards reflecting His nature remain.
* The Law in the Heart:
Jeremiah 31:33 and
Hebrews 8:10 describe the New Covenant as God putting His laws into our minds and writing them on our hearts.
* The Israel/Judah Connection: It is vital to note that the New Covenant was explicitly promised to "the house of Israel and the house of Judah" (
Jeremiah 31:31).
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2. The Grafting In:
Acts 2:38 and the New Birth:
If the covenant was promised to Israel, how do others participate? The Apostolic doctrine teaches that Gentiles are "grafted in" to the olive tree of Israel (
Romans 11:17-24).
* The Apostolic Formula: In
Acts 2:38, Peter provides the key to this entrance:
* Repentance: Turning away from sin.
* Water Baptism: Specifically in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.
* The Holy Spirit: Receiving the gift of the Spirit, which empowers the believer to keep the law "in the spirit." God's law is written in our hearts.
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3. The "Book of the Law" vs. The Moral Law.
There is a distinction between the Ten Commandments and the "Book of the Law" (Torah) added at Sinai:
* Added because of Transgressions:
Galatians 3:19 explains that the ceremonial law was a schoolmaster to lead us to Christ.
* Shadows and Types: Ceremonial requirements (like animal sacrifices) were "shadows" of things to come (
Hebrews 10:1).
* Spiritual Application: While the literal animal sacrifice ended, the principle remains. We now offer the "sacrifice of praise" (
Hebrews 13:15), and our bodies have become the "Temple of the Holy Spirit" (
1 Corinthians 6:19).
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4. The Sabbath: An Eternal Creation Mandate.
Unlike the ceremonial laws added at Sinai, the Sabbath was instituted at Creation (
Genesis 2:2-3), before sin entered the world.
* Not a Shadow: Since it predates the sacrificial system, it is viewed not as a temporary "type" but as an eternal sign between God and His people (
Exodus 31:17).
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The 7th Day: The command is specific to the seventh day as a day of rest and holy convocation, standing apart from the man-made tradition of Sunday worship.
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5. Purity in Worship: Avoiding the "Sin of Jeroboam"
The Bible warns against mixing the holy with the profane. Jeroboam (
1 Kings 12:26-33) famously led Israel into sin by:
* Setting up golden calves (Idolatry).
* Changing the timing of the feasts to "a month which he had devised of his own heart."
The Modern Application: Current holidays (Christmas, Easter, Valentine's Day, Halloween) mirror the "Sin of Jeroboam" by replacing God's ordained times with traditions rooted in paganism.
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6. The Feasts of the Lord (
Leviticus 23):
The feasts listed in
Leviticus 23 are described as "The Feasts of the LORD," not merely "Feasts of the Jews." They serve as a prophetic timeline for the Messiah. The feasts teach the gospel and the Second Coming.
*The Spring Feasts (Passover, ULB, First Fruits, Pentecost) were Fulfilled by Christ’s first coming, death, resurrection, and the outpouring of the Spirit.
*The fall Feasts (Trumpets, Atonement, Tabernacles) Point toward Christ’s second coming, the Millennial reign, and the New Heaven and Earth.
*By observing the Sabbath and the Feasts, the believer aligns themselves with God’s prophetic calendar rather than the secular or pagan traditions (idolatry) of the world.