August 14, 2026
Friday, August 14
Exodus 19-24 tell the story of God giving the Law to His people. Now, for the question: Why do we as Christians still follow some commands in the Law of Moses—like the Ten Commandments—but not others? Many theologians, starting with John Calvin, say that when you look at the Law, you see three different kinds of rules: civil, ceremonial, and moral.
Civil laws were given so that the people of Israel could form a nation. These laws functioned for Old Testament Israel the way our constitution does for us. But that version of Israel is now gone. The current nation of Israel is a secular nation, not a theocracy like it was in the Old Testament era. So those laws no longer apply to us. For example, in Leviticus 18, a person who committed incest was to be executed. But in 1 Corinthians 5, Paul talks about a man in the Corinthian church who is sleeping with his own mother-in-law. He tells the Corinthians to expel this man from their church, not to stone him to death. What changed? Why didn’t Paul follow Leviticus? Because that was a civil law intended for a nation that no longer existed. From Paul’s time to now, what matters most is not the laws of nations, but the behavior of God’s people, the Church. God wants His people to live in a way distinct from the world, so that’s what Paul emphasized.
Ceremonial laws included the sacrifices, festivals, and cleanliness rules, including the dietary laws, all of which were required to make the Israelites pure enough to stand in His presence. But Jesus said in Matthew 5:17, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” The rest of the New Testament—but especially the book of Hebrews-- reveals how Jesus fulfilled the Law. Hebrews says that Jesus is the Great High Priest, who stands between us and God the Father, making things right. Because He is our once-and-for-all sacrifice, we are pure in the sight of God without wearing certain clothes, eating the right foods, or sacrificing animals.
Because of Jesus, Hebrews 4:16 tells us we can boldly approach God’s throne of grace in a way even the High Priests never dared, because Christ’s righteous standing has been transferred to us through His death on the cross. Circumcision is no longer required, because the blood of Jesus made such outward symbols obsolete. We don’t need to keep the seventh day of the week holy anymore, which is why Christians began worshipping instead on the first day of the week, the day Christ rose again. When Jesus fulfilled the Law for us, it meant those ceremonial laws no longer apply.
The moral laws are the ones that show us how to live in a way that pleases God and keeps us from harm. These laws we still keep, because they are affirmed in the New Testament. They establish principles and patterns that show us what a righteous life looks like. We don’t need volumes of rabbinical case law to tell us how to handle every conceivable moral question. We have the Holy Spirit for that. God’s Word doesn’t speak specifically about every scenario, so the Spirit shows us the right path. Along with giving us His Spirit, Jesus told us that all the commands of Scripture are summed up in these two: Love the Lord your God and love your neighbor as yourself. If we want to live a God-pleasing life, we will build our foundation on those two commands. If you center your life around loving God and loving your neighbor, you can’t help but grow in righteousness and joy and wisdom. You will live the life you were meant to live. And another amazing thing happens: You find yourself happier, because God’s laws aren’t a test to see who is truly righteous, they are His gift to show us the path of life.
“Lord Jesus, thank you for giving me commands that show me the best way to live, and draw me closer to you, and show the world your glory. Create in me a pure heart and renew a right spirit in me. In your name, amen.”
Senior Pastor
First Baptist Conroe
More from Pastor Jeff at his website: jeffbergerwriting.com
