Law of Moses and the New Testament Believers

Saint Paul’s statements like “for Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes” (Rom 10:4), has divided opinions on how Christians should view the Law of Moses. Some argue that laws in the Bible are arbitrary and irrelevant to modern life, while others emphasize strict adherence to the Old Testament laws and regulations. So, what is Paul’s position on the relevance of Moses’ Law to the New Testament Christian?

The Apostle Paul, in his letters to various early Christian communities, addressed the relationship between the law, faith, and grace. Here are some important aspects of his teaching about the Law.

First, the Law is insufficient for salvation: Paul emphasized that following the law alone cannot bring salvation or righteousness. He wrote, “for no one is put right in God’s sight by doing what the Law requires; what the Law does is to make us know that we have sinned” (Rom 3:20). The law only exposed humanity’s sinfulness and highlighted the need for grace and faith in Christ, but it had no power to save.

Second, justification is not by Law: Paul taught that people are justified, or made right with God, through faith in Jesus Christ rather than by observing the law. He emphasized that salvation comes as a gift from God’s grace. He wrote to the churches in Galatia that “a person is put right with God only through faith in Jesus Christ, never by doing what the Law requires” (Gal 2:16).

Believers in Christ are not bound by Law: Paul taught that believers are freed from the requirements of the Mosaic law through Christ’s redemptive work. He argued that the law was a temporary measure that pointed to the coming of Christ and that believers are now under a new covenant. He explained that “but before the time for faith came, the Law kept us all locked up as prisoners until this coming faith should be revealed. And so the Law was in charge of us until Christ came, in order that we might then be put right with God through faith. Now that the time for faith is here, the Law is no longer in charge of us” (Gal 3:23-25).

Love is more important than Law: Although Paul spoke of freedom from the law, he also emphasized the importance of love. He taught that believers should fulfill the law through love. In his letter to the churches in Rome he wrote, “let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law” (Rom 12:8). He taught that love should guide believers in their relationships with both God and fellow human beings.