The Usefulness of Old Testament Law for New Testament Believers

1. The Old Testament Law and Its Value for New Testament Believers

The Old Testament Law remains valuable for New Testament believers because it reveals God’s way of thinking and His plan for His people. When the Israelites departed from Egypt, they had no established government or legal system. Their “constitution” was not written by human hands or chosen by popular vote—it was given directly by God Himself.

Therefore, it is important for New Testament believers to study how God governed His people, to understand what He defines as just or unjust, right or wrong. The Law provides divine insight into two key areas: the relationship between humanity and God, and the relationships among people themselves.

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2. The Law as an Expression of God’s Glory

The Law is not merely a set of rules—it is a reflection of God’s glorious character. Every commandment reveals something about who God is.

• We are told not to commit adultery because God is faithful.

• We are told not to steal because God is trustworthy.

• We are told not to lie because God is truth.

• We are told not to covet because God is content and peaceful.

Thus, every commandment expresses a divine attribute. The Law mirrors the holiness, faithfulness, and moral perfection of God in the world.

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3. Why New Testament Believers Should Care About the Law

Jesus Himself used the Law as His weapon in the battle against Satan and the religious leaders. In the wilderness, when Satan tempted Him, Jesus did not respond with human reasoning or emotion—but with what was written in the Law.

1. When tempted to turn stones into bread, Jesus replied,

   “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’” (Deut. 8:3).

2. When Satan tempted Him to test God’s protection, quoting Scripture himself, Jesus answered,

   “It is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test’” (Deut. 6:16).

3. When offered the kingdoms of the world, Jesus declared,

   “It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only’” (Deut. 6:13).

The result: “Then the devil left Him.”

Jesus used the Law—specifically from Deuteronomy—to overcome temptation. In the same way, believers today should rely on Scripture, especially the moral truths of the Law, to resist sin and stand firm against spiritual attacks.

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4. Jesus Came to Fulfill the Law, Not to Destroy It

Jesus clearly stated,

“Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill” (Matt. 5:17).

He never discredited or dismissed the Law. Instead, He embodied its perfect meaning and intent. Jesus was the prophet foretold by Moses in Deuteronomy 18, the promised Messiah, and the suffering Servant described by Isaiah in chapters 52 and 53.

Through His life and ministry, Jesus revealed that He was the One for whom all generations had been waiting—the complete fulfillment of the Law’s purpose and the ultimate expression of God’s covenant love.

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5. Grace in the Law

For Israel, the Law itself was an act of divine grace. It was a gift from God—a gracious revelation of His will, designed to guide them in righteousness and protect them from evil. The Law was not a burden but a blessing, showing the people how to live in fellowship with a holy God.

The same grace that saves us through Christ is the grace that empowers us to live according to God’s will today. The Law reveals the holiness of God; grace gives us the strength to live it out.