Monday, October 4, 2010

Old Testament Law and Romans 13

Properly applying the Old Testament law today has been the source of much discussion. It is not wise to simply disregard any of Scripture, because all is God-breathed and profitable (II Timothy 3:16). However, many of the 613 laws seem extreme and irrelevant in today's context. Christ said that the law and prophets could be summed up in "love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind," and "you shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:37-38). For many, this still leaves confusion as to how modern-day Christians should approach O. T. law.

Romans 13 shines an important light on the subject. Romans 13:1-2 commands all believers to submit to every governing authority, because all authority is "appointed by God." Following the exodus from Egypt, the Israelites had no official government or code of law by which to guide them. Motivated by love and a desire for His people to know Him, God revealed the law to His servant Moses. Their law was deeply rooted in the context of their day and applied to them directly. Similarly, we have a governing authority over America that is rooted in the context of our day and applicable to us.

There is, however, a deeper love and meaning behind every law that must be grasped. Every governing authority is ordained by God, including both the O. T. law and today's constitution. The specifics of the law may vary, but the intentions are the same. The O. T. law is not the governing authority for today, but many of the laws are rooted in the same moral foundations. We are commanded to obey our governing authority, and where the morals and intentions are consistent is where the O. T. law applies to us.

-A. Aaron Hedden

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