Old Testament laws—do we still have to keep them to be saved?
Every now and then, we get questions about what we (biblically speaking) must do with Old Testament laws. Should we keep the Sabbath (Saturday) like it says in Exodus 31:14-15? And if we don’t, does that mean we’re going to hell? What about eating pork? And so on, and so on.
It’s a pretty big question, but the answer is actually really simple—because the Bible makes it very clear that Christ fulfilled those laws, and that through Him, they are no longer necessary for us to enter heaven:
“So no one is to act as your judge in regard to food and drink, or in respect to a festival or a new moon, or a Sabbath day—things which are only a shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.” (Colossians 2:16-17)
The only way to eternal life is through your faith in Christ:
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.'” (John 14:6)
And that’s a good thing because no matter how hard we try, we’re not perfect—we’re all sinners (Romans 3:23). If our eternity depended on keeping the Old Testament laws, everyone would end up in hell, because no one is good enough.
“Because by the works of the Law none of mankind will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes knowledge of sin.” (Romans 3:20)
This means that the law can’t save us; it only shows us just how sinful we really are. Wow! And Paul also says something really clear about this:
“For all who rely on the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all the things written in the Book of the Law, to do them.’ Now, that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, ‘the righteous one will live by faith.’” (Galatians 3:10-11)
You can clearly see here that the Old Testament laws are an impossible standard for humans because of our sinful nature, and that justification is only possible through faith.
In other words, all those laws in the Bible aren’t there to save you if you keep them (because you’re NEVER good enough to keep them), but to make it clear that you’re sinful and need THE true Savior, the one who can truly wash you from all those sins: Jesus Christ.
“For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh.” (Romans 8:3)
So trying to keep the law will never work for you… and that’s why Christ had to come. Period.
Yes, but doesn’t it say in Matthew 5:17-18?
“Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.” (Matthew 5:17-18)
So doesn’t this say that I still have to keep the laws?
No, that’s not what it says (period). Context, people, context. Some people misuse this verse to say that all the commandments from the Torah are still binding for Christians, but that’s wrong. They ignore that Jesus isn’t saying that the law remains literally in its entirety, but that He came to fulfill the law. This doesn’t simply mean ‘to preserve,’ but that the law reaches its purpose in Christ. To make this even clearer, you see multiple times in the New Testament that the law, including the ceremonial and civil commandments, has found its fulfillment in Christ:
“Therefore, let no one act as your judge in regard to food or drink, or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day—things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.” (Colossians 2:16-17)
“For I will be merciful to their iniquities, and I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” When He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear. (Hebrews 8:12-13)
In other words, you can’t keep the Old Testament laws, no matter how hard you try. If that were the solution, we’d all be going to hell. That’s exactly why Christ had to come—to fulfill all those laws. Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life.
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.'” (John 14:6)
Yes, but doesn’t 1 John 2:3-4 say we have to keep the laws?
“And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.” (1 John 2:3-4)
No, just like with Matthew 5:17-18, context, people, context! The “His commandments” does NOT refer to the entire Old Testament law, including food laws and Sabbath observance, in the context in which John said this. John is writing in the context of the New Covenant and referring to the commandments of Christ.
If you hadn’t just read that one verse, but the whole chapter, you’d understand this immediately, but unfortunately, as so often happens… a whole theory (and in this case, a false one) is built on just one verse without considering its context. Oh, oh, oh… with all the consequences that follow…
So again, it’s not about the Old Testament laws—they can’t save you. Only Christ can save you. Period.
If you understand and believe this… it brings peace. If you still think that the Old Testament laws can save you, you’re on a misguided path that brings unrest and doesn’t lead to God. The only way to eternal rest and to God is through Christ.
You either believe that the Old Testament laws can save you (as you’ve clearly seen from the Bible, they cannot), or you believe that Christ is THE way, THE truth, and THE life. You can’t serve both and it’s a heresy with terrible consequences. It’s your choice as the reader: Will you fully surrender to the saving power of Christ, or do you still think that by following “You shall not touch that,” “You shall not eat that,” “You shall not go near that,” you can be saved?
“Therefore, let no one act as your judge in regard to food or drink, or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day—things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. Let no one defraud you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God.
If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, ‘Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!’ (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.” (Colossians 2:16-23)
