The Early Church
The first New Covenant Church was started by Followers of Christ who were also the Jewish descendants of Abraham. They had wrongly assumed that the Messiah had been sent only, for them.
Therefore, they could not agree on how the Jewish requirements of the Law should apply to the new Gentile Followers of Christ, (or, even if they should be allowed to join); so a council meeting was held in Jerusalem.
Many of the Apostles attended, including Peter and Paul. After a heated debate, James, the earthly brother of Jesus, and leader of the New Church, stood up and said:
“It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood" (Acts 15:13-21).
This action did away with more than 600 Old Testament Laws and Rituals; including the sacrificing of animals; cleansing and purification rituals; forced attendance of various feasts; circumcision; foods they were allowed to eat, the clothing they wore, and much more.
According to the Apostle Paul, the Ten Commandments, "written by the finger of God," (Ex 31:18), identify the things God considers to be sin.
"Well then, am I suggesting that the law of God is sinful? Of course not! In fact, it was the law that showed me my sin. I would never have known that coveting is wrong if the law had not said, "You must not covet." (NLT, Rom 7:7).
It is important to understand that, under the New Covenant, Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection fulfilled the requirements of the Old Law for all who receive Him as their Savior.
Attempting to reach Heaven by obeying the Old Testament Law will no longer work.
Christians keep the Commandments of God as a demonstration of their love and reverence for Christ.
Under the Old Testament Law, the only way to reach Heaven was to obey the Law, and to offer animal sacrifice for sins.
In the New Testament, Jesus paid it all. No longer are those in Christ who break one of the Ten Commandments stoned to death; nor do they face the last judgement at the "Great White Throne," (where those who are not in Christ will be forever cast away and separated from God).
Because those in Christ are under the "Law of Grace" and will not be found guilty of breaking the Law. Jesus died in their place; thereby paying for their sins and fulfilling all the requirements of the Old Testament Law on their behalf. What a great and wonderful Savior!
The Law of Grace redeems those who have been born again. The Commandments of God, so impossible for mankind to fulfill, now serve the Christian by identifying things God considers to be sin, and the need to be born again.
Jesus said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments," (John 14:15, KJV).
The Law of Grace:
The Christian, is now under the Law of Grace.
"...Sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace," (Rom 6:14).
Grace is the result of what Jesus accomplished on the cross. He is now your Great High Priest, seated at the right hand of the Father.
Those in Christ only need to ask to receive forgiveness for sins:
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness," (1 John 1:9).
Jesus paid it all on the cross
Those who have been born again are no longer under the condemnation of the Law.
Those who attempt to enter Heaven any other way will be judged by the Law, and condemned to Hell, (Matt 7:22-24).
God does not change, and sin is still sin, (Mal 3:6). The difference, in how the Old Testament Law applies to those in Christ is in how the sin is forgiven.
There is no longer any need for animal sacrifice. The New Covenant unveiled a new way to be forgiven; that is through the shed blood of the "Lamb of God," Christ Jesus.
When someone accepts Christ as their Savior they instantly become Born Ag
