Do The Old Testament Apply To Christians?

“And now, Israel, listen carefully to these decrees and regulations that I [Moses] am about to teach you. Obey them so that you may live, so you may enter and occupy the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. 2 Do not add to or subtract from these commands I am giving you. Just obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you.

Deuteronomy 4:1-2 (NLT).

The Holy Bible has 66 Books (39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament). These Books of the Holy Bible are called Canon. The Holy Bible contains the complete the Word of God that He intended for people to have written through the working of the Holy Spirit (Deuteronomy 4:2; Matthew 15:3-9; John 14:26; 2 Timothy 3:16; Revelation 22:18-19). The Holy Bible primarily reports God’s great acts in redemptive history. There is no need for more words of the Holy Bible after the New Testament because there is finality to the Word of God in Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:1-3).

The Holy Bible is more than lists of dos and don’ts. Instead, the Holy Bible is God-breathed and not merely human words. Most important, the Holy Bible gives God’s expectation for all people to obey. If God’s Word is obeyed faithfully, God will bring His richest blessing to His people. Obedience to God’s Word leads to an abundant and meaningful life (Deuteronomy 10:8-9) and reveals God’s grace to the whole world. Our life depends on obeying God’s Word (Deuteronomy 4:1; Deuteronomy 5:16, 32-33). God's Word is designed to guide and lead all people toward life-styles that are beneficial, healthy, decent, honorable, and devoted to God.

God’s Word is embodied most prominently in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17; Deuteronomy 5:6-21) and the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-5). All other laws and regulations of God are interpretations and applications of the Ten Commandments and the Shema. The Ten Commandments and the Shema are the heart of God's Word and are just as applicable today as they were over 2000 years ago. Moreover, Jesus Christ also taught His followers to obey the Ten Commandments and the demands of the Shema (see Matthew 22:37-40) as an expression of commitment and love to Him as God (see Matthew 5:17-19; John 14:15-21).

Jesus Christ as God perfectly obeyed the Word of God and modeled the Word’s true intent. If you follow and obey Jesus Christ, you are obeying God’s Word (John 1:1)!