[Image Source: Me]

There's a statement I hear sometimes that goes like this:

"We don't need the book of Leviticus, Daniel or Isaiah, that's OT stuff and it's only for the Jews. We Christians only follow the New Testament...we are under Grace and not the Law"

Is This True?

Let's do some quick analysis of what the Bible says.

Matthew 5:17:

"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill."

What Jesus means by "The Law or Prophets" is the 10 Commandments and predictions of the prophets about the Messiah. Without the OT, Gods people would not know to expect the Christ. For the Apostles, it was critical to understand the OT in order to preach and convince the Jews and Gentiles that Jesus is the Christ.

2 Timothy 3:16:

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

This should be self explanatory, but "All scripture" really means "All scripture." Meaning, yes, even the Old Testament. For in all scripture you can find doctrine for the purposes of reproof, correction and instruction in how to live. I'm mostly just repeating what it already says.

Mark 10:19

19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.

Here, Jesus is using the 10 Commandments (Exodus 20:12-16) as a learning lesson for the rich man.

Mark 12:26:

26 And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?

Here, Jesus himself quotes from the OT (Exodus 3:6)

Matthew 4:4, 10

4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Jesus quotes from Deuteronomy 6:13

Luke 4:4

4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

Jesus quotes from Deuteronomy 6:13

Under Grace, Not The Law

Romans 6:12-14

12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

This is telling us two important things:

Do not sin.
We are under grace and not the law

What is sin? According to 1 John 3:4

4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

So, is Romans 6:12-14 telling us to not keep the laws? Nope, it's simply telling us that you're not saved by keeping the law. Instead, you're saved by grace! Grace does not remove the law, instead it upholds the law.