Thank you for the question on the Law of Moses, “Are we still, currently in this day, supposed to follow the LOM (Law of Moses)? If no, what do we need to follow in obedience to God?”
If one was to ask a Conservative Baptist, whether one is to follow the Law of Moses, that person’s answer would be “No.” If one was to ask a Seven Day Adventist or Jehovah Witness, that person’s answer would be “Yes.” For many Christians, the answer is “I don’t really know.”
The answer that I give is my personal understanding of the Scriptures. It does not reflect any church or denomination viewpoint. Some Christians want a black and white answer. God has not called followers of Jesus Christ to obey the Law of Moses for earned righteousness, but to observe the principles of the Law of Moses to reflect a transformed life of faith, being saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
As I read Exodus and Deuteronomy, Exodus 19 says this regarding the Jewish people:
“3 Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” (NIV).
Deuteronomy 11 says this, “8 Observe therefore all the commands I am giving you today, so that you may have the strength to go in and take over the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, 9 and so that you may live long in the land the Lord swore to your ancestors to give to them and their descendants, a land flowing with milk and honey. 10 The land you are entering to take over is not like the land of Egypt, from which you have come, where you planted your seed and irrigated it by foot as in a vegetable garden. 11 But the land you are crossing the Jordan to take possession of is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from heaven. 12 It is a land the LORD your God cares for; the eyes of the LORD your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end.
13 So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today—to love the LORD your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul— 14 then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and olive oil. 15 I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied” (NIV).
As one reads Exodus and Deuteronomy, the Commands of God were given to the Jewish people so that they can enter and remain in the land IF they obey the laws of God. Failure to obey the Law will lead to discipline and curses on them that includes exile from the Promised Land. The Jewish people.
Thus in my opinion, the obedience to the Law is directly given to the Jewish people to inherit the Promised Land. God has not promised the followers of Jesus Christ the Promised Land. Sadly through time, the Law became a badge of righteousness of how many laws a Jewish person obeyed. The more Laws that one kept, this increased the person’s standing before the Law. Thus the Law was turned into a form of obtaining righteousness.
The followers of Jesus are to keep the teachings of Jesus. Jesus declared two great commandments for his followers: To love God with one’s whole being and his neighbor as oneself with the second command is to make disciples of all nations. The call to love God and to make disciples of all nation is a supernatural work of God in the believer’s life. When a believer is filled with the Spirit of God, there is no need of a Law to regulate his life. It is no longer an outward Law observance, but an inward holiness of life that seeks to glorify God and to bless those around him/her.
SUMMARY: The Law was given to the Jewish people to enter and inherit the Promised Land, while followers of Jesus Christ are called to love God and to make disciples for Jesus Christ.
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