As Christians, Do we need to observe the Mosaic covenant (law of Moses) or not?

There are seven covenants found in the bible. They are namely Adamic, Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, the Church, and eternal covenant. The same are all introducing faith except Mosaic who introduces works. It sounds like, you do, you live, you don’t, you die. Forgiveness did not exist without animal sacrifice. The mosaic is the most difficult of all covenants to comprehend. This leads to a big confusion of early church believers where they have a great dispute between the apostles and Jewish believers turn to Christ in a sect of Pharisees as what the book of Acts chapter 15 written. Even today, the confusion still exists. There are some Christian denominations that are following the Mosaic covenant and some also didn’t which leads all Christians to be divided.

Here is how we understand the mosaic covenant

1. With whom did God make it?

Answer: Israel

Let’s read Deuteronomy 5:1-3

1 And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them.

2 The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb.

3 The Lord made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day.

In this verse, Moses is talking to the children of Israel. Notice in verse 1, Moses was told specifically to Israel about the statutes and judgments to be learned, kept, and done by them. In verse 2, he mentioned the word “us" meaning, Israel himself just to be specific. And in verse 3, he keeps repeating the word “us” to be specified as the children of Israel. Moses added also that the said covenant which the Lord made is not the same covenant that he gave to their fathers which are talking to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (the Abrahamic covenant). The verse is literally pointing to the covenant exclusively only for the children of Israel at Moses' time. Therefore, the Mosaic covenant or the law of Moses is valid only to the children of Israel.

2. Why is it given?

1. As Abraham’s natural seed (Jewish people) multiplied in Egypt, they forsook the Lord by worshipping idols. They failed in a covenantal relationship that was founded in the Abrahamic covenant and found themselves in bondage.

That’s why Joshua wrote this verse,

Joshua 24:14 14 Now, therefore, fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord.

And even Ezekiel wrote this,

Ezekiel 20:5-9 5 And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up mine hand unto them, saying, I am the Lord your God;

6 In the day that I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands:

7 Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

8 But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt: then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.

9 But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, among whom they were, in whose sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.

Therefore, God wants Israel to throw all their gods which they served in Egypt for it is an abomination for him.

2. God made the Abrahamic to reveal his redemptive plan to Israel but Israel failed in receiving the Abrahamic by worshipping idols in Egypt. In that way, God brought them into his courtroom for breaking the Abrahamic covenant.

What happens when someone breaks a covenant?

They are punished in court

So, the Mosaic covenant is trial time. For God to be just, he had to put them on trial. He brought them to his courtroom called the Mosaic because the courtroom was full of judgments but not grace. God brings them into his court to show them how impossible it will be for them to accomplish it by themselves to force them back to faith and grace like Adam, Noah and Abraham had. Adam, Noah, Abraham, David, the Church, walk by faith while the children of Israel that are living in Egypt before the Exodus did not walk by faith but then God had to give them the mosaic law and covenant to bring them to faith. For all other covenants are declaring faith and grace while the Mosaic covenant is declaring guilt and law.

So, the mosaic covenant is court time or judgment time for breaking the Abrahamic covenant but the children of Israel failed. That’s why God said in Jeremiah 31:31-32 that he will make a new covenant that is not the same as the law of Moses.

31 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:

32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was a husband unto them, saith the Lord:

Finally,

The reason why God established the Mosaic covenant is that the children of Israel forgot and rebelled against the Lord while they were still in Egypt. So, God reintroduces them to faith. It is so powerful that God almighty has given us faith to accept us to his presence. This is a sad truth that the gospel was introduced to them but none of them realized it.

To close.

We are blessed as Christian living for today for God gave us a new covenant that is not like the law of Moses. We are saved by his grace through faith and not by our own works like what Israelites did according to their laws. If God requires work at Moses’ time, today He requires surrender through faith in him so that we can all do things through Christ who strengthens us. As Christians today, we are no longer under the law of Moses instead under the law of Christ which is faith and grace. Jesus said He will not come to destroy the law of Moses but to fulfill it. He fulfills the true meaning and hidden message of the law which is about him and his blood for the redemption of all who believes. Unfortunately, the Jews never notice it and even in some other Christian sects today. So why do we need to follow the law of Moses if Jesus finished it already on the cross, as what He said on Luke 24:44,

He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.”

So fellows, come to the real teaching of Jesus Christ. It’s all about Him, why we are alive today. All glory and honor belong to Him. In Jesus' name, Amen.