From the Old to the New
The Law Was Fulfilled, Not Continued
Many people today hold to the belief that Judaism, with its laws, feasts, and sacrifices, is still in effect. However, Scripture makes it clear that the Old Covenant was fulfilled in Christ and was nailed to the cross, giving way to the New Covenant. Let’s examine what the Bible teaches.
The Old Covenant Was Temporary and Meant to Lead to Christ
The Law of Moses was never meant to be permanent. It was given to the Israelites as a guardian to prepare the way for Christ.
Galatians 3:24-25 – “Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.”
This passage shows that the Law served a purpose—to point people to Christ—but once Christ came, it was no longer necessary.
The Old Law Was Nailed to the Cross
Paul explicitly states that the Law was taken away when Christ was crucified.
Colossians 2:14 – “Having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”
This means that the legal demands of the Old Covenant were abolished at the cross. The system of sacrifices, dietary laws, and temple worship was removed.
A New Covenant Was Prophesied and Established by Christ
Even in the Old Testament, God foretold that a New Covenant was coming:
Jeremiah 31:31-33 – “‘Behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord, ‘when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah—not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers... But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days,’ says the Lord: ‘I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.’”
This prophecy was fulfilled in Christ and confirmed in the New Testament:
Hebrews 8:6-7 – “But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second.”
The New Covenant, mediated by Christ, is superior and replaced the Old.
The Law of Moses Was Fulfilled by Christ
Jesus Himself said He came to fulfill the Law:
Matthew 5:17-18 – “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.”
When Christ completed His work on the cross, He fulfilled the Law, bringing it to completion.
The Old Covenant Is Now Obsolete
The writer of Hebrews makes it clear that the first covenant is no longer in effect:
Hebrews 8:13 – “In that He says, ‘A new covenant,’ He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.”
The Old Covenant was not only fulfilled—it became obsolete. God’s people are no longer bound by the laws of Judaism.
Salvation Is in Christ, Not the Law
Under the New Covenant, salvation comes through faith in Christ, not by keeping the Law of Moses.
Romans 10:4 – “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”
Ephesians 2:15 – “Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace.”
Through Christ, Jew and Gentile alike are now reconciled to God under one system of faith.
We Live Under a New Covenant
Judaism, with its Old Covenant laws, was fulfilled and done away with when Christ died on the cross. The Law of Moses was temporary and served its purpose—to lead people to Christ. Now, we live under the New Covenant, where salvation is found in Jesus Christ, not in the works of the Law.
The Old Law was a tutor that pointed to Christ (Galatians 3:24-25).
It was nailed to the cross (Colossians 2:14).
A new and better covenant was established (Hebrews 8:6-7).
Christ fulfilled the Law (Matthew 5:17).
The Old Covenant is now obsolete (Hebrews 8:13).
We now walk in the freedom of Christ under the New Covenant, living by faith and obedience to the gospel. Let us not seek to return to what was nailed to the cross but instead live in the fullness of God’s grace through Christ!
Firstly thanks for this. You wrote,
When Christ completed His work on the cross, He fulfilled the Law, bringing it to completion.
The verse prior said he came to fulfil
till all is fulfilled - indicative of an ongoing, as yet incomplete process.