What is the difference between the OT law and the NT obedience required for salvation?

[mesl4]

Was there salvation in the OT? I understand the Jews needed to obey in order to be right w/GOd, and if they sinned, needed to bring him sacrifices to atone for them, right? Bbut did they believe they would be w/him if they did those sacrifices/obeyed? If not, what was there motivation to obey? Was it just so God wouldn’t punish them on Earth?

So w/the NT and Jesus’ law, we still must obey, right? We just don’t have to make animal sacrifices, because Jesus atones for our sin. So I don’t undersand the difference though. If the sacrifices of both OT and NT atoned for sins, then it seems our obedience now is not to obtain mercy/forgivness/salvation, but simply because we love Him and thank Him for doing this for us.

But, that doesn’t really make sense then because not all will be saved. He says we must obey his commands to be saved. So , I don’t get it. Was Jesus’ death and resurrection just to get rid of the animal sacrifices and to tell us Gentiles have a part in it as well? That obedience is for all, not just Jews? Was there any salvation for the OT Jews that tried to follow God, but sinned and later repented, but sinned agan? Like Moses. He ended his life in trouble w/God. Are we to believe he will be w/God in eternity? This stuff is so complicated and confusing. It seems like all we can do is try to please God and hope for the best.

 

[Robbinson]

Was there salvation in the OT? I understand the Jews needed to obey in order to be right w/GOd, and if they sinned, needed to bring him sacrifices to atone for them, right? Bbut did they believe they would be w/him if they did those sacrifices/obeyed? If not, what was there motivation to obey? Was it just so God wouldn’t punish them on Earth?

So w/the NT and Jesus’ law, we still must obey, right? We just don’t have to make animal sacrifices, because Jesus atones for our sin. So I don’t undersand the difference though. If the sacrifices of both OT and NT atoned for sins, then it seems our obedience now is not to obtain mercy/forgivness/salvation, but simply because we love Him and thank Him for doing this for us.

But, that doesn’t really make sense then because not all will be saved. He says we must obey his commands to be saved. So , I don’t get it. Was Jesus’ death and resurrection just to get rid of the animal sacrifices and to tell us Gentiles have a part in it as well? That obedience is for all, not just Jews? Was there any salvation for the OT Jews that tried to follow God, but sinned and later repented, but sinned agan? Like Moses. He ended his life in trouble w/God. Are we to believe he will be w/God in eternity? This stuff is so complicated and confusing. It seems like all we can do is try to please God and hope for the best.

God’s salvation plan has not changed. In the Hebrew scriptures (and under the Mosaic Law), salvation came through a combination of (i) faith (faith in God and the coming of the Messiah), which faith led to obedience to the Mosaic Law, (ii) repentence from sin (for violating the Mosaic Law); and (iii) sacrafice (atonement through sacrifice of animals which covered sin per the Mosaic Law).

In the New Covenant - salvation still comes through (i) faith (faith in God the Father and in Christ, the Messiah, and Holy Spirit), which faith leads to Obedience to Christ’s commandments (the spiritual law written in our hearts); (ii) repentence from sin; and (iii) sacrifice (Christ’s one and perfect sacrifice for us).

The Mosaic Law could never save by itself, but only condem by showing the Jewish people their sin. The 613 commandments in the Mosaic Law were replaced in the New Covenant (better to say “fulfilled” in the New Covenant) by the spiritual law or moral law (10 commandments) that God has written in our hearts and as more fully developed by Christ in the beattitudes.

You are correct - we must still “obey” God’s law - but it is the new law - we are freed from the yoke of the 613 commandments and freed by the truth of the Messiah.

It is our faith, ultimately that saves us, because our faith leads us/drives us to obedience in following Christ’s commandments. This is why James said “faith without works is dead” - and we must still repent from our sin, when we sin.

Blessings,

Brian

 

[grandfather]

Was there salvation in the OT? I understand the Jews needed to obey in order to be right w/GOd, and if they sinned, needed to bring him sacrifices to atone for them, right? Bbut did they believe they would be w/him if they did those sacrifices/obeyed? If not, what was there motivation to obey? Was it just so God wouldn’t punish them on Earth?

So w/the NT and Jesus’ law, we still must obey, right? We just don’t have to make animal sacrifices, because Jesus atones for our sin. So I don’t undersand the difference though. If the sacrifices of both OT and NT atoned for sins, then it seems our obedience now is not to obtain mercy/forgivness/salvation, but simply because we love Him and thank Him for doing this for us.

But, that doesn’t really make sense then because not all will be saved. He says we must obey his commands to be saved. So , I don’t get it. Was Jesus’ death and resurrection just to get rid of the animal sacrifices and to tell us Gentiles have a part in it as well? That obedience is for all, not just Jews? Was there any salvation for the OT Jews that tried to follow God, but sinned and later repented, but sinned agan? Like Moses. He ended his life in trouble w/God. Are we to believe he will be w/God in eternity? This stuff is so complicated and confusing. It seems like all we can do is try to please God and hope for the best.

Jesus summed up the law in two commandments. Love God and neighbor, really one commandments, love. John writes, “The love of God consists in this, that we obey His commandments”.

Catholic faith (from my penny catechism) says: “What must I do (what work) to be saved?” “I must worship God in faith, hope and love.”

Augustine says, “Love and do what you will”.

All of the Old Testament pointed at the coming of the Savior of mankind, of the nations. The events prefigure the truths of the completion or fullness of divine revelation, which is the person of Christ, God among us, God one of us, and His death and resurrection.

The law has not changed. We are all judged the same way. There is only one question we are asked that matters, that we need to not only know the right answer, but live the answer. Jesus says to Peter and all of us, “Do you love me”.

Do you love Him? How do you know? The love of God consists in this, that we keep His commandments. What are the commandments we must keep? We must love. What is love? God is love. We either have Him who is love in us or we don’t. We love God through obedience, but we love one another by willing one another’s good. What is that good? It is ultimately the salvation of souls, but here it is practically, feeding the hungry, visiting the sick, imprisoned, etc., works of corporal mercy. There are also works of spiritual mercy which must not be forgotten that express or tell us if we love our neighbor.

The law we must keep to attain salvation is to love. But this law is not a burden in the normal sense. It is a burden and a joy. It is a burden, because it requires sacrifice. We give ourselves for one another as Christ gave Himself for us.

 

[mesl4]

Thank you for your answers. So is the main difference now that we don’t sacrifice animals?

Also, we don’t just have the law written on our hearts w/the Catholic church because there are so many other “laws” to obey to keep salvation (ie. holy days of obligation, confession to priest, abstaining from certain foods, etc. ). Are these like the 613 Mosaic laws to be obeyed?

Also, how are the laws written on our hearts if so many Christians believe differently about salvation/obedience? That’s always bothered me. It seems like it should be clear to all believers if it is written on our hearts. It is clear for obvious things, like murder (although even that can be debatable for some, depending on the situation- self-defence, accidental, premeditated, holy war, etc.).

 

[Robbinson]

Thank you for your answers. So is the main difference now that we don’t sacrifice animals?

Also, we don’t just have the law written on our hearts w/the Catholic church because there are so many other “laws” to obey to keep salvation (ie. holy days of obligation, confession to priest, abstaining from certain foods, etc. ). Are these like the 613 Mosaic laws to be obeyed?

Also, how are the laws written on our hearts if so many Christians believe differently about salvation/obedience? That’s always bothered me. It seems like it should be clear to all believers if it is written on our hearts. It is clear for obvious things, like murder (although even that can be debatable for some, depending on the situation- self-defence, accidental, premeditated, holy war, etc.).

Jesus told us explicitly that if we love him, “follow his commandments”. These are the 10 commandments as more spirtually defined by Jesus in the beattitudes.

He also told us to be baptized (express command).

The law is in our hearts - there aren’t laws of the Catholic Church - just the sacraments (all of which are found in scriptures) which are a form of God’s grace to us following faith.

We are saved by faith in that without faith, there is no salvation - but we are not saved by “faith alone”. James tells us faith without works is dead, and so it is. But by faith and works (the works being our obedience to Christ and love Christ). The sacraments are a means of sanctification and remaining in a state of grace as we sin, and need to repent to sin and confess our sins (also directed by Christ in the scriptures).

I hope that is helpful.

Blessings,

Brian