Short Answer: No—Christians are not under the Old Testament (Mosaic) law as a covenant. We follow Jesus under the new covenant, while still treating the Old Testament as God’s Word that teaches, warns, and points to Christ.
Long Answer: Christians do not have to follow Old Testament laws as a binding covenant code, because Jesus fulfilled the Mosaic covenant and inaugurated the new covenant. The Old Testament law was God’s real covenant with Israel—good, holy, and purposeful—but Christians now live under Christ’s authority and the New Testament’s instruction, empowered by the Spirit. That means we still learn from the Old Testament and obey the moral will of God it teaches, but we do not return to Israel’s covenant obligations (sacrifices, priesthood, purity laws, national civil code) as requirements for God’s people.
1) Why God gave the Old Testament law
After rescuing Israel from slavery, God formed them into a distinct people and gave them his law through Moses (Exodus 19–24). These commands shaped Israel’s worship, community life, and identity among the nations—covering sacrifices and priests, clean/unclean rules, festivals, civil justice for Israel as a nation, and moral instruction about loving God and neighbor.
The law was God’s covenant with Israel. And even within the Old Testament, God promised something greater: a coming new covenant where sins would be forgiven and hearts would be changed (Jeremiah 31:31–34).
2) Jesus fulfills the law and establishes a new covenant
Jesus said he did not come to abolish the Law and the Prophets, but to fulfill them (Matthew 5:17). Fulfillment means he brings them to their intended goal.
You can see this throughout the New Testament:
- Jesus is the true sacrifice, offered once for all (Hebrews 9–10).
- Jesus is the true high priest and mediator (Hebrews 4:14–16; Hebrews 8).
- Jesus is the true temple presence of God among his people (John 1:14; John 2:19–22).
That’s why Hebrews draws a clear conclusion about covenant change:
“In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.” Hebrews 8:13
The Old Testament remains God’s Word, but Christians are not placed back under the Mosaic covenant as the governing framework for relating to God.
3) A simple way to understand “which laws” apply
A helpful approach is to look at how the New Testament treats different kinds of Old Testament commands. These categories don’t dismiss Scripture—they follow Scripture’s storyline.
A) Laws fulfilled in Christ and no longer binding as covenant markers
These include the sacrificial system, the Levitical priesthood, temple regulations, and many purity/boundary laws that marked Israel out as a distinct nation.
Hebrews is explicit: repeated animal sacrifices pointed forward; Jesus’ sacrifice is final and sufficient (Hebrews 10:1–14). Because the sacrifice is fulfilled, the system tied to it is not carried over as a requirement for the church.
The New Testament also treats food laws and ritual purity differently under the new covenant:
- Jesus emphasized that uncleanness comes from the heart (Mark 7:18–23).
- Peter’s vision signaled God welcoming the nations and removing old boundary markers (Acts 10:9–16).
- Paul warned believers not to divide over food and special days as identity tests (Romans 14:1–6; Colossians 2:16–17).
Christians may choose certain practices for wisdom or conscience, but must not treat them as salvation requirements or “real Christian” badges.
B) Laws that governed Israel’s civil life as a nation
Some laws regulated courts, penalties, land inheritance, and national life in the promised land. Christians today are not a geopolitical nation-state with a temple and borders. The church is a people drawn from all nations (1 Peter 2:9–12).
Still, these laws reveal God’s heart for justice, honesty, mercy, and protection of the vulnerable. They teach principles Christians should apply in ethics, even if we don’t apply Israel’s civil code directly as modern legal policy.
C) Moral instruction reaffirmed in the New Testament
Many Old Testament commands express God’s moral will rooted in God’s character and creation design. These are repeatedly reaffirmed in the New Testament.
Jesus said the moral heart of Scripture is love for God and love for neighbor (Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 22:37–40). Paul taught that love fulfills God’s moral intent (Romans 13:8–10). The apostles call Christians away from idolatry, sexual immorality, lying, greed, and hatred, and toward purity, honesty, generosity, and love (1 Corinthians 6:9–11; Ephesians 4–5; 1 Peter 1:14–16).
A practical guideline: If the New Testament teaches it for the church, Christians should obey it as part of allegiance to Jesus. That’s not legalism—it’s discipleship shaped by grace and empowered by the Spirit.
4) What about the Ten Commandments?
The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) summarize God’s moral direction. The New Testament clearly reaffirms most of them:
- No idolatry (1 John 5:21)
- Honor parents (Ephesians 6:1–3)
- No murder, adultery, theft, false witness, coveting (Romans 13:8–10; James 2:8–11)
The Sabbath command raises the most questions. The New Testament teaches freedom from treating Sabbaths and festivals as covenant identity markers required for belonging (Colossians 2:16–17). It also allows different conscience decisions about special days (Romans 14:5–6). Many Christians still see wisdom in weekly rhythms of rest and gathered worship, but Sabbath-keeping is not a salvation test or spiritual status marker.
5) What about circumcision, tithing, and festivals?
These are common “so which ones?” questions.
- Circumcision: Not required for Gentile believers (Acts 15; Galatians 5:2–6). What matters is faith expressing itself through love and a changed heart by the Spirit (Romans 2:28–29).
- Tithing: Israel’s tithes were tied to temple worship, Levites, festivals, and care for the poor in the land. The New Testament calls Christians to generous, cheerful giving—not a legal percentage requirement (2 Corinthians 9:6–8). Many use 10% as a starting point, but the goal is willing generosity.
- Festivals and holy days: Some believers observe them as a learning tool. But Paul warns against judging one another over such practices (Colossians 2:16–17). If a practice points you to Jesus and doesn’t become pride or division, it can be a matter of freedom and wisdom.
6) “If we’re not under the law, does obedience matter?”
The New Testament strongly rejects that idea. Paul anticipates the objection—“Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?”—and answers, “By no means!” (Romans 6:1–2). Christians aren’t freed to sin; we’re freed from sin’s slavery.
Believers live under what Paul calls “the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2): the way of Jesus—shaped by his teaching, empowered by the Spirit, and expressed through love and holiness (John 13:34–35; Galatians 5:16–25; Ephesians 2:10).
Conclusion
Christians are not under the Mosaic covenant as a binding law-code, because Jesus fulfilled it and brought the new covenant. Laws tied to sacrifices, priesthood, purity boundaries, and Israel’s national life are fulfilled in Christ and are not required as covenant markers. Moral instruction reaffirmed in the New Testament—especially love for God and neighbor, holiness, truthfulness, and sexual integrity—remains part of faithful obedience to Jesus.
What to do next
- Read Acts 15, Galatians 3–6, and Hebrews 8–10 to see how the early church handled Old Testament law questions.
- When you encounter an Old Testament command, ask how Jesus fulfills it and how the New Testament applies its truth today.
- Practice obedience as a response to grace, not a way to earn salvation (Ephesians 2:8–10).
- Talk with a pastor/elder or mature believer if you’re uncertain about a specific practice.
- If you’re ready to follow Jesus: respond with repentance and faith—confess him as Lord and be baptized by immersion as the normative biblical response for the forgiveness of sins, and grow in a local church community (Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3–4).