Christ's position on the law was clear - do you know what He said, and do you agree with Him?

In Matthew 5:18-19, Christ said that not even one letter of God's law can pass away until heaven and earth also pass away - an event which is prophesied to happen at the same time that the New Jerusalem comes down from heaven (Revelation 21:1-2). This has not happened yet, and is not prophesied to happen until after the tribulation, after the 1000 year reign of Christ on earth, and after the Great White Throne Judgment. In the same passage, Christ even stated that adherence to God's law will be the standard for whether you are called "great" in the Kingdom of heaven or not!

Most Christians today hold a belief that is directly contrary to this clear statement of Jesus Christ. Many of them selectively quote writings from other books in the New Testament, often out-of-context, in order to argue that the law of the Old Testament is no longer in effect under the New Covenant. Some of these arguments can sound convincing, but they are deceptions! Christ made such a simple statement that it cannot be misinterpreted: God's law has not - and will not - pass away until heaven and earth have also passed away.

The prophets teach us that one day everyone will come to keep God's law. In Isaiah 2:2-3, it is prophesied that people from all over the world will go to Jerusalem to learn the law of God. Zechariah 14:14 reveals that people from every country will keep the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem every year. Isaiah 66:23 says plainly that people from all over the world will come together to worship God on the seventh-day Sabbath. There are many as-yet unfulfilled prophecies that specifically show that God's laws will one day be kept all over the world, but not a single prophecy stating that the law would someday be abolished!

No matter what clever arguments anyone might use to justify their position, the words of Christ and the prophets are true - they are the words of God! In light of this, how do you understand scriptures like Galatians 3:10-13, or Colossians 2:16-17? Does your understanding agree with the teachings of Christ and the prophets?

If you want answers on how to understand these scriptures properly, check out the United Church of God's booklet, "The New Covenant: Does it Abolish God's Law?" It answers specific arguments that are used to wrongly teach that the law was done away, including those that use the scriptures listed above. It also describes the true foundation of the New Covenant and the personal responsibilities of Christians today.