WHAT IS THE STANDARD OF AUTHORITY IN RELIGION?
IS IT THE LAW OF MOSES?

God gave a law to Israel by Moses. (Jno. 1:17; Deut. 5:1-15). It was Provisional and temporary. (See Jer. 31:31; Heb. 8:6-13; Gal. 3:19). It was to serve as a schoolmaster to bring the Israelites to Christ, (Gal. 3:24), but it was not intended to be the criterion for people in this last dispensation. Jesus came to fulfill the law. (Matt. 5:17, 18). The law was nailed to the cross and the Israelites thus became dead to the law by the body of Christ. (See, Col. 2:14-17; Rom. 7:4-7). God gave the Sabbath command because Israel was a servant in the land of Egypt and was delivered by God's hand. (Deut. 5:15). We are not Israelites who were in Egyptian bondage. Therefore God never gave the Law of Moses to us. We should believe every word of the Old Testament, but it is not the standard of authority for the New Testament church. We are to use it for learning and admonition, but not as law. (See Rom. 15:4; 1 Cor. 10:11). (to be continued)

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