Mosaic Law?
Chapter 17
Conventions Proof of Our Brotherhood
CONVENTIONShave become a regular feature of the modern-day organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses.But national and international gatherings of worshipers of Jehovah took place long before the 20th century.
Jehovah required all the males in ancient Israel to assembleat Jerusalem for three seasonal festivals each year. Some of the men brought their entire family along. In fact, the Mosaic Law required that every family member—men, women, and little ones—be present on certain occasions. (Ex. 23:14-17;Deut. 31:10-13;Luke 2:41-43)
In like manner, the conventions of Jehovah’s Witnesses in modern times center on spiritual interests.
The Early Christians and the Mosaic Law
4 The Mosaic Law was to be a temporary arrangement ..... the Mosaic Law was designed to lead God-fearing Jews to Christ... Once the Christian congregation was formed, therefore, the “tutor” —the Law— served no further purpose. (Romans 10:4;Galatians 3:25) But some Jewish Christians were slow to grasp this vital truth.As a result, they continued observing features of the Law even after Jesus’ resurrection. Others, though, adjusted their thinking. In doing so, they set a fine example for us today.
Choosing the One Right Religion
NOT UNDER THE LAW
13. What scriptures prove we are not now under the Law?
13 ... the purpose of the Law was accomplished with the coming of Christ: “Consequently, the Law has become our tutor leading to Christ, that we might be declared righteous due to faith.But now that this faith has arrived, we are no longer under a tutor.” Other scriptures state: “By works of law no flesh will be declared righteous before him.” “You are not under law but under undeserved kindness.” “Christ by purchase released us from the curse of the Law.” “If you are being led by spirit, you are not under law.”“By means of his flesh he abolished the hatred, the Law of commandments consisting in decrees.” “...For the Law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in besides office a better hope did, through which we are drawing near to God.” Jehovah God “blotted out the handwritten document against us which consisted of decrees and which was in opposition to us, and He has taken it out of the way by nailing it to the torture stake.”—Gal. 3:24, 25;Rom. 3:20;6:14;Gal. 3:13;5:18;Eph. 2:15;Heb. 7:18, 19;Col. 2:14, NW.
14. (a) How do some argue concerning the Law, but what texts blast their argument? (b) How does the elimination now stand?
14 ...Two verses after it speaks of Jehovah blotting out the Law “by nailing it to the torture stake,” we read: “Therefore let no man judge you in eating and drinking or in respect of a feast day or of an observance of the new moon or of a sabbath.” ...After saying “now we have been discharged from the Law,” the apostle Paul quotes as an example of that nullified Law: “You must not covet.” That was the Tenth of the Ten Commandments. Also, Paul explains that Christians are under a new covenant, no longer under the law “which was engraved in letters in stones.” They are under the spirit, the guiding principles of which are inscribed, “not on stone tablets, but on fleshly tablets, on hearts.” (Rom. 7:6, 7;2 Cor. 3:7,3, NW) So Christians are not under the law written “on stone tablets.” What was written on stone tablets? A so-called ceremonial law? Or all the Law? No, only the Ten Commandments! Though Christians are not under any of the Mosaic law, they are under the guidance of the holy spirit, and its standards and requirements are higher. The 6 of our remaining 19 religions that are erected on the belief that we are under all or part of the Law are built on sand and must collapse.