Has Christ fulfilled the Law, so that the Christians do not have to?
Question: Has Christ fulfilled the Law, so that the Christians do not have to?
Answer: The rejection of the Torah of YHVH, aka the Law, is a fundamental doctrine in the Christianity since its establishment as an official religion. But it is incorrect to say that the Roman emperor Constantine was the author of this doctrine; Ignatius of Antioch (c.35 – c.107) was, whose letters still serve as an example of early Christian theology.
Today, there are a few major arguments to reject the Torah of YHVH. The first argument is that the Law is done away with, and it is not binding for the Christians, since they are not “under the Law but under grace”. (Read more) The second one is that the Law is replaced with grace by Christ on the cross; argument better described by the dispensationalism theory. Another argument in circulation is that the Law is not done away with, but it is for the Jews only, not for the Gentile Christians (for the contrary see Exo 12:19, Exo 12:38, Exo 12:49, Lev 19:34, Lev 24:22, Num 9:14, Num 15:14-16, and Num 15:29-30).
However, as to whether “Christ has fulfilled the Law, so that the Christians do not have to”, let us consider this simple example. A newly wed wife says to her husband, ‘You have fulfilled your marriage obligations, so that I do not have to’. Evidently, this free-spirited woman did not have the intent to keep her marriage vow in the first place (as we know the marriage vow is all about keeping the marriage obligations).
In other words, as a Spouse has the moral, but also the legal duty to keep the marriage vow, so does the Bride. Moreover, it behooves every believer to keep the wedding vows before YHVH. Because, as fidelity is an undisputable duty and obligation in a marriage, so is the Torah of YHVH our marriage duty and obligation to keep. As a marriage certificate is a legal bond in a marriage, so is His Covenant (the Ten Commandments) in the Holy Matrimony at Mt Sinai. And as a wedding ring is a sign of a marriage, so does the Holy Matrimony have its sign: the 4th Commandment, the Sabbath Commandment, of the Covenant between us and our Husband (see Exo 31:13).
And you, speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘My Sabbaths you are to guard, by all means, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, to know that I, Yehovah, am setting you apart. (Exo 31:13) (See also Eze 20:12 and Eze 20:20)
And this is what Paul commends us:
For I am jealous for you with a jealousy according to Elohim. For I gave you in marriage to one husband, to present you as an innocent maiden to Messiah. (2Co 11:2)
(Read more in the article “Has the Messiah Abolished the Law of God?”)