by Garland M. Robinson
        The word "binding" means to
"impose as an obligation." So, the question is asking if people
today are obligated to follow/obey the teaching of the Old
Testament as they are obligated to follow/obey the teaching of the
New Testament? Though the Old Testament is certainly just as true
and factual as the New Testament since it was given by the
inspiration of God, it is not true that it is
just as binding today as the New Testament. The New Testament tells
us the Old is no longer binding. The New has superseded the Old.
        I do not know of anyone (who
accepts the New Testament) that believes and practices that the Old
Testament is just as binding as the New today. Some, however, do
attempt to practice certain parts of it such as tithing and sabbath
keeping. But I do not know of anyone who seeks to follow the Old
Law regarding animal sacrifices, the burning of incense or the
keeping of the Passover or Pentecost. There were some in the first
century church who taught a convert to Christ must keep the law of
circumcision. Therefore, the Lord points out, through the inspired
apostle Paul, that when one seeks to obey even one part of the Old
Testament Law (such as circumcision), he is obligated "to do
the whole Law." That is, those who teach circumcision as a
religious ordinance or that one must keep the sabbath, must also
burn animal sacrifices and keep the Passover. And, when one seeks
to follow any part of the Old Testament Law, regardless of what it
is, "ye are fallen from grace" (Galatians 5:3-4). Since
men are saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8), those who seek to keep any
part of the Old Testament cannot be saved.
        One of the purposes for which
Jesus came into the world was to
nullify (abolish) the Old Testament Law by bringing in a New
Testament Law. By Jesus dying on the cross, he abolished the Old
Law -- "Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law
of commandments contained in ordinances..." (Ephesians 2:15;
cf. Hebrews 7:18). "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances
that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of
the way, nailing it to his cross" (Colossians 2:14). Jesus,
our saviour, is the mediator of the New Testament, not the Old
(Hebrews 9:15). The whole point of the books of Galatians and
Hebrews is to show the changing of the Law from the Old to the New.
We will be judged by the words of Jesus in the New Testament (John
12:48).