Eram Sum Ero.
Oremus Mare.
I believe in you.
February 10, 2025
The Question of Old Laws
I’ve heard it many times—maybe you’ve asked it yourself:
“Do you still follow the Bible’s old laws? The ones about not eating shellfish, not wearing mixed fabrics, or stoning people? If not, isn’t that proof that the Bible contradicts itself or that Christians pick and choose what they follow?”
It’s a fair question. Maybe you’ve seen people use these laws selectively—to justify what they already believe, to condemn others while ignoring the ones that inconvenience them. Maybe you’ve even seen people reject Christianity altogether because of these passages.
But there’s a flaw in this argument—it assumes all biblical laws serve the same purpose.
They don’t.
What Were These Laws, & Why Did They Exist?
The Old Testament laws weren’t a single, uniform code that applied forever. They were given to a specific people, in a specific time, for a specific purpose. They can be categorized as follows:
Moral Laws — Universal principles about justice, truth, and love. These reflect God’s eternal nature and still hold today.
Ceremonial Laws — Rituals, purity codes, and temple practices that foreshadowed Christ. These were fulfilled and made obsolete in Him.
Civil Laws — Legal regulations for ancient Israel’s society, which do not apply outside that historical context.