The Apostles’ Creed: The ChurchSample

Obligations in the Church: Matthew 28:19

The people of God in both Testaments were given the responsibility of loving God, spreading His kingdom throughout the world, and bringing Him glory. With regard to love for God, Deuteronomy 6:5-6 taught the Old Testament church to love God from the heart, to obey His law from the heart.

In the same way, the New Testament church is called to love God and to obey His law. As Jesus taught in Matthew 22:37, heartfelt love for God is the greatest commandment of the law. And as John taught in 1 John 5:3, heartfelt love for God results in heartfelt obedience to His commands.

One of the questions that people often ask is whether the New Testament church is required to keep the Old Testament law. And the answer is an unequivocal "yes" and "no". "No" in the sense that those specific prescriptions that are found in the Old Testament Torah are in fact removed for us. We are not required to circumcise our boys. We are not required to go to the Temple three times a year. We are not required… and you can go down the list. In fact, this was the discussion of the council in Jerusalem that’s recorded in Acts 15. However, what is the intent of the Old Testament Torah? In the sense that the Torah reveals to us the character and nature of God and the character and nature which we are expected to share, in that sense, "yes", the Torah still applies. And I think you see this in Paul’s letters. Paul can say to his readers, No, you are free. You do not have to do all those things. And since you’re free, of course, you’re not going to steal, you’re not going to lie, you’re not going to covet, you’re not going to commit adultery. So that, is it necessary for Christians to keep the Torah for our salvation? Absolutely not. But as those who have been freely saved, are we expected to share and exhibit the life of God? Yes. – Dr. John Oswalt

Notice that God’s people in both the Old and New Testaments were to spread God’s kingdom. The Old Testament church knew that in Genesis 17:4-5, God had promised that Abraham would be a father of many nations. And as Paul taught in Romans 4:13, the Old Testament church knew that this promise obligated them to spread God’s kingdom to the whole world by faith. In the same way, the New Testament church is still carrying out this plan by carrying the gospel to every nation. As Jesus commanded His church in Matthew 28:19: Go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19).