The New Testament Upgraded The Old

If there is controversy over the significance of either the New or Old Testaments in Christianity, do not be bothered too much; because Christ could not have failed to anticipate conservativism in some believers, as others too would be quick to embrace updates. His caution statement here may attest to this.

"Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three." (Luke 12:51-3)

The debate on this has been going on for long. My position according to the Truth is that the New is an amendment of the Old Testament as a new law amends an old one in our secular constitutions. By convention the amended law takes effect from date of amendment and does not make the old law wrong nor nullifies it. The fact that Christianity has that many divisions called denominations is testimony that Christ has indeed come to "divide!"

Simply explained, the people from whom the Messiah, Jesus Christ would come, i.e the Israelites were given laws and directives (including the Ten Commandments) to live by to await the Christ and his message. This and the associated history comprise the books of the OLD Testament. The old is still good, but the new is better. For example, Windows 5 in computing now is not wrong, it could be operational still in on some old gadgets. And even those new ones using Windows 10 which are on very modern gadgets, were built on that Windows 5. So the old is still in the upgraded and better Windows 10 as a foundation. This is how OT works in relation to the NT.

Another comparable situation is life in our youthful days. We were given strict instructions on when to be home in the evening to sleep, rise up, who to befriend, no drink, no sex, etc. And there are punishments that go with the disobedience of them, without doubt, as it is applicable also in adult life. Note that those instructions given in childhood are so relaxed and even cancelled in adulthood; so one can remain outside for as long as they please before returning home to sleep. Who to move with or invite home, or when to wake up are without strings anymore.

The childhood life is analogous to the Old Testament life and worship while the adult life is analogous to the New Testament. Our freedoms in adulthood is however not devoid of the restrictive care one experienced during childhood. In other words, one may be free to stay out till dawn, but the dangers and difficulties that informed the parental restrictions are still present in adult life. The difference is that in adulthood one is to understand and be responsible for these problems themselves.

The maturity in Christianity is thus nurtured. Yes, for example, adultery was wrong in the Old Testament and will continue to be unacceptable, but now do not wait for the usual act to say that one is guilty of it. When one was even planning to have sex with that woman or man is enough for one's guilt! Appreciate the situation this way, if one continued to be under the childhood "do and don't" directives, then the same cannot be judged, because their choices are not their own per se. However in fairness everybody is expected to be judged according to their OWN CHOICES.

The conservative/recalcitrant attitude of some people was not absent from the Israelites, hence the rejection of Christ even though one of their own! Christ's message, though meant for the whole world, some Christians (even as followers of Christ) unfortunately choose to stick to the Old more than the New Testament scriptures, same way the Pharisees, Sadducees, etc chose to stick to their old religion rather than accept and were challenging Christ in his teachings.

Unambiguous declaration by God in the OT explains how Christ's teachings supersede all others in the bible.

Jeremiah 31:27-34 (OT)
"Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah ........

It is amplified in the New Testament thus:
Hebrews 8:6-13, (NT)
"For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second." .....

Jesus Christ is the Messiah God himself proposed for the world so had an unique immaculate birth, baptism, power over spirits and even death, resurrected from death and descended back to heaven, his original abode. Someone God could refer to as His beloved son.

Matthew 3:17
"And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

Any reason for anyone not to believe in Christ's teachings if the believe in God!