The notion of a doctrine being "done away" is often misleading and incorrect. Instead of claiming something is done away, it is more accurate to say that it is no longer required in faithful worship of God. The term "done away" suggests that a practice should be entirely disregarded, which is not supported by God's eternal Word. God's Word stands fast forever, as seen in Psalm 111, and He does not remove the history or source of a practice from the Scriptures. For instance, circumcision, though no longer required, remains in the Bible, indicating it may still hold purpose within God's plan and is not truly done away. Consider the example of sacrifices. While Hebrews 10 shows that sacrifices are no longer required of us due to Christ's sacrifice, other scriptures affirm they are not done away. Romans 12:1-2 speaks of living sacrifices, showing that the concept of sacrifice persists in a Christian's life, albeit in a different form. Thus, to declare sacrificing as done away is absolutely wrong; it has merely shifted in application. Similarly, Jesus in John 4:21 prophesied a change in worship requirements, stating that worshipping at the Temple in Jerusalem would end, yet this does not mean the underlying principles are done away. In Acts 21, the apostle Paul and other Christians performed rituals under the Old Covenant, like completing vows, to demonstrate they did not despise Moses' law, even though these had no spiritual value under the New Covenant. This act was not sinful, showing that engaging in such practices, like circumcision today, can be acceptable if understood as non-essential spiritually. This reinforces that these practices are not done away, but simply not required. Further, the book of Ezekiel, from chapters 36 to 48, provides a powerful indication that Old Covenant ordinances and worship requirements may be resurrected in the future after Christ's return. Detailed visions of a new temple, complete with sacrifices and priestly duties, suggest that these elements are not permanently done away. God intends for Israel to revisit these practices, ensuring they are performed correctly as part of His purpose. This shows that declaring something as done away is risky unless there is absolute proof from God's Word that it is never to be done again. Therefore, caution is necessary when discussing doctrines. Rather than saying something is done away, it is better to state that God does not require it of us at this time. God's creation and plans allow Him the authority to reinstate practices as He sees fit, and we must respect that possibility.

For centuries, people have sought to argue that Christians are not required to observe the Sabbath and holy days, often targeting Colossians 2:16-17 to support their view. Some deduce from Colossians 2:14 that the law was done away and nailed to the cross, reasoning that in verse 16, Paul instructs the Colossians not to let anyone condemn them for eating unclean meats or not observing the Sabbath or holy days. Consequently, they interpret verse 17 to mean that Paul dismisses the Sabbath and holy days as mere symbols of future events, suggesting that since Christ died, their observance is no longer necessary. However, Paul's true intent in these verses is clarified when considering the cultural and historical context of Colossae, where pagan philosophies of self-denial influenced the church. In Colossians 2:20-23, Paul corrects this influence, urging the Colossians not to worry about community judgments regarding their joyous celebration of the Sabbath and festivals, as Christ has conquered the world and its rulers. In verse 17, Paul describes the Sabbath and holy days as shadows or types of future events in God's plan, such as the Millennium when Jesus Christ and the saints will rule for a thousand years, and as annual reminders of God's purpose in creating mankind. He clarifies that the body of Christ, which is the church, should guide judgments on these matters, not the opinions of the community, exhorting members to follow the spiritual leaders' example in worship.

Some have used Galatians to assert that the Old Testament laws, including the Ten Commandments, are no longer in effect, claiming that we now live solely by the New Testament. This idea largely stems from Galatians 3, where it is suggested that the law was in effect only until Christ came, and now we are no longer bound to keep it. In Galatians 3:14-18, Paul illustrates that salvation through faith in Christ fulfills the promise made to Abraham 430 years before the law was given at the exodus, emphasizing that our inheritance comes through promise, not law. He further states in verse 19 that the law was added because of transgressions until the Seed, Christ, should come. Verses 24-25 reinforce this by declaring the law as a tutor to bring us to Christ, and after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. However, Paul is not declaring God's laws obsolete but explaining the temporary nature of the Old Covenant, which was added until Christ would replace it with the New Covenant. He underscores the importance of preserving the knowledge of God's laws in Israel to prepare for Christ's coming. In Galatians 3:21-22, Paul clarifies that eternal life comes through faith in the promise to Abraham, not through the Old Covenant's terms. He reiterates in verses 23-24 that the law served as a guardian until faith was revealed, protecting Israel from sinful cultures until Christ arrived. After faith has come, as stated in verses 25-27, we are no longer under a tutor, meaning the Old Covenant rules isolating Israel are no longer needed, as Christ has brought a new approach uniting all in Him.

Many people, in their struggle to support the idea that God's law is done away, point to Colossians 2:14 as evidence that Christ nailed the law to the cross. They argue that the handwriting of requirements refers to the law that was against us, claiming Christ abolished it. However, a careful examination of this scripture reveals what Paul truly means. In context, Paul discusses our justification, explaining that through Christ, our sins are forgiven, and we are made alive with Him. The handwriting of requirements, translated from Greek as a legal document or note of debt, refers to the record of our sins, not the law itself. This debt, resulting from our past way of life, was wiped out by Christ's death. What was nailed to the cross was not the law, but the note of guilt we owed due to our transgressions. Historically, only the condemned and an inscription of their crimes were affixed to the cross, and in Christ's case, our sins were symbolically nailed there in His body. Far from abolishing the law, this scripture highlights the profound truth of justification, showing that our Savior paid the debt we owed for breaking God's holy and righteous laws, allowing us to live a new life of righteousness and service to Him.

The notion that Jesus Christ was born under the law and bound to keep Old Covenant rules and regulations is a subtle argument used to suggest that Christians do not need to follow His example in all respects. This false teaching implies that if He was required to observe rituals and ceremonies that we are not, then there may be many other aspects of His life we do not need to emulate. However, the New Testament clearly states that Christians are not required to offer physical sacrifices or practice Old Testament rituals. The essence of true Christianity is to live the life of Christ in our flesh, conforming to His perfect example in all things. Examining Galatians 4:4, which is often cited to support the idea that Jesus was born under the law, reveals a deeper meaning. The Greek word used, ginomai, means to cause to be or come into being, not simply born. This verse emphasizes His humanity, showing that He was subject to the same conditions as any other man, but it does not indicate He was bound by the Old Covenant from birth. Rather, He was placed under the law only at the time of His crucifixion, when God the Father laid the burden of the world's sins upon Him. Having led a perfect life, the Old Covenant rules, designed to remind Israel of their sins and need for a Savior, did not apply to Him. Furthermore, arguments pointing to rituals performed by His parents, such as His circumcision, do not support the idea that He was bound by the law, as these were actions taken by Joseph and Mary, not by Christ Himself. Other instances, like His observance of the Feast of the Dedication, a Jewish national festival, demonstrate that observing non-pagan national holidays is not wrong, setting a perfect example for us. The core of these misleading arguments is to convince believers that following Christ in all respects is unnecessary, a deception warned against by the apostle John as stemming from the spirit of antichrist. In truth, Jesus Christ was not born under the law, nor did He keep the ceremonial law, though He did uphold the spiritual law of God. He did nothing that we are not to do, and everything He did, we must strive to emulate. His life remains the perfect example for all true Christians to follow in every respect.

The notion that the law has been done away with is akin to allowing a criminal to go free and do as he pleases, an idea that would be deemed sheer idiocy outside of religious contexts, especially in relation to God. Carnal reasoning often leads to the conclusion that the law provokes sin by revealing what is wrong, but this is a distortion; the law does not stimulate or arouse sin, but rather exposes it and helps us understand sin more thoroughly. The carnal mind, in enmity against God, resists correction and labels the law as a 'yoke of bondage,' ultimately declaring it done away to avoid accountability. This hostility stems from a prejudiced position against God's laws, seeking to do as little as possible to get by, often resulting in conclusions misaligned with truth. Contrary to such carnal views, clear and unambiguous scriptures affirm that the law remains. Jesus Himself, the Head of the church, declared in Matthew 5 that not one jot or tittle would pass from the law, establishing its enduring relevance in the foundational principles of His kingdom. In Romans 6, it is evident that Christians are not to sin, which is the transgression of God's law, confirming that the law must still exist. If the law were done away, there would be no sin, rendering Christ's death in vain for those living after His time. The illogical stance that the law is abolished contradicts the consistent biblical assertion that it defines sin and righteousness. The examples of Christ and His apostles further reinforce that the law is not done away. Christ's custom was to keep the Sabbath, as seen in His habitual observance and declaration that it was made for man, showing His authority over it and His intent for us to follow in His steps. The apostles and the New Testament church continued to observe the Sabbath, holy days, food laws, and even circumcision, demonstrating no antagonism toward these laws. There is no biblical controversy over whether such laws should be kept, only over whether justification comes from keeping them. God's overarching purpose also negates the idea that the law is done away. He is creating us in His image, reproducing Himself, and His creation reflects an orderly, law-abiding nature. Laws are unchanging and essential to His character, which we are to emulate. Jesus affirmed that He did not come to destroy the law, emphasizing its permanence as a roadmap for living in God's image. To deny the law is to deny God Himself, as it reveals much about His nature and expectations for those being shaped into His likeness. Regarding the Old Covenant, while it has been made obsolete by the New Covenant, its laws are not entirely done away. The New Covenant still incorporates laws, as seen in Hebrews 8:10, where God promises to write His laws into hearts and minds. The Ten Commandments, including the Sabbath, remain in force under the New Covenant, defining sin and righteousness. Jesus reiterated that not one jot or tittle would pass from the law until all is fulfilled, countering claims that specific commandments are abolished. Many Old Covenant laws, like tithing and food laws, still apply directly or in spirit, guiding us toward holiness and reflecting God's eternal love and wisdom. Obedience to these laws does not justify or save, but they remain vital for understanding how to live holier lives.

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. This liberty is not a release from God's law, but a deliverance from a burdensome approach to justification that relies on a mix of Jewish ritualistic legalism and pagan practices, while avoiding the sacrifice of Christ. Such an approach cannot free anyone from the penalty of sin, nor from bondage to satan, nor provide forgiveness, nor position one to receive God's Holy Spirit. The yoke of bondage is not God's law, for His commandments are not grievous, but rather it is the heavy burden of human traditions and rituals added to the law, as seen in the practices of the scribes and Pharisees, which Christ Himself condemned as grievous to bear. Paul clarifies that striving for justification through law-keeping or rituals like circumcision avails nothing, for neither circumcision nor uncircumcision changes the heart or brings justification. Instead, justification comes by grace through faith in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, delivering us from guilt and the bondage to sin and death. God's law is not a burden, but a law of liberty, and keeping His commandments is the foundation of love, as evidenced by faith working through love. Walking in the Spirit aligns us with God's law, for the Spirit and the law are not in conflict, and those led by the Spirit are not under the penalty of the law, nor striving to earn justification through it, nor seeking salvation by adhering to the Old Covenant. Thus, Paul is not advocating the abolition of God's law, but clarifying its relationship to justification. The notion that the law is done away with is contrary to his teaching, as he emphasizes the importance of keeping God's commandments as a reflection of love and faith, guiding us toward preparation for His Kingdom.

The notion that justification by grace through faith does away with the law is a grave misunderstanding. If taken to its extreme, the idea that grace through faith in the blood of Jesus Christ nullifies the law would mean there is no such thing as sin any longer. If there is no law to transgress, then sin does not exist, and Christ died in vain. Yet, two thousand years after Christ shed His blood to pay the penalty for sin, providing the means for justification, we still must repent of sin to be forgiven. Sin still exists, and therefore, law still exists. The Ten Commandments remain because sin is the transgression of that law. The New Testament record shows Jesus Christ and the apostles exhorting Christians not to sin, especially after forgiveness. In the account of the woman taken in adultery, Jesus, as Immanuel—God with us—and the Head of the church, demonstrated righteous judgment under the New Covenant. He did not condemn her, implying forgiveness, but instructed her to go and sin no more. His forgiveness did not abolish the law; He justified her in relation to that specific law and commanded her not to break it again. It is absurd to conclude that grace, which aligns us with God's laws, eliminates any part of those laws without a clear statement or example in God's Word. The church, under the New Covenant, does not administer God's law as Israel did under the Old Covenant, yet the laws remain the same. Adultery, lust, and the breaking of the other commandments are still sins. The church lacks civil authority to enforce penalties like death, but the wages of sin remain death, merely delayed. The law of God is not done away; it is administered differently. Justification, by grace through faith in Christ's blood, brings us into alignment with God's standard, granting us access to His presence. Nowhere is it stated that justification eliminates the law. It is not a property of justification to do so. Justification is a gift, unearned, aligning us with God's standard and declaring us righteous in His eyes through Christ's sinless righteousness. Even after justification, the law remains crucial as a guide to keep us from straying out of alignment. Paul, in Romans, emphatically states that faith does not make void the law; rather, it establishes it. Faith, used interchangeably with grace and justification, confirms law in general, not nullifying any of God's laws. Justification does not grant license to sin, as Paul declares it unthinkable for those justified to continue in sin. The carnal mind's enmity against God's law persists, often targeting specific laws like the Sabbath or tithing, but Jesus Himself affirmed that not one jot or tittle of the law would pass until all is fulfilled. Justification brings us into alignment with God's law, imputes Christ's righteousness to us, provides access to God, and opens the way for further grace, but in no way does it abolish the law.

In our day, millions of adherents of Christianity have been taught that the law of God was done away with the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, replaced by God's grace, with faith in Jesus being all that is needed for salvation. This idea allows believers to remain unchanged in their worship, dismissing any concern about qualifying for salvation. However, this notion undermines the process God established for us to attain salvation. The ideology of Gnosticism, which promotes the rejection of God's law through antinomianism, has influenced many religious groups, suggesting that the physical universe is corrupt and its laws invalid. As God's people, we must prove that His laws are upheld throughout Scripture. Jesus Himself declared in Matthew 5:17-19 that He did not come to destroy the law or the prophets but to fulfill them, affirming that not one jot or tittle shall pass from the law until all is fulfilled. Furthermore, in Matthew 19:16-19, He instructed a young man seeking eternal life to keep the commandments, clearly referring to the Ten Commandments. The Old Testament, with all its laws, remains vital, as seen in the examples of righteous individuals like Job, Noah, and Daniel, who attained salvation without the New Testament. Jesus Himself used Old Testament scriptures to defeat satan in the Judean desert. God's law, all of it, is not done away; it remains our guide to progress in all of Scripture. Revelation 14:12 emphasizes that the patience of the saints is in keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. May we continue to seek help from our Father and our Head, Jesus Christ, to obey His law and take our intended place in His kingdom.