ABOUT THE BOOK

This edition is an update on the previous edition titled, The Woman Question which was in two parts. This new edition is an updated and reviewed section of the Part one of the previous edition which addressed the issue of trouser wears by Christian Women. We have decided to run it in series and treat each question contained in the previous edition as a separate book. It is richer in content and made more reader friendly.

As much as it is imperative for all women professing to be Christians to dress decently, does this act of decency has to do with a particular style of dress? Is there any prescribed Biblical manner Christian Women should dress? Diverse belief on this subject is a major cause of disunity in the body of Christ today. Can the church be brought to a unity of faith on this subject? The answer is yes because the ultimate goal of the role of ministry is, “…For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: TILL WE ALL COME IN THE UNITY OF THE FAITH, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:12-13)

The argument presented in this book is substantiated by overwhelming numbers of scripture references and it is therefore not the author’s personal opinion but an exposition of divine revelation.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Pastor Ken Macaulay is the President of Global Word Impact Ministries, Rivers State, Nigeria. He is a Church Growth Consultant, Evangelist, Pastor, Teacher, Writer and a Motivational Speaker.

As a Church Growth consultant, he organizes periodic seminars on Church Growth for Church Leaders on subjects such as; The Cell System Dynamics, Follow-up Methodology, Dynamics of Soul Winning, Leadership Development and Church Administration.

He holds a Bachelor degree in Mechanical Engineering from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.

He is gifted with deep insight in the word of God which is set to change the mentality of the 21st Century Church.


Table of Contents

Chapter 1 – Introduction.
Chapter 2 - Does The Bible Forbid It?
Chapter 3 - Christ Said He Did Not Come To Destroy The Law! What Does This Statement Mean?
Chapter 4 - Tradition or The Word of God; Which One Is More Important?
Chapter 5 - Women May Wear It but Not in Church! How True is This Claim?
Chapter 6 - It Makes Women Look More Seductive! Where Do We Place This Claim?
Chapter 7 - Conclusion



Chapter 1 – Introduction.

The Question of whether Christian women should put on trousers even to church is perhaps the most controversial issue in the body of Christ today and it has hitherto hindered the unity of the church which is one of God's ultimate goals.

“That they all (the church) may be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us, that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” (John 17:21).

Is it an abomination for Christian Women to wear trousers even to church? Can we have a scriptural answer to this question? Just like a motor mechanic can't know more than the manufacturer of the car, we can't also know more than God who made us. “…let God be true but every man a liar…” (Romans 3:4). So, any doctrine that's not consistent with the written Word of God must be regarded as untrue. John 17:17 says “…thy Word is truth”

The Word of God is powerful and informative enough to answer every question of life. “Knowing this first that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation, for the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:20-21). In addition, 2 Timothy 3:16 declares;
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”

Holy men of God didn't write their private opinion in the Bible. If they did, the Bible would have been the most confusing book on earth today. The Bible contains 66 books written by about 37 different writers that lived hundreds of years apart and in different parts of the world. It's very rare for the opinion of 2 or 3 persons to agree on controversial issues, talk more of the writings of 37 persons who may never have had the opportunity to consult with the writings of one another. So the harmony of the scripture points to one author - the Holy Spirit, though many writers.

Why then do we have different interpretations on this subject as well as other issues that have generated controversies? Is God the author of confusion? Certainly not. What then is the yardstick to judge who is interpreting the scripture correctly?

First - You Must Be Born Again.

If the Bible was Spirit inspired, it then means that it can only be better understood by Spirit filled men. Trying to understand the scripture by logical reasoning (sense knowledge) only leads to deeper frustration. It's only with your spirit (heart) that you can understand the Word of God. Your soul can only acquire knowledge (accumulation of facts) through your mind based on the insight (understanding) that has come to your spirit. “…knowledge is easy to him that understandeth” (Proverbs 14:6). It's imperative at this stage to know that man is a spirit, has a soul and lives in a body (1 Thessalonians 5:24).
The spirit of man died when Adam sinned against God and that nature is what we were all born with. The spirit of man is re-born when he acknowledges and confesses that Jesus has been raised up from dead for him (Romans 10:9-10). Anyone that's not born again can't have an in-depth knowledge of God's Word.

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14).

Second - You Must Study the Bible Yourself.

As a child of God, you have a personal responsibility to study the Word of God for yourself (2 Timothy 2:15) so you'll not be tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine (Ephesians. 4:14). In the days of the early church, some of the Christian communities took time to examine the teachings of the Apostles through personal study.

“These (the Berea Christian community) were more noble than those in Thessalonica in that they received the Word with readiness of mind and searched the scripture daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11).

Concerning the issue in discussion, how many of us have sincerely searched the scripture to find out if what we have believed hitherto is true. God has set up ministers to teach us God's Word but the greatest Teacher is the Holy Spirit. “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things…” (John 14:26). 1 John 1:27 added,

“But the anointing (Holy Spirit) which you have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you, but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things and is truth and is no lie even as it (He) hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him.”

Ministers of God do make errors but the Holy Spirit doesn't. You must judge whatever you're taught by the Word of God. One great challenge we have in this part of the world is slothfulness in studying. This is the reason some people hire others to write exams for them. It's a wrong spirit that must be dealt with in the house of God. So many professing Christians don't study the Bible but just accept whatever any preacher tells them. I recommend you pray for spiritual understanding in the same way Apostle Paul prayed for the church at Ephesus in Ephesians. 1:17-19. Then after a while your eyes will be opened to see things you never saw before as you study. You can't honestly agree or disagree with a matter until you have examined all the scriptures related to that issue in question.

Your beliefs must be Word based. For effective study, you should employ the use of a study Bible and a good concordance.

Third - Do Not Analyze Scripture with Reasoning.

Scriptural interpretation is not based on reasoning (logic). Some things may sound unreasonable but yet very scriptural. For instance, it's unreasonable to imagine that God would destroy all who rejects the gospel finally in the lake of fire, but it is scriptural (Revelation 20:10-15). Can you reason out how Mary could conceive without knowing a man? What about Jesus walking on water? The law of floatation was superseded by a higher law. So, make up your mind to accept God's Word with your spirit even if your mind cannot grasp it. “The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord…” (Prov. 20:27). In addition, Rom. 8:14 says, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” Your senses must be trained to accept God's word.

Fourth - Scriptures Must Be Interpreted in Harmony with Other Scriptures.

It'll be wrong to lift a scripture out of context and make it say what you want it to say without consulting other references on the same subject. For instance, the James 2:26 says;

“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also”

This verse has been interpreted by some religious sects that grace alone is not enough to save us. They insist that work is also necessary if we want to get saved. But if we read the whole scripture in context, James is not talking about salvation here but on demonstrating our love to the needy and on backing up our faith with corresponding action to receive a miracle from God. If we consult with other passages on salvation, we are consistently informed that salvation is by grace through faith and not of works lest any man should boast. Ephesians. 2:8-10, Titus 3:5, Romans. 3:24 & Romans. 3:28 just to mention a few. So, you see how a scripture can be lifted out of context and consequently misinterpreted.

However, after you are saved, you are expected to do good works otherwise, your salvation is meaningless.

Fifth - It Must Agree with The New Testament Revelation.

The Old Testament Saints had a very limited revelation of God and His ways because of their darkened hearts. For instance, Job said “…the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). This implies that both good and evil comes from God. A closer examination of this statement reveals it's incorrectness in the light of the New Testament revelation. John 10:10 says that the thief (devil) is the one responsible for stealing, killing and destruction. Every good and every perfect gift is from above (God), James remarks in James 1:17.

God is even credited with the statement, “…I kill and make alive…” in Deuteronomy 32:39. God communicated with the Old Testament Saints at the level they could understand. A simple illustration is in the study of chemistry. At the lower class, we were told that an atom is the smallest indivisible unit of an element. But as we progressed further, additional information revealed that there're smaller units in an atom. Jesus told His disciples that he had so many things to tell them but he wouldn't' do that now. Why? They were men of the senses. He left that to the Holy Spirit to do after spirit man should have been re-created. Some of us are holding on to some Old Testament teachings after we have been given additional information in the New Testament.
So, you must update and upgrade your knowledge of God. The Old Testament is a type and shadow of the New (Heb. 10:1). You cannot fully describe an object by looking at the shadow. Moreover, you do not have any business to focus on the shadow when you can make contact with the real object. We should anchor our doctrines on the teachings of Jesus, His Apostles and Prophets. Apostle Paul proclaimed a curse on anyone who teaches any other gospel different from what he preached or taught.

“But though we or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:.

Sixth - You Must Put Away Preconceived Opinion.

Don't search for scriptures to support your preconceived opinion and ignoring other scriptures that obviously contradicts it. We live by the Word of God (Matthew. 4:4) and not by personal opinion. Concerning the Woman Question, I recommend you put away your personal opinion and find out what the Word says about it.

Seventh - Do Not Exalt the Authority of Any Study Guide above the Bible.

The Word of God is our final authority in all life related issues. In the same way, it's not what your local assembly teaches or believes that counts, but what the Bible says. The Bible says that, God has exalted His Word and His Name above all things including teaching aids.

Eight - You Must Put Away Pride.

You must put away pride if you want to unlearn what you have previously been taught. As the scripture says,

“Pride goeth before destruction….” (Proverbs 16:18).

James wrote;

“...receive with meekness the engrafted Word which is able to save your soul” (James 1:21).

Nobody can know more than Mr. Pride. Mr. Pride prefers to hold on to his beliefs in spite of evidences against them. The Bible further says that “… God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” (James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5).

Ninth - Don't Put Your Tradition above the Word of God.

Another enemy to spiritual progress is tradition. This is the way we have always done it and nothing can change it. Longevity does not mean legality. It takes men of courage to break traditions. Our Lord Jesus also had similar challenges with the religious rulers of his days, who preferred to exalt their tradition above the Word of God. They pretended to be adherents of the laws of Moses which they never kept.

“….ye make the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition” (Matthew 15:6).
A lot of Christian Women have subjected themselves to their church traditional dress code which often portrays a poor self-image of what a child of God should look like.

Tenth - Every Biblical Doctrine must have at least two or three references.

For anything to be a doctrine, it must have at least two or three witnesses.

“For in the mouth of two or three witnesses, every word shall be established” (Matthew 18:16).

We will now begin to examine the Woman Question on trouser wearing in the light of the New Testament teachings with most of the references taken from Paul’s epistles.

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Biko we are voting today.... lets leave this controversy and differences for another day

Chapter 2 - Does The Bible Forbid It?

There is a verse of scripture often referred to by some religious folks who use it as a basis to prohibit Christian women from putting on trousers. The verse of the scripture reads;

“The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man neither shall a man put on a woman's garment, for all that do so are an abomination unto the Lord thy God” (Deuteronomy 22:5).

Perhaps this is the strongest and seemingly scriptural proof forbidding women from putting on trousers which some people claim is men's wears. This claim however that this scripture forbids women from putting on trouser is weakened by the arguments presented in the next section.

Why Deuteronomy 22:5 Cannot Be Used to Prohibit Women from Putting On Trousers Even to Church.

1. Our Lord Jesus himself who laid the foundation for the New Testament church never gave such instructions in his teachings while on earth. And he never made any reference to this verse of scripture in the course of his teaching during his earthly ministry. No one is more acquainted with the scriptures more than Jesus. Rather he condemned those who hinge their righteousness on outward appearance;

“Even so ye also OUTWARDLY APPEAR RIGHTEOUS UNTO MEN, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.” (Matthew 23:28).

The Apostles of the early church also never gave such instruction or made any allusion to it. Apostle Paul who wrote about half of the New Testament never gave such instruction. Apostle Paul said to the Jews in the early days of his ministry;

“And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which YE COULD NOT BE JUSTIFIED BY THE LAW OF MOSES.” (Acts 13:39).

When the Apostle came together in an occasion to consider this issue of the relevance of the Law of Moses to the Gentiles, Apostle Peter said;

Acts 15:7-11
7 …Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
10 Now therefore WHY TEMPT YE GOD, TO PUT A YOKE UPON THE NECK OF THE DISCIPLES, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

Apostle James also added his voice;

Acts 15:13-21
13 …Men and brethren, hearken unto me:
14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.
18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
19 Wherefore my sentence is, THAT WE TROUBLE NOT THEM, WHICH FROM AMONG THE GENTILES ARE TURNED TO GOD:
20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

3. Deuteronomy 22:5 quoted was one of the instruction under the Old Testament that has been abolished. It is therefore wrong to judge the church by it. The just shall live by faith and not by the Law of Moses. Hence Paul wrote;

“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” (Galatians 2:16).

This verse which is one of the laws of Moses was addressed only to the Jews under the Old Covenant. Before Jesus came, you were either a Jew or a Gentile (without God). Under the Old Covenant, the Gentiles weren't included.
“That at that time ye (Gentiles) were without Christ being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenant of promise, having no hope and without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:12).

The Law of Moses of which Deuteronomy 22:5 is part of was given only to the Jews. It has nothing to do with the New Testament Saints.

“Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them (Jews) who were under the law…” (Romans 3:19)

Exodus 34:27 further confirms this truth.
“And the Lord said unto Moses, write down these words for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant WITH THEE AND WITH ISRAEL.”

No mention was made of the Gentile nations here. Using Deuteronomy 22:5 to judge the Christian women is like asking Nigerians to keep American laws and make us feel guilty for not keeping it. The scripture below affirms that the Law of Moses was given to the Jews;

“What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because that UNTO THEM WERE COMMITTED THE ORACLES OF GOD.” (Romans 3:1-2).

“Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the GIVING OF THE LAW, and the service of God, and the promises.” (Romans 9:4).

4. At the time this law was given, men wore skirts (Deuteronomy 22:30, 1st Samuel 24:5). Trousers was not even the fashion of the day for men. It was skirt. So, it is even more wrong if we have to go by the Law of Moses for women to put on skirts because it was men’s wear at that time.

5. Those who impose Deuteronomy 22:5 according to the Law of Moses are obliged to keep all the laws. Those who keep the law and yet offend in just one has broken the whole law according to the scripture. So why impose a law when you are also a breaker of the same law –

“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” (James 2:10).

In addition, in that same chapter, verses 9 and 11 contains instructions that those attempting to practice verse 5 don’t keep. So, it is hypocrisy to impose a law when you too are a breaker of the same law.

6. You place yourself under the curse of the Law of Moses if you chose to live by it but yet don’t keep them all;

“FOR AS MANY AS ARE OF THE WORKS OF THE LAW ARE UNDER THE CURSE: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” (Galatians 3:10).

7. Grace and law are two mutually exclusive events. Just as you can’t have a head and a tail at the same time when a coin is tossed, grace and law cannot operate together. This is what Paul meant when he said;

“And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” (Romans 11:6).

8. Even in the present day that we live in, trousers are not necessarily the exclusive wears for men. Women also have their kinds of trousers. Men also tie wrappers and we don’t condemn them because they tie it different from the way women tie theirs.

9. Those who are trying to impose Deuteronomy 22:5 on Christians are actually the ones committing sin. According to Apostle Paul;

“But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I MAKE MYSELF A TRANSGRESSOR.” (Galatians 2:17-18).

10. God's Covenant Was Never Intended to Be Established by the Law of Moses.

“For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise of none effect”. “And this I say that the covenant (Abrahamic covenant), that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law (law of Moses) which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise, but God gave it to Abraham by promise” (Rom. 4:13-14, Gal. 3:17-18).

The scripture above says that God's promise to Abraham was unconditional. Dos and don'ts (law) were not attached to it. Abraham was declared righteous not because he obeyed any codes of conduct but because he believed God (Romans4:3, Galatians 3:6).

For instance, if you were promised an amount of money by your uncle, and when you get to him to receive the promise, he now demands you must do this or that before he gives you the money, he has invariably nullified his promise. What you get then is no longer a favour but what you worked for. In the same way if God demanded that obeying the laws of Moses was a necessary prerequisite to be blessed, then He lied to Abraham. This is what Paul the Apostle stressed in the scripture just quoted above. How many of us will love to have an earthly father who spells out some dos and don'ts for us without which we cannot receive anything from him? Our God is a loving God and not a Soldier. We gain approval before Him not because we're trying to keep a particular law but because we believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead (Romans 4:24). Besides, 1 Timothy 1:9 remarks that, “…the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient…”
It therefore means that we that have been declared righteous don't need the laws of Moses to live by.

Why Then Was the Law Given?

“…It was added because of transgression, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made, and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator…Before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterward be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ that we might be justified by faith” (Galatians 3:19-24).

The Law of Moses was only to last until Christ come to fulfill the promise God made to Abraham. “But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a school master” (Galatians 3:25). The Old Testament was imposed on the Jews until the time of reformation (Hebrews 9:10).

Reasons Why the Law of Moses Was Abolished.

1. The Law Brought a Curse on the Jews.
“For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse (spelt out in Deut. 28:15-68), for it is written cursed be every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of in the book of the law to do them” (Galatiians 3:10).

Under the Law of Moses, the Jews got blessed by keeping the law (Deuteronomy 28:1-14) and got cursed for breaking the law (Deuteronomy 28:15-68). History reveals that they couldn't keep the laws and consequently came under the curse. Their inability to keep the laws was because of their carnal nature (Romans 7:14). It takes a spiritual man to keep a spiritual law.

2. The Law Brought Wrath on the Jews.

“Because the law worketh wrath, for where no law is, there is no transgression” (Romans 4:15).

A typical example as mentioned above is recorded in Numbers 11:1, where the fire of the Lord was kindled against the Jews when they murmured and complained against Moses. Many of the Jews died. In another instance recorded in Numbers 21:5-6, fiery serpents were sent to bite the people when they spoke against God and Moses. In contrast, they were not punished when they committed similar offence under Abrahamic covenant. (Exodus 16:2 & 17:3). There was no mercy under the Law of Moses; sin attracted death penalty under the law. (Hebrews 10:28). Stubbornness under the law also attracted death penalty (Deuteronomy 21:18-21). Also if a lady loses her virginity before marriage and the husband found out, she was stoned to death (Deuteronomy 22:13-21). A young man who gathered sticks on the Sabbath day was not exempted from death penalty (Numbers 15:32-36).

“He that despised Moses law died without mercy under two or three witnesses. And the commandment which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death” (Hebrews 10:28, Romans 7:14).

When David numbered Israel against God’s will, 70,000 Jews died within a short space of time. (2 Samuel 24). This is why Paul calls the Law, ministry of condemnation and death. (2 Corinthians 3:7-9).

3. The Law Made Nothing Perfect.

“For the law made nothing perfect but the bringing in of a better hope did by which we draw nigh unto God” (Hebrews 7:19).

If the law made nothing perfect for the Jews and it won't do any better for the church.

4. The Law Made No One Perfect.

“For the law having a shadow of good things to come and not the very image of the things can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect (as pertaining to the conscience)” (Hebrews 10:1).

See also Hebrews 9:9. What Paul is saying here is that the Old Covenant sacrifices couldn't remove the guilt of sin. So trying to obey the laws will never take away the guilt of sin. Only faith in the blood of Jesus will remove the guilt of sin.

“For if the blood of bulls and goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins” (Hebrews 9:13-14, 10:4).

5. The Law Could Not Give Life.
“Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid, FOR IF THERE HAD BEEN A LAW GIVEN WHICH COULD HAVE GIVEN LIFE, VERILY RIGHTEOUSNESS WOULD HAVE BEEN BY THE LAW. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh. And the commandment which was ordained to life I found to be unto death. For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof” (Galatians 3:21, Romans 8:3, 7:10, Hebrews 7:18).

6. The Law Came to Amplify Sin.

“What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay I had not known sin but by the law. For I had not known lust except the law had said THOU SHALL NOT COVET. But sin taking occasion by the commandment wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law, sin was dead” (Romans 7:7-.

7. The Law Could Not Give the Jews Ability to Live Above Sin.

“For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh. God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh. For that which I do I allow not, for what I would, that do I not but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. For I know that in me (that is in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing for to will is present in me but how to perform that which is good I find not” (Romans 8:3, 7:15-18).

8. Under the Law, the Jews Could Not Have Personal Fellowship with God or Approach Him.

“And the LORD said unto Moses. Go down; charge the people lest they break through unto the LORD to gaze and many of them perish. And let the priest also, which come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break forth upon them. And Moses said unto the LORD, the people cannot come up to Mount Sinai…” But into the second (most holy place) went the high priest ALONE once every year…” (Exodus 19:21-23, Hebrews 9:7).

“And they said unto Moses, speak thou with us, and we will hear, but let not God speak with us lest we die. And the people stood AFAR OFF and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was” (Exodus 20: 19, 21).

9. If You Break One Law, You Have Broken All the Laws.

“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all” (James 2:10).

There're over 600 laws the Jews had to obey. Deuteronomy 22:5 which most of our churches is using to bring confusion is just one of them. For instance, verse 9 of the same chapter says the Jews shouldn't' plant two different kind of crops on the same farm land. Also, verse 11 says they shouldn't' put on garment of mixed fabrics. How many of those trying to obey Deuteronomy 22:5 keep these other laws? If the New Testament Saints were to live by the Law of Moses, virtually everyone would have been guilty of breaking the law. None of us for instance keeps the law of Sabbath. Even those who worship on Sabbath days are not necessarily keeping it. No form of work was to be done on it. Not even cooking or clean-ups.

10. The Presence of the Law Brought Condemnation to the Gentiles.

The presence of the law implied condemnation for the Gentiles because they were excluded from the covenant. The law stood as a wall separating the Jews from the Gentiles. It also led to hostility between both races therefore creating enmity. (Ephesians 2:11-16).

Thank God this condemnation is taken away only in Christ;

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1).

The wall of separation between the Jews and the Gentiles brought by the law had been removed;

“For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace.” (Ephesians 2:14-15).

To be continued.

11. The Law was Faulty.

“For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. FOR FINDING FAULT WITH THEM, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.” (Hebrews 8:7-.

12. The Law Brought the Jews into Captivity to the Law of Sin.

“For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and BRINGING ME INTO CAPTIVITY TO THE LAW OF SIN which is in my members. (Romans 7:22-23).

13. The Law could not Justify Sinners.

“And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye COULD NOT BE JUSTIFIED BY THE LAW OF MOSES.” (Acts 13:39).

14. The Law Is Not of Faith.

You can’t claim any promise under the law by faith. You have to qualify for it by keeping them. Hence, it is written;

“And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.” (Galatians 3:12).

15. Under The Law of Moses, Sacrifices for Sins Had to Be Repeated Yearly.

“For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.” (Hebrews 10:1-4).

16. Sins Were Never Remitted Under the Law, They Were Atoned for. Atonement means to cover. Their sins were only covered. They were not remitted.

“For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.” (Leviticus 17:11).

17. The High Priest Under the Law Had Infirmities. They had to make sacrifices for their own sins first.

“Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.” (Hebrews 7:27-28).

18. The High Priest Under the Law Could Not Continue by Reason of Death.

“And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death.” (Hebrews 7:23).

19 The Law Was Only for The Jews.

“Much every way: chiefly, BECAUSE THAT UNTO THEM WERE COMMITTED THE ORACLES OF GOD.” (Romans 3:2).

Another verse reads;

“Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises.” (Romans 9:4).

20. The Glory Under the Law Fades Away.

“But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away” (2 Corinthians 3:7).

So on account of this shortcomings, Jesus had to come to their rescue. He died on the cross and ended the Law of Moses. In its place, instituted the New Testament which ushered in grace. Even before the New Testament was instituted, grace was gradually introduced in the earthly ministry of Jesus. This was evident in the pardon she gave the woman that was caught in very act of adultery – John 8:1-18. In addition, he performed most of the healings on Sabbath days which brought him under intense criticism by the religious leaders of their days – Matthew 12:1-12, John 9:16.

Scripture Evidences That Proves That the Law of Moses has been abolished.

Scriptures pointing to the end of the Law are too numerous to be ignored. We will look at some of them in this chapter;

“And by him all that believe are justified from all things, FROM WHICH YE COULD NOT BE JUSTIFIED BY THE LAW OF MOSES.” (Acts 13:39).

“For sin shall not have dominion over you: FOR YE ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW, BUT UNDER GRACE.” (Romans 6:14).

BUT NOW WE ARE DELIVERED FROM THE LAW, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.” (Romans 7:6).

“FOR CHRIST IS THE END OF THE LAW for righteousness to every one that believeth.” (Romans 10:4).

“CHRIST HATH REDEEMED US FROM THE CURSE OF THE LAW, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” (Galatians 3:13-14).

“But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, WE ARE NO LONGER UNDER A SCHOOLMASTER.” (Galatians 3:23-25).

“HAVING ABOLISHED in his flesh the enmity, EVEN THE LAW OF COMMANDMENTS contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace.” (Ephesians 2:15).

“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).

“For there is verily A DISANNULLING OF THE COMMANDMENT going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.” (Hebrews 7:18).

“For the priesthood being changed, THERE IS MADE OF NECESSITY A CHANGE ALSO OF THE LAW.” (Hebrews 7:12).

“And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.” (Hebrews 9:15).

“Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.” (Hebrews 10:9).

All these scriptures speak for themselves. It will only take a dishonest person to still argue that the law has not ended. Just as we have crooks in the society, we also have spiritual crooks in the church who will twist the scriptures to their own destruction.

The Dangers of Still Trying to Obey the Law of Moses.

1. You Must Be Ready to Be Judged by The Law.

“...AND AS MANY AS HAVE SINNED IN THE LAW SHALL BE JUDGED BY THE LAW. For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified” (Romans 2:12-13).

2. You Make Yourself a Transgressor.

For if I build again the things which I destroy, I make myself a transgressor” (Galatians 2:18).
Those still trying to obey Deuteronomy 22:5 are committing a grave sin (Galatians.2:17).

3. You Frustrate (Hinder) The Grace of God.
“I do not frustrate the grace of God, for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ died in vain. And if by grace, then it is not of works (law), otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works (law), then it is no more grace, otherwise work is no more work” (Galatians 2:21, Romans 11:6)

Every gift (blessing) we receive in this new dispensation comes through the vehicle of God's grace. So, if you insist on obeying the law, you cut yourself off from the blessings of God. Signs and wonders will be hindered from manifesting in your life and ministry the way they should because they operate by the grace of God through faith.

“Having then gift differing according to the grace...” (Romans 12:6).

“He therefore that ministereth to you in the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth it by the works of the law or by the hearing of faith?” (Galatians 3:5).

4. Christ Will Profit You Nothing.

“Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, CHRIST SHALL PROFIT YOU NOTHING.” (Galatians 5:2).

Christ here also represents the anointing. You'll not be able to put the anointing in you to work. You'll just be like a mere man having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof.

5. You Are Invariably Saying That Christ Died in Vain.

“I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” (Galatians 2:21).

If keeping the Law of Moses is what is needed to become righteous, there was no use Jesus dying. But the law couldn't produce righteousness hence the death of Jesus.

6. You'll Enslave Yourself Again.

You'll be indebted to keep the whole law. As it is written;

“For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that HE IS A DEBTOR TO DO THE WHOLE LAW.” (Galatians 5:3).

7. You'll Live Sin Conscious.

The law came to amplify sin. Just as Paul wrote;

“What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.” (Romans 7:7-9).

Adherents of the law are always conscious of sin because of the demands of the Law. They struggle through life trying to obey the laws given but end up breaking them because of the weakness of the flesh.

Thus, the Law of Moses makes you sin conscious. This is the reason so many believers are always asking for forgiveness even when they had done nothing wrong. Their first prayer point in any gathering is always asking for forgiveness. God wants us to be righteousness conscious. Righteousness consciousness gives you the ability to stand before God without any sense of guilt, condemnation or inferiority complex.

8. Living by The Law Will Blind Your Hearts and Your Minds to See Some Truths That Will Put You Over in Life.

The Jews who rejected Jesus as their Messiah and preferred to hold on to the Law of Moses are currently suffering from spiritual blindness;

For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that BLINDNESS IN PART IS HAPPENED TO ISRAEL, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. (Romans 11:25).

In addition, Apostle Paul remarked;

“But their minds were blinded for until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the Old Testament, which veil is done away in Christ” (2 Corinthians 3:14).

9. You'll Not Be Able to Reflect the Glory of God nor Enter into The Glory of His Presence.

The glory of the Old Testament fades away;

2 Corinthians 3:7-11
7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.
11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.
Transformation will only take place when you behold the glory of the Lord as unveiled in the New Testament. Hence, Paul wrote;

“But we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

10. Your Blessing Will Be Tied to Your Obedience to Keeping the Law.

Under the Law of Moses, you can't claim any of God's promises by faith. According to Deuteronomy 28:1-14, the blessings will only follow you if you keep all that is written in the law. That was the same thing God told Joshua in verse 8 of the First Chapter of the book of Joshua; he must observe to do according to all that is written in the book of the law before his ways can be prosperous. In the New Testament, your blessing is connected to your faith - according to your faith, be it unto you. So, it is not a function of obedience to the Law of Moses but your trust in His Word. Hence Paul said;

“But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, the JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH. And the law is not of faith: but, the man that doeth them shall live in them.” (Galatians 3:11-12)

11. You'll Bring Yourself Under a Curse.

“For as many as are of the works of the law (including Deuteronomy 22:5) are under the curse; for it is written, cursed is every one that does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them” (Galatians 3:10).

Paul was quoting Deuteronomy 27:26. The number of curses the Jews stood the risk of having for not keeping the law is listed in Deuteronomy 28:16-68, about four times the number of blessings (verse 1-14) in the same chapter.

12. You'll Not Be Justified Before God.

“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law, for by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified.” (Galatians 2:16).

Again Galatians 3:11 adds, “But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident for the just shall live by faith” In the sight of men your religious outfit might justify you but not before God who looks into the hearts. Nobody has a right to bring any charge against God's elect. It is God that justifies (Romans 8:33).

“Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday or of a new moon, or of the Sabbath days [or of Deuteronomy 22:5] Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances (laws). Touch not, taste not, handle not, (wear not), which are to perishwith the using after the commandments and doctrines of men” (Colossians 2:16,20-22).

The law is also referred to as the letter that kills;

“But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held, that we should serve in newness of the spirit and not in the oldness of the letter (law). For the letter (law) killeth but the spirit giveth life” (Romans 7:6, 2 Corinthians 3:6b).

Synonyms Used in Place of the Law of Moses

1. The Yoke of bondage – Galatians 5:1.
2. The Letter that kills – 2 Corinthians 3:6.
3. The Ministry of Death – 2 Corinthians 3:7.
4. The Ministry of Condemnation – 2 Corinthians 3:9.
5. Dead Works – Hebrews 9:14.
6. Weak and Beggarly Elements – Galatians 4:9.
7. Weak and unprofitable – Hebrews 7:18.
8. Carnal Commandments – Hebrews 7:16.
9. The Flesh – Galatians 3:3, Romans 8:1.
10. A School Master – Galatians 3:24.
11. The hand writing of ordinances – Colossians 2:14.
12. Oldness of the Letter – Romans 7:6.
13. The glory that is done away with – 2 Corinthians 3:7.
14. The enmity – Ephesians 2:16.
15. A Yoke – Acts 16:10.
16. Moses – 2 Corinthians 3:15.
17. The Law of Sin – Romans 7:25.
18. The Law of Commandments – Ephesians 2:15.
19. Middle Wall of Partition – Ephesians 2:14.
20. An Old Bottle – Matthew 9:17.
21. An Old Garment – Matthew 9:16.
22. An Oracle –Romans 3:2.

All the synonyms except five of them carry negative connotations which is a pointer to the fact that the law really had a negative effect on the Jews.

Why Do We Still Make Reference to The Old Testament If the Law Has Been Abolished?

1. Not All Content of the Old Testament Refers to The Law of Moses but It Does Contains it.

For instance, we have the Psalms of David which is not necessarily an injunction given to the Jews to live by. They are collections of songs. We also have the book of Proverbs and the Prophets. Besides, not all the contents of the five books of Moses that contains the Law directly refer to dos and don'ts. The law started with Moses in the wilderness. Abraham was not under the Law of Moses. So the Old Testament contains wealth of information that is still useful to us.

2. By Understanding God's Dealings with The Old Testament Saints, We Can Understand His Ways and His Acts.

For instance, it is clearly revealed that God judges sin in his dealings with the children of Israel under the Law of Moses. This is why the writer of Hebrews warned;

“He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?” (Hebrews 10:28-29).

Several miracles that took place under the Old Testament reveals that acts of God. The ten plagues that God brought upon the Egyptians, the parting of the red sea and the manna that fell down from heaven are just a few examples of the acts of God that should strengthen our faith in him.

3.There're Also Several Lessons We Can Learn from Great Heroes of Faith and The Exploits They Did.

Men like King David, Samson, Elijah, just to mention a few did great exploit for God. And such exploits are pointer to the fact that we too can do the same things and even greater works. Just as James wrote;

“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. (James 5:16-18).

I keyed into this scripture and stopped rain from falling on Sunday mornings till 2:00 pm for five and a half years in a church I pastored in a rural community few years back. The rain only started falling again when we broke our part of the agreement we made with God which was consistent soul winning activities every week. We had to enter into this agreement because rain on one Sunday morning prevented most of the souls we won during the week from attending church service that day.

4. The Old Testament Also Contains Some Statements of Facts Which Have Not Changed Even Though the Law Has Ended.

For instance, a statement like “…for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. (Leviticus 17:11)” has not changed in principle but cleansing in the New Testament is obtained by a better sacrifice; the precious blood of Jesus. The scriptures below attest to this truth;

“But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” (Hebrews 9:11-12).

“And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. (Hebrews 9:22).

5. Several Promises in The Old Testament Are Still Relevant to Us.

But the good news is this; the New Testament has better promises. For instance, the Old Testament promised the Jews divine healing but in the New Testament, we're not only recipient of divine healing but we can also minister healings to others. Hence, the writer of Hebrews wrote;

“But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.” (Hebrews 8:6)

6. The Fulfillment of Lots of Prophecies in The Old Testament in Our Days Has Helped to Strengthen Our Faith in The Word of God.

If we didn't have the Old Testament to make reference to, we'll not have a basis for most of our claims and the skeptics will have a right to contest them.

Moses and most of the Prophets of the Old Testament prophesied about the coming of Christ and they were fulfilled as it was written. However, space will not permit us to mention most of the fulfilled prophecies here.

We should however know where to draw the line between the Old Testament and the New. Any revelation in the former that is not consistent with that of the latter must be discarded. For example, Exodus 22:18 says, “thou shall not suffer a witch to live.” A lot of Christians have erroneously used this scripture to pray 'fall and die' prayer against their enemies. But in the New Testament, we are told to cast out devils and not to kill witches. We deal with the spirits and not the person.

“For we Wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12).

A good illustration was when Apostle Paul cast out the devil in a young lady that was possessed with the spirit of divination (Acts 16:16-18). Paul did not kill the young lady even though she was as good as a witch.

Our Lord Jesus also taught us about the new way of life we should follow in Matthew 5:33-48. He taught us not to swear anymore, not to retaliate and to bless our enemies. These teachings which are hinged on love are the foundation for true Christian living.