Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 11/25/2008

Question
Hey there, I've been a christian for most of my life now,
and I have a friend who is Anglican, which i am not, and he follows strict christian rules.

thus, not eating pork, not shopping on sundays, no gambling for fun, etc.

however, isnt it true that when Jesus died for our sins, the curtain in the covenant that separated from God's presensence and humans have been ripped in half? Thus, we're no longer bound by rules and regulations, but by the blood of Christ we are free?

free - doesnt mean like doing sin, having premarital sex, adultry, but free as in, In Christ, just as long as you believe him as saviour and Lord, you are a free being?


thakns

Answer
Hi Bobby

Thanks for this great question.  YOu are right that ceremonial laws were nailed to the cross and we are no longer bound by them.  Moral laws still apply.  Here is a list of the ceremonial laws that were nailed to the cross:

Colossians 2:14-16
14 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; 15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.  
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:   
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

1.  Meat - dietary laws were nailed to the cross.
2. Holy Days - those Jewish feast days were nailed to the cross.
3.  Sabbath Days - not working on the Sabbath was nailed to the cross, along with all the Levitical ceremonial laws.

If your friend is doing these things because he loves Jesus... let him go.  He is doing more than he needs to but he is doing it out of love.  Let him be pursuaded in his own mind how he wants to serve God.

Romans 14:5-6
5 One man esteemeth one day above another:  another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.  6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.  
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

I hope that this helps you.

In Christ
Pastor Don