Did Jewish Law As A Means Of Salvation End When Jesus Fulfilled The Law?
When it comes to the question of whether or not Jewish law as a means of salvation ended when Jesus fulfilled the law, there are a few things to consider. On one hand, it could be argued that Jewish law no longer has any bearing on salvation since Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of the law. On the other hand, it could be argued that Jewish law is still relevant since it was given by God and contains important truths about how to live a good life. So, what is the answer? Did Jewish law as a means of salvation end when Jesus fulfilled the law?
What is the Jewish Law?
It is often said that Christianity superseded Judaism when Jesus came to fulfill the Law. While it is true that Christianity does bring a new covenant with different laws, it would be inaccurate to say that Judaism ended at the cross. Rather, Christianity built upon the already existing framework of Jewish law.
The core of Jewish law is the Torah, which contains God’s revealed commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai. These laws govern every area of life, from personal hygiene to criminal justice. The Talmud is a record of the oral tradition that interprets and expands upon the Torah.
While some Christian groups do follow parts of Jewish law, such as kosher dietary restrictions, most do not view it as binding. For Christians, salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the Law. However, Christians can still learn from and be inspired by Jewish law.
What is salvation?
Salvation is a religious concept that is often spoken about in terms of being saved from sin or damnation. In Christianity, salvation is the belief that through Christ’s death and resurrection, humans can be forgiven and have eternal life. For Jews, salvation has a different focus.
The Hebrew word for salvation is ישועה (yeshu’ah), which comes from the root י-ש-ע (y-sh-a), meaning “to deliver, save, or rescue.” Therefore, Jewish salvation has always been about being saved from physical harm or danger. This could be seen in the way that God delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt or how He saved them from their enemies time and again.
In recent years, however, there has been a shift in focus when it comes to Jewish salvation. While rescue from physical danger is still important, there is now an emphasis on spiritual deliverance as well. This includes things like being saved from addiction, depression, and other internal struggles.
There are a variety of ways that Jews can achieve salvation, both individually and collectively. Some of these include studying Torah, observing the mitzvot (commandments), and doing acts of loving kindness. Ultimately, though, it is not works but faith in Jesus which brings about salvation.
How did Jesus fulfill the Law?
The question of whether or not the Jewish Law ended when Jesus came is a difficult one to answer. On the one hand, it is clear that Jesus did away with many of the ceremonial aspects of the Law. He also made it clear that salvation was available to Gentiles as well as Jews. However, on the other hand, there are many verses in the New Testament that seem to indicate that the Law is still binding on Christians.
So what are we to make of all this? It seems that the best way to understand it is to see Jesus as fulfilling the Law in two ways. First, He fulfilled the moral requirements of the Law. This means that He kept every commandment perfectly and thus showed us what it really means to live according to God’s will. Second, He also fulfilled the ceremonial requirements of the Law. This means that He became our final sacrifice for sin, thus making it unnecessary for us to offer any more sacrifices.
In summary, then, we can say that Jesus both fulfilled and ended the Jewish Law as a means of salvation. He did away with the need for sacrificial offerings by becoming our final sacrifice. And He showed us what it truly means to live according to God’s will by living a perfect life Himself.
What does this mean for Jewish Law today?
When Jesus died on the cross, he effectively put an end to the Old Testament system of law and sacrifice. For Jews living today, this means that there is no longer a need to follow the law in order to be saved. Instead, salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ alone.
Still, many Jews do not accept Jesus and are still waiting for a “Messiah” and so they continue to practice their religion and observe the laws out of a sense of tradition and identity. And while the law is not required for salvation, it can still be seen as a guide for living a moral and just life.
Conclusion
The question of whether or not Jewish law as a means of salvation ended when Jesus fulfilled the law is a difficult one to answer. There are many interpretations of what happened when Jesus came on the scene and whether or not his actions superseded the existing laws. What we do know is that Jesus was a radical figure who challenged many aspects of traditional Judaism, including the idea that salvation could only be achieved through following the law.
