Being a Christian do you follow everything in the old testament literally?

In my church we follow what new testment says. The elder of my church told us that the old testment is for learning for what happened back then and that we follow the Gospel in the new testament to bring us hope. From what I understand from the sermons and Sunday school lessons, Jesus became the new covenant between us and God. Now this is just what I remember and there is more but it is not coming to my head right at this moment.

It is what many Christian churches claim. They have 'grace' and no laws to be followed. Does acts 15:28 specifically says that Mosaic Law is no longer to be followed? Then why the Bible is bundled with OT? Have you read in Bible, where Jesus directly says in Gospel:- Mathew 5:17-20 17.Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.18For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Acts:2:22: Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Bible says to follow OT as well, but Churches says opposite, as usual. Peace.

There's only one source of goodness in all the universe and beyond, and it is not within ourselves (our human nature). To believe goodness can proceed from myself would be a fatal flaw. Which is what I would be thinking if I felt following God's (perfect and wonderful) law(s) would save me (from imperfection and its result, the opposite of Life). Jesus gave us a new law. Love God. If we love God we will draw near (and ever nearer) to Him. He rubs off on us! And He is the only source of goodness and the only source of transformation. Nothing else works. Only grace works and to mix law with grace is to make it no longer grace, and it's not a gift, but something we may be tempted to think we earned! Wrong! Salvation is a free, undeserved gift. There will be no boasting unless it is boasting about Him and His Perfection, etc. The Old Man cannot follow the New Law of Love. Paul wrote "the law" is a tutor (babysitter!) for the old man. Once we are born again and become a new creature/creation in Jesus and being filled with God, love is the law, and love does no harm. The new man doesn't need to remind hiom or her self every morning, I will not kill, cheat, rob today...

Hello EvanHunter, i 'm not a Christian myself, but I find that you have raised a good question here, and I'll give my Opinion according my Islamic Point of View. The Old testament is mainly for the Children of Israel, not saying the Jews for it is known that the Jews are only the tribe of Judas, one of the 12 tribes of the Children of Israel, Moses PBUH was sent to the Children of Israel, Not only for the Jews as some people used to think. Jesus Christ was also sent Only to ( the lost sheep of the house of Israel ) as He said about Himself in: Matthew 15:24 and the Holy Quran 3:49 The Old testament of the Bible contains things which are special to the Children of Israel, such as; the burnt offerings and the Sabbath, It also contains somethings that are valid for All as you already mentioned in your post, Such as; honoring your parents and not committing murder, etc. now, coming to your important Question, If the Law is applicable, What is the Use of the New covenant started by Jesus ? and if Jesus created a new covenant, What is the use of The law ? the Christ Jesus didn't totally abolish the Law as mentioned in Matthew 5:18-19 and in the rest of Matthew 5 Jesus commanded to Follow the Law except the Sabbath and the burnt offerings, He PBUH approved All Parts of The Law which is Valid for anyone, but He said no single word regarding things that are Special to the Children of Israel, including the Sabbath and the burnt offerings. read John 5:17-18 and John 9:16 and The Holy Quran 3:42-51 and Pay a good attention to the Verse 3:50 in The Holy Quran When Jesus said to Them: And (I come) confirming that which was before me of the Torah, and to make lawful some of that which was forbidden unto you. I come unto you with a sign from your Lord, so keep your duty to Allah and obey me. Those Who say That Jesus started a new covenant and totally abolished the Law are following Paul not Jesus, If you Follow the Jewish tradition you will have to Follow All the The Law including the Sabbath and the burnt offerings, and If you Follow Pauls Dogma ( called the new Covenant ) You will have to do Nothing, after believing Paul's Dogma of being justified merely by faith in Jesus, Making All the Law usless, contradicting the teachings of Jesus Christ, Jesus didn't call people to worship him, Neither He called his followers Christians, They were Called Christians after Jesus and by Paul ( Acts 11:26 ) Also Jesus didn't abolish the Law totally. Now to answer your Question, The Jews Follow the Law ardently, and Christians believed that they are under new covenant, making the Law useless, so What to do ? to answer your Question it is The Middle straight path as mentioned in the Holy Quran: [002:143] [i]Thus We have appointed you a middle nation, that ye may be witnesses against mankind, and that the messenger may be a witness against you. And We appointed the qiblah which ye formerly observed only that We might know him who followeth the messenger, from him who turneth on his heels. In truth it was a hard (test) save for those whom Allah guided. But it was not Allah's purpose that your faith should be in vain, for Allah is Full of Pity, Merciful toward mankind. [/i] in The Holy Quran Chapter 2 contains 286 Verse 286 divided by 2 = 143 The same verse Number above is 143, in the Middle of the Chapter and talking about a middle nation, Wow Best Regards

I just read a book called "The Shack" By Wm. Paul Young that offers a different perspective on god. The book is very enteresting and has changed a few of my thoughts on how we spend our time here on earth. I have been a christian all my life and believe in god. There is a part in the book that might answer your question about why we needed Christ.