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Hi,
I came across a person who was trying to discredit the Bible by raising the question why Christians don't follow or enforce many of the laws that we read in the OT (especially punishing by death of laws which are broken). In Leviticus, I saw many examples which states death as punishment for breaking of certain laws. So how do we explain why we aren't following this practice today because as most of us know, many people will counter by saying, "So you only follow parts of the Bible like the NT and choose to ignore the OT? I thought the whole Bible was inspired by God, so why then are only certain parts relevant for practice today and some are not?"
How would you able to tackle such a question?

I would explain to them that we are under the dispensation of grace. Christ fulfilled the law, which man could not, and that the law was in place to prove to man he could not keep the law. Now Christ as our propitiation comes between us and the law therefore we are under grace. However, according to Augustine and later Calvin, a government can use the "sword" in some cases to enforce the law.

The OT law was given to Israel as the nation was about to create a governmental theocracy. These rules and regulations were created under that circumstance and not the current condition of modern Christians. Some Christians hold that the OT law is obsolete. I would disagree with them. However, some parts of the law have been specifically abrogated. For instance the practice of circumcision.
I must agree with Sproul:

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Blessings,
Randy
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Gatherng wood on the sabbath was punishable by death (Numbers 15:32-36).

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Some say Jesus was not a pacifist...

"Put your sword back in its place," Jesus said to him, "for all who draw the sword will die by the sword."
Matthew 26:52 (NIV)

For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.
Galatians 5:14

Hello waslostnowfound, and welcome to the forum!

How we should interpret and apply the OT Law today is a question of hermeneutics. When I attended Bible college many years ago, I was taught that the "moral" laws of the OT still applied today but that the "civil" and "ceremonial" laws were fulfilled by Christ. But that's not a very satisfactory answer to the question. After all, Christ fulfilled the "moral" laws just as surely as he fulfilled the "civil" and "ceremonial." And we don't apply the punishments associated with the "moral" laws any more than we do the others. Moreover, the distinction between "moral" laws and "civil" and "ceremonial" laws has no basis in Scripture.

One day, as I was using the NET Bible Study Environment, I read Dr. Thomas Constable's notes on a particular passage and noted his recommendation of an essay on the subject written by J. Daniel Hays and published in the January 2001 issue of Bibliotheca Sacra: "Applying the Old Testament Law Today". Dr. Constable said it was a very helpful essay and I certainly agree with him. Check it out. I think you'll agree as well.

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"The person who has my commandments and obeys them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and will reveal myself to him." (John 14:21)

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i believe Jews must still keep the law but Gentiles are free from some parts of God's Law. look at Acts 15 and
Acts 21

21 They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or live according to our customs. 22 What shall we do? They will certainly hear that you have come, 23 so do what we tell you. There are four men with us who have made a vow. 24 Take these men, join in their purification rites and pay their expenses, so that they can have their heads shaved. Then everyone will know there is no truth in these reports about you, but that you yourself are living in obedience to the law. 25 As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they should abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality.”

my take on the law is that it is God's Law firstly then it is Moshe's Law , if i can keep this laws that are not for me for example Jewish Shabbas im free to do it or circumcision if i want to Evangelise Jews seriously it is your freedom to do that and i believe blessings will follow . But there is danger of pride right there with me so im must be careful with it as Apostle Paul says when we use God's Law rightly it is holy and good but when we abuse it , it is pure legalism and it is completely wrong.!!!!!

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Hear, O Israel: The Lord our G-d, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your G-d with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

There were some OT laws which were still effectually exist in NT laws and with our constitutional laws. Leviticus 18:6-16 & 1 Cor 5:1 about incest sexual immorality against near of kin to him especially if done forcefully , and is punishable with death penalty.
There also OT laws which was punishable by death not only by physical death but with second death or spiritual death. 2 Chronicles 15:13 That whosoever would not seek the LORD God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.
Exodus 21:17 & Matthew 15:4 And he that curseth his father and or his mother, shall surely be put to death; this is in contrast to Ephesians 6:1-3 honour thy father and mother which is first commandment with promise.

All scripture are NKJV unless otherwise is indicated.

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How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace, that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation, that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! Isaiah 52:7

I want to thank everyone who replied. I was able to get a better understanding about this topic through your answers. May God bless all of you and continue to use each of us to teach and edify each other.

how about psalm 103:15-18

15 The life of mortals is like grass,
they flourish like a flowere of the field;
16 the wind blowsf over it and it is gone,
and its placeg remembers it no more.
17 But from everlasting to everlasting
the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children’s childrenh—
18 with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.

The Holy Bible: The New International Version. 2011 (Ps 103:18).
to understand God's Law i think first we need to understand what is the new covenant!!! and what is the commandment or precept.
most easiest example of the covenant is the deal between traders they sign paper and agree what both parties will do so the bullet points on the paper mean the commandments that God dictates we must obey it to get the deal. so we must keep our side of the deal!!! keep the covenant and his commandments John 14:15

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Hear, O Israel: The Lord our G-d, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your G-d with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.