Are We Obligated To Obey The Principles of The Old Testament?

Yes [with clarification below].

A principle is an "an adopted rule or method for application in action" according to www.dictionary.com . There are several verses that we can appeal to that show that we are to still follow the adopted rules or methods for application in action from the Old Testament, but not the specific details themselves [Please see our Q&A: "Are We Obligated To Obey The Specific Details of The Old Testament?"]:

  1. 2 Timothy 3:16, 17 - These verses teach that all Scripture [which is primarily speaking of the Old Testament] is all-sufficient for every good work.
  2. Romans 15:4 - We are to learn from the Old Testament for our patience and comfort so that we might have hope.
  3. 1 Corinthians 10:1-11 - We are to learn from the nation of Israel who walked through the wilderness to not allow fornication, idolatry, grumbling, or complaining be a part of our walk of life as a Christian.
  4. Jude 5 - We are to learn from the examples of disobedience and rebellion in the Old Testament such as the nation of Israel in the wilderness, the fallen angels, and Sodom and Gomorrah.
  5. Jude 11 - We are to learn not to go in the way of Cain in religion, be greedy and covetous like Balaam, or be like the rebellion of Korah.
  6. Romans 4:20,21 - We are to display a likeness of the faith of Abraham in our walk as a Christian.
  7. Hebrews 11 - We are to imitate the examples of faith in the "Faith Hall of Fame" here.
  8. Leviticus 10:1,2 - We are to not offer unto God that which He did not command as Nadab and Abihu did.
  9. 1 Samuel 15 - We are to show complete and full obedience, not partial obedience as Saul did.
  10. Matthew 19:4-6 - We are to honor the principle of God-joined marriages as set out in Genesis 2:24 (not homosexual "marriage" or polygamous "marriages", etc.
  11. 1 Corinthians 14:34; 1 Timothy 2:11-14 - We are to honor the principle of the God-given roles of male and female as set out in Genesis 2:18, 22; 3:16.
  12. 1 Timothy 2:9-10 - We are to honor the principle of God's modesty standard as set out by God in the garden in Genesis 3:21 (in contrast to man's subjective and inadequate standards, Genesis 3:7) as we seek God's definition of true modesty and modest clothing.
  13. Matthew 19:9; 1 Corinthians 5:1; 6:18; Jude 1:7 - We are to honor the principle of abstaining from fornication (translated in the New King James as "sexual immorality") as vividly defined by God in Leviticus 18:6-23.

There are many more verses in the Old Testament that contain principles, but these are sufficient in answering an affirmative to this question.

 

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Old Covenant, Old TestamentJoey Ferrell