Book 3

Winner of the Best Christian Biblical Book of the year 2008 award given by Christianstoryteller.com

“LAWFUL OR LEGALISTIC: How New Testament Believers Must Understand Old Testament Laws” by William P. (Bill) Nugent, an award winning author and Bible teacher. Published by Xulon Press, Longwood, Florida USA.

This book shows from the Bible that we must keep the Old Testament Law by the Spirit in New Testament fullness and not in a literal (type and shadow - Colossians 2:17) sense. We must serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter (Romans 7:6). Lawlessness is not promoted at all by this book. We do in fact keep the Law in spiritual fulfillment in Christ yet not in a literal sense. That is a difficult distinction to make but this book makes it clear.

In this book I've made an effort to be charitable to those who take a different position on how to understand the Old Testament laws. I'm aware that many Messianic Jews and Seventh Day Adventists believe that they are obligated to observe the Sabbath and dietary laws and other Old Testament commands in a literal sense. I've been fellowshipping with Messianic Jews and Seventh Day Adventists for decades and I regard them as precious fellow believers. I've been to many Messianic Jewish conferences including the annual Messiah conference in Grantham Pennsylvania. There is an in-house debate over Torah observance and it is generally conducted on the highest level of civility. It is my prayer that my book, Lawful or Legalistic, will shed more light on this important issue.

You can order this book in paperback from xulonpress.com by clicking on the link at the bottom of this page which will take you right to the order page at xulonpress.com.

Chapter 1:

THE TEACHINGS AND LIFE EXAMPLES OF THE APOSTLES REGARDING THE LAW
The whole concept of covenant and covenant law is defined. The New Testament apostolic teaching on the Abrahamic and Sinaitic covenants is explained as a foundation for the central premise of the book. The fact that we fulfill the Law by walking in the Spirit is shown. Voluntary keeping of the literal Law of Moses is permitted but not biblically required. The apostles’ teachings in the epistles are studied in the context of their godly lifestyles which are recorded in the book of Acts. It is important to understand the lifestyle and cultural context of the apostles' teachings. The emphasis in this chapter is why we must walk in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.

Chapter 2:

THE NEW WINESKIN INSTEAD OF THE OLD
Specific examples of literal Mosaic laws (Sabbath, dietary laws etc.) are given in order to show how these laws find fulfillment in Christ. The emphasis in this chapter is on how to walk in the Spirit to keep the law in substance rather than shadow.

Chapter 3:

WILL ANIMAL SACRIFICES BE OFFERED IN A MILLENIAL TEMPLE?
The eschatological question as to whether or not animal sacrifices will be offered in a stone temple during the millennium is dealt with here. This chapter explains why a reinstitution of the animal sacrifice system is not at all intended by the prophetic passages often cited to make this claim. A correct understanding of the prophetic passages is given.

Chapter 4:

ARE GENTILES UNDER THE COMMANDS OF NOAH?
There are some teachers who put Jewish believers under the literal Law of Moses who also attempt to put Gentiles under a separate legal system based on the Noahide covenant of Genesis nine. This chapter explains that Gentiles are free from this obligation because the commands given to Noah also find their fulfillment in Christ. Each of the commands of Acts 15:29 (alleged to be derived from Noah) are analyzed in depth.

Chapter 5:

THE LAW OF MESSIAH
We are under grace and not under law yet the New Testament is full of commands. This chapter analyzes the commands Jesus gave in the Sermon on the Mount and the commands given through the apostles in the epistles and explains how we are to understand and obey them. Specific examples of how the apostles understood and obeyed these commands are given. Examples from modern day life are also given to shed light on how we must walk by the Spirit to obey New Testament commands.

To order a copy of the award winning paperback Lawful or Legalistic: How New Testament Believers Must Understand Old Testament Laws just click on the link to go to the order page at xulonpress.com