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They are to be "a statute forever."
"It shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations." Leviticus 23:14, 21, 31
They no longer apply.
"We are delivered from the law, that being dead." Romans 7:6
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Explanation:
Paul in Romans is speaking of being delivered from our servitude to the Law, seeing that we have a new master: Jesus Christ.
Living a life for Jesus incorporates the same laws, but we are no longer under the yoke of the Law.
Nevertheless, the ceremonial laws have ceased. How can this be possible since they were a “statute for ever”?
The key is to look at “generations”. The old generations of Israel’s families have been superceded by
a new generation in Jesus Christ. Through His death on the cross, Jesus became the perfect, unblemished sacrificial lamb.
Daniel the prophet predicted that the rituals would cease at the time of the arrival of the Savior, or Messiah. (Daniel 9:24-27).
The ceremonial laws have now ceased due to the fact that the Kingdom is spiritual through Christ, and old, temporal, earthly
kingdom has passed away.
Yet, it is possible that we may see another temporary observation of ceremonial law in the 1000-year reign of Christ. But
the righteousness of Christ produced a perfect sacrifice through Himself, so there is no need for us to continue offering
imperfect sacrifices while living here on this earth.
As Jesus said, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am come not to destroy, but to fulfil.”
(Matthew 5:17)
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