When an individual is introduced to the Bible, they are immediately faced with two major divisions: The "Old Testament," containing the Law of Moses, the Psalms and the Prophets, (Luke 24:44) and the "New Testament," containing the Gospels, Acts of the Apostles and various letters sent to a number of churches, and/or Christians.

The various writings often gender questions concerning what is intended for the godly in our day and age. For instance, if the Law of Moses is the "Old Testament," what benefit does it have? We often hear of some reference made to the Ten Commandments, as a body of laws given by God and binding upon humanity. One of the Apostles of Jesus Christ, Paul by name, revealed "Ye are severed from Christ, ye who would be justified by the law; ye are fallen away from grace" (Galatians 5:4). In Romans 7:1-11, Paul uses the analogy of the marriage relationship to reveal the binding and loosing of the law. He revealed, "Or are ye ignorant, brethren (for I speak to men who know the law), that the law hath dominion over a man for so long time as he liveth? For the woman that hath a husband is bound by law to the husband while he liveth; but if the husband die, she is discharged from the law of the husband. So then if, while the husband liveth, she be joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if the husband die, she is free from the law, so that she is no adulteress, though she be joined to another man. Wherefore, my brethren, ye also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ; that ye should be joined to another, even to him who was raised from the dead, that we might bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were through the law, wrought in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we have been discharged from the law, having died to that wherein we were held; so that we serve in newness of the spirit, and not in oldness of the letter." Therefore, the question arises, "If our era is dead to the law, what benefit does it serve?"

There is much benefit to be derived from the Old Testament, though it is not in force as a body of laws to be observed. An analogy can be seen in the fact that the citizens of one state are not bound by the laws of another state, though both states may contain the same laws concerning the same set of issues. Individuals who live in Nevada cannot appeal to some other state’s laws for justification in action. In a court of law, an attorney may refer to another state’s laws in regard to verdicts that have been rendered in those states, concerning similar laws. So it is with the Old and New Testament. The Old Testament tells us many things about Jehovah, His attitude toward certain ethical questions and gives us hope for the road set before us. Paul revealed three important characteristics of the Old law: 1. "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that through patience and through comfort of the scriptures we might have hope" (Romans 15:4). 2. "For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual food; and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them: and the rock was Christ. Howbeit with most of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us make trial of the Lord, as some of them made trial, and perished by the serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them murmured, and perished by the destroyer. Now these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come (emph. mine, ret). Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall" (1 Corinthians 10:1-12). 3. "But before faith came, we were kept in ward under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. So that the law is become our tutor to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith is come, we are no longer under a tutor. For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ. There can be neither Jew nor Greek, there can be neither bond nor free, there can be no male and female; for ye all are one man in Christ Jesus. And if ye are Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, heirs according to promise." (Galatians 3:23-29).

It is evident that the law, although not a body of laws to be observed in our era, is necessary to bringing us to Christ, revealing to us ethical standards acceptable to and punishable by God, and "that through patience and comfort of the scriptures" we might have hope.