The Old Testament vs the New Testament is the contrast between the letter of the law and the spirit of the law,
Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Galatians 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
Neither Old nor New, neither was or is justified by the works of the law.
Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Psalms 143:2 And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.
In the OT, the law was supposed to be kept, not to establish self-righteousness but out of faith toward God.
Romans 9:31-32 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. 32Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
In the OT there was no eternal salvation as Christ had not atoned for sin, so the indwelling of the Holy Spirit could not happen. They could have their sins forgiven, but had to wait in Abraham’s bosom for them to be paid for.
John 7:38-39 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
We, as those that have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ, that was the virgin-born Son of God, that he died for our sins, was buried, and rose again, are given instructions on how to live in the form of two precepts: love God and love others as yourself, which are the underpinnings and reflect the nature of the law given to Israel. There is no need for the letter of the law; we are to apply the two precepts.
Mark 12:30-31 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 31And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
In addition, instructions are given in the NT to guide us in what is pleasing to the Lord.
Christians are neither Jew nor Gentile but new creatures under a new covenant.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Ephesians 2:14-15 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
Ephesians 2:18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
We do not serve God by being in bondage to the letter of the law, but we serve in and shall be judged by the law of liberty.
Romans 7:6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
Colossians 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Acts 15 is where we learn that it is wrong to say Christians have to keep the letter of the law.
Acts 15:1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
Acts 15:5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
Acts 15:10-11 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
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