22 When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”
Christians often ask, “Do we need to keep the Old Testament Laws?” And the answer is a simple, “NO!” All the laws of the Old Testament are fulfilled in Jesus. They were all types and shadows. Jesus is the reality that cast the shadows. Until His death and Resurrection, these laws were followed, even by Jesus’ parents. Jesus observed the feasts and festivals of Judaism throughout His life. But once the Resurrection happens, keeping the Law is just a cultural accommodation for those who lived under the Law. The non-Jews are never told to keep laws in order to be right with God. In the book of Acts we see the Apostles making accommodation for the Jews by telling the Gentiles to avoid things offered to idols, meat with its blood in it, and … But what happened to all the other laws? Why were they not told to “Look it up in the Old Testament and follow them all?” That is because they knew they were already fulfilled. It would be like going to the bank and paying off your loan. And then going back day after day and trying to pay off the loan again. Once the loan has been paid off, there is no need to go again and again to pay it off. There is nothing to be paid off. Our whole obligation has been satisfied. Our banknote before God is stamped “Paid in Full!” Notice that Mary and Joseph take Jesus to the Temple as a fulfillment of the Scriptures. They are doing what any good Jew of their day would do. They are presenting the reminder of sin on behalf of themselves and Jesus. After Jesus died all the sacrifices were fulfilled. There was not more need for blood. Jesus paid the full price for sin. There is no other way for sins to be forgiven, or for an individual to remain in fellowship with God. Trusting Jesus is how we start our walk and how we end our walk, and how we take every step in between. Walk by faith today. Don’t try and earn God’s favor, just enjoy the favor that Jesus already obtained for you.
The Arnold Journey 