Which commandments are we required to keep?In total, there are some 613 Old Testament commandments and 1,050 New Testament commandments throughout the Bible, with some being applicable to new covenant Christians and others no longer. In essence, Christians today are no longer required to keep the ceremonial laws given through Moses, which were fulfilled by Christ; however, everything else outside of this, both Old and New Testament, still applies. Among those that still apply to Christians today are the Ten Commandments, the many commandments of Christ, and the commandments dictated by the various New Testament Apostles and Prophets.
When God delivered the children of Israel from Egyptian bondage, He also delivered to them the Ten Commandments in magnificent fiery majesty. This Law of eternal duration was spoken by God, written by God, recorded on tablets of stone, and stored on the inside of the Ark under the mercy seat. Shortly after, the temporary ceremonial law (the law of Moses) was also delivered to Israel. It was written by Moses, recorded on parchment (paper), and stored on the outside of the Ark. This law dealt with the ceremonial rites of the Jewish sanctuary service that passed away at Christ's sacrificial death on the stake. The law of Moses can easily be identified in Scripture as it talks about sacrifices, offerings, purifications, holy days, circumcision (a religious Jewish rite), and other rites associated with the Hebrew sanctuary service.
But I implore you not to take my word for it, but to come to your own convictions. “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15 ESV)
