Do you understand new covenant?
Although Jesus died to replace the ministry of the 10 commandments with the ministry of the Holy Spirit (2 Cor 3:7-11); some churches have based their identity upon keeping the ten commandments.

Even among those who have ventured to become New Testament compliant, if you asked them about the observance of the Law, the generic answer is… we are not perfect but we try to do our best to be obedient to God and keep all his commandments

As logical and sincere this notion sounds, it is incorrect and is not what the Bible teaches

Didn’t Jesus teach us that we should keep the ten commandments?
This is a common question but reveals the person does not understand the new covenant. The cross marks the point in time when the old covenant was replaced by the new covenant, ie- ministry of the ten commandments was replaced by the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

The new covenant did not begin in the book of Mathew but on the cross as the blood of Jesus was the payment for the new covenant between God and God whereby we are the beneficiaries.

Israel had to keep the law because the ten commandments were the requirements of the old covenant (Ex 34:28) they made with God which they broke continuously and incurred all the curses of the law.

The new covenant was made between God the Father and God the Son and we are the beneficiaries, therefore, the responsibility to keep the new covenant rests solely with God irrespective of our behavior or inability to keep the ten commandments.

So what’s the difference?
I am glad you asked.

Under the new covenant, we have one commandment (1 John 3:23) to love one another, and if we fail as we will, there are no curses or separation from God (Rom 8:31-39).

Learning to love is like a babe learning to walk, in the beginning we often fall but after a while and with a lot of help from Jesus, He will complete what He promised to fulfil in us (Phil 1:6).

A key litmus test of your understanding the New testament, which is indeed a classification of persons (membership) in a location Church. Under the Old, the Jewish temple had person classified and segments of the Temple designated. There was a graduated sanctity in the Tabernacle and in the Temple. In the Temple any one might go into the Outer Court or Court of the Gentiles;

Only Jews could go into the Second Court; 

Only men could go  into the Third;

And only priests in their robes into the Holy Place; 

and finally only the High Priest into the inmost shrine.

Because of Christ, all segmentation and classification is abolished. All the redeemed are not just one, but are one with Christ. 

Heb 2:11″For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,”
And all are now priests unto God having access individually and collectively unto God.

Rev 1:6″ Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.”

Therefore anything that bears a semblance of classification , segmentation or categorization of persons in the New testament Church, be it in apparels, seating arrangement, choosing of Elders/ Deacons etc is anathema, and should be discarded.

Conclusion:
Gal 2:18 “For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor”.

– Nich Mbaezue PhD