TorahKeeper, you accept the New Testament, right? The abolition of circumcision as a requirement for believers is a major event in New Testament history. We believe that the Law was given to the people so that they would become aware of their sin (Romans 3:20) and of the necessity for a blood sacrifice to cover that sin (Hebrews 9:6-10).
In fact, that Hebrews reference is so clear I'll post it in greater length (6-15).
When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing. This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order.
When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!
For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.
As I see it, all of the ceremonial laws regarding uncleaness, whether from touching a dead animal, eating unclean meat, sitting where a menstruating woman had sat--all of that was just to illustrate to the people the importance of being separate from the world and also the impossibility of remaining clean by their own efforts. Ultimately they all needed a sacrifice.
The ceremonial uncleaness and the sacrifical system required to purge it were a type of what was to come. That was Jesus, who became both High Priest and sacrifice for us in the Most Holy never seen by human eyes.
Hebrews 10:11-25
Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.
The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says:
"This is the covenant I will make with them
after that time, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds."
Then he adds:
"Their sins and lawless acts
I will remember no more."
And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin. Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Jesus made the final sacrifice that is forever sufficient to cover all of our sins. Trying to follow the ceremonial Law at this point would be like running through the dress rehearsal after the last curtain call.
There are still parts of the Law that are in effect today. The parts governing morality are still in effect. However, I don't think that the distinction between the clean and unclean animals is based on this type of morality. I think the separation of clean and unclean was more to illustrate the way that the Chosen People had been separated from the world. Evidence of this is found in Paul's vision in Acts 10. There the unclean animals that he is told to eat are symbolic of the Gentiles. The purpose of the dream was to tell Paul to take the gospel to the Gentiles, so the division between the Jews and the Gentiles had been abolished and thus the reason for calling animals unclean.
The very fact that meat from unclean animals isn't really considered in the New Testament argues that it isn't important now. All of the evidence that we have regarding meat (Acts 10, Romans 14:20, Acts 15) indicates that the clean/unclean divide had been done away with. When coupled with the teachings on the Law in Galatians and Hebrews, I think it becomes clear that this isn't an issue for us today.
Sorry to get so long-winded. The topic of the Law and how it foreshadows Jesus is really interesting to me!
