From http://chezkneel.blogspot.com/
It's fairly common these days to run into a statement like this: "I'm under grace, I don't need to study the Old Testament." I wouldn't be surprised if you've heard this a time or two. Ashamedly, I'll admit that not only have I heard it, but I have thought it as well.
Between people on one side wanting to turn it into myth and those on the other wanting to downplay its significance in a New Testament economy, the Old Testament doesn't fair too well these days, that's for sure.
For those who may struggle a bit with the relevance and significance of the Jewish part of our Scriptures, I've put together a few reasons to study them.
1. Testifies about Jesus
Jesus said: "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me." (John 5:39, NASB). He even took the time after his resurrection to show two of his disciples exactly what the OT Scriptures said about the coming Messiah (Luke 24:13-27).
2. Tells us more of God's story, and our history
The Old Testament gives us the "first half" of the story, as it were. Just look at Genesis for a moment. Genesis itself answers age-old philosophical questions about where we come from, why we are here, what our purpose is. It even shows us where evil comes from. Which brings me to...
3. Provides context for the New Testament
Why did Jesus have to die? The Old Testament leaves no doubt about the state of mankind, or why we needed a saviour. Want to understand Romans 5, Hebrews 11, or any of the Gospels (not to mention the book of Revelation)? The Old Testament context brings the New Testament into clearer focus and stark relief.
4. Presents a fuller picture of God
Do you remember how Jesus answered the Sadducees when they asked him the question about the woman and her 7 husbands? "You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God." (Matt 22:29, ESV).
I'm sure that many times our own notions of things suffer from this same lack of knowledge. For instance, any time someone claims that God is only love, they are making this error. They clearly don't know the Scriptures, and haven't seen the fierce judgment and wrath of God, ignoring both the bulk of the Old Testament as well as explicit statements in the New Testament.
5. Shows fulfilled prophecy
Part of the reason we can trust the Bible is that it is self-authenticating. It claims to be revelation from God, and its nature is such that it backs up the claim. Fulfilled prophecy is just one way that it does this, but it is an important way. First, because prophecy is God's foretelling of things to come, and if it doesn't come true, then either God isn't God or this revelation isn't from Him. And second, because through prophecy we can be sure that Jesus is the Messiah, the redeemer of people who was promised from the time of the Fall.
6. Represents part of the fullness of God's revelation
I could have listed this first, and even only, but instead I saved it for last. Even if all the arguments above do not sway you (though I hope they do), if you are a person of the book, you cannot ignore the fact that all Scripture is "inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." (2 Tim 3:16-17, NASB).
BTW, I don't take this to mean that all Scripture is equal in this regard, any more than I would say all Scripture is equally easy to understand. It's not. Rather, I'm saying that when we ignore any part of God's revealed word, we do so to our own peril and diminution (though you may feel free to disagree with me if you like).
The Old Testament tells us the story of Creation, of the Fall of man, and of God's judgment on the whole earth. It tells us about how God from one man, Abraham, created a chosen people who would be His witnesses on earth. It shows us, warts and all, the history of God's people--our own spiritual heritage--and gives the backdrop for the coming of Messiah and the ushering in of the New Testament era.
God has given us the fullest revelation of Himself through his son, Jesus Christ (Heb 1:1-4), and the Old Testament is a part of that revelation. Let us not shy away from it as being too hard, or too foreign, but let us strive to give it its proper place as part of that which has been given to us by God.
Between people on one side wanting to turn it into myth and those on the other wanting to downplay its significance in a New Testament economy, the Old Testament doesn't fair too well these days, that's for sure.
For those who may struggle a bit with the relevance and significance of the Jewish part of our Scriptures, I've put together a few reasons to study them.
1. Testifies about Jesus
Jesus said: "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me." (John 5:39, NASB). He even took the time after his resurrection to show two of his disciples exactly what the OT Scriptures said about the coming Messiah (Luke 24:13-27).
2. Tells us more of God's story, and our history
The Old Testament gives us the "first half" of the story, as it were. Just look at Genesis for a moment. Genesis itself answers age-old philosophical questions about where we come from, why we are here, what our purpose is. It even shows us where evil comes from. Which brings me to...
3. Provides context for the New Testament
Why did Jesus have to die? The Old Testament leaves no doubt about the state of mankind, or why we needed a saviour. Want to understand Romans 5, Hebrews 11, or any of the Gospels (not to mention the book of Revelation)? The Old Testament context brings the New Testament into clearer focus and stark relief.
4. Presents a fuller picture of God
Do you remember how Jesus answered the Sadducees when they asked him the question about the woman and her 7 husbands? "You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God." (Matt 22:29, ESV).
I'm sure that many times our own notions of things suffer from this same lack of knowledge. For instance, any time someone claims that God is only love, they are making this error. They clearly don't know the Scriptures, and haven't seen the fierce judgment and wrath of God, ignoring both the bulk of the Old Testament as well as explicit statements in the New Testament.
5. Shows fulfilled prophecy
Part of the reason we can trust the Bible is that it is self-authenticating. It claims to be revelation from God, and its nature is such that it backs up the claim. Fulfilled prophecy is just one way that it does this, but it is an important way. First, because prophecy is God's foretelling of things to come, and if it doesn't come true, then either God isn't God or this revelation isn't from Him. And second, because through prophecy we can be sure that Jesus is the Messiah, the redeemer of people who was promised from the time of the Fall.
6. Represents part of the fullness of God's revelation
I could have listed this first, and even only, but instead I saved it for last. Even if all the arguments above do not sway you (though I hope they do), if you are a person of the book, you cannot ignore the fact that all Scripture is "inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." (2 Tim 3:16-17, NASB).
BTW, I don't take this to mean that all Scripture is equal in this regard, any more than I would say all Scripture is equally easy to understand. It's not. Rather, I'm saying that when we ignore any part of God's revealed word, we do so to our own peril and diminution (though you may feel free to disagree with me if you like).
The Old Testament tells us the story of Creation, of the Fall of man, and of God's judgment on the whole earth. It tells us about how God from one man, Abraham, created a chosen people who would be His witnesses on earth. It shows us, warts and all, the history of God's people--our own spiritual heritage--and gives the backdrop for the coming of Messiah and the ushering in of the New Testament era.
God has given us the fullest revelation of Himself through his son, Jesus Christ (Heb 1:1-4), and the Old Testament is a part of that revelation. Let us not shy away from it as being too hard, or too foreign, but let us strive to give it its proper place as part of that which has been given to us by God.
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