The Importance of the Old Testament But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as...

The Importance of the Old Testament

But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises. For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. But God found fault with the people and said: "The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. (Hebrews 8:6-8 NIV) ……..

By calling this covenant "new," he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear. (Hebrews 8:13 NIV)

In the Bible • Emphasis is also given to the imperfection

of the first covenant– God found fault with the people under the

agreement– But God made a better covenant based upon

better promises

• Because of statements like these, many look upon the 39 books we call the Old Testament as inferior and don’t have the value that New Testament books have

This a huge mistake!

Christianity has always been given to extremes

• Many Jewish Christians of the 1st century thought the observance of the old covenant was necessary for salvation (Acts 15:1-4)

And after he had greeted them, he began to relate one by one the things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. And when they heard it they began glorifying God; and they said to him, "You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the Law; (Acts 21:19-20 NASB)

Jewish Christians of the 1st Century zealously kept the Law of Moses

Christianity has always been given to extremes

• Many Jewish Christians of the 1st century thought the observance of the old covenant was necessary for salvation (Acts 15:1-4)

• In the second century, many believers followed the teaching of Marcion (147 A.D.) who said that the God of the old covenant with Israel was a totally different God than the God of the Christian. He said that the teaching of Jesus was in contradiction to the teachings of Moses and the “god” of the Old Testament. Marcion carried almost 1/3 of all Christians into this false teaching

Why should we study the Old Testament?

It was the Bible that Jesus read It was the Bible of 1st Century Christians The Old Testament is about Jesus

Christ in the O.T.

• Prophecies from Moses, the Psalms of David, and the books of prophecy

• The Fifth gospel found in the Old Testament

Matthew

Luke

Mark

John

Isaiah700 B.C.

Christ in the O.T.

• Prophecies from Moses, the Psalms of David, and the books of prophecy

• Fifth gospel found in the O.T.

• Phillip preached Jesus from Isaiah (Acts 8)

• The shadows of the law, its sacrifices, feast days, temple, and priesthood all point to Christ

Moses, Israel

30 A.D.2000 B.C.

Jesus Christ

Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a minister in the sanctuary, and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man. For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices; hence it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer. Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are those who offer the gifts according to the Law; who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, "SEE," He says, "THAT YOU MAKE all things ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN WHICH WAS SHOWN YOU ON THE MOUNTAIN." (Hebrews 8:1-5 NASB)

The Shadow and Reality of ChristOld New

• Physical Kingdom of Israel

• Physical Jerusalem

• Solomon’s Temple

• Levitical Priesthood

• Canaan and Sabbath rest

• God married to Israel and then divorced

• Israel in the flesh (Circimcision in flesh)

• Restoration, gathering of Israel to land (Ezra and Nehemiah)

• Christ’s Spiritual Kingdom

• Heavenly Jerusalem

• Temple made without hands

• The Priesthood of Jesus

• Jesus – our rest

• God married to spiritual Israel

• Spiritual Israel (Circumcision of the heart

• Gathering Judah and Israel and Gentiles into Christ


It was the Bible that Jesus read It was the Bible of 1st Century Christians The Old Testament is about Jesus

The Apostles preached Christ from the O.T

When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. "This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ," he said. (Acts 17:1-3 NIV)

As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. (Acts 17:10-11 NIV)

The Coming of Christ made the Old come alive

N.T. apostles revealed the mystery of the Old (Eph 3:1-11).

But the “teaching” was tested by the Old (Acts 17:10-11)

Without Christ, when they read the old, there was a “veil” over their face. (2 Cor 3:6-16)

But when they believed in Jesus the Old came alive

What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter? If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about-- but not before God. What does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: "Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him." (Romans 4:1-8 NIV)

Their Salvation was based on faith – just like the Christian

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH." (Romans 1:16-17 NASB)

Their Salvation was based on faith – just like the Christian

Quoted from Habakkuk 2:4


It was the Bible that Jesus read It was the Bible of 1st Century Christians The Old Testament is about Jesus The Apostles preached Christ from the O.T

We will do a better job of bringing people to Christ if we can teach Christ from the O.T.

The O.T. is where the evidence comes from that proves the gospels are true The historical reliability of the Old The predictions about the life and death of

Jesus The predictions of Christianity The predictions made concerning Babylon,

Persia (Cyrus), Greece (Alexander the Great) and Rome and the fall of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.

The Shadows of the Old that point toward the New Covenant and our salvation


It was the Bible that Jesus read It was the Bible of 1st Century Christians The Old Testament is about Jesus The Apostles preached Christ from the O.T The Old sets the stage for the New

The bible is progressive revelation If you skip the first half of any book – you are lost If you don’t understand what happened at the fall of

Adam you don’t even know why Jesus came (Physical or spiritual death?)

You will be lost in the 4 gospels without knowing something about Abraham, Moses, David, temple, sacrifice, priest, Passover, Jerusalem, kingdom, Israel’s hope of a resurrection, etc. ………………

You must understand the culture of Israel and their laws and religion to understand Jesus



Jesus lived and died under the Old Testament

But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. (Galatians 4:4-5 NASB)


It was the Bible that Jesus read It was the Bible of 1st Century Christians The Old Testament is about Jesus The Apostles preached Christ from the O.T The Old sets the stage for the New Jesus lived and died under the Old Testament

Circumcised the 8th day (Luke 2:21) Parents offered two pigeons according to the law (Luke

2:22-24) Jesus told the lepers that He healed to go the priests

so as to obey Leviticus He kept the feasts days of the Jews including the

Sabbath Some people say “lets follow the example of Jesus –

but Jesus worshipped on Saturday, went to a physical temple, kept the Jewish festivals, and taught people to honor Moses




Jesus’ teaching was in harmony with Moses!!!

"Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. "For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the Law, until all is accomplished. "Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and so teaches others, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. "For I say to you, that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:17-20 NASB)




Jesus’ teaching was in harmony with Moses!!! When Jesus argued with the Pharisees he always went to

the law of Moses and O.T. principles to confront them

"Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have set your hope. "For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote of Me. (John 5:45-46 NASB)


It was the Bible that Jesus read It was the Bible of 1st Century Christians The Old Testament is about Jesus The Apostles preached Christ from the O.T The Old sets the stage for the New Jesus lived and died under the Old Testament Jesus’ teaching was in harmony with Moses!!!

When Jesus argued with the Pharisees he always went to the law of Moses and O.T. principles to confront them

You will not often interpret correctly the teachings of Jesus unless you know that the law of Moses is behind all his conversations and confrontations

The audience in the ministry of Jesus was Jewish He came to the loss sheep of the house of Israel They lived under the law of Moses


It was the Bible that Jesus read It was the Bible of 1st Century Christians The Old Testament is about Jesus The Apostles preached Christ from the O.T The Old sets the stage for the New Jesus lived and died under the Old Testament Jesus’ teaching was in harmony with Moses!!! You can not fully understand the N.T. without the Old

Without knowing the characters Moses’ name is found 80 times in the New

Testament David’s name is found 54 times in the New

Testament 18 O.T. names in one N.T. chapter (Hebrews 11)



Jesus lived and died under the Old Testament Jesus’ teaching was in harmony with Moses!!!

You can not fully understand the N.T. without the Old Without knowing the places of the O.T.

Jerusalem is mentioned 150 times in the N.T. You won’t understand the “New Jerusalem” - “the heavenly city”

unless you understand the O.T. significance of the physical city of Jerusalem – which is a shadow of the heavenly

6 N.T. books mention Sodom – yet it was destroyed during the history of Genesis. The New Testament use will not be understood unless you know the Old Testament story about Sodom


It was the Bible that Jesus read It was the Bible of 1st Century Christians The Old Testament is about Jesus The Apostles preached Christ from the O.T The Old sets the stage for the New Jesus lived and died under the Old Testament Jesus’ teaching was in harmony with Moses!!! You can not fully understand the N.T. without the Old

There are 22 chapters of the book of Revelation – but 440 allusions to O.T. characters, visions, imagery, history, religion, temple, priests, prophecy, etc

Do you think you can understand this book without knowing the O.T.?



Jesus lived and died under the Old Testament Jesus’ teaching was in harmony with Moses!!!

You can not fully understand the N.T. without the Old O.T. Characters are used to illustrate the faith that we need for

salvation (Heb 11; Romans 4, etc) Melchezedek from Genesis 14 and Psalms 110 is used to

illustrate Jesus as High Priest (Hebrews 5:11-14) The story of Sarah and Hagar, Isaac and Ishmael, is used by Paul

to teach an important lesson about two covenants, two peoples, and two futures (Galatians 4:21-31). If you don’t know this story – forget understanding Galatians



Jesus lived and died under the Old Testament Jesus’ teaching was in harmony with Moses!!! You can not fully understand the N.T. without the Old

The O.T. is not written to Christians, but for them

Romans 15:4 NASB 4 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.


• The O.T. Prophets predicted the salvation that now belongs to Christians

Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things. (1 Peter 1:10-12 NIV)


• The O.T. Prophets predicted the salvation that now belongs to Christians

• The O.T. written to warn Christians

Now these things happened as examples for us, that we should not crave evil things, as they also craved. And do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, "THE PEOPLE SAT DOWN TO EAT AND DRINK, AND STOOD UP TO PLAY." Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day. Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents. Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. (1 Corinthians 10:6-11 NASB)


• The O.T. Prophets predicted the salvation that now belongs to Christians• The O.T. written to warn Christians

• To teach and Illustrate Christian practices – financially helping preachers

I am not speaking these things according to human judgment, am I? Or does not the Law also say these things? For it is written in the Law of Moses, "YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE HE IS THRESHING." God is not concerned about oxen, is He? Or is He speaking altogether for our sake? Yes, for our sake it was written, because the plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher to thresh in hope of sharing the crops. If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it too much if we should reap material things from you? (1 Corinthians 9:8-11 NASB)

The O.T. is not written to Christians, but for them• The O.T. Prophets predicted the salvation that now belongs to Christians• The O.T. written to warn Christians

• To teach and Illustrate Christian practices – financially helping preachers • O.T. contains vast quantities of wisdom not found in N.T. (Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, etc

– Spanking a child– Additional teaching on marriage, divorce, family – Wisdom in doing business, money matters, etc– The psalms that deal with worship, prayer, doubting, praying for enemies, calling for God’s wrath, etc



Jesus lived and died under the Old Testament Jesus’ teaching was in harmony with Moses!!! You can not fully understand the N.T. without the Old The O.T. is not written to Christians, but for them

The Law of Moses magnified sin and guilt and drives us to the forgiveness found in Jesus

Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed should come to whom the promise had been made. (Galatians 3:19 NASB)

So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. Therefore did that which is good become a cause of death for me? May it never be! Rather it was sin, in order that it might be shown to be sin by effecting my death through that which is good, that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful. (Romans 7:12-13 NASB)

The Law of Moses magnified sin and guilt and drives us to the forgiveness found in Jesus

For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM." (Galatians 3:10 NASB)

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us--for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE"-- (Galatians 3:13 NASB)

But the Scripture has shut up all men under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. (Galatians 3:22-23 NASB)

The Law proved that no one could be saved by keeping law and proved the need for a Savior



Jesus lived and died under the Old Testament Jesus’ teaching was in harmony with Moses!!! You can not fully understand the N.T. without the Old The O.T. is not written to Christians, but for them The Law of Moses magnified sin and guilt and drives us to the

forgiveness found in Jesus

N.T. writers assumed their readers knew the O.T.




forgiveness found in Jesus N.T. writers assumed their readers knew the O.T.

The N.T. quotes the Old 341 times and has thousands of allusions to it




forgiveness found in Jesus N.T. writers assumed their readers knew the O.T. The N.T. quotes the Old 341 times and has thousands of allusions to

it

The O.T. is exciting reading

The Old Testament is EXCITING reading The high drama – as you witness Abraham’s faith grow The scandal of Judah and Tamar that leads to the linage of

Jesus The twist and turns of the plot that brings Joseph to

Egyptian leadership The cosmic battle of Pharoah and Moses The violent and bloody conquest of Canaan The “wild west” of the Judges The heart wrenching romance of Ruth The fierce pursuit of David by Saul The political intrigue of Solomon’s rise to the throne The showdown of Elijah and the prophets of Baal Jerusalem’s miraculous deliverance from the Assyrian

siege

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The Importance of the Old Testament But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as...

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