Outdoor Service Continues
Sunday’s Worship Service will be in the parking lot. I hope you are able to attend. While you are there, please remember to practice social distancing.
WHY READ THE OLD TESTAMENT?
Good Morning Member of the Faith Family,
Today I wanted to share some thoughts about the value of reading the Old Testament. It may come as a surprise to learn that even in evangelical circles, readers of Scripture tend to spend more time in the New Testament rather than the Old. For some that’s because they find the Old Testament offensive, uninteresting, confusing, or irrelevant.
In light of those arguments, here are some reasons why we should be reading the other three-fourths of the Bible.
- God Gave the Old Testament for Christians Too.
The Apostle Paul was convinced that the Old Testament authors had a message for you and I. Romans 15:4 says, “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.”
- The Old Testament Reveals Jesus.
Ever wonder how the people who met Jesus personally realized that He was the Son of God? Partly it was because of the prophecies or promises in the Old Testament that He fulfilled! Jesus himself shares that insight in John 5:39 “You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me.” Author J. Barton Payne estimates that there are 574 pre-messianic foretellings in the Old Testament alone.
- The Old Testament was Jesus’ and the Early Church’s Bible.
Back when Jesus and the Apostles walked the earth, the New Testament hadn’t been written yet. Their only written source of truth and insight about God came from the Old Testament. Jesus studied, quoted and memorized the Bible of their day.
- The Old Testament Gives Encouragement and Hope.
As we look throughout the Old Testament we find words of comfort and hope for our situation. In the first book of the Bible, Genesis we learn about the coming Messiah who will defeat the devil. In the book of Jonah, we learn how God loves and cares for those who sin against Him. In the Psalms we find encouragement when times are difficult. And in the book of Proverbs, we learn how to have wisdom.
- The Old Testament Gives Us A Greater Picture of God.
The New Testament covers a period of about sixty years of history. The Old Testament on the other hand covers a timeline of about 4000 years, from Adam to the Israelites return from captivity. During that period we learn of God’s character, that He’s loving, forgiving, holy, jealous, patient, and just.
- The Old Testament Helps Us Understand the New Testament
Along with the Old Testament revealing Jesus, we also learn about concepts such as sin, Passover, the Law, faith, and who Israel is.
So as you open your Bible this week, turn towards the beginning of the book and God will reveal more and more about who He is and how He loves you.
Blessings,
Pastor Tom