Questions - Week 6: Why Read the Old Testament?

Today’s question, “Why read the Old Testament” is often asked by church going people. It is often stated this way:
    ⁃    The Old Testament is so hard to understand.
    ⁃    I like the New Testament better than the Old.
    ⁃    God seems so angry and mean in the Old.
    ⁃    Hasn’t the New Testament replaced the Old?
    ⁃    All those animal sacrifices are a huge turn off.

Why read the Old Testament? Here are four main themes which Pastor will use to answer today’s question:
    ⁃    Revelation
    ⁃    Foundation
    ⁃    Confirmation
    ⁃    Salvation

Revelation: God reveals Himself, the past, the future, His plan, His character:
    ⁃    All Scripture is God-breathed. God breaths life. The Old Testament is God’s Living word, it’s Him speaking, His breath - a God-breathed book.
    ⁃    The Old Testament is for future generations - 1 Corinthians 10:11 tells us, “These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come.” The Old Testament is for all generations. It’s not out of date and aids us in understanding the time in which we live.
    ⁃    The Old Testament is for our instruction. Not just the story of people from long ago, it is for our instruction. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
    ⁃    The Old Testament is revealing God’s character. It shows us what God is like. It’s a record of thousands of years and we see His patience with a goal of bringing people back to Himself. Exodus 34:6-7 “And He passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.” God’s character is good.

Foundation:
    ⁃    The Old Testament shows God is our Creator. Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” 
    ⁃    The Old Testament shows the Sin-Death connection. Death is not natural it is a result of rebellion against God. Genesis 2:16-17 - sin brings death.
    ⁃    The Old Testament shows the need for Sacrifice. Genesis 3:21. An innocent animal had to die to clothe Adam and Eve after they sinned. Salvation requires an innocent victim to die for sin.
    ⁃    The Old Testament shows Grace and Faith. What saves is God’s grace and our response of faith. Genesis 15:6. 

Confirmation: The Old Testament confirms what we read in the New Testament.
    ⁃    The Old Testament points to Christ. It carries a unified theme that points us to the One that was promised, the One who would defeat the devil. John 5:39-40. Luke 24:27 “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, Jesus explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself.”
    ⁃    The Old Testament points to the Son of Man. Jesus’ favorite term for Himself. Daniel 7:13-14. The Old Testament reveals Jesus.
    ⁃    The Old Testament points to the cross. 1 Peter 1:10-11 “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 suffering of the Messiah and the glories that would follow.” 
    ⁃    The Old Testament points to the resurrection of Jesus. Luke 24:46-47.

Salvation:
    ⁃    The Old Testament makes us wise for salvation. 2 Timothy 3:15 “…from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” 
    ⁃    The Old Testament makes the New Covenant clear. The definition for the word “testament” has changed over the last several hundred years. Testament originally meant “a covenant.”  Jeremiah 31:31 “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the People of Judah.” 
    ⁃    The Old Testament makes Messiah’s death our’s. Isaiah 53:4-5. 
    ⁃    The Old Testament makes the world’s future clear. Philippians 2:10-11 “…at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  Isiah 45:23 the Living God says, “By Myself I have sworn, My mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked; before Me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear.” 

Why should I read the Old Testament? Because God speaks in it! Let Him speak to you through ALL of His Word.

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