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Why Study the Old Testament? Matthew 5:17-19

Why Study the Old Testament? Matthew 5:17-19. Our past is part of our identity – who we are. As Christians, our identity is found in our relationship with Christ. Christians are called “New Testament Saints” We tend to divide the Bible: The Old Testament is primarily about God’s Law

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Why Study the Old Testament? Matthew 5:17-19

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  1. Why Study the Old Testament?Matthew 5:17-19 Our past is part of our identity – who we are. As Christians, our identity is found in our relationship with Christ. Christians are called “New Testament Saints” We tend to divide the Bible: The Old Testament is primarily about God’s Law The New Testament is primarily about God’s Grace
  2. Do we still need to study the Old Testament? Answer: Yes The Old Testament is the history of the church. It gives us as followers of Christ the memory that forms the basis for our identity. It’s the foundation of who we are as God’s people. Dr. Bruce Waltke,Theologian New series for 2013: Old Testament characters and what we learn from their lives.
  3. Matthew 5:17–19 (NIV) 17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
  4. Sermon on the Mount: Tensions between Jesus and the religious leaders Suspicion that Jesus was not in full support of the teachings of the Old Testament. Jesus affirms his teachings do not conflict with the Old Testament Scriptures Matthew 5:17 (NIV) - “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”
  5. “Law and the Prophets” = entire Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament in our Bible). Jesus completes and clarifies all that God intended to communicate regarding his will, his plan, his purpose for all of humanity Matthew 5:18 (NIV) - “I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.”
  6. Jesus affirms the lasting validity of the Old Testament The Old Testament gives us the historical and theological roots of our Christian faith that help give our identity in Christ a point of reference – a foundation. What are these foundational truths from the Old Testament that we need to remember to help us better understand our identity in Christ?
  7. 1. Answers Basic Questions About Life: The Old Testament teaches us important truths about where we have come from and why we are here. Genesis 1:1 (NIV) - In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:26–27 (NIV) - “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness… So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
  8. Genesis 2:7 (NIV) - …the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. We as human beings have been created in the image of God who breathed life into our bodies. Significant because it gives human beings intrinsic value. We are created by God – in his image and because of that we have value and purpose.
  9. 2. Identifies the Origin & Consequences of Sin We were created in God’s image but that image was damaged. Because of Adam & Eve’s disobedience, all human kind became infected with sin. Psalm 51:3–5 (NIV) - For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
  10. The Apostle Paul affirms that our sin nature came from Adam: Romans 5:12 (NIV) - Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned— We see evil all around us. The Old Testament teaches us the origin of that evil: The Bible calls it SIN. The consequence of sin is that it has broken our relationship with God
  11. Introduces God’s Desire for Relationship with People God created us with a desire to have a relationship with his image bearers. God is not just a transcendent force that created all things and then just stepped back. God is involved in his creation and he wants to be involved in the lives of each person who is created in his image. The Old Testament shows us that God desires to be in relationship with people.
  12. Psalm 139:-3,7-10 (NIV) - O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways…Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
  13. Throughout the Old Testament we see God pursue relationship with people who desire to know him and follow him. The Old Testament is really like our story. It is about the lives of real people – broken people and how God is involved in their lives Jeremiah 31:33 (NIV) - “This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time,” declares the LORD. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. God is a God who wants to be in relationship with people.
  14. 4. Reveals the Character of God Throughout the Old Testament we read about the attributes and the character of God Deuteronomy 32:4 (NIV) - He is the Rock, his works are perfect, all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he. Psalm 99:9 (NIV) - Exalt the LORD our God and worship at his holy mountain, for the LORD our God is holy.
  15. Psalm 116:5 (NIV) - The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. Psalm 86:5 (NIV) - You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you. Jeremiah 10:10 (NIV) - But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God, the eternal King.
  16. The Old Testament reveals to us the character of our God: He is perfect, just, faithful, and does no wrong He is holy, gracious, righteous and full of compassion He is forgiving and good – full of love. He is the only true God – He is living
  17. 5. Establishes the Standards For Godly Living The Old Testament introduces us to God’s law. Not a list of rules to live by in order to have a right relationship with God. The law showed the people how far short they were to keeping the standards of a holy, righteous, and just God. Galatians 3:19 (NLT) - Why, then, was the law given? It was given alongside the promise to show people their sins. God gave his law to show the people how much they needed a Saviour.
  18. 6. Reveals God’s Solution to Our Problem of Sin The Old Testament points us to Jesus. Matthew 5:17 (NIV) - “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” God continually reminds his people that he had a plan to redeem them. Salvation would come through a sacrifice.
  19. The Old Testament system of worship centered on forgiveness and atonement through a sacrifice The Old Testament sacrifices pointed to the one who would come as a final – once-for-all sacrifice to pay for our sin  The Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus himself declared: John 5:39 (NIV) - You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me.
  20. Let’s commit to read through the Old Testament identify with the people we read about discover the character of God learn from their victories and their failures discover the gospel  stories about faith in God & his grace Ephesians 2:8–9 (NIV) - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
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