What the New Testament Has to Say Concerning the Old Testament

For the most part, I believe the better share of the verses that you’ll be reading in this study speak for themselves, but I’ll be adding a few thoughts just to help.

In discussing various beliefs with other Christians I often hear the statement made, “That’s Old Testament.” I find that very troubling, for while there are undeniably some Old Testament practices that are no longer applicable today, such as sacrificing lambs, at the same time the New Testament is exceeding clear: the Old Testament is just as inspired and just as valuable for teaching us about God and His ways as the New Testament. In this kind of thinking—“That’s Old Testament”—I think Satan has gained a huge victory. For, to some degree or another, he has for all practical purposes succeeded in making two thirds of God’s word of none effect.

So, let’s see what the New Testament has to tell us concerning the Old Testament.

For me, the first text that almost always comes to mind, and it’s one that I’m sure almost all Christians are at least somewhat familiar with, is 2 Timothy 3:16; but I’m not so certain that their quite so aware of what verse fifteen says:

“From a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” {2 Timothy 3:15, 16}

“Had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?” {John 5:46, 47}

“And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them… And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” {Luke 24:15, 27}

These next two passages are kind of in a class by themselves, so I’ve set them apart.

Twice, that I know of, Jesus was asked that most important of all questions, “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Please give some real thought and prayer not only to His answer, but to where He directs His questioners to—for I’m afraid it’s not what the average Christian is hearing at their church:

“And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?” {Luke 10:25, 26}

“A religious leader asked Jesus this question: “Good teacher, what should I do to get eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “Only God is truly good. But as for your question, you know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery. Do not murder. Do not steal…’” {Luke 18:18-20 NLT}

“But those things, which God before had showed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled… God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began… all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.” {Acts 3:18, 21, 24}

“Brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers… did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.” {1 Corinthians 10:1-4}

I know that many Christians today believe that Old Testament people didn’t have the gospel. I’m sure you’ll see from these next few passages how untrue that is. I think it should also raise two important questions: why are so many professed Christians unaware of these passages? And, why are so many ministers not teaching this truth to their congregations?

“Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.” {Galatians 3:7-9}

“We also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did.” {Hebrews 4:2 NIV}

Who is the ‘they’ that Paul is telling us had the gospel preached unto them?

“Who were those people who rebelled against God, even though they heard his voice? Weren’t they the ones Moses led out of Egypt? And who made God angry for forty years? Wasn’t it the people who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?... We also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did.” {Hebrews 3:16-4:2 NIV}

“It is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel… But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?” {Romans 10:15, 16}

“Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What were his experiences concerning this question of being saved by faith? Was it because of his good deeds that God accepted him? If so, he would have had something to boast about. But from God’s point of view Abraham had no basis at all for pride. For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, so God declared him to be righteous… King David spoke of this, describing the happiness of an undeserving sinner who is declared to be righteous.” {Romans 4:1-6 NIV}

“We have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” {2 Peter 1:16-21}

“As a means of training, the Bible is more effective than any other book, or all other books combined. The greatness of its themes, the dignified simplicity of its utterances, the beauty of its imagery, quicken and uplift the thoughts as nothing else can. No other study can impart such mental power as does the effort to grasp the stupendous truths of revelation. The mind thus brought in contact with the thoughts of the Infinite cannot but expand and strengthen.

“And even greater is the power of the Bible in the development of the spiritual nature. Man, created for fellowship with God, can only in such fellowship find his real life and development. Created to find in God his highest joy, he can find in nothing else that which can quiet the cravings of the heart, can satisfy the hunger and thirst of the soul. He who with sincere and teachable spirit studies God's word, seeking to comprehend its truths, will be brought in touch with its Author; and, except by his own choice, there is no limit to the possibilities of his development.” {Education 124, 125}