How much of the OT should we disreagard?

[silverdawn]

This may seem like a weird question. I know that the Old Testament was God inspired as well as the New, but I also know that we don't have to follow the laws in Deuteronomy and Leviticus. So are those the only books that we don't have to follow, or what? I'm confused!! :scratch:

[BeLedbyHisSpirit]

After the resurrection, Jesus came again to His disciples:


Luke 24:25 And He said to them, "O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!
Luke 24:26 "Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?"
Luke 24:27 And beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.


and then later on, the disciples were assembled in a room and the Lord appeared to them, and:

Luke 24:44 Now He said to them, "These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled."
Luke 24:45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,


Jesus showed them Himself, in all of the Old Testament. As you grow in the Spirit, and God grants you more and more revelation of His Son, you will see Christ in EVERYTHING, and I do mean everything.

I cannot go through the whole Old Testament with you here, but let me give you just a few examples, to illustrate:

1) Abraham offering up his son Isaac - clearly an example of the Christ Jesus

2) The manna which came down from heaven in the desert - Jesus the bread of life come down for men to eat.

3) The tabernacle with its intricate design and pattern to be perfect according to what God showed Moses - Christ, perfect in every detail in and by God the Father.

4) < You may find it difficult to see Jesus in the book of Proverbs, but... even there. For it says in Corinthians....>

1 Corinthians 1:24 ...Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

and so, wherever you see the word "wisdom" in the book of Proverbs, substitute "Christ".

5) Jonah in the whale's belly for 3 days - Christ descended into the depths for 3 days.

and so on, and so on.

So, Jesus has already told us that He is the fulfillment of the Law, and we have it reckoned to us, by Him, if we learn to trust Him and believe. This is God's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes!

When you read the Old Testament, look to see Jesus in all things. This is the command and desire of God, that we believe in His Son, exclusively.

Hope this helps!

[silverdawn]

Thank you, that does help!!

[Elijah2]

Thank you, that does help!!
Hi Silverdawn,

Remember that the OT is our roots, where we came from.

The NT is our new covenant, and much of the old law is finished since our Lord Jesus Christ came.

Just be very careful and beaware of some things that pastors will push down your throat using the OT as the Gospel.

If you follow His commandments of love and forgiveness then you won't step of the path. But, if you get involved in the OT then you will become confused and become a "double-minded" person.

Love in Christ

[JTLauder]

Ah...none of it.

We may no longer be held under the requirements of the Law in the OT, but you can not properly understand the NT without the context of the OT.

Such as, I am often amazed when I hear Christians say they don't even understand the context of how Christ dying serves as the atoning sacraficial lamb to wash aways sins. And that's because they never even learned the significance of that from the OT.

Bottom line: The OT is not irrelevant.

[scaryshiksa]

Ah...none of it.

We may no longer be held under the requirements of the Law in the OT, but you can not properly understand the NT without the context of the OT.

Such as, I am often amazed when I hear Christians say they don't even understand the context of how Christ dying serves as the atoning sacraficial lamb to wash aways sins. And that's because they never even learned the significance of that from the OT.

Bottom line: The OT is not irrelevant.

And it's a more fun read. :D

[Dace]

As a fairly new Christian I've often found the OT confusing and difficult to relate too. Personally I limit most of my study to the NT and let my ministers lead my education in the OT as and when, through Sunday worship and cell group study. I'm afraid I'm not wise enough to work it all out by myself and I've found this approach works fairly well for me.

The OT certainly is important though, so elders tell me, and I have definitely found my understanding of the NT has increased with more understanding of the OT.

[Reyanah]

Well none actually. We can learn from the history of the OT that there are things to do and not to do. Jesus fulfilled the law and the prophets. We still can learn from the mistakes of those saints in the OT to not walk where they did so we won't get what they got...into trouble.

[Gwenhyver]

You cannot know where you are, unless you know where you've been. The lessons in the OT are just as valid, but it should be read keeping the NT in mind.

Many people (especially non-Christians trying to prove a point) will twist the OT, and take things out of context. Individual passages may not be important on their own, but you pull it all together you have our base knowledge of God, which Jesus expanded on.

[scoutswife]

God thought it was important eniough to be documented and it has been around all these years without distruction.

[sistakrista]

After the resurrection, Jesus came again to His disciples:


Luke 24:25 And He said to them, "O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!
Luke 24:26 "Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?"
Luke 24:27 And beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.


and then later on, the disciples were assembled in a room and the Lord appeared to them, and:

Luke 24:44 Now He said to them, "These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled."
Luke 24:45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,


Jesus showed them Himself, in all of the Old Testament. As you grow in the Spirit, and God grants you more and more revelation of His Son, you will see Christ in EVERYTHING, and I do mean everything.

I cannot go through the whole Old Testament with you here, but let me give you just a few examples, to illustrate:

1) Abraham offering up his son Isaac - clearly an example of the Christ Jesus

2) The manna which came down from heaven in the desert - Jesus the bread of life come down for men to eat.

3) The tabernacle with its intricate design and pattern to be perfect according to what God showed Moses - Christ, perfect in every detail in and by God the Father.

4) < You may find it difficult to see Jesus in the book of Proverbs, but... even there. For it says in Corinthians....>

1 Corinthians 1:24 ...Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

and so, wherever you see the word "wisdom" in the book of Proverbs, substitute "Christ".

5) Jonah in the whale's belly for 3 days - Christ descended into the depths for 3 days.

and so on, and so on.

So, Jesus has already told us that He is the fulfillment of the Law, and we have it reckoned to us, by Him, if we learn to trust Him and believe. This is God's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes!

When you read the Old Testament, look to see Jesus in all things. This is the command and desire of God, that we believe in His Son, exclusively.

Hope this helps!

Silverdawn,
This is the truth!^^^^^^^

[heymikey80]

This may seem like a weird question. I know that the Old Testament was God inspired as well as the New, but I also know that we don't have to follow the laws in Deuteronomy and Leviticus. So are those the only books that we don't have to follow, or what? I'm confused!! :scratch:

This question has been around a long time and it'll come up again and again as you grow in Christ.

The 10 Commandments are reiterated in the New Testament. In addition, Paul says our righteousness by faith in Christ does not nullify the Law, but rather establishes it (Rom 3:30-31). So to say, "None of it" doesn't really cover it.

My favorite answer to the question, "Do I have to follow the Law?" is ... a little wierd. The answer I've given in the past has been: "Yes ... No ... Yes."

Here's why.
Yes, the Law is still holy and moral and good to follow. God's desire for good actions don't change. (Mt 5) God's goodness is a part of His nature, and the Law reflects in some sense God's goodness. Submitting to what's good and doing good things is ... still good!

No, you're not under some obligation to follow the Law or some portion of it to the letter in order to be saved. It's not a prerequisite. (Rom 3:21-31)

Yes, your following Christ will result in doing what He commands. (1 John 2:3). The Spirit will grow in you a desire to do good things for people (Ep 2:10), and the Old Testament can help guide you as to what would actually be good work in God's eyes. It's best to talk with people who can help you by the pitfalls, though. (e.g., do guys have to wear long locks of hair for moral reasons -- or is this a visible rejection of some deity the Israelites had trouble with, millenia ago? Turns out it's apparently the latter.) Do what you understand. Intent is critical to such works actually being good. If you conscientiously understand why you're doing them and consider them good, then they will grow your mind and spirit in God's way.
Earlier theologies subdivided the Law into three functions:


Moral Law -- this is inherent in God's nature and doesn't really change as a positive good (again -- not as something you've gotta do, we're all fallen creatures in need of Christ to save us).
Ceremonial Law -- this anticipated Christ in ritual or imagery or ceremony, and in that respect it's no longer needed -- Christ has come.
Political Law -- this functioned as the "law of the land" for Israel and expired when that nation was overthrown. It may've returned as a requirement for Israel as a nation, but not for Christians. Take a look at Acts 15 for how the Apostles understood Mosaic law to apply to Gentile Christians (essentially, very little).

[silverdawn]

Thanks guys.
I went from :confused: to :idea:.

Thanks!!!

[Rafael]

There is no doctrine in the New Testament that is not in the Old Testament. All the horrors of the sacrifice were taken care of by Jesus death, but the 10 commandments are eternal. They cannot be broken by a person who truly loves God, as love fulfills the law of God (Rom. 13:8).
There are several false doctrines today that come about from not really understanding the Old Testament, and to really understand prophecy, as person cannot do without the prophets of the Old Testament. Each prophet provides a piece from God concerning the end times we are in.
I do not think any of it, the Bible, can be done away with if we want to fully understand where we come from and where we are going with God....

Matthew 5:17 ¶ "Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to fulfill them.
18 I assure you, until heaven and earth disappear, even the smallest detail of God’s law will remain until its purpose is achieved.
19 So if you break the smallest commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
20 "But I warn you—unless you obey God better than the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees do, you can’t enter the Kingdom of Heaven at all!