Which part of the Bible do you like the most? The Old Testament or the New Testament? Most would say they like the New Testament better because they can understand it better.
Why is it important to know and love the Old Testament as much as the New Testament?
The Bible is about God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. It is a story of humanity, the human condition, and God’s truth. The Bible has many stories, and all of these stories are connected. It’s a continuing story about Jesus Christ.
The Old Testament prepares and foretells the story of Christ. The New Testament announces and fulfills what was promised in the Old Testament. If we are not careful, we can miss the connections by focusing on each story separately.
The revelation of the Bible is progressive. This means that as the story goes on, God reveals more and more of His plan from beginning to end. While we might not know exactly how it ends, God has given us some clues!
This is why we should learn and appreciate the Old and New Testaments.
Why is the Old Testament important?
The Old Testament lays the foundation for the teachings and events found in the New Testament.
The Old Testament establishes principles that are illustrative of New Testament truths.
The Old Testament tells the story of God’s original plan for humanity. It tells us the kind of relationship that God planned from the beginning.
We see how God works in specific situations in the lives of people. The Old Testament is a book of human experience. Many passages deal with unsatisfied longings, pain, anguish, and injustice.
The Old Testament tells its audience that there is more to come. It is a book of unfulfilled prophecy. The Old Testament points to Jesus Christ and shows our need for Christ.
Why is the New Testament important?
The New Testament builds on that foundation established by the Old Testament.
The New Testament is only completely understood when we see its foundation of the events, characters, laws, sacrificial system, covenants, and promises of the Old Testament.
While the Old Testament tells a people’s history, the New Testament focuses on a Person. Jesus Christ.
We learn about the Person of Christ in the New Testament. The gospels tell us who He is and what He came to do. The epistles and Revelation tell us how to apply the truths that Christ taught to our everyday lives. These truths provide us with practical principles to guide our decisions and actions. They also teach us about assurance and hope for the future.
Yes, we see in the Old Testament the wrath of God against sin, and in the New Testament, we know the grace of God to sinners. However, glimpses of God’s grace can be seen in the Old Testament, and glimpses of His wrath can be seen in the New Testament.
The New Testament brings into sharper focus principles introduced in the Old Testament.
Where do we see this in scripture?
The Old Testament predicts a Messiah will come (see Isaiah 53), and the New Testament reveals that Jesus Christ is the Messiah (see John 4:25–26). The Gospels record Jesus’ life, and the Epistles interpret His life and how we respond to all He has taught and done.
The Old Testament shows how humanity was separated from God through sin (Genesis 3),
And the New Testament tells us how humanity can be restored in their relationship with God (Romans 3—6).
The Bible gives us the whole council of God. God did not have to tell us anything, but He chose to say to us who He is and how we can have a relationship with Him. It’s up to us to embrace His message.
References
Handbook on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament Exegesis and Interpretation by G.K. Beale
Understanding Scripture An Overview of the Bible’s Origin, Reliability and Meaning Edited by Wayne Grudem, C.John Collins, and Thomas R. Schreiner
How to Understand and Apply the Old Testament Twelve Steps from Exegesis to Theology by Jason S. DeRouchie
Amen!