OTI - Meyer Essay #2
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Oral Roberts University *
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222
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Religion
Date
Apr 3, 2024
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docx
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4
Uploaded by LieutenantElephantPerson253
Elizabeth Meyer
BIB 222
2 November 2023
Why Christians Should Read the Old Testament
From the beginning of time, man’s interactions with God have continuously expanded and drastically changed. Specifically, since the birth of Christianity, there have constantly been immense developments which have led to what is now considered modern Christianity. Throughout the fluctuations and modifications that have drawn Christianity from traditions, one of the most significant things that remains the same is the Bible. Though, it is evident that many churches today are attracted towards the New Testament and the life of Jesus in preference to the Old testament. While the New Testament is vital to the relationship between man and God, it is impossible to understand the Christian faith, let alone a relationship with God, without the information and thorough study of the Old Testament. There is great revelation concealed within the scriptures of the Old Testament and there are various benefits that strengthen the comprehension of the Lord for believer’s whom read the Old Testament. Firstly, a vast advantage for Christians who read the Old Testament is that it exemplifies the necessity of a savior for man. Moreover, it demonstrates God’s execution of His plan to provide that savior. In the same way, the Old Testament announces the plan and the various prophecies for a savior, and later, the New Testament accomplishes this. When man fell from God and sinned, man could no longer be in the presence of the holiness of God. In order to save His beloved from destruction, God had to devise a plan to reestablish His presence to man and restore His relationship with His cherished creation (HW 23). From the beginning, the Bible’s primary goal has been to illustrate that all God desired was to reside with and develop fellowship
with His people, and when this plan was disrupted, God had to create a solution (HW 23). All of this being said, understanding that the Old Testament reveals to Christians why there is a necessity for a savior, is both a critical component of further evolving a relationship with the Lord and understanding Jesus and the New Testament.
Additionally, the Old Testament is the same book that Jesus read His entire life and a key
factor in understanding Jesus’ ministry. This is what Jesus learned from and it was a foundation for all that He taught while He was on earth. Equally, the Old Testament is the preparation and foundation for the lessons and instructions that Jesus later ministers in the New Testament. Not only did Jesus simply teach the Old Testament but He elucidated and edified many implied ideas mentioned within the Old Testament (HW 71). Correspondingly, Jesus validated the laws established within the Old Testament but He also took them a step further within the New Testament. The Old Testament is the foundation and prerequisite for all that the New Testament became and all that Jesus did. When Christians read the Old Testament and seek to understand, they are expanding the amount of knowledge about Jesus that they are able to retain.
Likewise, the Old Testament is a key factor in understanding the covenant that Christians have with the Lord. Although the Old Covenant has been replaced by the New Covenant, the blessings of the Old Covenant are still operational, the curses have been eradicated, and these promises still pertain to Christians today. Similarly, those that abide in the Lord are also simultaneously partakers in the Abrahamic covenant between God and Israel (
New King James Version
, Gal. 3.29). Also, God’s establishment of a covenant not only keeps man accountable, but
it also sets the premise of how faithful and trustworthy the Lord is (HW 25). The covenant itself develops and strengthens the relationship between God and believers (HW 26). More so, the Old Testament and Old Covenant are essential in understanding what God is doing in the New
Testament. The New Testament is the beginning of the New Covenant but before Jesus’ death in the New Testament, the Old Covenant was still in place. Furthermore, like both of the covenants,
it is apparent that the Laws and Prophets are still relevant throughout the New Testament (HW 70). Like the promises within the Old Covenant, Jesus did not come to extinguish the messages of the Law and the Prophets, but he came to fulfill them. As a whole, every believer in the Christian faith has a covenant with the Lord and it is impossible to understand relationship with God without intentionally comprehending covenant with God. Lastly, the Old Testament reminds Christians of their humanity and God’s divinity. This portion of the Bible is indispensable in revealing God’s heart, his plans, how He interacts with His people, and His presence among His people. He wants to dwell within believers, and He greatly delights in intimate proximity with His creation, but it is not a necessity for Him to reside
with them. The Old Testament allows Christians to know Him further and much more deeply (HW 21). Throughout the Old Testament, individuals are introduced to various attributes and the different qualities of the character of God. The passages of the Old Testament itself carry the revelation of who God is (HW 22). Due to this, when God reveals Himself to His people through
the Old Testament, it is also understood that the Old Testament is more than just opinion (HW. 26). Rather, the Old Testament defines and establishes the authority of the Lord. Evidently, it is crucial, for one’s faith, to acquire a complex understanding of the character of God and the authority of God. Without the perception of the adoration due to God, it is impossible to further cultivate and grow one’s relationship with the Father.
Overall, because Christianity has been amplified so greatly since the beginning of time, it
is more important now, than ever, to truly be able to know the Lord. There are numerous aspects to the Old Testament that are essential to the establishment of a strong and healthy faith for
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individual believers. Harmoniously, in order to accurately understand who God is and to firmly and confidently be able to give Him praise for who He is, it is fundamental that Christians educate themselves on the being of God. Over the course of the scriptures of the Old Testament, God is revealed to His people and the understanding of the Old Testament institutes space for faith to be planted. It is imperative that Christians read the Old Testament for a true relationship and grasp of the Lord.