Old Testament or New Testament? Which?

Both Testaments:

1) Are Inspired Of God (2 Tim. 3.16)

2) Contain Contemporary Lessons (Rom. 15.4)

3) Have Words In Them By Which We Will Be Judged (John 12.48)

4) Are To Be Studied And Taught

(2 Tim. 2.15)

Are Both Testaments in Effect Today?

If so, then what about?

1) “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exod. 20.8)

2) Animal Sacrifices for Sin (Leviticus)

3) Going to Jerusalem for Passover and Pentecost

4) Circumcision

5) Levitical Priesthood

Is the Old Testament in effect today?

A. Old Testament Prophecy –

“Behold, days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant […] not like the covenant which I made with their fathers […]” (Jer. 31.31-34)

B. Jesus’ Life –

1. Came to fulfill the OT (Matt. 5.17)

2. Teaching – “but I say unto you”

C. Paul’s Teaching –

1. OT faded away while the NT shines bright (2 Cor. 3.5-18)

2. OT now abolished (Eph. 2.15)

D. The Hebrew Writer –

1. “In these last days has spoken to us in His Son […]” (Heb. 1.2).

2. Jesus Christ, our high priest:

a. Greater than Moses (Heb. 3.3)

b. Priesthood after the order of Melchidzedek (Heb. 5.6)

(1) Not of Levi (Heb. 7.14)

(2) When change of priest, then change of law: “For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also” (7.12)

c. OT not absolutely perfect; therefore, a new covenant was needed (Heb. 8.7-13)

d. Christ is “the mediator of a new covenant” (Heb. 9.15)

e. OT could not take away sins (Heb. 10.1-4)

f. OT taken away, NT established (10.9)

g. Key Word in Hebrews: Better

Conclusion:

1. The Old Testament was perfect for its purpose.

- It was a tutor to lead us to Christ (Gal. 3.24).

2. The Old Testament is still useful today.

a. Inspired Lessons

b. Understand NT Illustrations & Theology

c. Get to Know God

d. History

3. Nevertheless, the New Testament is where one goes today to learn:

a. How to be saved

b. How to worship God

c. How to live faithfully