Is The Old Testament Relevant Today? - Soul Choice Ministries

Yes, absolutely! Biblical prophecy, historical facts, archaeological, and scientific discoveries are validated in the Old Testament, along with Israel’s history, and its importance to God is revealed. In addition, the Old Testament displays God’s holiness, power, judgment, His character, and His ways. The foundation for government, waging war, and moral law is given.

Today, some people believe we no longer need to read or observe the Old Testament, since we, as Christians, now live under the New Testament. However, there is nothing in the New Testament to support this belief. As a matter of fact, it is just the opposite! Jesus quoted the Old Testament twenty-eight times, and it is quoted fifty-three times by Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, John the Baptist, Paul, and Peter. Since Luke, Peter, and Paul wrote books in the New Testament and quoted the Old Testament, then who are we to throw it out? Besides, do we now ignore the Ten Commandments? We know they are encompassed in the two Jesus gave: love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, and soul, and love your neighbor as yourself. However, we need understanding of what this means by God’s standard. For instance, some might say they love God and their neighbor, but they neglect their parents when they are old, thereby neglecting the fifth commandment. We obey Jesus’ instruction to us when we also keep the Ten Commandments.

Another important point: the four Gospels, which document almost all of what Jesus said and did, are under the Old Covenant. The New Covenant did not start until after His death and resurrection. So do we throw out the words of Jesus also?

Jesus said in Matthew 5:17, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.” Jesus also said in Matthew 5:18, “For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”

The MacArthur Bible Commentary, page 1312, states, “The great moral principles of the law, the eternal truths contained in the law’s types and symbols, and the promises recorded by the prophets all remain in force and are not abrogated by the kingdom message.” To abrogate means to abolish, annul, or nullify. Hebrews 10:7, speaking of Jesus, states, “I come in the volume of the book it is written of me, to do thy will, O God.” This is Paul quoting David in Psalm 40:7, stating that Jesus is all throughout the Bible. So how are we justified in throwing out thirty-nine books, more than half the Bible? In addition, there are many details in the Old Testament that are not included in the New Testament. There are also many types and shadows pointing to New Testament events that reveal the accuracy, clarity, and completion of prophecy.

For instance, Jesus said in John 3:14, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.” Jesus is referring to Numbers 21:8–9: “And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.”

The MacArthur Commentary, page 1358, states, “Just as Moses lifted up the snake on the pole so that all who looked upon it might live physically, those who look to Christ who was ‘lifted up’ on the Cross will live spiritually and eternally.” The symbol of the snake is explained further in the Believer’s Bible Commentary, page 1479: “Men and women have been bitten by the viper of sin and are condemned to eternal death. The serpent of brass was a type or picture of the Lord Jesus. Brass, in the Bible, speaks of judgment… The pole speaks of the Cross of Calvary on which the Lord Jesus was lifted up. We are saved by looking to Him in faith.” The “lifting up” of the serpent represents the “lifting up” of Jesus on the Cross.

Jesus said in John 12:32, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” The Old Testament helps to reveal the full meaning of what Jesus said in John 3:14, as well as many other words of Jesus.

It is interesting that when people see a cross, it immediately convicts them of sin. This is why many atheist groups have fought hard to rid our nation of many of our historic landmark crosses, and they have succeeded. Why do they not fight to get rid of any other religious symbols? It is the power and preaching of the Cross that draws men to Christ and convicts them of sin.

In addition, there are many prophecies in the Old Testament about the future and the coming Tribulation that we need to study. The book of Daniel, Isaiah, and many of the books of the prophets reveal and warn what will happen on earth during these last days. These days are rapidly approaching, and we are instructed to know the times and seasons in which we are living. Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 5:4 that these days should not overtake us or take us by surprise. Most importantly, there are over three hundred prophecies about Jesus Christ that we can share with those who do not believe that Jesus was and is the Messiah. It is important to learn some of these prophecies so we can share and defend the faith.

When Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey, presenting Himself as the Messiah, He expected the religious leaders to know this exact date. It was told to them in Daniel 9:24–26 and Nehemiah 2:1–8. It took a little research, but that would have been normal for them to do, being Pharisees and scribes who studied the law. In Bible teacher Dr. Chuck Missler’s teaching, “Daniel’s Seventy Weeks,” and in his book Cosmic Codes, pages 236 and 238, he explains that the Jews were accountable to know this exact date when Jesus entered Jerusalem and allowed Himself to be proclaimed King (Zechariah 9:9; Luke 19:42; Romans 11:25).

Jesus said over and over to the Pharisees, “Have ye not read?” He expected them to have read the Old Testament and to know what it says. Let us look at two examples.

Matthew 19:4: “Have ye not read, that He which made them at the beginning made them male and female?” This is a very important verse for today. Who would think we are living in an age where this fact would be disputed, laws would be enacted to contradict it, and violence would be committed against those who believe what God said? The Lord Jesus said there are only two genders. He is right, and those who oppose Him are wrong, and that settles the issue.

The second example: Jesus quoted Genesis 2:24 in Mark 10:7, “For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife.” Again, in today’s culture, a wife can be anything. However, a wife is only a married woman, according to Jesus. His authority to declare this came from the Old Testament. Paul said the same thing in Romans 7:1–3. The language in these verses clearly defines a husband as a man and a he, and a wife as a woman and a she.

To dismiss, ignore, or eliminate the Old Testament causes a person to fall right into the devil’s hands. Jesus was talking about the word of God being spread, and some fell by the wayside. He said in Luke 8:12, “Those by the wayside are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.” If you do not believe in the Old Testament, it allows Satan to steal the word.

We urge you to reject this false belief. Study the Word and do not allow yourself to be manipulated or fooled by false teachers. Acts 17:11 states, “They received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” 2 Timothy 2:15 says, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

The only way a person can know and understand truth is to personally experience and know the God of truth. In John 14:6, the Lord Jesus said that He is the truth.