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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Why the Old and New Testament? | Bible general Archive 1 | Reformer Joe | 33385 | ||
The moral codes are never called "lifeless" in the New Testament. What is said is that the law could never impart life (Galatians 3:21). That is something very different from saying that God's unchanging moral standard itself is lifeless. You need to be clear about what you mean when you start talking about the New Testament itself being "infinitely more glorious" than the Old Testament. Both the OT and the NT text are completely and totally inspired by God, and the OT is quoted extensively in the NT as well, testifying clearly that it is not a bunch of "dead" books. We owe most of our understanding of God's standard of righteousness from the text of the Old Testament, and it is the Old Testament which reveals the coming Messiah who will save His people. The OT intimidating? Parts of it, and intentionally so. We all should be intimidated in a certain sense when we apprehend the absolute majesty, power, and holiness of Almighty God. But depressing? That would mean that all of the Jews prior to the Incarnation had a pretty depressing existence. What is so depressing about the Psalms? The only thing depressing about the Old Testament is seeing the constant failure of humanity to meet the good and right will of God. there is nothing about God's character itself that should invite depression in the believer. The fact is that while the new covenant is much more superior than the old in that the first results in our condemnation and the second results in our salvation, both covenants are good covenants from a good God. It is the other party which messed things up in the first covenant. --Joe! |
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2 | Why the Old and New Testament? | Bible general Archive 1 | wak | 33397 | ||
Hey Joe, you're making me do some bible research! I do agree with what you say. My overall point is that the OT is a "ministry of death in letters engraved on stone" UNLESS the saving grace of the NT story is kept in the forefront of one's mind. The Psalms are great but in many places the OT is depressing... even some "unpopular" Psalms. Perfectionisn is depressing! I think God wanted the OT to be dark, so that the "light" would be so much brighter. RE: O.T. Jews being depressed???. I don't know, but If I had to follow thousands upon thousands of Jewishs laws, I'd be depressed. I'm making this point so strongly because of God-fearing preachers who for the better part of history have had an OT mentality. I wish they had applied the following to their fire- breathing OT centered sermons: "But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart" but whenever a person turns to the Lord (Christ), the veil is taken away 2cor3:15-16 |
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3 | Why the Old and New Testament? | Bible general Archive 1 | Reformer Joe | 33398 | ||
Well, one of the functions of the law is to convict sinners of their sin. However, for the child of God it is also the means of knowing how to serve God. I recommend that you go read Psalm 119 and see what words David uses to describe God's law and his attitude toward it, and take some time to study the reasons he gives. You are right that too many preachers have preached the law without the gospel. In our day, I think many preachers err too far in the other direction, where we hear the "good news" that isn't as good until we realize the depth of the "bad news." We need a balance. Both law and gospel are found in both Testaments, so both Testaments are useful in cross-centered preaching. --Joe! |
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