SHARING GOD’S TRUTH
LESSON 1
Is The Old Testament Binding Today?
The
failure to answer this question correctly has caused great multitudes to fail
in “rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). We must know that we are living in the
last days in which God has spoken to us through His Son (Hebrews 1:1,2). We
must also recognize and understand the difference between the old covenant and the new, and how the new covenant brings to us
the new living way of Jesus
(Hebrews 10:20).
To
help you understand more about God’s truth, let us first lay the foundation.
When a building contractor builds a new house, he begins with the foundation.
He may separately construct various parts of the house even in a different
place, but when it is time to put the house together, he must begin with the
foundation. There is no way to understand all the various plans of God and His
gift of salvation without first laying this foundation.
The
foundation is laid when we understand God’s Book, the Bible. When one holds the
Bible in his hand, what is he holding? To most people, it is a book. In one
sense this is true, because it is bound into one volume. However, in a
spiritual sense, one is holding a library of 66 books. These 66 books are
divided into two major divisions: (1) The Old Testament, and (2) The New Testament. A Testament can be defined as a covenant
or will. A covenant is an agreement between two parties. So these two covenants
involve God and man. We must also remember that these two covenants represent
two wills. The first testament (or will) was made between God and the nation
Israel (the Jews). The second Testament (or last will and testament), was made
between God and all nations.
Only
one “will” can be in effect at one time. For example, if you make a “will” for
your children, that “will” is in effect until you make another. However, once
that second “will” is made, if it is done so in sound mind, your children can
inherit only from it. At your death, they may tell the attorney that they
prefer the first “will” for their inheritance, but he must inform them that
they can inherit only from the second or last will and testament of their
parents.
This leads us to the fact that the Old
Testament law was given ONLY to the Jews. Why? So that God could make plans for
a new will or testament that would include all nations. Please notice some of
the Scriptures that prove that the Old Testament law was given only to the
Jews:
“And
what great nation is there that has such statutes and righteous judgments as
are in all this law which I set before you this day?” (Deuteronomy 4:8).
Later
in chapter 5, Moses
called together Israel and said, “Hear, O Israel, the statues and judgments
which I speak in your hearing today.” Then Moses reminds them, “The LORD our God made a covenant with
us in Horeb” (Sinai). “The LORD did not make this covenant with our fathers,
but with us, those who are here today, all of us who are alive” (Deuteronomy 5:1-3).
Thus,
this first covenant (the Old Testament) was made with these Jews, and not with
the rest of the world. In early days, the world was divided into two major
groups: Jews and Gentiles. The Jews could trace their lineage back to Abraham,
and all other people on the earth were Gentiles. This first Testament was never
given to the Gentiles.
Paul writes of this in the New Testament:
”for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law,
these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves,” (Romans 2:14).
Many are shocked
to learn that God gave the Old Testament ONLY to the Jews, until all the facts
are considered. Why did this happen? In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve, representing the whole
human race, sinned and brought death and separation from God. Because of love,
God set forth a plan to save those who would return to Him in obedience. He
chose to allow His Son to become flesh and die on the cross for the sin of the
world. “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). To prepare for the coming of
His Son to earth, it was necessary to prepare a special nation. He chose
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and his twelve sons to begin this nation. To keep the
nation pure from the world, God made this covenant with them. It consisted of
ten basic commandments from which many other laws were given. In spite of the
fact that this nation broke their covenant with God, He was still able to
preserve a remnant to bring His Son to earth.
Was God selfish for making this covenant
only with Israel or the Jews? Not at all! Because God had in mind offering
salvation to ALL nations in the future. This first or old covenant would lead
to a second or new covenant for all nations. When God first made a covenant
with Abraham, it included this promise: “and in you all the families of the
earth shall be blessed” (Genesis
12:1-3).
Many
years later, Jeremiah, one of God’s prophets, promised this new covenant: “Behold,
the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the
house of Israel and with the house of Judah—not according to the covenant that
I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them
out of the land of Egypt...” (Jeremiah 31:31,32).
Where does the Old Covenant end and the
New one begin? So many look at the Bible and answer, “The Old ends with Malachi
and the New begins with Matthew.”
However, this is not true. Why? Because the Old Testament or old covenant
ended at the cross, as the New Testament or new covenant began. The four
authors, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John record the life of Jesus. But it is near
the end of these books before Jesus dies on the cross.
Therefore,
most all of Jesus’ life was lived under the Old Testament covenant. He taught, “For
assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle
will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled” (Matthew 5:18).
When Jesus died on the cross, it was
totally fulfilled! This explains one of the reasons why Jesus cried out from
the cross just before dying, “So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He
said, ‘It is finished!’ And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit” (John 19:30). Something else happened
when Jesus died, “Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was
torn in two” (Luke
23:45). This Old Law
had served its purpose, and Jesus closed it with His death! This old covenant
(with the Jews only) had brought the One who will now give a new covenant to
ALL nations.
The
New Testament writers taught that this first covenant (or will) had ended.
Please observe the words of the writer of Hebrews: “But now He has obtained
a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better
covenant, which was established on better promises. For if that first covenant had been
faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second” (Hebrews 8:6-7). He continues in Hebrews 10:9,10, “Behold, I have come to do Your will,
O God. He takes away the first that He may establish the second. By that will we have been sanctified
through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
As was mentioned earlier, the law was
given to the Jews only, and this divided them from the Gentiles. God’s aim was
to use Jesus and His death on the cross to remove this difference. How did He
accomplish this? By abolishing the law of commandments contained in ordinances.
Please observe Paul’s exact words: “having abolished in His flesh the
enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to
create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He
might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting
to death the enmity” (Ephesians 2:15-16; cf. Colossians 2:14).
With Jesus’ death on the cross, the Old Law was fulfilled, and both Jews and
Gentiles became as one, and were brought to God in one body through the new
covenant.
This leads us to a very important
question. Why did God give the law to the Jews? Paul explains it this way: “But
before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith
which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to
Christ, that we
might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer
under a tutor” (Galatians 3:23-25).
In these verses, Paul gives one of the
purposes of the law found in the Old Testament. He says that it was our tutor,
(schoolmaster or teacher) to bring us to Christ. However, now that Christ has
come, Paul writes that we are no longer under a tutor. Those today who say that
the Old covenant is binding are trying to turn time back before Christ came.
This is impossible to do!
Therefore, the Old Law or the Old
Testament is not binding on us today. Yes, it is the word of God of ages past,
but it was given only to the Jews. It helps to learn it and to use it for
examples, but Christians are bound by Christ under the New Testament “or new
will.” Were the moral commandments of the Old Testament brought over into the
New? No, because the Old Law was fulfilled. However, most of the same
principles of the Old are restated in the New.
For
example, all the Ten Commandments are restated in the New except for keeping
the Jewish Sabbath. Under the New covenant we are to worship God in spirit and
in truth on the Lord’s day (Sunday), the first day of the week.
It
is great to study the first and old will, but only the last will and Testament
of Jesus is binding today.
(Circle the Most Correct Answer: A, B, or C)
1
An
instrument of death used to bring peace (Eph. 2:15,16)
(a) Sword (b) Cross (c)
Bow and Arrows
2
Those
who did not have the law under the Old Testament (Rom. 2:14)
(a) Gentiles (b) Priests (c)
Seed of Abraham
3
That
which would happen to all families through Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3)
(a) Cursed
(b) Destroyed (c) Blessed
4
The way
the word is to be divided (2 Tim. 2:15)
(a) Sincerely
(b) Rightly (c)
Traditionally
5
A word
to describe the new Covenant and promises (Heb. 8:6,7).
(a) Better
(b) Honest (c) Ending
6
A word
that means an agreement between two parties (Heb. 10:16)
(a) Legal
(b) Binding (c) Covenant
7
An
important word spoken from the cross (John 19:30)
(a) Forgive
(b) Finished (c) Cross
8
That
which would happen to the law (Mt. 5:18)
(a) Be Affirmed
(b) Be Given To Gentiles
(c) Be Fulfilled
9
An
animal used to describe Jesus (John 1:29)
10
How
Jeremiah described the coming Covenant (Jer. 31:31,32)
(a) New (b)
Old (c) Temporary
11
The
place where God made a covenant with Israel (Deut. 5:2)
(a) Horeb
(b) Jerusalem (c) Mount
Carmel
12 We are living with Jesus in the - - - - days (Heb.
1:1,2)
(a)
First (b) Last (c) Coming
13
Another word for schoolmaster (Gal. 3:23-25).
(a) Tutor
(b) Servant (c) Slave
Once You Have
Completed This Lesson, Go To Last Page For Grading Key. For Your Score, Take
From 100, 5 Points For Each One Missed.
Score for Lesson 1 =
LESSON 2
The Old
Law that we studied in the first lesson had served its purpose. Even though the
Israelites broke its laws, God was still able to prepare for the coming of His
Son to bring salvation. During the time of this first covenant, there were many
prophets of God who foretold the future. The most important prophecies spoke of
the coming of the Messiah and His kingdom. For example, Daniel foretold that the
God of heaven would set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed (Daniel
2:44). As we now
begin this study, all the prophecies have been made and it is time for them to
be fulfilled.
The announcement of the coming of God’s
Son and His kingdom began with a man called John the Baptist. He is called the
Baptist because he baptized. He is introduced with the following words: “In
those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and
saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand’“ (Matthew 3:1,2). John told the people that the prophets had
spoken of his mission to be a messenger to prepare for the Lord.
Therefore,
John came to make the paths of Jesus straight. How did John do this? Mark gives us more details. “As it
is written in the Prophets: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who
will prepare Your way before You. The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
`Prepare the way of the LORD; make His paths straight’ “ (Mark 1:2,3). He told the people that the prophets had
spoken of his mission to be a messenger to prepare for the Lord. How did John
prepare for the Lord and make His paths straight? “John came baptizing in
the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins”
(Mark 1:4).
The
Jewish nation (under the Old Law) had gone astray, and needed to repent in
preparation to receive the Messiah and His kingdom. Before they could welcome
Jesus the Messiah, they needed to get their lives right.
Finally, Jesus came to John where he was
baptizing in the Jordan River. John introduced Him as “the Lamb of God who
takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). When Jesus requested to be baptized, John first refused Him. Why?
Because Jesus had no sins to be forgiven. John was baptizing for the remission
or forgiveness (Mark 1:4). However, Jesus wanted to be baptized to fulfill all righteousness
(Matthew 3:15). Thus,
for this purpose John baptized Jesus.
Shortly
after Jesus won His battle over the devil, He began to announce that the
kingdom is at hand. “From that time Jesus began to preach and to say,
‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand’ “ (Matthew 4:17). For Jesus not only came
to bring salvation, but to also establish His church or kingdom. After He had
called His twelve apostles, He sent them to the Jews. He will later send them
to all nations, but in preparation for His kingdom, He first sent them to
Israel. His instructions were: “And as you go, preach, saying, `The kingdom
of heaven is at hand' “
(Matthew 10:7). On another occasion, Jesus made a promise to His followers, “Do
not fear, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). Therefore, John the
Baptist, Jesus, and the twelve apostles were all preaching that the kingdom is
coming shortly.
Associated with the coming of His
kingdom, Jesus promised to build His church. We will see later in this lesson
that the church and kingdom are the same. So when Jesus and the others were
proclaiming the coming of the kingdom, they were announcing the coming of His
church.
The
announcement to build His church or kingdom was made by Jesus on the coasts of
Caesarea Philippi. He asked His disciples, “Who do men say that I, the Son
of Man, am?” (Matthew
16:13). They mentioned such men as John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah or one of
the prophets. Then Jesus put them on the spot and asked, “But who do you say
that I am?” Peter took
the lead and answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
This was the correct answer, and Jesus
used this confession, “the Christ the Son of the living God” to be the
foundation rock of His church. Therefore, He said, “and on this rock I will
build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).
The apostle Peter was promised the keys
of the kingdom, and whatever he would bind on earth would have already been
bound in heaven. And whatever he would loose on earth would have already been
loosed in heaven. The promise to build His church is now official as plans go
forward to make it a reality. How important will this church or kingdom be?
Later we will learn that it is so important that Jesus will purchase it with
His own blood (Acts 20:28). Thus, He will die for His church or kingdom.
It is at this point that we need to learn
a very important truth. The church and kingdom are used interchangeably. When
Jesus promised to build His church, He said, “And I will give you the keys
of the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew
16:19). When Peter would use the keys to the kingdom, he would be using the
keys to the church. When that powerful kingdom finally came (Acts 2), from that
time forward it was referred to as both the church and kingdom. “praising
God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church
daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47).
When
Paul and workers returned on the first missionary journey, they visited again
the churches they had established. Their purpose for doing so is given in these
words: “strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue
in the faith, and saying, ‘We must through many tribulations enter the
kingdom of God’ “ (Acts 14:22). In this verse, the church is called the
kingdom of God.
As was mentioned earlier in this lesson,
Jesus purchased His church with His blood. “Therefore take heed to
yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you
overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood”
(Acts 20:28). The same precious blood used to offer
salvation to those lost in sin, also purchased His church. This is one reason
why the church is so important. The church is called His body in which He is
the head. This spiritual body (His church) is made up of the saved. When a
sinner is saved by His blood, the Lord adds that one to His church. “Praising
God and having favor with all the people. And the
Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47). When one is redeemed, he is bought back
from the slavery of sin.
Thus, Paul wrote, “In Him we have redemption through
His blood, the
forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7). Even though Jesus was the Son of God, He
did not come to earth to be served. His purpose was to give Himself in death,
and to seek and save the lost. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be
served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many“ (Mark 10:45).
In this lesson we have considered how
John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus and His kingdom. We have found that
John, Jesus, and the twelve apostles announced that the kingdom of heaven is at
hand. Also, that Jesus promised to build His church or kingdom, and that He
purchased it with His own blood while redeeming the lost. What a tremendous
price Jesus paid to build His church or kingdom! Shouldn’t this make His church
important to us today?
II. TRUE OR FALSE: (Circle “T” for true; “F” for false)
T
F 1. The Law of Moses served its purpose.
T
F 2. The
prophet Jonah foretold the coming of a kingdom.
T
F 3.
John was called the Baptist because he baptized.
T
F 4.
John did not preach a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
T
F 5.
John called Jesus a Lamb.
T
F 6.
Jesus was baptized for the remission of sins.
T
F 7.
Jesus won His battle with Satan.
T
F 8. Jesus came to bring salvation and to establish His church.
T
F 9.
Jesus first sent His twelve apostles to Jews and Gentiles.
T
F 10. “The kingdom is at hand” means that it is coming shortly.
(Circle the Most Correct Answer: A, B,
or C)
1. A
prophet of God is: (a)
one who foretells the future (b) a man who had personal knowledge (c) one who began new religions.
2. The prophet who foretold that God would set up a kingdom
that would never be destroyed was: (a) Jeremiah (b) Moses (c) Daniel.
3. John the Baptist told people to: (a) pray (b) repent (c) bow before God.
4. John baptized in: (a) Egypt (b) the Jordan (c) Sea of Galilee.
5. Jesus promised to build His church when teaching at: (a) Caesarea Philippi
(b) Jerusalem (c) Nazareth.
6. Jesus calls the confession, “You are the Christ, the Son of
God” (a) a promise (b) the name of His church (c) a rock.
7. Peter was given: (a) the keys of the kingdom (b) hope for the future (c) a promise
that the church would be built on him.
8. The cost of the church was: (a) a lifetime commitment (b) three years of
preaching (c) the blood of Jesus.
Once You Have
Completed This Lesson, Go To Last Page For Grading Key. For Your Score, Take
From 100, 5 Points For Each One Missed.
Score for Lesson
2 =
Review
– (1 B) – (2 A) – (3 C) – (4 B) – (5 A) –
(6 C) – (7 B) – (8 C) – (9 B) – (10 A) – (11 A) – (12 B) – (13 A)*
Lesson 2
True
or False – (1 T)
– (2 F) – (3 T) – (4 F) – (5 T) – (6 F) – (7 T) – (8 T) – (9 F) – (10 T)*
Multiple
Choice – (1 A)
– (2 C) – (3 B) – (4 B) – (5 A) – (6 C) – (7 A) – (8 C)*