NEW TESTAMENT CHRISTIANS HAD OLD TESTAMENT ROOTS

"But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the Old Testament; which vail is done away in Christ."

(2 COR. 3:14)

SINCERE, BUT SINCERELY WRONG  

I have met saints who believe the Old Testament is not for us today. Nothing could be further from the truth. They mistakenly think because something is old and something new means they're not the same in value, but this is not necessarily so.  An old smudged and worn hundred dollar bill has the same value as a crispy new one. God's treasure box contains both new and old, Jesus tells us. In one sense of the word the two have to do with time and order, not which is the more important.

THE NEW TESTAMENT IS ROOTED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

It has been said, "The New Testament is enfolded in the Old Testament and the Old Testament is unfolded in the New Testament." Someone has counted over 855 references of the Old Testament as found in the New Testament. Interestingly the last book of the Bible, Revelation, records 249 of these. God didn't give us half a loaf but a full loaf of His Bread from heaven.

WHAT NEW TESTAMENT SAINTS BELIEVED ABOUT THE OLD TESTAMENT

The early New Testament Christians had nothing but the Old Testament, at the first. The child Timothy was saved by reading the Old Canon of Scripture. We're told it was written for our example. Paul says it is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness. To prove his point he would say, "What saith the scripture." Other New Testament writers, for the most part, quote it over and again. And Jesus rebuked His followers for not believing all that was written of Him in the Law, the Prophets, and Psalms. And reproves those in the New Testament times when He said, "And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was an hungred, and they which were with him..."

"Even the devil believes the Old Testament is for New Testament Christians. On the mount of temptation he quoted it to Jesus."

(rds) 

By An Old Disciple