OPINION ABOUT OLD TESTAMENT - 5th of several - JESUS REGARDED THE OLD TESTAMENT AS GOD BREATHED AND HE SHOULD KNOW

Jesus explained his identity and purpose using Old Testament scripture as reference and resource material. Here are some indicators.

In Luke’s account an occasion is mentioned which occurred soon after Christ’s resurrection from the grave. Jesus appeared to two disciples as they walked from Jerusalem to Emmaus, seven miles away. They had left Jerusalem unaware of the resurrection and they were discussing the horrors and the sadness that had transpired over the past several days.

They remembered some women who went to the tomb where Jesus’s body had been placed, returning to the other disciples and reporting that Jesus' body was no longer there. They recalled some disciples hurrying to verify this and to their astonishment they found the report to be accurate. At that moment in their conversation, coming up alongside them, Jesus gently interrupted their conversation with this remark, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?”

Then as he walked with them,

OPINION ABOUT OLD TESTAMENT (4th of several)

Is a promise that was made to someone in OT times, also applicable to someone else today? No? Maybe? Yes? Asked another way, can Christians today claim OT promises that were made to other individuals or groups?

This may help to answer that. Realtors say there are three factors that determine the marketability of a property, "location, location, location." When it comes to hermeneutics, which is the art and science of biblical interpretation, the top three words are "context, context, context."

Unless we understand the context of an OT promise before lifting it into our contemporary life situations, we may force a meaning upon the words, which the Holy Spirit never intended to say through the original author.  Once we do understand that one correct interpretation, then we must ascertain whether there is a range of application that reaches all the way to us. It certainly can. If within the promise of God to an original audience, there is an integral communication about God's character, which does not change, and His actions toward people in accordance with their relationships to Him, then the promise is broadly applicable.  

You may appreciate reading this informative article by Ron Jones of the Titus Institute.

OPINION ABOUT THE OLD TESTAMENT (2nd of several)

Some Christians disparage the Old Testament. Of course that position appears a bit shocking to traditionalists and purists. After all, Christians have normally considered the Old Testament to be God’s Word. They have found help and pleasure in reading Proverbs and spiritual inspiration in the Psalms. The training of Christian preachers has emphasized proficiency in Hebrew and Greek to insure accurate application of Old Testament narrative and instruction to New Testament times.

So why would people ignore the Old Testament?

OPINION ABOUT OLD TESTAMENT (1st of several)

I grant you that this is not a topic the non-follower of Jesus could care anything about, since the authority of the entire Bible is rejected. To the believer however, this is germane. 

It will be a tragedy if Christians dismiss the Old Testament.  

The easy conclusion is that the Old Testament, suffused in Mosaic Law was written for a Jewish population. It's irrelevant to us today. That's faulty thinking.

JESUS REGARDED THE OLD TESTAMENT AS GOD'S WORD

We are told that Jesus explained his identity and purpose using Old Testament scripture as resource material. Please read this bit of evidence.

According to Luke’s account, there was an occasion soon after Christ’s resurrection from death and the grave, Jesus made an appearance to two of the disciples who were walking on a road that would take them from Jerusalem to Emmaus, seven miles away. They were as yet unaware of the resurrection reality and were discussing everything that had transpired over the past several days.

DEHISTORIZING THE OLD TESTAMENT

Don’t bother reading this unless you have the time and the interest. The theme is, ‘Why would you Ignore the Old Testament?’ Some Christians disparage the Old Testament.

Christians have generally regarded the Old Testament as God’s Word and have often found pleasure in Proverbs and spiritual inspiration in Psalms. Christian preachers worthy of the calling have confirmed their proficiencies by drawing profound applications from Old Testament historical narratives.

Many Christians today are dismissing the Old Testament because they find parts of it morally offensive or quite bluntly, irrelevant.