“THE OT AND THE NT”

1. In 1816 there was a religious gathering. The person who was supposed to speak at this gathering unexpectedly became ill.

2. A replacement for the ill speaker was found the replacement’s name was Alexander Campbell.

3. Campbell was given only a few minutes to prepare before speaking.

4. This man quickly collected his thoughts about a subject he had been studying.

5. Campbell had been studying how the OT and the NT relate to each other.

6. In Campbell’s time (1800’s) people in America used both testaments.

A. When people wanted to justify a procedure in worship, an ordinance, doctr. Government,

B. They quoted from whichever testament helped them.

7. Campbell had come to the conclusion that this was wrong.

A. Campbell had come to the conclusion that only the NT was binding.

B. He concluded that the OT was no longer in force.

8. When called upon to fill in, Campbell preached this idea from the pulpit,

9. He said that Moses’ law has been abrogated {taken out of the way).

10 This idea was new to the people who heard this sermon, and it upset.

11 A movement was started to charge Mr. Campbell with heresy.

12 People wanted him to be excluded from fellowship with the Baptists.

I. OVER 150 YEARS HAVE PASSED BETWEEN THIS INCIDENT AND NOW. YOU KNOW

WHAT, THERE IS STILL CONFUSION OVER THE OT AND THE NT.

A. If one were to listen to the majority of religious teachers,

B. What was done in the early 1800’s is still being done. .

D. It is indicated that all of God’s word is binding upon us.

E. I just returned from a trip to TN. Part of my trip was by interstate.

F. On our interstates there are markings (signs, signals) are things which alert us to things like;

1) Construction areas; accidents; speed zones;

2) Areas that are congested; slippery bridges; etc.

G. Within the pages of God’s word there are also signals (signs). Certain passages serve as clues.

1) This morning we want to pay attention to some of these marks.

2) Our starting place is in the book of Genesis. We know how this book opens.

3) Adam and Eve are in a garden; they don’t have any clothes on.

4) The voice of God communicates with them.

H. This way of life lasted for a while. Now things are not like this.

1) The voice of God is not communicating with us, and we are wearing clothes.

I. This contrast is a sign. This difference is a signal, as we continue in the book of Genesis we read about Noah. We read about a flood which covered the whole earth. 1) We have floods, but not to the degree of the one that Noah witness.

2) Also, Noah was charged with building an ark. We are not doing that today. How come?

3) If it were God’s will for Noah to do this, why not us?

J. Somehow, the story about Noah serves as a marker. It points out to us in fact much of Genesis serves as a signal. This book contains a lot of history.

K. The book of Genesis is like “Acts I” in a huge play. This is how I am going to describe it.

L. Genesis Act I; the signs (markers) in this book point us towards the next act.

II IN A MAJOR PLAY, THERE IS ALWAYS A SECOND ACT. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE FIND IN THE OT.

A. Acts II starts in the book of Exodus, Have you ever paid attention to how this book begins?

B. Ex. 1:1-4 (READ) 11 names are given; this is a signal (marker).

C. There is something important about these 11 names.

D. As Ex. Continues, we encounter some very interesting stories;

1) Many people called “Hebrews” (Ex. 1:15) were in Egypt;

2) These people were slaves to the Egyptians, eventually these slaves were released.

3) These released people were especially important to God.

4) Because these people were important, God gave them things.

5) He gave them a place to live, and He gave them laws. He protected them

6) Neh. 9:13-14 makes a statement about these people.

7) These two verses serve as another signal (marker)

8) This marker is very, very important. Neh. 9:13-14 says, READ.

E. The Old Testament was given to “them” - Hebrews.

F. In the 1800’s and even now people look as the OT as being; a low for all men and all time.

G. The OT itself says that this is not true. God made known the OT law at Sinai. It was for “them”

I. Only those who came out of Egypt received this information.

J. Noah did “have this information Abraham, Adam, and Eve also.

K. The whole system started with the Jews who had been slaves in Egypt.

L. Concerning this group of people at Sinai, remember the marker I pointed to Ex. 1:1-4 I read 11 M. names. The people who were at Sinai were formed into tribes. Each tribe went by

N. some of the names in Ex.1:1-4. This group of people was told to live by the laws in the OT.

O. Part of the OT law was the 10 commandments. They people were required to keep these laws.

P. This arrangement lasted for a long time, but it was not permanent.

Q. That is, the laws in the OT were not to last forever.

R. At a certain point the OT system, given to the Jews, were to expire.

S. Listen to what the prophet Jeremiah said in Jer. 31:31 – READ

T. What Jeremiah prophesied has been fulfilled, we now have the new Covenant that was

U. Promised in Jer. 31. In the OT God signaled that the OT would one day end.

V. God has also signaled us that this a day has come. OT was gone,

W. Do we not remember the words of Jesus in Matt. 26: 26-28 QUOTE?

X. The blood of Jesus had no part in the old covenant, in the old covenant, animal blood was used.

Z. When Jesus spoke of his blood and covenant – reference to a New Covenant.

A. Jesus signaled his disciples that His death would bring in the New Covenant.

B. This is exactly what happened. Listen to Rom. 7:4 READ

1) Rom. 7 and Matt. 26 are passages which signal us.

2) Paul said that Jesus; body “made us dead to the law.”

3) How did the Lord’s body do that? Jesus’ answer in Mt. 26 is, by his blood.”

4) How do we tie together JESUS Body; Blood, DEATH & THE NC Col. 2:14 tells us READ

5) When Jesus died, the OT law was removed. (CRUCIFIED ON THE CROSS)

6) His blood allowed the covenant to be changed.

C. When Jesus died, the OT ended and the NT came into force.

D. What was required under the OT that stopped being required?

E. The NT makes this point in a number of ways:

1) In the OT: Tithing was required. In the NT was to give.

2) In the OT: Instruments of music was used. In the NT was to sing.

3) In the OT Priests. In the NT not all are priests.

4) In the OT: Animal sacrifices. In the NT Jesus’ blood

5) In the OT: Special place for worship. In the NT -

6) In the OT: Dietary restrictions, In the NT –all food was clean.

F. When people go to the OT to support a practice, and many do, they mishandle the word of God.

G. Going back to the OT to support a practice is bad, bad, bad, wrong.

H. I am going to turn to and read Gal. 5:3.

1) This is a passage that every NT Christian needs to know.

2) Gal. 5:3 were written to some people who believed in circumcision.

3) Circumcision was an OT practice. As be just learned, the OT law’s was nailed to the cross.

4) Since circumcision is not in the NT, there is no law about it.

5) Some people wanted to bind circumcision so they went back to the OT.

6) Here is what Paul said to these people (READv.3.)

I. If we were to go back to the OT to justify any practice, we become a debtor to do the whole law.

J. In other words, if we take anything out of the OT law, we cannot stop with what we want.

K. We must take the whole OT: The animal sacrifices, the tithing, the Sabbath is a packaged deal.

L. No one is willing to do this. Even if someone were willing to do this, God would not be pleased.

M. Right after verse 3 comes, verse 4 READ- Trying to be justified by the OT law results in N. damnation. If we go to the OT to justify a practice,

O. Or if we go there for a set of rules to live by, God condemns us.

P. The people of Campbell’s day had never heard this information; the same is true right now.

Q. People go to the OT to justify things and people accept this evidence...

CONCLUSION:

1) The OT has been taken out of the way; nailed to the cross.

2) The 10 commandments which, was part of the system are gone.

3) In the NT, laws which are parallel to 9 of the commandments are found.

4) I have presented this info. To people and then been asked these questions:

a. “You don’t believe in the OT do you?

b. “Are you saying that the OT is no meaningless?”

5) The OT came from God so we must believe in it.

6) Our belief in it must correspond with the markers that God has given.

7) God said that this system was for a certain people and a certain time.

8) God said that the OT would be replaced by a NT, Jer. 31:31.

9) To the second question, is the OT meaningless?”

10) Paul answered this question – Rom. 15:3-4.

a. We can learn from the OT. As I read the story of Noah, I learn that:

1) God punishes the wicked, God keeps His word,

2) God gave a pattern to Noah for the ark, etc.

b. This OT story does not have a law for me (build an ark),

c. There are things that I can learn from this narrative.

d.. In the OT I read about certain meats which are not to be eaten.

e. These restrictions have been taken away and all food is fine.

f. I can learn something from the dietary rules that are in the OT.

g. This rule tells me that God was concerned about His people.

h. Some of the meats that could not be eaten were scavenger meat.

i. The OT laws helped prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

11) We are not bound by a single OT rule (obligation).

12) There are things that we can learn from the OT if we study it.

13) One of these principles is, God means what He says.

14) God said to various nations, “You are going to be overtaken.”

15) God promi8sed to send a flood upon the earth. He did.

16) The OT shows us that God’s promised are always kept.

17) In the NT it is said that Jesus is coming again. There would be a judgment day.

18) Are you ready for that day?