The Word of God
All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 2 Tim 3:16
The Word of God
FOLLOW-ALONG NOTES
Introduction
In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth, by his word everything that is was created. It was his words that were written down into what is known as the Law and would be the measure by which man was judged in the Old Testament. The New Testament opens with God being made flesh. Jesus, the word of God, comes and gives us the fulfillment of the Old Testament law and became the standard for us to measure against.
Our Bible are words written down by the inspiration of God. His spirit moved on men, so we could know how to be reconciled to him and live a life that would give glory to Him. This study is not a comprehensive study on His word, but hopefully gives us the understanding of the authority of his word, that we will be judged by his word and that we should be changed by his word, doing something with it. Additionally we will cover everything the bible says about: Space Aliens, Dinosaurs and Vampires.
II Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
God inspired men to write what they wrote, He breathed into their lives and they wrote scripture as God lead them too.
Inspiration here means divinely breathed in.
It tells us that the scripture is good for 4 things
Doctrine, or Teaching
Reproof, meaning Conviction
Correction, setting something straight
Instruction, Training
So all scripture is divinely breathed out by God and is profitable for teaching, conviction, setting us straight and for training in righteousness. That the man of God may be competent, fully equipped unto all good works.
2 Peter 1:16-21 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost.
The gospel that we have and believe isn’t a made up story. Peter and the other 10 apostles were witnesses to the things Christ had done. There were over 500 other witnesses who saw Christ after his resurrection as Paul talked about in 1 Corinthians 15.
It was by God that prophecy came forth, it wasn’t some great idea someone had one day. It had purpose and meaning from God, to have Christ fill our hearts and to be his people purchased by his shed blood.
John 17:6-8, 14-17 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.
7 Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.
8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received [them], and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.
14. I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
The word of God is the ultimate truth, the New Testament writers had Christ teachings, the word of God to guide and direct them. It was by God that they could write and teach and not of a mans philosophy.
Galatians 1:11-12 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught [it], but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
God gave Paul understanding, after his conversion he didn’t spend time with the other apostles for 3 years, but still taught the same thing.
Brief History of the English Bible
With these things in mind let us take a look at how we came to have the Bible in our language. It may be a little boring to some, but I believe it is important because a lot of people try to discredit the Bible by saying we can’t know for sure what was originally written, but that is not actually the case. We can be sure that the word of God we have today carries to us doctrine essential to our faith.
Some may find this a bit boring, but for others it will be exciting.
The original manuscripts that make up out modern Bible are in three languages, Hebrew, Greek and some Aramaic.
From about 1500 B.C. to about 400 B.C. the Old Testament was written by several different authors. Based on Jewish tradition, it is believed that at about 450 B.C. Ezra compiled and arranged the mostly Hebrew text into what is now the Old Testament. There are 4 categories arranged this way:
The Law: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.
Historical: Joshua, Judges, Ruth,1st and 2nd Samuel, 1st and 2nd Kings, 1st and 2nd Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther.
The writings: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon
The Prophets:
Major Prophets —
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Minor Prophets —
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
That is a total of 39 books, although in the Jewish bible you will find a smaller number of books (24) because 1st and 2nd Samuel are one book, 1st and 2nd Kings are one book, 1st and 2nd Chronicles are one book and Ezra and Nehemiah are one book. Additionally one book is called “the Twelve” compiling all the minor prophets into one book.
The New Testament was written between 45 A.D. and 100 A.D. and contain 27 books broken up this way:
The Gospels: Mathew, Mark, Luke and John
The book of Acts
The Epistles, which is everything else but the book of Revelations
Paul is the largest contributor as far as number of writings. Luke wrote both Luke and Acts which together would be the largest contribution as far as pure size is concerned.
These are all the canonized scriptures. Other writings have been rejected due teaching inconsistent with what Jesus taught and their suspect nature. The 27 books that we have, are all known to have existed early in the forming of the church.
These books were first confirmed by Athuasius, Jerome, Augustine and three church councils and was formally confirmed in AD 397 by the Synod of Carthage. This council simply confirmed what had already been excepted by most of the churches.
Hebrew, 2nd Peter, 2nd and 3rd John, Jude and Revelations were contested by some, but the writing lined up with the teachings in the Gospels and the other Epistles and were therefore kept. Other writings, such as the Gospel of Thomas, were clearly off base from the teachings of Christ and were sometimes bizarre.
Example: Jesus said, "Blessed is the lion which becomes man when
consumed by man; and cursed is the man whom the lion consumes,
and the lion becomes man."
Other writings attempted to write about the youth of Christ, but were written so late as to not have been written by anyone who could have been witness or talked to someone who would have been a witness and were not consistent with everything else we know about Jesus.
The spread of New Testament writings was helped tremendously by Constantine legalizing Christianity in AD 321.
In AD 435 Jerome completes a translation of all the texts into the common language of Latin. His work becomes known as the Latin Vulgate and became the standard bible for 1100 years, even though at its publication it received much criticism.
The first English translation came in 1382 by John Wycliffe. His translation of the bible was banned and burned. In addition, his followers, called Lollards (babblers) were burned at the stake for trying to make the bible available in the common language of the time.
44 years after Wycliffs death, his body was dug up and burned and ashes thrown into a river for “heresy” because translated the bible into the common language.
In 1455 the printing press is invented by Johann Gutenberg and the first thing that he prints in the Latin Vulgate and becomes known as the Gutenberg Bible.
In 1516, Erasmus publishes the first edition of his work on the Bible. A Greek translation with a more accurate Latin translation along side the Greek. He dedicated his work to Pope Leo X to avoid problems with not seeking permission to put together and new translation. He was criticized by his peers for “altering God’s word”. His work would serve as the basis for most of the English translations that would follow, including the King James Version almost a hundred years later.
In 1525, William Tyndale translates the New Testament into English even though it was illegal to do so. He left England for fear of his life and went to Germany. There he printed his New Testament and smuggled it into England in sacks of flour and corn. He later, in 1536 returned to England and was arrested and burned at the stake. His last words “O God, open the eyes of the King”
One year later, in 1537, John Rogers completes Tyndale’s work on the Old Testament that he had begun while in prison and submits the work under a pseudonym, Thomas Matthews, to a printer. The printer takes the Bible to the Bishop of England, who takes it to Henry the XIII who authorized its printing and became known as the “Matthews Bible” though it was mostly Tyndale’s work.
About 90% of Tyndale’s work is what is in the King James Version bible. What is called “Biblical English” comes from Tyndale.
In 1604, at a conference of Bishops, John Reynolds, suggests to King James I, to commission a committee to create a new English translation. It started with 54 men, but only 47 completed the project.
They were broken up into 6 groups.
THE TRANSLATORS OF THE KING JAMES BIBLE (1604–1611).
First Westminster Company
Genesis to 2 Kings
Lancelot Andrewes (head) — Cambridge University
William Bedwell — from Cambridge
Francis Burleigh
Richard Clarke — Cambridge University
Geoffrey King — Cambridge University
John Layfield — Cambridge University
John Overal — Cambridge University
Adrian Saravia
Richard Thompson — Cambridge University
Robert Teigh — Cambridge University
First Cambridge Company
1 Chronicles to Song of Solomon
Roger Andrewes — Cambridge University
Andrew Bing — Cambridge University
Laurence Chaderton — Cambridge University
Francis Dillingham — Cambridge University
Thomas Harrison — Cambridge University
Edward Lively (head) — Cambridge University
John Richardson — Cambridge University
Robert Spalding — Cambridge University
First Oxford Company
Isaiah to Malachi
Richard Brett
Richard Fairclough
John Harding (head)
Thomas Holland
Richard Kilby
John Reynolds
Miles Smith (final editor)
Second Cambridge Company
The Apocrypha
John Bois — Cambridgeshire
William Branthwaite — Cambridge University
Andrew Downes — Cambridge University
John Duport (head) — Cambridge University
Jeremiah Radcliffe — Cambridgeshire
Robert Ward — Cambridge University
Samuel Ward — Cambridge University
Second Oxford Company
Matthew to Acts and Revelation
George Abbot
John Aglionby
Richard Eedes
John Harmer
Leonard Hutten
James Montague
John Perin
Ralph Ravens
Thomas Ravis (head)
Sir Henry Savile
Giles Thomson
Second Westminster Company
Romans to Jude
William Barlow (head) — Cambridge University
Thomas Bilson (final editor)
William Dakins — Cambridge University
Roger Fenton — Cambridge University
Ralph Hutchinson
Michael Rabbet
Thomas Sanderson
John Spencer
Seventh Company, London
Richard Bancroft (overseer)
Others
George Ryves (overseer of the New Testament)
William Thorne (member of First Oxford Company)
Daniel Featley (member of First Oxford Company)
William Eyre — Cambridge University (member of Second Cambridge Company)
This translation was published in 1611, they looked at the Hebrew and Greek Manuscripts and the Tyndale Bible and the Bishops bible. The version of this bible we use today in the 1769 revised version.
The month of May this year marked the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible.
The Word and Faith
The process used to translate into English by the King James translators gives us an accurate doctrinal work. We can be assured that the word we have today holds the same meaning.
Psalms 12:6-7 The words of the LORD [are] pure words: [as] silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
His word was preserved so that we could be changed. His word gives us faith, the essence of our relationship with Jesus. I would like to read a couple of scriptures and tie them together with a point.
Romans 10:14-17 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
17 So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Psalms 119:49-50 Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.
50 This [is] my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.
The worded quickened here means to be made alive. Remember we talked about the scripture in 2 Timothy 3:16 that all scripture was by inspiration or breathed out by God? Faith is the spiritual breath we take. Just as God breathed life into the nostrils of Adam, he breathes life into our spiritual man by his word. We are made spiritually alive by his word. We hear the gospel and our faith is established, giving us a basis for our relationship with Christ.
It is through faith that we are able to bare fruit and experience the fullness of God in our life.
1 Peter 1:5-11 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make [you that ye shall] neither [be] barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
We are different when we apply the word of God to our life, when we do something with it. It is not enough to simply hear or read what God said in his word, we have to make it a part of us, to purge the old person and have the work of God in us.
James 1:22-25 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth [therein], he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
Word and Judgement
In the beginning of the study I mentioned that we would be Judged by Gods word and we have seen how there is a difference in those who apply Gods word to their lives and those who don’t. There is fruit that should be brought forth.
Matthew 7:17-27 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither [can] a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
God holds us accountable for what we choose to do with what he tells us. If we aren’t changed, if we aren’t bringing fruit in our life, we will be hewn down and cast into the fire. There has to be a relationship established, not just a convenient place to go when we are in trouble or need something.
John 14:23-26 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
25 These things have I spoken unto you, being [yet] present with you.
26 But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
When we love God, we do what he tells us to do. He comes and inhabits our lives and brings out his word in us. The word on a page become alive when we are seeking God, it is his living word.
Hebrews 4:1-2,9-13 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left [us] of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard [it].
9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God [did] from his.
11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
12 For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things [are] naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
Again the word quick here means alive. There is a rest for those who are in belief, which is an action word. It is not passive, our belief spurs us to action because there will come a time, when the word of God will judge us and there will be nothing that can hide us from its judgment. It will be the test of our true heart.
Romans 2:2-6 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
The judgment of God is according to truth and we read in John 17:17 that God word is truth. Paul gave a list of things that were against God in the first chapter or Romans and makes it clear that those things are against the truth of Gods word. God will give us the reward we are due, whether good or bad, but it will be by what we did.
Understanding that God will judge us by his word and that spiritual life comes from his word. We should understand that we should share Gods word. If we are changed and become alive, we should want others to experience the same. Why would we let them be on the wrong side of judgment?
I would like to end this study with the parable of the sower.
Matthew 13:1-23 The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.
2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.
3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
4 And when he sowed, some [seeds] fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and [their] ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with [their] eyes, and hear with [their] ears, and should understand with [their] heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
16 But blessed [are] your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous [men] have desired to see [those things] which ye see, and have not seen [them]; and to hear [those things] which ye hear, and have not heard [them].
18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth [it] not, then cometh the wicked [one], and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth [it]; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
For the purposes of this study I would like us to see ourselves as the sower. He went out and spread the seed indiscriminately. He didn’t worry about the ground, he sowed the seed and let nature take its course.
We should be sharing the word of God with everyone, we don’t get to decide the ground we toss the seed on, that is God’s job. Those seeking God will come to His truth by our faith as Romans 1:17 says that the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith.
Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Some of you may be waiting for me to tell you about Aliens and Dinosaurs and Vampires, well I have told you everything the bible has to say about those things. Scripture gives us a way to be reconciled to God, a spiritual knowledge base to make life decisions pleasing to God.
Again, there is a lot to this subject and I hope that like the Church in Thessalonica in Acts 17:10-12, you will search the scriptures daily and that we all will take personal responsibility for the word given to us by God.
Why Shouldn't I just Read the Words in Red?
Jesus said the words, he did not write them. Men wrote them as moved by the Holy Spirit. Men also wrote the other books of the New Testament as moved by the Holy Spirit (2 Pet. 1:21).
Mark 1:1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the gospel of the kingdom of heaven. We are commanded to preach the gospel in the great commission. What is the gospel? The gospel is the story of Jesus Christ. The story of God sending his Son to die for us, to rise again, and to be seated on the right hand of God until he returns to judge the quick and the dead. The story of those who are His being received up into everlasting Heaven.
The gospel is not just Jesus' words. Jesus is the gospel message.
The writings of the New Testament are what testify of this.
1 John 1:1-2 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen [it], and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
Paul gives references (more than once) that God will do things that line up with his (Paul's) gospel.
Rom 2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
God spoke through the prophets:
Heb 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
In John's revelation (inspired by God, written by John), he stresses the importance of the text:
And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. Rev 21:5
and then:
For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and [from] the things which are written in this book.
We see from this that God chose man to record his words. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. God is a Spirit, and God's Spirit moved upon men to write His holy Word. God's Word became manifest as Jesus Christ, and he spoke directly to us. Jesus himself did not pen the gospels however, God once again chose man.
So, since everything God said or did has had to be transcribed by man, how does one know this thing we call the Bible is 100% the word of God, and not slanted, filled with errors, or corrupt? The answer is through God's Holy Spirit. In John 14, God promises that the Holy Spirit will teach us all things, and bring all things into remembrance. Jesus (The living Word of Life) says, "I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you."
This is what helps me. Remember, in the beginning was the Word. The Word is still with us. Jesus is now the living Word of life. What's the difference between great literature like the Bible, Shakespeare, Plato, or even CS Lewis? The difference is that the author of the Bible is not dead. God's Word is a living thing. Because faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen, what will convince you that you need to trust the whole Word of God – even though it was written by men – is the evidence of God's Spirit dealing with you when you read the words. If we have to make the word's of God red, we really should just make the whole Bible red.
Why don't Christians Keep the Old Testament Laws?
For example observing the Old Testament Sabbath (from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset) which is part of the 10 commandments, and laws such as eating Kosher meats.
Sometimes the questions are asked in a condescending manner in an attempt to show a hypocritical nature of Christians.
1. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a
pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev. 1:9. The problem is my neighbors
They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual unseemliness - Lev. 15:19-24. The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offence.
4. Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?
5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?
6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination - Lev. 11:10-, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this?
7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?
8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die?
9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves? [tracy's note: this is the same statement made on a hellivision show (I don't which one) a football ain't made out of pig skin.]
10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? - Lev. 24:10-16.
The question then becomes... Why do christians ignore these laws?
This is a good question. If Christ said He came not to destroy the law, why don't we still observe the Old Testament laws? The answer quite simply is, that we do keep these laws, just not in the physical sense. We continue to observe those laws in Christ who fulfilled (completed) them.
In Hosea 4:6 it says "My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge". It is important for us to understand how the Old Testament is applied to New Testament living. Knowing what scripture says about this subject can create a better understanding of our relationship with God.
Let's start with what Jesus said
Matthew 5:17 "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the Prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." The world fulfill here means: to make complete in every particular, to render perfect These laws are still valid, but, they are applied in a spiritual way. The application of the law has been transformed by the coming of Jesus Christ. Colossians 2:9-17 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: 11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with [him] through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 [And] having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath [days]: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body [is] of Christ. The law was the ordinance against us. We could never be good enough to be clean before God. So, God sent his Son a perfect sacrifice to reconcile us back to him. The law was a shadow of things to come. Ezekiel 44:23, And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.
The ceremonial laws taught us to make a difference between clean and unclean. If I did not have this physical reality, how could I understand something invisible, the spiritual? The Lord was teaching people that there is a difference in things. Some things are clean some are unclean. Some things are holy some profane. Things like the Sabbath, were intended to cease from iniquity or evil works. Now is Jesus we find rest from sin everyday by going to him in repentance. Ezekiel lets us know we are to discern between what is clean (righteous) and unclean (carnal). It was a teacher of sorts.
Gal 3:19-27 Wherefore then [serveth] the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; [and it was] ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator is not [a mediator] of one, but God is one. 21 [Is] the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. 22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster [to bring us] unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
We have a new covenant with God. This is a new contract or agreement between God and man, making the old to pass away. The spirit of the law lives on, the law was to teach us the application of the spiritual things. The law remains in our hearts, by being in Jesus.
Hebrews 8:8-13 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: 9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. 10 For this [is] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: 11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. 12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. 13 In that he saith, A new [covenant], he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old [is] ready to vanish away.
Hebrews 10:1-5 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, [and] not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. 3 But in those [sacrifices there is] a remembrance again [made] of sins every year. 4 For [it is] not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. 5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once [for all]. 11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
It is not that we ignore the Old Testament law, it is that we understand the perfecting of the law. To be under the law we are condemned but to be in Jesus there is no condemnation.
Romans 8:1-5 [There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
A good way to look at this would be to consider the spirit of adultery. If we avoid lust, then we will also (without any need for a written law) avoid physical acts of adultery. The letter of this law is still valid. If we do not covet, then we will (without any need for a written law) not steal. This law is also valid in the letter. If we are not angry at our brother, we will (without any need for a written law) not murder. Again, the letter is valid. Keeping the spirit of the law has thwarted these sins at their very source.
In summary, we do in a sense keep the law, it has passed from the physical to the spiritual however with a new covenant from God. This is one of the ways that all scripture is profitable.
Do I even need to read the Old Testament? Why bother if the laws don't apply anymore?
You can find salvation entirely in the New Testament. This is a true statement. The New Testament gives us what we need to be saved, stay saved, and see others saved. There are however many reasons why we should learn the Old Testament. Here are just a few:
Understanding: Yes, the New Testament is extremely important to a Christian, and it should be. We should strive to understand the New Testament as best as we can. Yet it’s hard to truly understand the New Testament without understanding the Old Testament.
One quick example is Hebrews 11 which uses stories from the O.T. to show how our faith should be justified.
Reproof, Correction in Righteousness, Doctrine: Basically, Rightous Living Paul says that All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 2 Tim 3:16
There are roughly 695 separate quotations from the books of the Old Testament that can be found in the New Testament (a). The Apostles and disciples referred to the Old Testament frequently, even when addressing Gentiles. Philip explained scripture from the book of Elijah to the eunuch (Acts 8:35).
Jesus himself referenced the Old Testament when Satan tried to tempt him. And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. Luke 4:4
Notice it says “every word”. As Scott just showed us, Jesus fulfilled the law. This means the laws of the Levitical priesthood and specific practices that were necessary to be a part of God’s chosen people are no longer necessary. This does not mean that the “Old Testament” is no longer God’s word. It wasn’t until many years after Jesus that we divided up the Bible into New and Old Testament. The only thing that changed in this thing we call the New Testament, is we entered into a new covenant with God regarding our relationship with him and the plan for salvation. Jesus’ words will judge us, but we still live by every word of God, even if those words are recorded in the Old Testament.
So we might believe: There are over 100 prophecies that Jesus himself fulfilled.
These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and [that] they had done these things unto him. John 12:16
Wisdom, knowledge, instruction in praise and worship: We have timeless examples on how to live wisely and how to worship God in books like Psalms and Proverbs.
Those were just a few quick examples of why the Old Testament is very important. Here is a more practical example. There are those who believe in the Old Testament but not the New Testament. They are still waiting for a Messiah, or believe that Jesus was somehow not the Messiah, or less than “God With us”. Just as Jesus and Paul did, we need to meet people where they are at, and for some people, that is in the Old Testament.
a. Ashley, Scott. "The Old Testament in the New Testament - Good News Magazine." United Church of God. Web. 18 June 2011. <http://www.ucg.org/christian-living/old-testament-new-testament/>.
