Do you believe what is written in the Old Testament? There are those who set aside, or even exclude the teachings of the O.T. They claim to believe the New, but not the Old. This thinking has had a terrible effect on the Christian faith. These words when spoken by believers, give a platform to unbelievers; and in this, various other religions, and atheist can rail against Christians. What a disastrous effect this has had on the word of God.
Also I have heard many say, “Do we need to read Paul’s epistles?” Can’t we trim the N.T. down to the four gospels?
Hopefully not; this would lead to error in our understanding; and it may be the single greatest reason for unsound doctrine; and the reason why so many have fallen away from the faith. If this were pursued, it would lead to unsound practices, and soon, unbelief.
In the four gospels, Jesus quotes from twenty-two of the O.T. books. And this may only be a small part of what our Lord had really said.
John 21:25, “And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written.”
In Matthew, we find nineteen quotations from the O.T; in Mark, fifteen, Luke, twenty five, John eleven. The book of Hebrews has 85 O.T. quotations; and in Revelation there are 245. Many of these are not just random verses, but at times, whole blocks taken from the Old, and quoted in the New. So this begs the question, how can anyone say they believe in the New, and not the Old?
Jesus said many times, “This is done that the (O.T.) Scriptures might be fulfilled.”
Matthew 24:35, Jesus said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” And He is the author and finisher of our faith.
Almost two thousand years have passed since the Lord was with us. Yet His words are read in every corner of the world as never before, and in every language; the four winds having covered the globe with His word. If man rejected His word, even the stones would be made to cry out praising Him.
Someone said to me, “How can anyone believe Elijah was fed by ravens.” I scratched my head, and wondered, “How can this Christian lady doubt the Bible?” Jesus set his seal on the word, and I would highly advise that we, as servants of God, hear, and believe. After all, Jesus believed them.
The lady remarked, “How about the story of Noah, and the world wide flood?” I replied, in Matthew 24:38, Jesus said, “For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark. And knew not until the flood came and took them all away. “
Inspired of the Holy Spirit, Paul writes, Hebrews 11:7, “By faith Noah being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving o his house.”
She asked me, “Do you believe that all the children of Israel were fed manna in the desert by God?
John 6:49, Jesus believed, and said, “Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness.”
The lady said, “How about the story of those who were bitten by deadly serpents. Scriptures say, If those who were bitten by deadly serpents, would look at the brass serpent, they would live. You don’t believe that story do you?”
Christ said, John 3:14, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.”
What about the story of Jonah and the whale? Jesus said, “For Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly.”
She said, a whale’s belly is made in such a way, it could not hold a man. But the Scriptures read, “God prepared a great fish.”
As for me, if the Bible said that Jonah swallowed the whale, I would believe it; what about you? If you cannot believe the above, how can anyone possibly believe in Jesus being raised from the dead? His resurrection is the miracle of miracles; think about it!
Dead; no life; finished; not breathing; decaying flesh; and then God raises Himself up to be alive again, as we will also be. Raised again to life, resurrected, having a far more glorious body than the one we had when we were alive and well.
This conversation leads us into prophecies of the future; those who find it hard to believe the above; will find it impossible to believe what the book of Revelation and other prophetic books have to offer. If you don’t believe what has been, than you will find it impossible to believe what lies ahead. In this, your form of faith may be deceiving you. “By faith alone are we saved,” “Unbelief is an abomination unto the Lord.”
Phil LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com