Someone recently said, “we don’t need the Old Testament.” Well, that poor misguided soul who said that couldn’t be more wrong. The Old Testament has countless verses and true stories, and historical accounts that we can learn from. “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” (1 Corinthians 10:11). Jesus is the Word.  “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14). “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8). “For I am the Lord I change not.” (Malachi 3:6a).So since Jesus is the Word ,and never changes, and is the same yesterday, today, and forever, we had better not dismiss the Old Testament,  because in so doing we are dismissing Jesus Christ. Jesus even said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” (Matthew 24:35). The Bible says, “Remove not the ancient landmark,which thy fathers have set.” (Proverbs 22:28). The Old Testament is full of faith building scriptures that you need to know and memorize. The Book of Psalms has so many encouraging promises that we really need today in our lives, not to mention the Book of Proverbs which is full of wisdom for everybody. Then you have all the Bible prophecies which are unfolding in our daily lives, such as the Book of Isaiah and Daniel, which we need to study and be prepared for the End Times. “And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: and others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.” (Hebrew 11:32-40). It is true that we are not under the Mosaic Law, but under Grace. “Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.” (Romans 7:4). We are dead to the law by the body of Christ, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t learn from it. There are even health lessons to be learned in the law. Jesus said, “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.”  (Matthew 5:17-18). The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed, and the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed. Without the Old Testament we couldn’t prove the New Testament through fulfilled Prophecy. Even the Old Testament Law had many references to Jesus Christ.  “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ,that we might be justified by faith.” (Galatians 3:24). So you see we really do need the Old Testament, and we can’t kick it out or ignore it, just like we can’t take out the foundation that our house is built upon. The Lord even had a shepherd find the dead sea Scrolls in 1947, proving that the Bible hasn’t been changed when they found copies of the Old Testament Books, which are said to be “supernaturally  identical to the King James Bible”. The Old Testament also contains the Genealogies which shows us how Old the Earth is. I hope this lesson will be a help to you and strengthen your faith and your desire to dig into the Word of God. “Blessed are they that do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” (Matthew 5:6).

Say this prayer if you want to be saved: Jesus, I want to know you, and to live forever in Heaven, I know I have made mistakes and done bad things- and I am sorry. Please forgive me. I know I don’t deserve it, but I accept your love and I accept you as my Saviour. I  believed you died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead. Please come into my heart and life and fill me with your Holy Spirit and give me peace. Amen.