In recent years a famous Pastor stated that we need to “unhitch” from the Old Testament. Is the Old Testament still of value to New Testament Christians? The answer is a resounding “yes!” God’s word is timeless and applies to us all. The God of the Old Testament is the God of the New. We impoverish ourselves to think that we don’t need what is found in the first 39 books of the Bible.

Here are some reasons why I think that the Old Testament is still important.

1) The Old Testament was not invalidated by Jesus but fulfilled by Him. (Matthew 5:17-18) 2) The Old Testament is the promise, Jesus is the promise fulfilled.

3) The New Testament quotes the Old over 4,000 times.

4) Paul reasoned from the Old Testament to share his faith with others. (Acts 28:23)

Jesus used the Old Testament to convey who He was and what He came to do. One of my seminary professors put it this way, “The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed, The New Testament is the Old Testament revealed.” God reveals so much of who is He in the Old Testament. It would be our great loss to ignore it.

The second part of the question is the Old Testament outdated?

Well, we are certainly under a new covenant based on Jesus and not the Law. However, God is timeless and what we can learn about God and ourselves never grows old. As Christians the Old Testament shows us how God was at work in human history. It encourages us that God does not give up on His people. It demonstrated that God used normal people like us, to accomplish great things. It gives us hope that the God who made the Universe knows us by name.

I hope that you can find some comfort in these words. I don’t believe God wants us to be confused. I believe that God wants us to know and understand who He is and what He is doing.

First Baptist Church is a place to find answers to questions like these. I would like to invite you to come find this out for yourself.

First Baptist Church is located at the corner of 4th and Foley.

Morning Bible Study begins at 8:45 a.m., with our Morning Worship Service at 10 a.m. Our Wednesday Night programs begin at 6 p.m.

I would also invite you to visit our website at www.eufaulafbc.org.

Know that you are loved! Pastor J. First Baptist Church of Eufaula