S) "47 'But if you do not believe [Moses'] writings, how will you believe My words?'"
John 5:47 (NASB)
O) Put simply, this is Jesus endorsing the Old Testament (OT). While there are certainly rules and regulations in the OT, that was not the purpose. As you read through the whole Bible, starting from Genesis with Adam and Eve, the whole thing is about God's desire for relationship with us. As you move from the Fall of Man, and through to the Forefathers of Israel, and the Exodus, and on through the history of God's people, all of it is foreshadowing God's ultimate plan: reconciliation. For every regulation in the OT, trying to keep God's people clean and safe, there must be dozens more prophesies that point to Jesus. The Bible, as a whole, is a 66-book love letter, like Lecrae says at 2:35 of this song.
A) I need to value the entire Bible. 2 Timothy 3:16 says, "All Scripture is God-breathed..." and so, like this blog is prompting me to do, I need to be a student of all of it. It's tempting to put more weight in the New Testament (NT) books of the Bible, since they were written after Jesus came. While His significance cannot be understated, if I am neglecting the OT, then I will fail to grasp all that is offered in the NT. As my pastor, Stephen Dabbs says, the Bible is like a quilt and its verses are like the patches. I cannot take a single patch and try to cover myself with it, or it will make for a long, cold, and restless night (and life). I need to take the Scriptures as a whole.
A) I need to value the entire Bible. 2 Timothy 3:16 says, "All Scripture is God-breathed..." and so, like this blog is prompting me to do, I need to be a student of all of it. It's tempting to put more weight in the New Testament (NT) books of the Bible, since they were written after Jesus came. While His significance cannot be understated, if I am neglecting the OT, then I will fail to grasp all that is offered in the NT. As my pastor, Stephen Dabbs says, the Bible is like a quilt and its verses are like the patches. I cannot take a single patch and try to cover myself with it, or it will make for a long, cold, and restless night (and life). I need to take the Scriptures as a whole.
P) Father, continue to give me a thirst for Your Word. Holy Spirit, open my eyes to see the mysteries You've written in the Bible, both before and after Jesus came. There are deep workings throughout Your Word, Lord, and I want to understand them better. I want to understand You better. As I seek to understand them, give me wisdom to apply them to my life, so that I will bear fruit and glorify You. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.
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