Dec 16 2008
BREAKDOWN OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
Verse of the Day
Mathew 4:4 (NKJV) But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”
In the Old Testament God 
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Yesterday we began studying the New and Old Testaments. Our verse today is from both. The word testament means covenant. We need to understand what the covenants were. Before I explain the individual covenants I will give you a brief overview of the whole thing.
Once sin entered into mankind, we lost the personal fellowship with God. Before sin entered Adam and Eve walked and talked with God directly as friends. God told Adam and Eve that they would die if they ate of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They did die a spiritual death by being separated from God. They were guilty of disobedience. That is what sin is, disobeying God. Because everyone has sinned and therefore can not have fellowship with God, God provided a way for us to return to that personal fellowship enjoyed by Adam and Eve. In the Old Testament sin was atoned for through animal sacrifice because the only way to cleanse sin is through blood sacrifice. Jesus came to earth to provide the ultimate blood sacrifice for our sins and return us to a fellowship with God. Through the blood He shed at Calvary and our faith in His ability and desire to cleanse us we can enjoy a personal relationship with God again. This does not mean that you will never sin again it just means that now you have the freedom and ability to speak with God concerning your sins and He will help you to overcome these areas. He is also faithful and just to forgive us our sins. That is what the Holy Spirit does. You can recognize the Holy Spirit through the voice in your conscience that tells you right from wrong BEFORE you do it so that you are able to refrain from sin if you listen.
In the Old Testament, or under the first covenant if you prefer, we were introduced to the things that God considers to be sin. Each of the Laws details what God considers to be sin. God also provided for atonement from these sins by various animal sacrifices. Some sins were punished more severely due to the need to keep the nation of Israel pure. God intended for Israel to recognize their need for Him due to their inability to live a sin free life on their own. He knew in His infinite wisdom that they could not do it without His intervention.
Well, as I look at this I realize I have way too much for you to read in one post so I will give you more tomorrow.
For today know that God loves us enough to provide for us everything we need to become closer to Him.
