Dec 17 2008
BREIF OVERVIEW OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
Christian Glitter by www.christianglitter.com
In the Old Testament we learn about sin, how it got here, what it is, punishment, atonement. One of the most amazing things the Old Testament teaches us is about the coming Messiah. Basically the whole Old Testament is a look forward to the coming Savior of the world. The Jews believed that a savior was coming to take over the world much like the Romans had and the Babylonians before them. Napoleon comes to mind as well. Hitler tried in modern times. This was the kind of savior the Jews were looking for. Hence God warned them about not leaning to their own understanding in the book of Proverbs. They did not listen and when Jesus arrived they denied Him as the Savior because He did not fit their image of what they thought a savior should look like or act like. They are waiting for military might and Jesus preached turning the other cheek. That is NOT what the Jews wanted to hear. Jesus was meek and mild tempered. They wanted someone to “take over the world”.
What the Jews Thought
“This can not be the Messiah that is promised us because the Messiah is to rule over His kingdom and this guy won’t even make His disciples wash their hands properly. Look at Him. He claims that God is His Father. He is a disgrace to us and could never be the Savior.”
The Truth
Jesus came to become the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. He rules from His throne in heaven. He died that we could live, a perfect blood sacrifice. This is our only means of returning to favor with God. Our own selfish desires and unrighteousness separate us but through the sacrifice of the blood of Christ we are redeemed. The Jews believed that they could earn their way to heaven just because they were God’s chosen people. Jesus taught them that the ONLY way to heaven was through Him. No birth right, no amount of “being good”, no works can get us to heaven or restore our relationship with God. The ONLY way to salvation is faith. Faith that Jesus is who He says He is and that He can do what He said He would. Faith in His atonement for our sins. Faith in His love for us. Faith that the Bible is the Word of God. Without the Old Testament the New Testament makes no sense at least to me.
