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Dripping Springs Weekly Bulletins
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Why Study the Old Testament
What a rich storehouse of information is found in the pages of the thirty-nine Old Testament books. We find history, poetry, prose, preaching, suspense, love stories and persecution—the contents are fascinating.
The New Testament alludes to those facts thousands of times, and is highly respectful of the inspired writings found within. Even those who are less informed about the work and words of the characters in those books can see that their power and scope are still having an influence in this present day.
When John was inspired to write the book of Revelation, he referred to Old Testament material well over three hundred times. Major New Testament characters were compared to the prophets and other individuals that lived before Christ. The redemption plan of God through Jesus is compared favorably to the sacrificial system of that Mosaic era, John 1:29. We are instructed to learn the great lessons from those interesting—yes majestic narratives, Romans 15:4, 1 Corinthians 10:11.
Please consider the following values therein:
We learn who we are. Human life seems to have little value today, with abortion, evolution and suicide so common in every land. But God does not consider man a blob of protoplasm, or a thing of no value. We are not the product of mindless evolution, but occupy a place of honor and value with God. It was early in man’s existence that God decreed: “Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man,” Genesis 9:6.
Human life is valuable to God. You and I have value in the eyes of God. Value is often determined by the price another is willing to pay for an item. Your soul and mine are more valuable to God than anything that ever existed, for God paid the highest price ever for our soul’s redemption—“ the precious blood of Christ,” 1 Peter 1:18-19.
We learn Who God is. Man has been inventing “gods” for centuries. What they invented has been quite unlike Jehovah, whose love, interest, kindness and long-suffering are just what man needs. The Old Testament informs us that Jehovah is a God of love and mercy, Psalm 84:11. He is holy and just, Deuteronomy 32:4. He is unlimited in knowledge and power, Jeremiah 23:24. God’s concern is seen in His efforts to redeem His creation, seen clearly in the writings of the prophets Hosea and Jeremiah. Paul, in Romans 11:22, alludes to those who “fell” in ancient times, reminding us of God’s wrath; but in chapter 5:6-8 of that same book we read of the powerful love Jehovah has for man. Yes, we learn who God is.
We learn how God deals with man. As valuable as the prior information is, we still need to know how God deals with man and man’s weaknesses and sins. We know He is fair and just, but we also know that when God spoke and commanded, man had to obey. We often declare, “God means what He says,” and Leviticus 10:1-3 documents that fact. No, He does not ignore sin, but He longs for our forgiveness through repentance. He gave plain directions for man’s efforts at worship, and never accepted man’s substitutions, Isaiah 1:11f, Amos 5:21. He made it clear that consequences accompany our actions, and that everyone, from the king on the throne to the beggar on the street, is answerable to that principle.
No, the Old Testament books are not just a useless collection of uninspired, outdated history, but a living diary of the God who still loves mankind, who “is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance,” 2 Peter 3:9.
Why not take a tour through God’s history book today!
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| “If there is anything in my thoughts or style to commend, the credit goes to my parents for instilling in me an early love of the Scriptures. If we abide by the principles taught in the Bible, our country will go on prospering; but if we and our posterity neglect its instructions and authority, no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us and bury all our glory in profound obscurity.”
“It is impossible to enslave mentally or socially a Bible-reading people. The principles of the Bible are the groundwork of human freedom.”
“So great is my veneration for the Bible that the earlier my children begin to read it the more confident will be my hope that they will prove useful citizens of their country and respectable members of society.”
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"Are There Saved People in Denominations?"
The question is often asked, "Are there saved people in denominations?" To answer the question, let us ask another question: "How is one saved?"
- The Bible teaches that every spiritual blessing, including salvation is "in Christ" (Ephesians 1:1-7).
- The Bible teaches that one must be "baptized into Christ" (Galatians 3:27).
- The Bible teaches that when one is baptized his sins are "washed away" (Acts 22:16).
- The Bible teaches that when one is baptized "for the remission of sins," he is added to the church by the Lord (Acts 2:38-47).
The Bible clearly states that those who hear the gospel, believe its facts, trust its promises and obey its commands are saved and therefore added to the Lord's church. Since denominations deny the necessity of baptism for salvation, we simply ask, how could there possibly be any saved people in a denomination? [Note: If any reader doubts that this is true, call any denominational preacher and ask him if he teaches that baptism is necessary for salvation.]
The only way a Christian could be in a denomination is for one to leave the Lord's church to join one! Suppose a person has been scripturally baptized into Christ (Galatians 3:27), and then leaves the church to join a denomination. Then you would have a Christian in a denomination. However, we simply ask, "What is he doing there?" When he attempts to worship, he does so in vain because denominational worship is not authorized by Christ (Matthew 15:8-9; Colossians 3:17). When he contributes his money, he is supporting false teaching (2 John 9-11). To remain in denominational error is to be lost.
Using the same line of reasoning, suppose that one, baptized scripturally, leaves the Lord's church to go back to the world as Demas did (2 Timothy 4:10). Now we have a Christian in the world. Again, we ask, "What is he doing there?" If he does not repent, he will be lost. Simon became a Christian and then sinned. He was told to repent of his wickedness and pray for forgiveness (Acts 8:22). To remain in sin is to be lost.
Friends, the truth of the matter is there is one body (Ephesians 4:4); that body is the church (Ephesians 1:22-23); and the saved are all added to the one body by the Lord upon their obedience to the gospel (Acts 2:38-47; Romans 6:17-18). All the saved must abide in Christ (John 15:4-7), or be lost. The simple truth is that people are not saved in denominations.
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