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NerdyPotato Here you go. A little light reading. It is a lot but the context is important and in general it is hard to understand without a basic knowledge of the bible and the Tanakh. I tried not to make assumptions of what you do or don't know. I have highlighted the more important passages to help guide your reading that fit my personal understanding and beliefs. If you really want to understand then enjoy.
What do the words “Old Testament” and “New Testament” mean?
The Old and New Testaments are the two major divisions of the Bible. The
Old Testament contains all the books written during the first dispensation,[b] so, [b]during the time of God’s covenant agreement with humanity in general and with the people of Israel in particular, in which
the law played an important role Old Testament is basically a rendition of the Tanakh, the Hebrew Bible. Both Jews and Christian hold these books to be the word of God.The
New Testament describes a new dispensation, where God made a new agreement with man on the basis of the salvation work of Jesus Christ. This new covenant had already been foretold by the prophet Jeremiah
The Old Testament consists of 39 separate books (some of which belong together as “part 1” and “part 2” of a longer book). These books can be divided into three major genres:
Historical books: starting from creation and mainly focusing on the history of the people of Israel and God’s dealing with them.
Poetic books or writings: songs, proverbs and poems.
Prophetic books: messages of God, mainly to the people of Israel.
The Old Testament is the first part of the Christian Bible. But the Jews also value these Scriptures as the Word of God. So, the Old Testament Bible books are considered holy by both the Jewish and the Christian religion
he New Testament consists of 27 books.
It starts with four gospels. These books narrate Jesus’ birth and His life on earth. They describe Jesus’ teaching and many miracles He did. They especially focus on the events around Jesus’ death and resurrection, since these are of central importance.
Then follows the book Acts, which relates the history of the early church. This book is followed by letters or epistles Paul and other apostles to newly planted churches and to individuals apply Jesus teaching and purpose.
The New Testament concludes with Revelation, a book full of prophecies and culminating in the description of the new earth and heaven that God promises to create.
The New Testament is all about Jesus and the new covenant. The stories in the Old Testament make abundantly clear that
people are not able to keep God’s laws. They break the covenant over and over again. Therefore, God the Father sent His only Son to deal with the problem of sin once for all. Jesus came to take away sin and to reconcile man with God. It does not matter whether one belongs to the people of Israel or not; all are one in Christ. It is through faith that one is saved from eternal death – because of grace that God showers on us through Jesus Christ
Why is the New Testament important?
The gospels have been written “so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name” and “that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught”
The gospels tell us the way towards true life and happiness. The rest of the New Testament explains and applies this. This is authoritative
Scripture for believers from all time, “breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” The New Testament is an exclusively Christian book. No other religion recognizes it.The Old Testament looks forward to coming of the Messiah, the Servant of the Lord. Jesus says it points to Him: “Everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled” . By mentioning the three major sections of the Old Testament, Jesus says that all Scripture that was available by then, was actually about Him.
But
the “fulfillment” goes further than specific promises about Jesus’ place of birth and so; He Himself is the embodiment of God’s salvation plan. He is the promised Messiah.The Old Covenant, or Old Testament has been fulfilled and replaced by the New Covenant or New Testament. Does this mean we should throw out the Old Testament and never read it? Not at all. The Bible tells us that the Old Testament Scriptures are written for our admonition, so that we can learn from what was recorded.
The Old Testament is the living Word of God just like the New Testament, but needs to be read with the understanding that because of the finished work of Jesus, we now live under a new covenant with God. As
New Testament believers we no longer live under the Old Covenant Law given to Moses and the Israelites.
We now receive right standing with God based upon our faith in Jesus’s finished work.
How God relates to humanity has completely changed with the change of covenant. How God related to Old Testament men and women is very different from how He relates to us now.
Does the New Testament Override the Old Testament? One of the definitions of override according to the Merriam Webster dictionary is to set aside, to annul.
Using this definition of override, we can see from the Bible that t
he New Testament, or New Covenant does in fact override the Old Covenant. ..
He takes away the first that He may establish the second. Hebrews 10:9 NKJV k This is one of the main reasons Jew's do not agree with Christianity.
The Bible tells us that the Old Covenant has now been made obsolete.
To make something obsolete means that it is made no longer useful or it is no longer in use. T
his makes it quite clear that the Old Covenant is no longer how God is relating to mankind. This doesn’t mean that the old covenant never mattered, but it means that the old covenant is no longer the active contract between God and man today.
In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away. Hebrews 8:13 NKJV
The change of covenants has dramatically changed how God relates to humanity.
Sin has been completely wiped away and forgiven. T
he New Testament believer can now be born again and receive a brand new, righteous spirit. The New Testament believer can now be filled with the very Spirit of God Himself. Everything has changed. When God looks at a believer now, He sees His child who is just as righteous as He is. Wow!
It’s so important as a Christian to understand that
you are not supposed to be living under the Old Covenant that was made with the Israelites through Moses. The
Old Covenant included blessings and cursings according to man’s obedience or disobedience. It included many animal sacrifices, feasts, rules, and various other traditions that had to be kept. These were all a shadow of what was to come- Jesus Christ.
So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. Colossians 2:16-17
For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. Hebrews 10:1
The Old Testament sacrifices could never truly cleanse a person. Only the blood of Jesus is able to wipe away sin. Because Jesus bore our sin, we can be totally forgiven and made new. The penalty for sin has been paid for you. You are free based upon your believe and faith in Jesus. You know longer must follow all the written laws of the Old Testament. They are obsolete and entirely replaced by your faith in Jesus and the unearned love and forgiven grace he bestowes upon the believer.
