We believe the history, law, poetry, wisdom, and prophecy.

· We believe in the Genesis account of creation, in a world that teaches evolution.

· We believe in the record of a global flood of Noah's time, in a world that says it's a fable.

· We believe in the Old Testament history of man, in a world that says it's a collection of made up stories.

· We are touched by the emotions of the psalms.

· We are inspired by the beauty of the poetry.

· We are challenged by the books of wisdom, in a world too busy to appreciate them.

· We are amazed by the accuracy of the prophets, in a world that ignores spiritual things.

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We believe in the Old Testament and in its great value!

· I Cor 10: 11 Teaches that the things that happened to people in Old Testament times are examples for us today.

· Rom 15: 4 Teaches that the things written before, in the Old Testament, were written for our learning.   These things were written to comfort us, give us hope, and show us the nature of God.

The Old Testament teaches the tragedy of sin.

· Isa 59:1 Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:  But your sins have separated between you and your God and they [your sins] have hid his face from you, that He will not hear you.

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Yes, we believe in the Old Testament and in its great value, but is the law of the Old Testament still binding?   (It is called the Law of Moses.)

Are Christians today under the Law of Moses?

· Col 2: 14  teaches that Jesus blotted out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, (Old Testament Law) and He took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross.

· Gal 3: 13  teaches that Jesus has redeemed us from the curse of the law.

· Heb 8: 13  teaches that Jesus brought a new covenant, and that He has made the first covenant old, and it has vanished away.

· Rom 7: 4  Paul wrote, My brethren, you have become dead to the law of Moses by the body of Christ.

· Gal 3:24  Paul wrote about the purpose of the Old Law:  'The law was (past tense) our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

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The Law of Moses was not designed to last forever.

It didn't take away sins!

· Read Hebrews chapter 10.  Speaking of animal sacrifices, we read that in those sacrifices there was a remembrance of sins again every year. For it was not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

· It took the blood of Jesus, and His new covenant, the New Testament.

The New Covenant was made complete and perfect, by the blood of Christ.

· Heb 7: 19  The law of Moses made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did.

· Its called a "better testament".          Heb 7: 22

· Its called the "perfect law".               James  1: 25

· It promises of forgiveness of sins!    Rom 6: 7

· It promises a heavenly home.           Heb 11: 16

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Misunderstanding the Old Testament is causing religious confusion today.

Some are tithing,  according to Old Testament law.

· The Old Law said, "All the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord's. It is holy unto the Lord.  (Lev 27:30)

· The New Law says, "Every man according as he purposes in his heart, so let him     give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver.  (II Cor 9: 7)  I Cor 16: 2 teaches, Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him.

Some are observing  the sabbath, according to Old Testament law.

· The Old Law said, "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.  (Exo 20:8)

· The New Law says that Christians came together on the first day of the week.  Read Acts 20:7 &  I Cor 16:2

Some are playing musical instruments while they sing in worship.

· The Old Testament said, "Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: Praise him with the psaltery and harp. Praise him with the timbrel and dance: Praise him with stringed instru-ments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: Praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.  (Psa 150:3)

· The New Testament says for Christians to teach and admonish one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord. (Col 3:16)  Eph 5: 19 teaches, Speak to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

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Conclusion:

· Are you following the New Law?   …the New Testament of Jesus?

· Jesus died to make it possible, and available to us today.

· Hebrews chapter 9 teaches that by Christ's own blood,  He obtained eternal redemption for us. And for this cause, Christ is the mediator of the New Testament by means of His death, for the forgiveness of sins.

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Please consider these Bible passages also:

· Mat 26: 26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. 27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

· Lk 16: 16 The law and the prophets were until John:  Since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presses into it.

· Lk 24: 44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

· Rom 7: 4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another,

· Rom 10: 4 Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

· Rom 15: 4 Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.  5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:

· II Cor 3: 6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.  Vs.13 And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: 14  But their minds were blinded: for until this day remains the same veil, not taken away in the reading of the old testament; which veil is done away in Christ.

· Gal 3: 23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

· Gal 4: 21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?  22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. 24 Which things are an allegory (symbolic) for these are the two covenants; the one from the Mount Sinai, which genders to bondage, which is like Agar. 25 For this Agar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

· Col 2: 14 (Jesus) Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, (old law) and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

· Heb 7: 11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

Vs 19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the

bringing in of a better hope did;  by the which we draw

nigh unto God.

Vs 22 Jesus was made a surety (guarantee) of a

better testament.

· Heb 8: 6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.  7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.

Vs 13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made

the first old.         Now that which decays and grows

old is ready to vanish away.

· Heb 10: 9 Jesus said, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. Christ takes away the first, that he may establish the second.

· Heb 12: 24 Jesus is the mediator of the new covenant.

· James 1: 25 But whoso looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

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What did we learn from these Bible passages?

Mat 26:26-28  >  The new covenant cost the blood of Jesus Christ.

Luke 16:16  >  The old law lasted until the time of John the Baptist.

Luke 24:44  >  Jesus fulfilled the old law.

Rom 7:4  >  Mankind is dead to the old law, and married to another.

Rom 10:4  >  Christ is the end of the old law.

Rom 15:4-5  >  Things written before were for our learning, but now we live in Christ.

II Cor 3:6-14  >  The new covenant is more glorious than the old, which is done away.

Gal 3:23-25  >  The old law was a schoolmaster, whom we are under no longer.

Gal 4:21-26  >  The old law was bondage, but the new law is freedom.

Col 2:13-14  >  The old law was removed, nailed to the cross of Christ.

Heb 7:11,12,19,22  >  Jesus is a better high priest, so we have a guarantee of a better law.

Heb 8:6,7,13  >    Jesus is the mediator of a new covenant. The new covenant contains better promises. The old covenant was faulty or imperfect. The old covenant has been replaced by the new.

Heb 10:9-10  >  By his death, Jesus took away the old covenant, to establish the new.

Heb 12:24  >  Jesus is the mediator of the new covenant.

James 1:25  >  The new covenant is the perfect law of liberty.

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Hopefully, this has helped you in your study.  If we may assist you in other Bible studies, please let us know.

Shane Hoover, Minister

Greeneville Church of Christ