Discussion about OT/Application Presently

T

TransformedinChrist

Account Closed
Hi there,
I am studying Malachi right now - chapter 2. Now some people [Christians] believe that we do not really take anything from OT - which I don't really understand. If the bible is the entirety of God's Word should we not adhere, listen and obey? It is all God-breathed and inspired by the Holy Spirit. How is that it is okay to look at OT about prophecy to see what is happening today [at this very moment] but what if there is a scripture like this for example:

If you do not honour God, he will not honour or bless your children - Malachi 2:3, 1 Sm 2:30.

Some may say oh that is under the law and we have forgiveness in Christ so that is no longer valid. How can a Father not discipline his son if he is doing wrong? Does that trample on God's grace, the sacrifice Jesus made for us for our sins and dishonour God by excusing sin [not condoning it]? How does one apply this today biblically speaking? What can we learn and gain from it?

I am just curious, trying to understand the reasoning and thinking.

Thank you and appreicated. TiC
 
Last edited:
TransformedinChrist said:
??? Confused 😕
Click to expand...
:)

Children lack the ability to discern a rule based on context. As such, they must be given absolute rules, such as "don't cross the street without Mommy or Daddy present". Obviously these rules are temporary and meant to be disposed of at a certain point. Can you imagine the crippling effect if such rules were never dispensed with? We would have an entire civilization that is unable to cross the street!

Much of the OT is like this. It was written for a primitive and barbaric people who needed the spiritual equivalent of being told to not cross the street without Daddy present. As a general rule, we have grown and matured and no longer need such hand holding. However, just as modern adults continue to get hit by cars when crossing the street, we can still naturally find value in the OT. We just need to keep it in its proper context.
 
LearningToLetGo said:
:)

Children lack the ability to discern a rule based on context. As such, they must be given absolute rules, such as "don't cross the street without Mommy or Daddy present". Obviously these rules are temporary and meant to be disposed of at a certain point. Can you imagine the crippling effect if such rules were never dispensed with? We would have an entire civilization that is unable to cross the street!

Much of the OT is like this. It was written for a primitive and barbaric people who needed the spiritual equivalent of being told to not cross the street without Daddy present. As a general rule, we have grown and matured and no longer need such hand holding. However, just as modern adults continue to get hit by cars when crossing the street, we can still naturally find value in the OT. We just need to keep it in its proper context.
Click to expand...
Thank you for sharing.
 
TransformedinChrist said:
Hi there,
I am studying Malachi right now - chapter 2. Now some people [Christians] believe that we do not really take anything from OT - which I don't really understand. If the bible is the entirety of God's Word should we not adhere, listen and obey? It is all God-breathed and inspired by the Holy Spirit. How is that it is okay to look at OT about prophecy to see what is happening today [at this very moment] but what if there is a scripture like this for example:

If you do not honour God, he will not honour or bless your children - Malachi 2:3, 1 Sm 2:30.

Some may say oh that is under the law and we have forgiveness in Christ so that is no longer valid. How can a Father not discipline his son if he is doing wrong? Does that trample on God's grace, the sacrifice Jesus made for us for our sins and dishonour God by excusing sin [not condoning it]? How does one apply this today biblically speaking? What can we learn and gain from it?

I am just curious, trying to understand the reasoning and thinking.

Thank you and appreicated. TiC
Click to expand...

Hello TiC;

The author Malachi was a minor prophet that he wrote and spoke to a people on one of the corners of the earth. In this case, Jerusalem. The people were rebuked for disobedience to God and their neglect of rebuilding the temple. This is God charging His servant to deliver this to His people, therefore this is extremely important for the message pertains to all of us.

This was God's result to the priests and people;

In Malachi 2:3, 3 “Behold, I will rebuke your descendants And spread refuse on your faces, The refuse of your solemn feasts; And one will take you away with it. - NKJV

God could see the hollow formalities of the priests and people, instead of their inner hearts. This does not honor God so how can He honor those who aren't obedient and respect His Covenant?

Those "some" who feel the Old Testament is passe and doesn't apply to them, just the New Testament only, are in error. We are to pray for those "some" as well as ourselves, that God will give us increased wisdom and knowledge of His inerrant Word.

If we only feel some of the Bible is valid and invalid, then we cannot receive, learn and gain from it. For seasoned disciples of the Bible there is a lifetime of cross references between the OT and NT that come together for His glory and our daily application.

God bless you, sister. Your consistent study of the Word ministers to me.
 
bobinfaith said:
Hello TiC;

The author Malachi was a minor prophet that he wrote and spoke to a people on one of the corners of the earth. In this case, Jerusalem. The people were rebuked for disobedience to God and their neglect of rebuilding the temple. This is God charging His servant to deliver this to His people, therefore this is extremely important for the message pertains to all of us.

This was God's result to the priests and people;

In Malachi 2:3, 3 “Behold, I will rebuke your descendants And spread refuse on your faces, The refuse of your solemn feasts; And one will take you away with it. - NKJV

God could see the hollow formalities of the priests and people, instead their inner hearts. This does not honor God so how can He honor those who aren't obedient and respect His Covenant?

Those "some" who don't feel the Old Testament is passe and doesn't apply to them, just the New Testament only, are in error. We are to pray for those "some" as well as ourselves, that God will give us increased wisdom and knowledge of His inerrant Word.

If we only feel some of the Bible is valid and invalid, then we cannot receive, learn and gain from it. For seasoned disciples of the Bible there is a lifetime of cross references between the OT and NT that come together for His glory and our daily application.

God bless you, sister. Your consistent study of the Word ministers to me.
Click to expand...
Thank you for sharing bobinfaith. I appreciate it.
 
TransformedinChrist said:
Hi there,
I am studying Malachi right now - chapter 2. Now some people [Christians] believe that we do not really take anything from OT - which I don't really understand. If the bible is the entirety of God's Word should we not adhere, listen and obey? It is all God-breathed and inspired by the Holy Spirit. How is that it is okay to look at OT about prophecy to see what is happening today [at this very moment] but what if there is a scripture like this for example:

If you do not honour God, he will not honour or bless your children - Malachi 2:3, 1 Sm 2:30.

Some may say oh that is under the law and we have forgiveness in Christ so that is no longer valid. How can a Father not discipline his son if he is doing wrong? Does that trample on God's grace, the sacrifice Jesus made for us for our sins and dishonour God by excusing sin [not condoning it]? How does one apply this today biblically speaking? What can we learn and gain from it?

I am just curious, trying to understand the reasoning and thinking.

Thank you and appreicated. TiC
Click to expand...
Excellent question sister. If I may respond to you I would say that it is of the most importance to study the Old Test.

The 1st reason I would give you is that the Old Testament lays the foundation for the teachings and events found in the New Testament. The Bible is a progressive revelation. If you skip the first half of any good book and try to finish it, you will have a hard time understanding the characters, the plot, and the ending. In the same way, the New Testament is only completely understood when we see its foundation of the events, characters, laws, sacrificial system, covenants, and promises of the Old Testament.

If we only had the New Testament, we would come to the Gospels and not know why the Jews were looking for a Messiah. We would not understand why this Messiah was coming.
We would not have been able to identify Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah.
We would know His birth place.
We would not know His manner of death.
We would not know His resurrection.

I would also say that we would not understand the way the Pharisees had perverted God’s law by adding their own traditions to it, or why Jesus was so upset as He cleansed the temple courtyard, or where Jesus got the words He used in His many replies to adversaries.

I would also say that without Old Test. prophecies of Daniel and Ezeliel we would not be able to make sense of the Revelation.
 
Major said:
Excellent question sister. If I may respond to you I would say that it is of the most importance to study the Old Test.

The 1st reason I would give you is that the Old Testament lays the foundation for the teachings and events found in the New Testament. The Bible is a progressive revelation. If you skip the first half of any good book and try to finish it, you will have a hard time understanding the characters, the plot, and the ending. In the same way, the New Testament is only completely understood when we see its foundation of the events, characters, laws, sacrificial system, covenants, and promises of the Old Testament.

If we only had the New Testament, we would come to the Gospels and not know why the Jews were looking for a Messiah. We would not understand why this Messiah was coming.
We would not have been able to identify Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah.
We would know His birth place.
We would not know His manner of death.
We would not know His resurrection.

I would also say that we would not understand the way the Pharisees had perverted God’s law by adding their own traditions to it, or why Jesus was so upset as He cleansed the temple courtyard, or where Jesus got the words He used in His many replies to adversaries.

I would also say that without Old Test. prophecies of Daniel and Ezeliel we would not be able to make sense of the Revelation.
Click to expand...
Thank you Major! Appreciated.
 
I think its good to read the OT in context, and understand that if you were the chosen ones, and did not have Jesus (back then they did not) then this is how God was training His people.

It's good to read the Bible in order that it was written, rather than backwards. All the rules, regulations, admonishments, etc were training the Israelites so they could be a holy people. It was hard going for sure!

I think reading it you can definitely learn from it that God was very patient!! Especially when the Israelites kept failing time and again.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top