GREAT EXAMPLES IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. Great Examples In The Old Testament
1. Great Examples In The Old Testament
a) We saw that to lack the Old Testament is to lack God-breathed words of wisdom to profit and equip us for salvation. We don't obey the old law system, because Christ replaced that with a new law-covenant. The Old Testament scriptures are, however, still necessary for us.
2. Old Testament Examples In New Testament Teaching
a) The New Testament is peppered with examples of faith and obedience in the people of whom we read in the Old Testament scriptures. The Hebrew writer cited many such examples in Hebrews chapter 11. The Old Testament is a source book of true stories of men and women of God who serve as patterns to encourage us. We can note just a few instances of how the New Testament makes use of these examples:
James 5:10
10 As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
@1. James says, "As an example of suffering and patience, take the prophets... " We could not obey this instruction if we did not have an account of the acts of the prophets of old.
Romans 4:23-24
23 Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, 24 but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.
23 Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, 24 but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.
@1.Paul refers to the account of Abraham’s justification, and says it was written not just for Abraham’s sake, but "for our sake also" because we can be justified by following Abraham’s example. But we have to be able to read what was written about him.
1 Corinthians 10:6-11
6 Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved. 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to play.” 8 Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day. 9 Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents. 10 Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
6 Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved. 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to play.” 8 Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day. 9 Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents. 10 Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
@1. Paul shows that even bad examples are good for us. Speaking of the disobedience of Israel in the wilderness, Paul says, "Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction..."
Jude 11
11 Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay [a]they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.
11 Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay [a]they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.
@1. Jude condemns apostate Christians: "Woe to them, for they have gone the way of Cain, and ... the error of Balaam, and ... the rebellion of Korah." This would not mean much to us, and we could not profit from these examples, if we had no Old Testament to read.
1 Peter 3:6
6 just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear.
6 just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear.
@1. Peter refers Christian women to the godly example of Sarah, but to get the most out of that, Christian women need to be able to read the stories of the holy women of old, like Sarah. For that matter, so do Christian men need the example of these godly women for it was their godliness not their gender that counted.
Hebrews 12:1
1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
@1. The writer to the Hebrews speaks of "a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us" who can encourage us to run the Christian race well. But who are these witnesses? The previous chapter (eleven) names several men and women of the Old Testament. The Hebrew writer didn't have time to tell of them all (verse 32). But we can take the time ourselves to go back and read all those stories, and more, and it would be a great pity and loss if we couldn't.
b) Let’s appreciate and learn thoroughly these precious Old Testament true stories!
The End ...
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