Why Study the Old Testament?

April 22, 2025

People sometimes wonder, “If we are New Testament Christians, what is the purpose of studying the Old Testament?”  Many of you are currently reading the Old Testament as part of your regular Bible reading, and you may be wondering the same thing.  The truth is, there are many wonderful reasons to study the Old Testament today.  We will be blessed by it because it is the word of God and contains timeless truth that we need to know and remember.  As Paul wrote to the church in Rome, “For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” (Romans 15:4 NASB95) Paul also wrote to Timothy about the value of all Scripture.  “… from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness…” (2 Timothy 3:15-16 NASB95)  The sacred writings that Paul refers to, that Timothy would have known since he was a boy, are the Old Testament Scriptures.

And so, we see that the Old Testament was written for our instruction.  It was written to give us perseverance and encouragement.  It was written to give us wisdom, to teach us, reprove us, correct us, and train us in righteousness.  As we read the Old Testament, we learn valuable lessons to help us in our daily lives—lessons about obedience to God, trust in God, and how to treat our fellow man.

When we read the Old Testament, we get a clear picture of the holiness of God.  We see His hatred of sin.  We can come away with a reverent fear of our God who is “a consuming fire.” We need to know these things about God!

When we read the Old Testament, we also get a clear picture of God’s patience, His grace, and His love for mankind.  We see God’s desire to bless His people and do good to them.  We see His patience as His people turn away from Him again and again with stiff necks and hard hearts.  And yet, God is patient.  God is kind.  He gives people opportunities to come back to Him, and even when He punishes His people, He gives them hope of a restored relationship with Him in the future.

The Old Testament leads us to Jesus.  It shows us the depth of our sinfulness and our need for God to rescue us.  It clearly shows us our inability to live up to God’s standard of holiness and righteousness.  Throughout the pages of the Old Testament, we see God working in the affairs of this world to bring about a Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Old Testament contains ancient words, ever true, that came from the mouth of God.  We will be blessed if we study it!       

—Scott Colvin  

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The Work of the Spirit: A Changed Heart

April 22, 2025

In Ezekiel chapter 36, God reminds His people how they had strayed very far from Him.  The house of Israel had defiled the land by their ways (36:17).  They had shed blood in the land and worshiped idols (36:18).  They had profaned the name of God (36:20).  In short, the nation of Israel was rebellious and disobedient to God, and He punished them severely (36:18-19).

But despite all of their disobedience, we also see the grace and mercy of God toward His people.  Later in the same chapter we read, “For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land. “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. “Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.” (Ezekiel 36:24–27 NASB95)

What a wonderful promise that there was coming a time when God would cleanse His people, give them a new heart, and put His Spirit within them.  They had hearts of stone—hearts that were stubborn, unresponsive, and unrepentant.  But He would give them a heart of flesh—hearts that were tender, humble, and open to hearing His voice.  God promised to put His Spirit within them.  While the Holy Spirit was always around in Old Testament times (and from all eternity), this was something new!  This was something powerful!  For through His Spirit, God would cause His people to walk in His ways.  He was going to change their hearts and empower their obedience!

Of course, you and I live in that promised time.  God has placed His Spirit within us.  God has given us new hearts.  God is molding and shaping us within our inner being.  That means you and I can obey God from the heart.  Our obedience to Him goes far beyond a mere code of rules and regulations.  Our obedience comes from a changed heart and is empowered by the Spirit of God.

And this means that there is hope for you and me if we are struggling with sin.  We must be diligent to hear and obey the voice of God, but as we do so, let’s realize that we have divine help!  Let us trust in God’s promise to change our hearts, and let us rely on God’s power that works within us through His Spirit.   

—Scott Colvin

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Knowing God

April 17, 2025

Do you know God?  I don’t mean do you know about God.  Knowing about Him is certainly important, but I am asking, do you know God in a personal way?  Do you have a relationship with Him?

One might wonder whether it is even possible to know God personally, but the scriptures assure us that yes, we can know Him.  Not only that, but the scriptures tell us that God wants us to know Him in this way.  A personal knowledge of God is the greatest thing any of us can pursue.

How do we know that we know God?  Is it merely a feeling or a wish that we have, or is there more to it?  Thankfully, the scriptures are very clear on this question.  Listen to these indicators about who knows God from the letter of 1 John.

The one who knows God is the one who keeps His commandments.  “By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.  The one who says, ‘I have come to know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;” (1 John 2:3-4 NASB95) When we walk in God’s ways, according to His commandments, we come to know Him in greater ways.

The one who knows God does not walk in sin. “No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him.” (1 John 3:6 NASB95).  We cannot say we know God if we are practicing sin in our lives.  Ongoing sin will destroy our relationship with Him.

The one who knows God is the one who walks in love. “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.  The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” (1 John 4:7-8 NASB95) If we want to truly know God, we have to walk in His nature and character.  God is love, and so if we want to know Him, we must live a life of love.  Those who practice the love of God will truly come to know Him in a profound and personal way. 

May God help each one of us to come to know Him in greater ways.  Let’s keep His commandments.  Let’s not practice sin.  Let’s walk in His love.

—Scott Colvin

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