I have recently noticed there is much confusion and religious division because of the lack of knowledge of the two main divisions of the bible, the old and the new testaments. We know from God’s word that we are to study and rightly divide the scriptures (II Tim 2:15).

The “Old Testament” is God’s law and history of of his dealings with man from the creation, until Jesus’ death on the cross. Christ fulfilled and ended it when he nailed it to his cross (Col 2:14). The “New Testament” is the revelation and law from God, dealing with man from Christ’s death on the cross, until the Lord comes again to judge the world, and claim his own. This new testament could not come into force until Jesus’ death. “For where a testament is, there must of a necessity be the death of him that made it” (Heb 9:16). Jesus’ death marked the end of the old and the beginning of the new. He took away the first (Old Testament), that he may establish the second (New Testament) (Heb 10:9). We as Christians are discharged from the old law and joined to Jesus Christ through his blood. There is no portion of the old law that binds us today, even the 10 commandments have been replaced with better requirements. The old law was temporary, limited to the Jews, and was to prepare mankind for the coming of the Christ. The old testament even prophesied and promised a new testament ( Jer 31:31-34). In the new testament the apostle Paul stated that the law of Moses had been given until the seed, which is Christ Jesus, had come (Study Gal 3:19-27). Unlike the old law, the new testament of Christ is complete, eternal, and universal. It was meant to apply to all men for all time, that all who believe, through Christ might have eternal life.

Many want to cling to some of the requirements of the old law and bind it on Christians today. In so doing we are saying that Christ died in vain (Gal 2:21). In so doing we are severed from Christ and fallen from grace (Gal 5:4), to return to sin and death (Rom 8:2), and to sink back into perdition (Heb 10:39). The law we are to follow today consist of the commandments of Jesus (Matt 17:5) , the apostle’s teachings, and examples of the early church under the leadership of the inspired apostles who walked with Christ. Under the old law man’s sins could not be forgiven by the blood of bulls and goats, but were remembered year to year, until Christ offered his body once for all (Heb 10:4,10:10). We under Christ’s new covenant, have our sins completely washed away by his blood, when we are buried with him in baptism (Acts 22:16).

One might rightly ask, if the old law does not apply to us, then why study it? It contains the inspired record of creation, the history of mankind, examples of God’s dealings with man, and numerous prophesies of Christ. We must recognize it as the word of God and use it for our example, admonition, learning, comfort, and hope (Rom 15:4). What we must not do, is to rely on it for our salvation today. (Study II Cor 3:6-11) The New Testament is the last will and testament of Jesus Christ and it is sealed with his blood (Study Heb 9:15-17). He died that we might inherit heaven, if we will accept his terms of faith and obedience. Why not accept his generous gift today, and inherit life with him, for all eternity?

We invite all who would, to come together with us to study God’s word and worship him in spirit and in truth. We are the Church of Christ, Kedron congregation on the Coopertown Road, Russellville, KY. We neither add to God’s word or take from it. Bible study at10:00, Worship at 11:00 each Sunday morning. Speaker, brother Rodney Sitz, song leader, brother Prentice White. If you have questions please call, 270-657-2455 or 270-755-2005.