The Testaments
Course 2 of 4
The Bible is comprised of two main parts, the Old and New Testaments. The word “testament” simply refers to a covenant that God made. Since the Bible is divided into these two sections, it is important for us to understand the purpose of each.
The Old Testament

 The Old Testament is composed of 39 books beginning with Genesis and ending with Malachi. Genesis is a history of the origin of man and of sin entering the world. Since all men sin and separate themselves from God (Romans 3:23), Genesis also reveals the beginning of the unfolding of God’s plan for the salvation of man.

In Genesis we are introduced to Abraham, a righteous man to whom God made three very important promises. Those were:

  1. the Land promise;
  2. the Nation promise; and
  3. the Seed promise (Genesis 12:1-3).

The “land” promise had its fulfillment in the days of Joshua when the children of Israel took the Promised Land, later to be known as Palestine (Joshua 21:43-45). The “nation” promise was fulfilled in the physical nation of Israel (Exodus 19:5-6). Also, God had promised to send a savior through the offspring of Abraham by whom all nations of the earth would be blessed. This was the “seed” promise, and it was fulfilled in Christ (Acts 3:25-26).

The second book of the Old Testament is the book of Exodus, and it tells how God raised up Moses to deliver the children of Israel out of Egyptian slavery. Years before, 70 descendants of Abraham had gone to Egypt to live. While there they grew into a large nation and were forced into slavery by the Egyptians. God determined to bring them out of Egypt by His might and lead them to the Promised Land. God made a covenant with these people, and they freely accepted the terms (Exodus 19:20). God gave the Ten Commandments and many other laws which made up the Law of Moses. These instructions are recorded in four books, Exodus through Deuteronomy. The remainder of the Old Testament tells the history of the people. Unfortunately, the Israelites did not live up to the terms of the covenant and they were expelled from the land and taken into captivity. The books known as the Prophets contain warnings from God that He would judge the nation if they did not turn from their sins.

The New Testament
The New Testament begins with the four Gospels. They are accounts of the life of Jesus on earth, written to show that He was the promised Messiah (anointed one). They show that Jesus was ”God manifested in the flesh” (1 Timothy 3:16; John 1:1,14). The Gospels also speak of the cruel death of Jesus on the cross and His glorious resurrection. This was necessary that mankind might be saved from their sins (Hebrews 2:9).

When Christ died on the cross, He ushered in the New Covenant. Jesus Himself lived under the Law of Moses (Galatians 4:4). However, He also came in order to fulfill the old law (Matthew 5:17). The Law of Moses was a law for the children of Israel, but the new law would be for all nations (Isaiah 2:1-4). When Christ died on the cross, the Law of Moses was effectively nailed to it and taken out of the way (Colossians 2:14). Thus, the Law of Moses is no longer in effect, and people were rebuked when they tried to go back under that Law (Galatians 5:1-4). This does not mean it is of no use for us today. It is for our learning and example (Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:1-11). However, we are not bound by the conditions of the old law.

While on earth, Jesus promised that He would build His church (Matthew 16:18). The word “church” refers to “the called out” people who accept the terms of the new covenant and are saved (Acts 2:38, 41, 47). These are the people who submit themselves to the rule of Christ to become a part of His kingdom. In so doing, they are delivered from the power of darkness and brought into the kingdom of God’s dear Son (Colossians 1:13).

The book of Acts is a history of the early church, showing how it grew during times of peace and persecution. The remainder of the books of the New Testament are written to various churches and individuals, revealing further the will of God.

All Truth Given

Before the Lord died, He promised His apostles that He would send the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit would reveal all truth to them. “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you” (John 14:26). “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come” (John 16:12-13). This was a promise given to His chosen apostles. Either it was fulfilled or it wasn’t. If it was fulfilled, then all truth has been given and we need not look for new revelation today. If it was not fulfilled, then what Christ said was false and the New Testament is meaningless.
Bible open to Psalms
The apostles affirmed that what Christ said was true. They claimed to receive all truth and they wrote it down (2 Peter 3:1-2). The apostle Paul wrote of the mystery, “which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Holy Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets” (Ephesians 3:5). Peter wrote of the fact that God’s “divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:3). Jude confirmed this when he wrote exhorting his readers to “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).
The New Testament was written in the first century and compiled into one volume within the second century. Thousands of ancient manuscripts exist showing that what we have today is the true and accurate revelation of God. Indeed, the text of the New Testament is better attested to than any other book of antiquity, and this statement is easily proven. God Himself had promised that His words would never pass away because they are incorruptible, living and abiding forever (Matthew 24:35; 1 Peter 1:23, 25). Thus, we have God’s promise that His word which was delivered in the first century will always be valid and true. When you pick up a reliable translation of the New Testament today, you can rest assured that you hold in your hands a faithful reproduction of what was delivered by the Holy Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets.

The Gospel Must Be Obeyed

The New Testament reveals God’s will for us today. It is the law of Christ under which all are bound (1 Corinthians 9:21). Therefore, we must obey the conditions that God has set forth in the New Testament. It is the gospel of grace, and there is no way that we can earn our salvation (Ephesians 2:8-10). However, grace does not nullify the fact that we must obey God’s will. “And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him” (Hebrews 5:9). “But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our report?” (Romans 10:16). From this verse we can see that faith and obedience are inseparable (see also James 2:14-26). Without faith we cannot please God (Hebrews 11:6), and the faith that pleases God is a faith that obeys. When we obey, we receive the blessings of God’s grace. It is, therefore, vital that we study God’s word to know what He would have us to do. We cannot go to any other source for our faith and practice.

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). The way that we come to the Father is revealed in the pages of the New Testament. Let us search it diligently, making sure that what we believe and practice is the truth (Acts 17:11.)

REVIEW QUESTIONS

Complete the questions below and click submit. Be sure to include your email address.

Thank you for your interest in our online Correspondence Course.

1. The Old Testament is made up of how many books?

2. Which book tells of the origin of man?

3. Which book tells of the delivery of the children of Israel from Egyptian slavery?

4. For whatever things were written before were written for our , that we through the and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Romans 15:4

5. The faith was to the saints. Jude 3

6. Jesus saves those who Him. Hebrews 5:9

7. What were the three promises given to Abraham? Genesis 12:1-3

8. The seed promise was fulfilled: Acts 3:25-26

9. When Christ died, the law of Moses: Colossians 2:14

10. Jesus promised the apostles that the Holy Spirit would: John 16:13

 

True False 11. The New Testament is a law for only the Jews. Isaiah 2:1-4; Ephesians 2:11-16
True False 12. Christ promised that He would build His church. Matthew 16:18
True False 13. The faith has been once for all delivered unto the saints. Jude 3
True False 14. Faith and obedience have nothing to do with each other. James 2:14-26
True False 15. The New Testament was written in the third century and compiled in the twentieth century.
True False 16. There are several ways to come to the Father. John 14:6
True False 17. It was necessary for Christ to die upon the cross so that mankind might be saved from their sins. Hebrews 2:9

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