THE
PURPOSE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES I. TEXTUAL THOUGHTS 1. 1 Corinthians
10:1-4 - The Old Testament scriptures
were given to show us Jesus. 2. 1 Corinthians 10:5-13
- The O.T. scriptures were given to warn us about how destructive, to ourselves and
others, certain ways of life are. 3. Romans 15:4 - The O.T.
scriptures were given to help us have a living hope, no matter what our present
circumstances. 4. Romans 5:20 - The O.T.
law was given to help us see our sinfulness. II. MAIN THEME - God desires to bless
people through their study of the O.T. scriptures. The scriptures He gave help us experience that blessed life
in many ways. 1. We are blessed by
seeing and being drawn to Jesus in the Old Testament through: a. Prophecy -
Psalm 22; Isaiah 53 and many others. b. Picture types
- Numbers 21:4-9 & John 3:14-18 and many others. c. People types -
Genesis 14:17-20 & Hebrews 5-7; Deuteronomy 18:18f & Luke
9:18f d. Narratives /
Stories - Genesis 22:1-19 2. We are blessed by
being warned about how destructive certain lifestyles are through: a. Prophetic
warnings - Deuteronomy 27, 28:15-68 and many others. b. Proverbs -
Proverbs 1:8-19; 23:1f and many
others. c. Narratives /
Stories with "unhappy" endings - 2 Samuel 11-12:23 and many others. d. Heeding these
warnings will protect us physically, emotionally, and spiritually. 3. Parts of the Old
Testament scriptures bless by giving hope in difficult times: a. Prophetic
blessings - Deuteronomy 28:1-14 and
many others. b. Proverbs -
Proverbs 2 and many others. c. Narratives /
Stories where victories occur for faithful men and women - Genesis 37-50, especially 50:19-21; 1 Samuel 17 and many others. III. APPLICATION 1. Look carefully for
Jesus, to miss him is to miss the power of God and hope for eternal life - Matthew 22:23-32 2. Heed the warnings of
the Old Testament - they are for our well-being - Ezekiel 3:16-21, realizing we are
not under OT law, but that good advice is good advice, in any time. 3. In the OT stories look
for the way of escape God provided.
It is there, but not often taken, even by the heroes
of faith - 1 Corinthians 10:13 4. As you read the OT
stories, ask yourself these questions: a. Where did
they put their hope? - in God, a king, idols, own power, material
things b. How did God
give them hope? How did He use events
to affirm hope? c. How is my
situation like an OT situation? Is it
possible that my hope is only in the final judgment when God redeems me. IV. MEMORY VERSE - Romans 15:4 |