Consider this passage of Scripture:
John 5:46-47 "For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. 47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?"
When I first called myself a Christian in early 2010, I remember asking another Christian on how I should study the Holy Bible (I was reading from a modern bible version then). He told me that I should start by first reading the New Testament, and then the Old Testament. His reasoning was that without first understanding the New Testament, it is hard to comprehend the Old Testament. How true is that statement?
Anyway, his well-meaning advice, as I have got to learn later, were also parroted by many other Christians. Well, there are even churches out there which teach that the Old Testament is for the Jews only and had nothing to do with the church! Those would be the Hyper-Dispensational churches. According to their false doctrine, only the writings of Paul are applicable to the gentile church.
Some of my readers who know me personally or from facebook may also know that I graduated from Presbyterian High School situated opposite to Yio Chu Kang MRT. I remember that during my first year in school, we were all distributed a small pocket “bible” which only has the New Testament. Why only the New Testament? Is not the Old Testament equally important?
Speaking to the Jews in John 5:46, Jesus said unto them “For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.” Clearly, there is a sequence as illustrated in this verse: If they had first believed in the law of Moses, they would have believed in Jesus. Verse 47 continues: “But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?” Without first believing in every word of God in the Old Testament, how shall one believe in every word of God in the New Testament?
Luke 24:44 "And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me."
The Old Testament consists of the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms. In all these writings are things which must be fulfilled, prophecies concerning the Messiah who was to come. It is the Old Testament that establish the New Testament. Without prior knowledge of the Old Testament, one cannot possibly know the Jesus Christ of the New Testament.
Luke 24:27 "And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself."
The context of this verse was about two men, one of them whose name was Cleopas, on their way to Emmaus, when they encountered the risen Christ. Notice that Jesus started by teaching from Moses and all the prophets in the things concerning himself.
Luke 24:31 "And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight."
This verse tells us that "their eyes were opened", that is, after Jesus had expounded unto them in all the scriptures (Moses and all the prophets) the things concerning himself and "they knew him..."
John 3:3 "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
Luke 24:31 tells us that the eyes of both men were opened. John 3:3 tells us that except a man be “born again”, he cannot “see” the kingdom of God. Therefore, when one is born again, God has also at the same time opened his eyes. Without first believing the law and the prophets, one cannot possibly see the kingdom of God in the New Testament.
Luke 16:31 "And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."
The context of this verse is about the rich man who died bodily and his soul went to hell. There he had a conversation with father Abraham. Notice what Abraham said to him: “If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.” Without first being persuaded that every word of God in the Old Testament is true, one cannot be persuaded that every of God in the New Testament is true! Well, Jesus rose from the dead, yet the vast majority of the Jews (who did not believed in Moses, John 5:46-47) still did not believe him!
Acts 28:23-24 "And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. 24 And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not."
This passage of Scripture describes in a nutshell what soul-winning is about. Notice how Apostle Paul attempted to persuade the men “both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets” (Old Testament) concerning Jesus? Soul-winning is not about going from door to door asking people to pray the sinner's prayer or join the church or even telling people about Jesus. True soul-winning is like Paul who went about persuading those around him that every word of God in the Old Testament is true, and for those who believed the things which were expounded from the Old Testament concerning Jesus, they would also believe in the Jesus of the New Testament.
Sorry brother I dont how that Janice Nan writes newsletter got on my comments lol 😂
Amen, Thank thee Father for thy daily bread that cometh down from heaven to give life, Jesus The Word of God we live by, every Word.