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Is the Old Testament binding? Can we TRUST the words of the Old Testament, without reservation? And how can you be SURE?

Most of the world has “done away” with the Old Testament completely. They don’t even have the Old Testament in their Bibles! And if you quote the Old Testament, they’ll say “Oh, well, that’s Old Testament, that’s all done away with, that doesn’t apply to us anymore”.

Friends, is this true? Is the Old Testament really a worthless book of stories and history, or does it have REAL VALUE, as a VITAL PART of your salvation! And how can you tell??

First of all, I need to point out that your preacher never shows you any PROOF that Jesus did away with the Old Testament. The best you ever see is this scripture…

2 Corinthians 3:14-15 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.

This scripture, by itself, might appear to condemn the Old Testament as worthless, but you must read the context, if you truly want to understand what the Bible is saying! If you keep reading, you’ll see that it doesn’t say that at all!

16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.

When IT, that is, their HEART shall turn to the LORD, THEN the vail (the vail covering the Old Testament from their eyes) shall be taken AWAY! So the fault isn’t with the Old Testament at all, but with the fact that THEIR HEART is blinded because of their sins! And when they TURN to the Lord, the vail will be removed, and they will UNDERSTAND! (See Matthew 13:15)

And then there are the scriptures that say that the SACRIFICIAL law of Moses was done away. This is certainly true! But this simply means that parts of Exodus, Numbers, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy don’t apply to us – but certainly, the rest of the Old Testament is still as binding as ever!

Get this straight! You CANNOT do away with the Old Testament – over two thirds of your Bible, without CLEAR, solid proof from the Bible! And, as I’m about to show, no proof exists – in fact, at every opportunity, Christ and the Apostles both quoted from, and encouraged the reading, applying, and UNDERSTANDING of the Old Testament as a VITAL, INTEGRAL part of salvation! Yes, SALVATION is possible through the Old Testament alone!

Oh, I know that probably makes you angry, but I’m just quoting it, they’re not MY words! Your Bible says it, but you’ve never heard anyone say it have you? Well, read the PLAIN WORDS of the Apostle Paul, instructing young Timothy in being saved!

2 Timothy 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto SALVATION THROUGH FAITH which is in Christ Jesus.

Remember, this was written in the middle of the first century. Scarcely 30 years after the Crucifiction of Christ. And Timothy had known these scriptures from a CHILD. There was only one set of scriptures in existence when Timothy was a child, or even when this was written – and that was the Old Testament! The “Law and the prophets”!

I want this very clear! Paul told young Timothy that he had known the holy scriptures, the OLD TESTAMENT, which was able to make him wise UNTO SALVATION! And not just any salvation, but unto salvation THROUGH FAITH! And this was from the Old Testament!

If you can show me where the Bible says the Old Testament has been done away – so much as one word of it – then I would agree, it isn’t binding on us today. But Paul says that “ALL scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is PROFITABLE for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” (2 Timothy 3:16)

He says that ALL scripture – that ALL of the Old Testament was inspired by God and is PROFITABLE! Not to be thrown away, but PROFITABLE, valuable, PRICELESS to you for CORRECTION, for doctines, and for instruction in RIGHTEOUSNESS!

Now I think that’s pretty clear myself. Are you willing now to reexamine your beliefs? Are you willing to ACCEPT that ALL of the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation has been inspired by God, and EVERY SINGLE WORD must be put together, and explained, AND OBEYED, as a command of God Almighty?

Despite this, some will counter with this scripture from Luke:

Luke 16:16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.

Again, if you were to read JUST that scripture, if that were ALL that the Bible said there, then it might give you pause for thought; but it’s not! Read the very next verse!

Luke 16:17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.

This isn’t saying that the law and the prophets, that is, the Old Testament was worthless now! It is STILL profitable for instruction, correction, and reproof! Indeed, the heavens will die before one period of the law dies!

Matthew 5:17 THINK NOT that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

And so the entire “christian” world today thinks that Christ came to do away with that musty old law, and the Old Testament with it! But He said DO NOT THINK THAT! Whom will you believe, your friends, the crowd, your preacher, or YOUR BIBLE and the words that came from the mouth of your Savior??

Matthew 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Today’s preachers teach that the law isn’t important – that breaking the commandments doesn’t matter at all! And yet Jesus said that a man who does that – who breaks the commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be the LEAST in the kingdom of heaven! He will be at the very BOTTOM of the heap, because he has not only disobeyed God, but he has encouraged others to do so as well!!

And finally, as one last point, I want to show you the example of the Apostle Paul. Most “proofs” that the Old Testament isn’t binding today are attributed to Paul. But is that REALLY what he said, and REALLY how he felt, or is this one of the biggest hoaxes in the world today! You decide!

Acts 28:23 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.

When Paul was dealing with people, teaching them SALVATION THROUGH FAITH, as he did Timothy, where did he quote from? Did he have a pocket Bible with Psalms, Proverbs, and the New Testament? Oh, no, he taught them from the law of Moses, and from the Prophets! He taught them from the Old Testament, because it is PROFITABLE to you! And it is profitable for salvation THROUGH FAITH!

1 Peter 1:24-25 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the WORD OF THE Lord endureth FOR EVER. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.