The Old Testament is primarily about lineage and history (the Abrahamic covenant), the establishment of the Mosaic Law (10 Commandments, etc), and the prophecy of the Messiah.
The New Testament is mostly about the fulfillment of that prophecy through Jesus, the establishment of a Greater Law (the Law of Christ - or the Law of Love, since God is Love), and a new covenant (joint-heirs with Christ and Sons/Daughters of God), with a preview into the Judgement.
The Mosaic Law was a guideline for living free from sin and required strict observance or penalty. However, no one was perfect; so under the Abrahamic covenant, sins were covered through regular sacrifices made by High Priests.
But when the Lamb of God came, He became the Ultimate Sacrifice; and as THE High Priest, He gave Himself as the only Offering worthy to atone for all sin.
Anyone who would believe on Him would be in covenant with Him and have a blood-bought right to His Throne through God's mercy and grace.
All covenant children of God are bound by The Law of Christ, which supercedes the Old Law: Love the Lord, God with all of your heart, mind, soul, and strength; and love your neighbor as you love yourself.
This is what we will be judged by when Christ returns.
My suggestion: try the read-the-Bible-in-a-year approach. Break it down into pieces so you can digest it better. Pick a version that you find easy to understand and supplement it with a study guide and a good concordance for further clarification.
Pray for wisdom and understanding!
2006-12-21 18:00:55
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answer #1
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answered by suavissimo 2
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Mal 3:6
6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
KJV
The bible makes no sense without a proper foundation. There was and old covenant and a new covenant. The OT scriptures are valid scriptures but they are now governed by the new covenant. IF you want to understand the bible better, then read Romans thru Hebrews first, this will give you a solid foundation in the new covenant and will open your eyes if you pray and ask God to show you the truth and the rest will fall into place. Paul wrote these books as inspired by God, and he was a pharisee above all pharisees, this means by the age of 13 he had memorized all of the first 5 books of the bible. Paul was converted after being a staunch expert in the OT law. So by reading those books you will then have the glasses with which to view the scriptures. People dont like to talk about God's wrath, they typically want a wind up teddy bear God that they can hug whenever they want. IF we walk in obediance to God thru Jesus Christ, then you are not under his wrath, as his wrath was expended on the son of God, God in the flesh for all who are his. However his wrath is stored up against the ungodly and them that obey not the gospel. If you love the truth check the link.
2006-12-21 18:07:48
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answer #2
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answered by Anonymous
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If you read the OT you'll see that God tried his best with his children, and they didn't listen or mind him as though they were like young children are today. He did punish not only the people here on earth but his angels who came down from heaven when they weren't suppose to and mated with humans. He felt bad about what he had done and therefore created the rainbow as a sign that he would never do that again. He did punish the wicked only to try to create a good world for the good children here, but even the good one's disobeyed sometimes. God gave us this beautiful world to live in and wants us to all be good and work hard and take care of each other, yet many of us don't. He no longer punishes us like he used to, but we still will have to answer to him when our time comes to go back to heaven to be with him again. But I am sure that since he is a forgiving God and he did give us Jesus who died for our sins, we will all be ok in heaven, as long as there is true love for him in our hearts.
2006-12-21 17:27:17
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answer #3
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answered by Fruit Cake Lady 5
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God additionally healed Miriam. this is no longer unlike a organic Father disciplining his babies. He nonetheless loves them, and cares for them nonetheless. despite the fact that, while there's a tricky lesson to be found out, sterner measures come to undergo, that the lesson would be found out. God of the OT is comparable to God at the instant. this is we who've replaced, and grown in awareness. at the same time as we nonetheless have an prolonged thank you to pass, we've come very a techniques. And His chosen have been extra like babies interior the OT, there's no dispute there. After their launch from Egypt and tricky labor, they carried on approximately creature comforts. Is it any ask your self that God had to be sterner? God nonetheless punishes, and could be doing so quickly. Reconcile what ever you're able to desire to, yet be rapid approximately it. Be nicely.
2016-11-28 03:37:57
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answer #4
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answered by chrisholm 4
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In the beginning a man was created. The man was lonely and God created a woman. They were given the choice of obedience to God or disobedience. They chose disobedience, and thus sin entered. However, they were still allowed to be fruitful and multiply after this.
God stayed with each generation giving them chances. And even though Cain was punished, he was allowed to help continue the population of the earth.
Then much sin spread throughout the earth. One man was very obedient to God, this was Noah. God destroyed a lot that time, but He blessed Noah's family. Now Noah's family was to be fruitful and multiply. And Noah was given responsibility over every creature that time, similar as Adam.
Many years later other things happened such as a King defied God and then the people of the earth were scattered. Yet God remained with His people.
He allowed Abraham to be the father of many nations even when Abraham was impatient.
He blessed David's bloodline, though David had an affair with Bethsheba and had her husband killed. David humbled himself before God, so God blessed his bloodline.
Joseph was betrayed by his brothers and God still brought the family back together.
Not to forget, God delivered the slaves from Egypt after which He directed Moses to record a good portion of the Old Testament. No longer, would stories have to just be memorized, or only be written as history, but as lessons.
Many of those that were with Moses created an idol, but still God continued to bless people for generations, allowing animal sacrifices as atonement for sin. Thus, God's grace continued.
Let's go back a ways..There Sodom and Gomorrah, and some other towns descended from one of Noah's descendants that had shamed Noah. These people in these towns became very sinful, so God destroyed all of those towns. Yet he allowed Lot and his family to leave and start afresh.
Fast forward many years.. What about Esther? God could have let the other nation destroy the Jews, but He didn't. Instead He used Esther to help save these people.
Yes there was much of God's wrath in the Old Testament, but God gave people chances. Later, because of God's love for us, He sent Jesus which made it easier to go to God. Bridging the gap that sin created if we were to make Jesus the Lord of our lives.
A great way to study the Bible is with a study Bible, that has many references to other verses and Chapters. Bible Dictionaries are useful too. There is also many commentaries available. Yet, with commentaries, one must also realize these are commentaries, and it is wise to pray, and use the Bible as the authority above the commentaries. Yet often the commentaries will include important historical information and references which otherwise must be searched in a Bible Encyclopedia or other many sources. Prayer is always important in studying the Bible. To ask God for wisdom and understanding while spending time with God.
2006-12-21 18:10:52
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answer #5
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answered by Joshua M 1
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God does discipline those he loves.
If I was god (which I am not.....Thank God) I would be angry too to create beings who denied him, abandoned him , and couldnt follow some simple rules that are layed out. He is Love , he gave us life and he teaches us how we can show love and how we can gain life. But why would you reward those who dont listen to you and refuse to live life according to what he has layed out for us? I cant say Im perfect at all believe that, but what does keep me good is a healthy fear of my creator and knowing that he is the only one that can give me hope . If he hadnt love anyone, he would of never gave his sons perfect life to make up for the mistakes Adam and Eve made. Perfect life for perfect life in exchange for many. He would not establish a perfect government and make such a Loving man (Jesus) a king. He would not give us a chance and would have destroyed all men and women a long time ago. It would do you some good to look at it from gods point of view for a moment. Satan said noone would follow him willingly without humans being handed everything on a silver platter by god.....he basicly questioned gods authority over humans. He never had to prove anything to Satan, but he is letting Humans prove the point themselves. God does not need us....we need him. He is giving us a chance to prove our Love and Loyalty to him as he did in Bible times. It was the people who didnt listen that he destoyed, not those who did.
2006-12-21 17:32:06
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answer #6
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answered by Anonymous
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The OT is the history of God's education of Israel to prepare them for the Messiah. It took them a long time to get the idea, but you can see the development as you read the whole story.
Don't get lost in the details. Look at the big picture.
2006-12-21 17:20:15
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answer #7
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answered by Anonymous
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Please try to understand that the Old Testament is just a history book. Everything changed with Jesus Christ and the two commandments in the New Testament are how we should live our lives today. God Bless!
2006-12-21 17:23:24
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answer #8
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answered by Anonymous
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As I have said many times before, religions teach by using fear and hatred. No the new testimant is not so loving.
Sure is hard t believe that so many will believe what some books say.
2006-12-21 17:48:59
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answer #9
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answered by Anonymous
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VIOLENCE
LAWLESSNESS
LAND PIRATES
PEOPLE FROM SIN WAS HARD TO DEAL WITH
Gen.8:21; The imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth.
All through the bible this is being shown.
GOD AND CHRIST HAVE PLANS TO SAVE ALL FROM THIS CONDITION OF SIN AND ALL IT HAS CAUSED.
LOVE HAS NO LAW.
2006-12-21 17:36:13
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answer #10
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answered by jeni 7
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