Lesson 2B - God's Purposes in the Old Covenant - Larry Rouse - Wed. Night Class - 01-08-25

North Cville Wed Bible Class
January 08, 2025 • 47 mins •
Meeting Purpose
Review the purposes of the Old Covenant and discuss its relationship to the New Covenant, emphasizing the importance of proper biblical interpretation.
Key Takeaways
The Old Covenant serves as a shadow and precursor to the New Covenant, containing numerous prophecies and types that point to Christ
Jesus and the apostles viewed the Old Testament as inspired Scripture, using it as evidence for Christ's identity and mission
Proper biblical interpretation involves examining all relevant passages to discern patterns and draw sound conclusions, rather than dismissing this approach
Some modern scholars and theologians are promoting problematic views that undermine the inspiration and unity of Scripture
Topics
Purposes of the Old Covenant
Cause people to see their need for a Savior by revealing sin and the insufficiency of animal sacrifices
Prepare for and point to Christ through prophecies, types, and shadows
Demonstrate God's holiness and man's sinfulness through the law
Shadow and Substance in Scripture
The Old Covenant contains many shadows/types that are fulfilled in Christ (e.g. Passover, Abraham offering Isaac)
Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecies in detail, demonstrating divine inspiration
Understanding these connections provides powerful evidence for the truth of Christianity
Jesus' View of the Old Testament
Jesus treated the Old Testament as inspired, authoritative Scripture
He expected it to be fulfilled in every detail
He used it as evidence for His identity and mission
Proper Biblical Interpretation
Examine all relevant passages on a topic to discern patterns and draw conclusions
Avoid false dichotomies between law/grace or Old/New Testaments
Recognize the unity and inspiration of all Scripture
Problematic Modern Views
Some scholars promote ideas that undermine biblical inspiration and reliability (e.g. Deuteronomistic history theory)
Claiming the Bible can't be used to draw doctrinal conclusions
Dismissing attempts to harmonize Scripture as improper "pattern theology"
Next Steps
Continue studying the relationship between the Old and New Covenants
Be prepared to address modern criticisms of biblical inspiration and interpretation
Develop a deeper understanding of Old Testament prophecies and types pointing to Christ