SUNDAY DECEMBER 21 The Gospel in the Old Testament For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith ( Heb. 4:2, NIV ) . This verse is startling in its implications. Foremost is that the gospel , not simply good news but the good news, was preached in the Old Testament. Second, it was preached then just as in New Testament times. There is no hint that there was any difference in the message itself. The problem, therefore, was not with the message but with the way it was heard . Today, too, different people can hear the same gospel message very differently. How crucial, then, that we surrender ourselves in utter faith to the teaching of the Word so that when the gospel is preached, we hear it correctly. Look at the following verses and summarize the gospel message in each: Gen. 3:15 Exod. 19:4-6 Ps. 130:3-4 ; Ps. 32:1-5 Isa. 53:4-11 Jer. 31:31-34 Did you notice a common refrain? God intervenes to save us; He forgives our sins and puts enmity in us toward sin so that we can be willing and obedient (Isa. 1:19 ) . One (Jesus) died for the many, bore their (our) iniquities, and justifies the undeserving. The new covenant is different from the old covenant because the law is written in the heart, and sins are remember[ed] no more ( Heb. 8:12 ) . In short, forgiveness and the new birth are a package: justification and sanctification represent Gods solution to the sin problem. These passages could be multiplied, for the message is the same throughout the Bible: despite our sin, God loves us and has done all that is possible to save us from it. How can we, as people who believe in the importance of keeping the law, protect ourselves from the error of believing that law-keeping is what justifies us? Why is that not always so easy to do?
Posted on: Mon, 22 Dec 2014 15:29:40 +0000