Why the Old Law

By Dale Babinsky     As a New Testament Christian, we may often wonder about the purpose for the old law, or the Old Testament in our studies today. Since we are bound by the requirements of the New Testament, the testament of Jesus Christ, why should we spend any time in study of the old law? Truth be told, there are many reasons for us to continue to acquaint ourselves with what is written in the Old Testament section of our Bibles. Below are just a few: · The Old Testament tells us about the nature of God, which we do not find recorded for us in any other place. · It shows us many things about man and his nature. · It instructs us as to the origin, nature, and consequences of sin. · It is rich in history that is not recorded for us in any other venue, and gives us great insight to the question, “Where did we come from?” · It reveals the greatest religious teaching to be found anywhere outside of the New Testament. · It instructs us in high moral and ethical standards, especially in the book of Proverbs. · It is an aid to one in developing his spiritual and devotional life (1 Cor. 10:6-11; Romans 15:4). · It is a great guide for dealing with the many issues of life and personal relationships. · The Old Testament gives us the necessary background for understanding many concepts that are presented to us in the New Testament.     Most importantly, the Old Testament functions for us to identify sin. Paul testified that he “would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, ‘You shall not covet’” (Romans 7:7b). In identifying sin, and man’s inclination to sin and need for a Savior, the old law was our tutor to bring us to Christ (Gal. 3:24). Therefore, the periodic study of concepts and principles within the Old Testament is beneficial to our understanding and knowledge of God. Let us continue to study both the new law and the old in order that we may draw ever closer to our Lord and Savior!

- Dale Babinsky preaches for the Great Smoky Mountains Church of Christ in Pigeon Forge, TN. He may be contacted through the congregation's website - https://gsmchurchofchrist.com/