The Old Testament is just as relevant and essential as the New Testament. There is a great deal going on today that dismisses the Old Testament as non-essential or even as harsh and oppressive. And there are many assumptions that say the Old Testament is done away with now, and that God has somehow changed with Christ.

Yet the Old Testament is just as essential as the New Testament in understanding who God is, what His will is, what godliness is, and what true spiritual religion is. Without it, we fall into many errors. This prejudice against the Old Testament works many wrong ideas about what God’s grace means, and it leads many away from the true purpose in God’s salvation.

People who speak this way sadly reveal their great ignorance and prejudice against God. “Out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” (Luke 6:45) They don’t understand God’s ways, and often reveal a heart that does not wish to be fully accountable to know God deeply and walk in holiness.

Part of our rejection of the Old Testament can come from oppressive and harmful ideas surrounding God’s law, and there is legitimacy in this struggle; yet people often “solve” this problem by throwing out very important things of God.

In truth, we should have a far greater respect for God, and if we truly valued the whole of His Word, patiently listening to every part of it, this is what would form true spiritual depth and wisdom in us. Much of this work is in resisting wrong understandings and pressures carried out in God’s name! Just as we read of this very issue in all of Galatians—to resist bondage and slavery to wrong ideas that come in the name of God’s law. Yet many do not brave this hard work, and instead take the “easy road” of simply casting off this labor and faithfulness to God. Without this true work, none of us will be filled as we should with spiritual godliness that is a true substance and worth.

God’s Word speaks far deeper than we could ever imagine. Let us labor to see just how living and good His Word is, and wrestle to understand the whole of it rightly.