Uses for the Old Covenant
Categories: Sermon Outlines, Topical Sermon OutlinesDate written: February 22nd, 2003
Scripture ref: 2 Peter 1:20-21
SUBJECT: Covenants
TITLE: Uses for the Old Covenant
PROPOSITION: In this lesson we want to focus upon some uses of the Old Covenant, namely: 1) It is for our learning, 2) It provides wisdom, 3) It warns us regarding sin, 4) It helps us understand the New Covenant.
OBJECTIVES: Each person should understand why we study the Old Covenant.
AIM: To help all understand that as Christians, we must study the Old Covenant.
INTRODUCTION:
1. Read: 2 Peter 1:20-21 “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
2. About the Text:
1) From this text we understand that God inspired the things written under the Old Covenant.
2) The Old Covenant is, therefore, God’s word.
3) Today, we will be judged based upon the words of Christ under the new covenant. (John 12:48).
4) However, just because we will not be judged based upon the Old Covenant does not mean that we should completely ignore it.
5) In fact, the writers of the New Testament used the Old Covenant frequently in their teaching and preaching.
6) They viewed the Old Covenant, not as something that is useless, but as something that is useful in their studies.
7) We must view the Old Testament in the same way today.
3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.
DISCUSSION: How is the Old Covenant useful for us today?
I. It is useful for our learning.
1. Romans 15:4 “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”
1) Paul clearly says that we can learn from the Old Covenant.
2) When we learn from the Old Covenant, we get patience, comfort, and hope.
2. We learn lessons of faith from the Old Covenant.
1) Noah (Genesis 6-8)
2) Abraham (Genesis 13-19)
3) David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17)
3. We learn that God blesses the faithful.
1) Joseph (Genesis 36-50)
2) Job
3) Joshua
4. We learn about God.
1) About his justice (Nadab and Abihu/Leviticus 10:1-2, Uzzah/2 Samuel 6)
2) About his goodness (Moses/Exodus 1-15).
3) About his power (Creation, Plagues, Parting of Red Sea).
5. 1 Corinthians 10:11 “Now these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come.”
6. There are many and great things to be learned under the Old Covenant but we have to study it to learn these things.
7. Without studying the Old Covenant we miss out on many great and practical lessons.
II. It provides wisdom.
1. Paul wrote to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:15 “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
1) Paul was speaking about the Old Covenant.
2) He had learned these things from his mother and grandmother. 2 Timothy1:5 “When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.”
3) Paul said that it was able to make Timothy wise unto salvation.
2. There is an enormous amount of wisdom in the Old Covenant to help us on our road to heaven.
3. The Psalms contain an enormous amount of God’s wisdom.
1) Do we need help in finding words to pray to God? (Psalm 86)
2) Do we struggle to find comfort in times of grief? (Psalm 23).
3) Do we wrestle with the problem of evil men trying to undo us? (Psalm 10).
4) Do we look for words to use to praise God? (Psalm 100).
5) Do we seek to find ways to confess our sin to God? (Psalm 51).
6) Do we want to know more about the character of God’s word? (Psalm 119).
7) The Psalms contain a treasure trove of wealth in wisdom.
4. What the Psalms are to our relationship with God, the Proverbs are to our relationship with man.
1) They provide wisdom for the young. (Proverbs 1:1-7).
2) Advise on avoiding sins of the flesh such as fornication (Proverbs 7), partying (Proverbs 1:10-17), and drunkenness (Proverbs 23:29-35).
3) Proverbs provides good advice on having and raising children (Proverbs 22:6; 22:15).
4) It covers the subjects of how to get along with neighbors and friends (Proverbs 25:17-19).
5) It teaches us how to avoid foolishness (Proverbs 26:1-12).
6) There is great advice on how to use one’s tongue in this book (Proverbs 15:1-4).
7) The books gives advice on how to view wealth and poverty (Proverbs 13:7).
8) There is great instruction and wisdom in this book and it is part of the Old Covenant.
5. We need this wisdom from God to help us on our journey from earth to heaven.
III. It warns us regarding sin.
1. Though the law came a knowledge of sin.
1) Romans 3:20 “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”
2) Romans 7:7 “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.”
2. The Old Covenant tells us things that are wrong and which we should avoid which the New Covenant mentions in principle, but not as explicitly as the Old Covenant.
1) The sin of mocking the deaf and blind (Leviticus 19:14).
2) The sin of usury (Deuteronomy 23:19-20).
3) The sin of rebellion (1 Samuel 15:23).
4) The sin of homosexuality (Leviticus 18:22).
3. Perhaps more enlightening, however is the teaching of the Old Covenant regarding how God deals with sin.
1) God hates sin (Proverbs 8:13).
2) Sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:2).
3) Sin is against God (Genesis 39:9; Psalm 51:4).
4) God will punish those who sin (Ezekiel 18:4).
IV. It helps us to understand the New Covenant
1. Think of all the prophecy we would be without.
1) Regarding the Christ (Psalm 22; Isaiah 53).
2) Regarding the Church (Isaiah 2:1-4; Daniel 2:44).
3) Regarding the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31).
2. Think of the lack of explanation we would have regarding Christ’s atoning sacrifice.
1) Christ is the fulfillment of the passover (Exodus 12).
2) Christ is the fulfillment of the High Priest (Leviticus 16).
3) Christ as the fulfillment of the firstfruits (Leviticus 23:15-22).
3. We read in 2 Corinthians 3:11-16 “For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.”
1) The Old Covenant cannot truly be understood without the New Covenant.
2) But the while the New Covenant explains the Old Covenant, the Old enlightens the new.
CONCLUSION:
1. We must study the Old Covenant.
1) It is useful for our learning.
2) In it is a treasure of wisdom.
3) It defines sin for us.
4) It helps us to understand the New Covenant.
2. Has the Old Covenant been done away?
1) Yes! Colossians 2:14 “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.”
2) For us to seek salvation through the terms of the Old Covenant would be sin.
3) But for us to ignore the Old Covenant would be sin as well.
4) Let us seek to have the proper balance between the two.
3. Invitation
1) If you are a Christian but have fallen away
a. God warns you regarding your precarious circumstance in sin today.
b. Repent before it is too late.
2) If you are not a Christian this morning . . .
a. The Old Covenant was not powerful enough to provide for eternal salvation, but through the New Covenant you can be saved.
b. Heed the plan that it has for man’s salvation today!
a) Hear the word; Romans 10:17 “Faith comes by hearing . . .”
b) Believe with all your heart; Hebrews 11:6 “For without faith it is impossible . . . .”
c) Repent of your sins (Acts 17:30).
d) Confess Jesus as the Son of God (Matthew 16:16).
e) Be baptized for the remission of your sins (Mark 16:15-16).