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The Bible is God’s written word to us. It’s how we get to know Him. The Scriptures “are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Jesus Christ” (2 Timothy 3:15). The sixty-six books [39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament] are inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16).  He used 40 different authors over 1500 years to create one book completely accurate and unified. The accuracy of many fulfilled prophecies in the Bible proves that it is divinely inspired (Isaiah 46:10).

Additionally, knowing and applying biblical truth is essential in growing as a faithful follower [disciple] of Christ. Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).

The Faithfulness of God in the Old Testament 

The Old and New Testaments are unified in their message to us. Beginning in the first book of the Bible, Genesis, you learn how we got here and why the world is in the condition it is in. Satan tempted Adam and Eve and they sinned. Sin separated mankind from God. They passed on the sin nature to the rest of humanity. But God immediately promised that He would provide the solution. It would be fulfilled in the coming of Jesus, the Messiah. Genesis 1-3; 3:15; Isaiah 53:6; Galatians 4:4  

Sin infected the whole human race so severely that the earth became full of wickedness. It caused God to judge the entire earth by a flood. But God saved eight people. Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Noah obeyed and built an ark. He, his wife, three sons, and their wives survived the flood and repopulated the earth. God continued the line of the Messiah through Shem, one of Noah’s sons. Genesis 6-8; Luke 3:36

About 100 years later the people defied God and refused His command to fill the earth. They were building the tower of Babel to “make a name” for themselves. God judged mankind once more by confusing their language, scattering them around the earth. Genesis 9:1; 11:4-8

Years later God chose Abraham, a descendant of Shem, to be the ancestral line of the Messianic Promise to Adam and Eve. The Lord made an unconditional covenant with him to bless all the families of the earth through him. That blessing would come through his descendants and culminate two thousand years later in Jesus the Messiah [Christ]. Genesis 11:10, 26; 12:1-3; 15:1-18; Galatians 3:8

God promised Isaac, Abraham’s son, that the Messianic blessing would come through him. Genesis 21:12; 26:1-4

Sixty years later Isaac had twins, Jacob and Esau. The promise continued through the descendants of Jacob. Genesis 28:14

Jacob had twelve sons who became the nation of Israel. God preserved His promise of the Messiah through the offspring of Judah, one of Jacob’s twelve sons. Genesis 29-30; 35:23-26; 49:10; Matthew 1:1-16

A famine caused the fledgling nation of seventy people to go to Egypt. Israel remained there for 400 years and grew in great number. God selected Moses to lead the people out of bondage. Genesis 47:4-28; Exodus 1:1-5; 3:16-20; 12:40

The Lord miraculously delivered them from the Egyptians and set them apart to serve Him. He gave Israel the Ten Commandments and instructed them to build the tabernacle so He could dwell with them. Exodus 19-20; 25:8, 9

[Book of Exodus covers about 70 - 80 years]

After giving Israel the Law, God led them to the Promise Land. However, they refused to go in because of the giants and fortified cities. God chastened them for their unbelief, causing them to spend 40 years wandering in the wilderness. Numbers 14:33, 34 

[The Book of Numbers covers about 38 years] 

At the end of the 40 years of wandering, Moses reviewed the law with the next generation. Moses died and Joshua became the central leader of Israel and led the nation into the Promised Land. Joshua 1

[The book of Deuteronomy covers about one month] 

Following the death of Joshua, Israel went through a cycle of backsliding and repenting. When the Israelites forsook God, He delivered them into the hand of their enemies. When they turned back to Him, He used a number of different judges over about 335 years to deliver them from their oppressors. Judges 3-16; I Samuel 4:18; 7:15

After the times of the Judges, Israel rejected God as King over them and chose Saul as their first earthly king. In defiance of the Lord, they wanted to be like all the others nations. I Samuel 8:19-20; 10:19

In place of Saul who was unfaithful, God appointed David as king. God promised David that his house, kingdom, and throne would be established forever (2 Samuel 7:15, 16). David reigned for 40 years. Then Solomon, his son, became king and built the first temple in Jerusalem. I Kings 6:1-10

After Solomon died, significant disagreement divided the kingdom. Ten tribes formed the northern kingdom [Israel] and two tribes formed the southern kingdom [Judah]. I Kings 11-12 

[The book of I Kings records the history of the division of the kingdom into two kingdoms with two separate lines of kings. The book of 2 Kings records the destruction of both kingdoms.] 

Throughout the times of the kings [1,050 BC – 586 BC], God used the prophets to guide them. A few listened to the prophets, but many did not and suffered the consequences.

The northern kingdom had no godly kings. In 722 BC, God used the Assyrian army to conquer the rebellious northern kingdom of Israel and to take them away into exile. 2 Kings 17:5-8

Years later God used Babylon to conquer Judah, the southern kingdom, due to their persistent unfaithfulness. In 586 BC Babylon completed their assault by destroying the temple and taking many into captivity for 70 years. 2 Kings 24:12-25:21 

Then in 539 BC God used the Medes and Persians to punish Babylon for their wrong-doing by defeating them in one night. Daniel 5:1-31; Jeremiah 25:8-12  

In faithfulness to His word, God would restore Israel back to the land. The Lord influenced Cyrus, king of Persia, to permit the captives of Judah to return and rebuild the temple. The second temple was completed in 516 BC. Ezra 1:1-4; Isaiah 44:28; Jeremiah 29:10

About 70 years later, in 445 BC another Persian king gave Nehemiah permission to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the city and the wall. Nehemiah 2:1-8

Malachi is the last prophet of the Old Testament. After him there were about 400 years to the time of Christ, during which there was no recorded word from God. 

From Genesis to Malachi, the Old Testament was written for us as well. “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:4). In spite of man’s ongoing unfaithfulness, the Lord would still be faithful to His promise of a Redeemer.  

The Transition from the Old to the New 

The Old Testament foretold the promised coming of the Messiah. The New Testament reveals that Jesus is the fulfillment of the promise through the Jewish people.

Specifically, the four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, identify Jesus as the Messiah. As fully God and fully man, Jesus fulfilled the law and became the perfect sacrifice: “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:1; 1:29; Philippians 2:5-11; I Peter 2:22

But in spite of so much revelation, the nation still rejected Him (Matthew 11-13). Jesus chastened them for not recognizing the time of their visitation (Luke 19:44). As a result they would see Him no more till they say, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” Matthew 23:39

Ironically, their rejection resulted in His crucifixion, fulfilling His assurance of redemption that was promised throughout the Old Testament. The shedding of His blood paid the full redemption price for all sin [past, present, and future]. Three days later He rose from the grave, proving He has power over sin and death. And He promised that whoever believes in Him would not perish but has everlasting life. John 3:16, 6:47

After His resurrection He was seen by many people (I Corinthians 15:5-8). Forty days later He returned to the Father, God. Then He sent the Holy Spirit who comes to live in the heart of every believer (John 7:38, 39). The book of Acts records the formation of the church through the ministry of the apostles as they fulfill Christ’s command to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations. Matthew 28:19, 20

After the book of Acts, the apostles Paul, John, and Peter wrote most of the New Testament books. James and Jude each penned a book also. These letters established sound doctrine, warned churches of false teaching, encouraged faithfulness by walking in the Spirit, and helped believers to deepen and develop their relationship with God through faith in His word. “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17; Galatians 5:16

The New Testament ends with the book of Revelation, a description of end time events and the return of Christ. In the future He will return “with power and great glory” to establish His kingdom on earth. Matthew 24:30; Revelation 19:11-16

God uses the entirety of His word, the Bible, to develop believers into functional, fruitful, and faithful disciples. The Spirit is the agent and the word of God is the instrument that will transform you spiritually. 

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man [or woman] of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 

2 Timothy 3:16, 17

The Christian life is a journey not a sprint. It begins at the moment of faith in Christ. It’s to be lived out by faith in the Lord according to His word. Out of a grateful heart, spend time each day with Him in His word and prayer. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom” (Colossians 3:16). It will begin to transform you from the inside out. Most importantly, your life will glorify the Lord and it will be very good for you! 

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