I’ve noticed a trend developing in the Church, particularly in the Western Church. It’s a shying away, even an ignoring of the Old Testament. This avoidance is occurring because some teachers have taught us to believe that the Old Testament is somehow in conflict with the New Covenant. It’s not. Only by adding the Law to our salvation can this happen.

Jesus honored and applied the Old Testament Scripture. He used the Old Testament to refuse the devil’s temptation when the devil tempted him in the wilderness. His rebuke of the devil was based on Scripture, which he quoted from the book of Deuteronomy.

Paul, the greatest defender of our freedom in the New Covenant wrote these words to Timothy, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right” (II Timothy 3:16). Paul wrote this to Timothy while parts of the New Testament were still being written.

Be careful when you are asked to attach your faith to a mistaken human assumption that diminishes the power and truth of the Old Testament. All Scripture, both the Old and the New Testament, is inspired by God if it is interpreted through Jesus, who is the Word of God. Jesus, who is the beginning and end of all things, is the One who guides us into all truth.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God” John 1:12). This verse is speaking about Jesus, who quoted the Old Testament many times throughout the New Testament record. We can trust the Lord’s example if we properly apply His truth in the context of the freedom we have been given in the New Covenant.