* I heard a well-known pastor say that we should “unhitch” the Old Testament from the New Testament.
* He believed the only thing that matters is the resurrection of Jesus.
* I understand what he’s trying to do, but the phrase “unhitch” is devastating to Biblical truth.
* Why? Because the Old Testament is all about Jesus!
* The OT is Jesus concealed.
* The NT is Jesus revealed.
* If people aren’t willing to accept the Bible as a whole, which is the NT and OT, then they won’t be persuaded, even by the resurrection.
* Just look at this conversation between Abraham and the rich man.
* Jesus was showing that there is life after death.
* And that our faithfulness here determines our experience there.
* vs 27-31 - NAS
* The rich man essentially said, “Please convince my brothers to get right with God so they don’t have to come here. If they see someone come back from the dead, they will believe.”
* Abe responds, “If they don’t believe the Old Testament scriptures that point to the Messiah, then they won’t believe EVEN IF SOMEONE WERE TO RAISE FROM THE DEAD!”
* He was alluding to the resurrection of Jesus!
* Listen to what the Evangelical Commentary says about this:
* “This suggests that the message of Jesus does not invalidate Old Testament revelation. The rich man, however, protests that the Scriptures are not enough. They need the definitive proof that a resurrection would provide. Abraham retorts that this is incorrect. Those who do not put credence in the Scriptures will not be persuaded by a resurrection. Certainly Jesus’ resurrection was in Luke’s mind when he wrote this. The point of the last part of the parable is clear. No miracle can convince anyone of the credibility of the kingdom message. The Scriptures are sufficient for salvation, and those who reject their message will rationalize miraculous phenomena as well.”
* Tony Evans - “If one will not believe God’s Word, a miracle will not convince him. Though Jesus had performed countless miracles, still the Pharisees refused to believe he was the Messiah. And while he would rise from the dead, even that miracle would not persuade them. Their hearts were hard. They were unwilling to believe.”
* Jesus Himself, after His resurrection, used the OT to reveal the truth about the Messiah.
* Luke 24:27 - “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.”
* The point is this - the OT and NT should remain hitched and we should study both of them with a heart of full surrender.