In our minds we can tend to see the Bible as the Old Testament and the New Testament. In the Old Testament we might see God as angry and judge and in the New Testament as meek and loving. We see God in compartments that don’t exist. We think like someone making jam. We keep the fruit separate but together. We become “experts” in certain parts of the Bible and miss out on the rest. This is not helped by editions of the Bible that contain only the Old or New Testament. Jesus would not understand the distinction. Jesus referred to the Scriptures. We need to think different from Western ways. The Bible is one.

The Bible is a road journey from Genesis 1 until the end of Revelation. It is a road that is leading somewhere. We have the Hebrew Scriptures where God reveals “so much” and in the New Covenant God reveals “so much more”. We need to hear in “stereo”, if we are to understand what God is saying. We need to look at the Old and the New Testament. We need our own GPS. Do we know where we are going? We are heading for “the End” or “final Destination” when God will be ruling over the whole world. God will be all in all.

We are so centred on ourselves that we miss the big picture. There is a journey from creation to new creation. It is not a virtual journey. It is a journey that is reality. There is a continuous forward journey from creation to the end.

1 – From Past Days to Last Days

See Hebrews 21:1-2. It is one God who speaks throughout history. It is the same God in the past days that speaks in the last days. How has God spoken?

• Past days – God spoke through prophetic words, dreams, visions, speaking animals, etc.
• Last days – Scriptures, the Holy Spirit, the Son (Jesus).

See Hebrews 2-4. God is building one house. Moses was a servant in this house. Jesus is the Son. God is building with people. The Church is the house that God is building.

2 – From Glory to a Greater Glory

See 2 Corinthians 3:9-11.There is continuity and discontinuity in the Old Testament and New Testament. The same fire at Mount Sinai continues. The Leviticus laws had their glory but they have been discontinued as they have been surpassed by a greater glory. The glory of the Old Testament has been outshone by the greater glory of the New Testament revelation as it has the power to transform lives.

3 – From Promise to Fulfilment

See Galatians 4:4. God sent His Son, born of a woman, under the law. Jesus was the fulfilment of the promises of a Saviour. See 2 Corinthians 6:2. Now is the time and day of salvation. The Son and Holy Spirit have come and the end has started. The New Covenant speaks of a future time of fulfilment when Israel and Judah will come to know the Lord. The full and final fulfilment of this New Covenant promise is yet future.

4 – From Mystery to Revelation

See Ephesians 3:5. God has revealed the mystery about Himself and His plans through angels, prophets, apostles and the saints, See Colossians 1:28 and 1 Peter 1:10-12. We have seen more than angels have seen! We have today a fuller, deeper, broader and clearer revelation.

The message has from being national (Israel) to international. It is like a tree. Think of the Old Testament as the tree trunk and the New Testament as the branches and leaves. We first of all saw the trunk but now we see the branches and leaves. More has been revealed and we get a clearer picture of what we are seeing. Salvation is not like a one-night stand! Jesus has promised to return and He will not disappoint. Make sure you participate in the story!

Categories: Hebrews