5 Sacrifices Study - When reading the OT, specifically the Pentateuch (1st 5 books), keep some things in mind. Genesis 1-11 explains man's broken relationship with God. Genesis 12 - Deuteronomy 34 explains God's plan for restoring that relationship. In the Pentateuch, we see a rebellious people who continually fail and a God who makes His unbelievable character known to them.
The structure of the OT is very important. We must approach each book as God intended. There are four basic sections of the OT and each section has a specific authorial intent. To get the most out of your study time and avoid the trap of false teaching, you need to know how to approach each section. I will post how each section should be approached.
Often times, we want to think of the OT as nothing but law. We forget that it is more about God's unfailing love expressed in a covenant relationship. It is interesting to note that the Israelites put their trust in the keeping of the law and not in the purity of the relationship. It is much like the person today who thinks they do not have to be concerned about their sin and that their sin is "under the blood"; they fail to see the broken relationship between them and God. True relationship with God is understanding at what great lengths He has kept His word and keeping pure. The OT is all about "Be holy as I am holy". The law was only part of the covenant relationship and was included to set God's people apart. A close study of the law will only instruct you on how to live a holy life in the presence of God. Therefore, the law does nothing to save, but only leaves you short of holiness and in desperate need of a Savior.
The structure of the OT is very important. We must approach each book as God intended. There are four basic sections of the OT and each section has a specific authorial intent. To get the most out of your study time and avoid the trap of false teaching, you need to know how to approach each section. I will post how each section should be approached.
Often times, we want to think of the OT as nothing but law. We forget that it is more about God's unfailing love expressed in a covenant relationship. It is interesting to note that the Israelites put their trust in the keeping of the law and not in the purity of the relationship. It is much like the person today who thinks they do not have to be concerned about their sin and that their sin is "under the blood"; they fail to see the broken relationship between them and God. True relationship with God is understanding at what great lengths He has kept His word and keeping pure. The OT is all about "Be holy as I am holy". The law was only part of the covenant relationship and was included to set God's people apart. A close study of the law will only instruct you on how to live a holy life in the presence of God. Therefore, the law does nothing to save, but only leaves you short of holiness and in desperate need of a Savior.
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