The Bible is One Story.
The apostles recognized the Old Testament as God's record of His involvement in the world and especially with His chosen people in preparation for the coming of the Savior. The Old Testament was the Bible of the early Church. The apostles in the Book of Acts linked the acts of God in the Old Testament to the revelation of God Himself. The apostles used the Old Testament to authenticate the claims of Jesus of Nazareth as the Christ. For them, the story of Christ began long before they met him at the Sea of Galilee or at the River Jordan where John was baptizing. The apostles taught the Old Testament and its history and the events which they had experienced as one story.
This method of teaching is clearly evident, beginning with Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost. Another classic example is the sermon of Stephen in which he gives an account of Old Testament history beginning with Abraham.
The Old Testament Scriptures, which prepare the mind to see the need and purpose of Jesus, have been badly neglected by the Church. Multitudes have little if any understanding of the biblical reasons for His coming.
The God of Christianity is the God of history. The faith of Christians is based on God's great revelatory acts, beginning with God's acts of creation and culminating in the historic, redemptive acts of the Lord Jesus Christ in His birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension to glory.
Large sections of Scriptures are often overlooked
We all have a tendency to "ride our own hobby horse" and gravitate to the subject or doctrines which we feel are most important. The result is that large sections of the Scriptures are usually overlooked in many churches, while other parts of the Bible receive the most attention.
Misinterpretation of verses out of context
Due to topical and doctrinal sermons on isolated Scripture portions, many who have been Christians for a long time are not able to interpret even familiar verses in the context of the book or epistle of which they are a part. The reason for this is obvious. The majority have seldom, if ever, been taught the wider context of these well-known verses. Having never been introduced to the basic framework of biblical progressive revelation, they may understand verses, or even chapters or sections of Scripture which deal with a particular topic, but they do not understand the Bible as ONE BOOK. They do not comprehend the great necessity to interpret ALL Scripture in the light of the whole of progressive revelation.
God's teaching
God gradually unfolded the Bible's message over the ages. This God-controlled unfolding of truth has been likened to the growth of grain, "...first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear" (Mark 4:28). God chose to make known His nature and character. His plan for the world, His purpose of redemption through Christ, and all other spiritual matters through progressive revelation.
God's basic method of teaching can be likened to the way an artist paints a picture. An artist does not begin painting in one corner of the canvas and immediately complete every detail. Instead, he will often do an initial, simply, light sketch of the whole picture. To an onlooker, the picture in the early stages will be indistinct. Even when studied, it may not be clear just what the artist intends to include in the final product. But, as the artist continues to work on the picture, here a little and there a little, the details begin to develop with greater clarity. This process continues until the final strokes are applied and the picture is complete.
God NEVER taught all there was to know about any particular doctrine or subject at one specific time. He often revealed some new area of truth, but He never immediately gave the whole truth, but He never immediately gave the whole truth regarding any one subject. God's method of teaching can be compared to the way most people prefer their meals served. A man would be surprised if he went home to find his wife had prepared a meal consisting only of potatoes and if he heard her say, "Today, we are having potatoes. Tomorrow, we will have beans. The day after tomorrow, we will have just meat on the menu." Who would be happy with that type of menu? We usually like a meal to consist of different types of vegetables and some meat. This is how God wrote His Word. This is how God feeds us from His Word when we study it just as He has given it.
All doctrines begin in seed form in Genesis and are progressively revealed, little by little, throughout the Old and New Testaments.
God's basic method of teaching can be likened to the way an artist paints a picture. An artist does not begin painting in one corner of the canvas and immediately complete every detail. Instead, he will often do an initial, simply, light sketch of the whole picture. To an onlooker, the picture in the early stages will be indistinct. Even when studied, it may not be clear just what the artist intends to include in the final product. But, as the artist continues to work on the picture, here a little and there a little, the details begin to develop with greater clarity. This process continues until the final strokes are applied and the picture is complete.
God NEVER taught all there was to know about any particular doctrine or subject at one specific time. He often revealed some new area of truth, but He never immediately gave the whole truth, but He never immediately gave the whole truth regarding any one subject. God's method of teaching can be compared to the way most people prefer their meals served. A man would be surprised if he went home to find his wife had prepared a meal consisting only of potatoes and if he heard her say, "Today, we are having potatoes. Tomorrow, we will have beans. The day after tomorrow, we will have just meat on the menu." Who would be happy with that type of menu? We usually like a meal to consist of different types of vegetables and some meat. This is how God wrote His Word. This is how God feeds us from His Word when we study it just as He has given it.
All doctrines begin in seed form in Genesis and are progressively revealed, little by little, throughout the Old and New Testaments.
If all we know is the New Testament, we have a limited and possibly a distorted view of God.
When Paul taught the truths for the Christian walk, he did so on the basis of the Old Testament Scriptures. Paul did not want them to be ignorant of these Old Testament accounts. Why not? Because, he said, "....these things have become examples for us so that we won't desire what is evil, as they did...these things happened to make them an example for others....These things were written down as a warning for us who are living in the closing days of history." (1 Cor. 6:6,11). Paul's presentation of God included God's historical revelation to the nation of Israel. Paul reminded Timothy that, from a child, he had known the Holy Scriptures, which Paul assured Timothy, are able to make a person wise unto salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:16-17). It should be clear to all Bible teachers that Paul is speaking of the Old Testament Scriptures as well as the New Testament revelation.