Many Christians are like the young fellow who tried to solve some calculus problems before getting a grip on basic math. They try to comprehend what Paul is saying in Colossians Chapter 2 before understanding what Jesus Christ said about the Sabbath in the four gospel accounts and in the writings of the Hebrew prophets. They totally ignore Peter’s solemn warning that Paul wrote “some things hard to understand, which they that are unlearned (in the Hebrew scriptures and the gospel accounts) and (spiritually) unstable (one moment sinning, the next repenting) wrest (twist, distort) as they do also the other scriptures (not just Paul’s writings), unto their own (spiritual) destruction” (See 2 Peter 3:15-16).
I cannot count the number of times I have heard some pastor or preacher say, “I don’t get my doctrine out of the Old Testament!” Where on earth do they think the apostles and early church got their doctrine – out of a non-existent New Testament!!! It was the apostle Paul who wrote, “ALL SCRIPTURE is given by inspiration of God, AND IS PROFITABLE FOR DOCTRINE, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (See 2 Timothy 3:16). Those words were written to a fellow minister of the Word of God of whom Paul said, “from a child you have known the holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (verse 15, 2 Timothy). The ONLY scriptures this grown man Timothy could have known in his childhood WERE THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES – what is now commonly called the Old Testament! The household of God, the body of Christ, the church is built upon THE FOUNDATION OF THE APOSTLES AND PROPHETS, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom all the building fitly framed together grows unto an holy temple of the Lord, in whom you also are built together for a habitation of God.” (See Ephesians 2:19-22).
Any local congregation that does not rely heavily upon the Hebrew prophets in formulating their beliefs and statement of faith is a building on a shaky foundation, and it is a foregone conclusion they will be embracing and teaching a great deal of profound error.
Many read right over our Lord’s statement to the Pharisees: “The law and the prophets were until John, since that time the kingdom of God is preached. ” (See Luke 16:16). They haven’t a clue as to what Jesus was telling those self righteous spreaders of error. He was telling them that through the writings of Moses (the law) and the Hebrew prophets God was providing Israel with the foundational truths they would need to understand the coming kingdom of God. That is why Jesus Christ quotes Abraham as saying, “They have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them” (Luke 16:29). Again, summing up His counsel to these know-it-all Pharisees, He quotes Abraham again as saying, “If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead” (Luke 16:31). And that statement is 100% true. Those who refuse to include the writings of Moses and the prophets in formulating their doctrine will not be convinced of the truth – what the Bible actually teaches – even if someone dear to them rose from the dead and tried to convince them. Satan’s blinding power is staggering!
Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),
Donald Wiley