How to Apply the OT to Our Lives - Principles and Questions
By Ron Jones ©Titus Institute 2016
How to Apply the OT to Our Lives - Principles and Questions
If we as New Testament Christians are to properly apply the Old Testament to our lives as we are reading it, we need to keep in mind the following principles:
1. The OT portions that reflect God's plan for Israel in the Mosaic Covenant applied to them only.
1) OT passages that speak directly about the obligations of the Mosaic Covenant do not apply to Christians. 2) OT passages that speak directly about the blessings of obeying and the curses of not obeying the Mosaic Covenant do not apply to Christians. 3) OT passages that speak of OT cultural practices do not apply to Christians. 4) OT passages that speak of God's specific miraculous work in the nation of Israel under the Mosaic Covenant do not apply to Christians. 5) OT passages that speak of the specific promises God made to Israel concerning the end times do not apply to Christians.
For the Biblical explanation of the Mosaic Covenant and why it does not apply to Christians, click here:2. The OT portions that reflect God's unchanging nature and attributes can be applied to our lives (as interpreted according to the NT).
3. The OT portions that reflect the relationship with God of all believers of all ages which can be applied to our lives (as interpreted according to the NT).
4. The OT portions that reflect God's universal moral laws which apply to all people of all ages can be applied to our lives (as interpreted according to the NT).
We can apply these principles by asking the following questions that correspond to these principles as we read the Old Testament:
1. Is this passage talking about Israel in the Mosaic Covenant which does not apply to us?
2. What does this passage reveal about God, his nature and attributes?
3. Does this passage reflect the relationship with God of all believers of all ages?
4. Does this passage reflect God's universal moral law as revealed in the NT?
