Apicontent

The New Testament is more connected to the Old Testament than you think. New Testament authors were steeped in Old Testament imagery, prophecies, and writing styles.

The New Testament is not a whole “new” story, but a continuation of the entire Bible so far. The Old Testament, also known as the Hebrew Bible, tells an incomplete story about God and Israel and their continual failings to be the people God calls them to be but also gives us hope of a coming Messiah. The New Testament tells the story of that long-awaited Messiah, Jesus.

Not a “new” story

The New Testament is not as disconnected from the Old Testament as some might assume. The cohesion is made evident in the writings of the New Testament where authors often reference back to Old Testament scriptures. Our New Testament Overview video shows the connection between the testaments and how the Bible is a unified story that leads to Jesus.

Jesus brings God’s heavenly kingdom to earth and invites his disciples into a new way of life through his death and resurrection.

The Gospel of Matthew tells the story of Jesus’ birth, life, death, and resurrection as a continuation and fulfillment of the whole Biblical story of God and Israel.

Jesus is the Jewish Messiah

Matthew begins with details of how Jesus descends from the line of David, making Him a king. It proceeds to share Jesus’ teachings that prove He’s an authoritative teacher like Moses. Throughout the book, we see that Jesus is Emmanuel, or God with us, and welcomes everyone into the upside down kingdom where leaders serve.

From the calling of the disciples to the parables to the Great Commission, this New Testament book shows readers how the promises and prophecies God made to His people in the Old Testament do come to pass through Jesus.

Mark demonstrates that Jesus is Israel’s Messiah who inaugurates God’s kingdom through his suffering, death, and resurrection.

The Gospel of Mark is a carefully crafted story that gives an account of Jesus’ life and addresses the question of whether or not He is the Jewish Messiah.

An unexpected king

In the first half, everyone questions who He is, the middle questions the disciples’ belief about Him, and the second half tells how He became the Messiah. Many Jews hoped that the Messiah would overthrow the Romans and rule as king, but as we read this book, we see that He came as a servant to set up the kingdom of God on earth. While He is the Son of God, He also sacrificed His life to save people from slavery to sin. The book’s abrupt ending challenges us to decide if we believe He is the Messiah.

Jesus becomes human as the incarnation of the creator God of Israel, to share His love and the gift of eternal life with the world.

Throughout the Gospel of John, we see that Jesus is God and the reality toward which all of Israel’s history points.

The Son of God

Not only is Jesus the Messiah, but He’s also the Son of God who gives eternal life to everyone who believes on His name. We see this reality through the signs and miracles He performs, and seven times He answers “I Am” when people question His identity.

He also uses His time on earth to introduce people to the new birth. By believing that He is the Messiah and God’s son, they have eternal life and freedom from sin and are empowered to perform radical acts of kindness, generosity and selfless love as they listen to His voice and obey Him.