Why Starting in the Old Testament Helps Us Understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the New Testament

By starting in Genesis, with the Fall of mankind, the importance of Jesus Christ becomes apparent.

If a person starts only in the New Testament, there might be a tendency to think that Jesus is simply a philosophical alternative to whatever else is out there.  Instead of “fill in the blank”, I now believe in Jesus.

But it is more than that.

Mankind at creation had fellowship with God.

Mankind lost that fellowship in the Fall.

Mankind was without hope.   The broken state of mankind was carried on generation after generation.   Mankind was cut off from fellowship with God.   The promise of a Redeemer were given through a covenant with Abraham, carried down through Israel; ultimately Jesus Christ came through that lineage for all mankind.  The summary of a person’s “before salvation through Jesus Christ” state is this; all individuals born on this planet are born in this state.

Ephesisans 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

The summary of a person’s state after being born again and reconciled to God through Christ Jesus is this.

Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

This is why Jesus is not simply another name, another philospher, another religious figure, another teacher, another prophet. Jesus did operate as a prophet, as a teacher; he is considered a religious figure.

But beyond all that, the main thing that Jesus did is to live a sinless life as the Son of God, and then die, so the sinless Lamb of God’s Blood could be shed to satisfy the just demands of Heaven. There was and is no other way to reconciliation to God except through the Blood and Cross of Jesus Christ.

I Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

Jesus Christ is not just a thought, a different religious leader’s name. Jesus Christ provided the legal remedy for the Fall, but it is up to each individual to receive it.