Why Study the Old Testament? part 8

The Old Testament makes us wise to salvation

In some of the his final words, the Apostle Paul said these words to his protege Timothy…”the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus…” (2 Timothy 3:15).

How can the Old Testament make us aware of salvation?  After all, there’s no Jesus in the Old Testament.  That’s a great question (glad I asked it!)  Primarily, the Old Testament makes us aware of the need for salvation by making us aware of sin.  We learn of man’s shortcomings by becoming acquainted with the Law.  The Law made us aware that God is holy and we are not.  It is the knowledge of sin and leads us to anticipate the final solution to sin: salvation in Christ Jesus.

The Old Testament doesn’t just make us aware of sin, though.  It also looks forward to the promised solution.  As early as Genesis 3:15, God drops hints that one day the problem of sin will be taken care of.  The Old Testament doesn’t complete the picture, but it brings us to the doorstep of the Gospels.  Without the understanding of the human condition we learn in the Old Testament, the good news of the gospel makes no sense.