Bible was written by different authors, different periods, languages, geographical locations

It wasn’t written directly to us Translation differences & other religious

books Traditions & lifestyles – then and now Denominationalism/creeds/doctrine Order of Bible books (O.T. before N.T.) Many different terms that mean the same

or almost the same thing

God chose the Jews as His people and most of the Bible is about the Jews

Abraham was chosen by God as the father of the Jews

God promised Abraham that all nations would be blessed through his Seed

His grandson Jacob (Israel) was the father of the 12 tribes of Israel (the Jews)

The Jews were given the law of Moses, which regulated their lives (circumcision, animal sacrifices, the priesthood, Sabbath worship, Jewish festivals)

God blessed the Jews when they obeyed Him, and He punished them when they were disobedient

Genealogy was an extremely important part of the Jewish tradition. The Bible contains many lists of Jewish ancestry.

They were proud of their roots and looked down on Gentile nations.

Both testaments speak of a time when Jerusalem would be destroyed and the Jews would no longer be God’s chosen people.

The Jews (who didn’t accept Christ) wrongly thought they could be justified by the Law of Moses even after Christ died for them.

Jerusalem was destroyed ~70 AD

JEWS GENTILES

Israelites Hebrews Circumcisio

n Tribes

Greeks Uncircumcisio

n Strangers Foreigners Aliens

The Church Jerusalem

above Members of the

house of God

CHRISTIANS

Set the Jews apart from the Gentiles The 10 commandments were for the Jews

(Ex 34:27-28) Following any of the Law as a requirement

for salvation necessitates following all of it – which would include animal sacrifices, the priesthood, Sabbath worship, Jewish festivals, etc. (Gal 3:10)

Christians were never under the 10 commandments and would be cursed if they held to just that part of the law.

Jesus tells Christians to love God and our neighbor (Mat 22:37-39), which is consistent with most of the 10 commandments

Just because we don’t kill, steal, covet, etc. doesn’t mean that we are keeping the 10 commandments

God never told Christians to keep the Sabbath and He didn’t change the Sabbath day

The 1st day of the week (Sunday) and the 7th day of the week (Saturday or Sabbath) are different (Mat 28:1)

Abolished the law Removed the barrier Established His new covenant

Under the new covenant Jew and Gentile can have peace Jesus is the mediator (the torn veil) We are saved by grace through obedient faith

(Col 2:8)

OLD COVENANT NEW COVENANT

Works Bondage

(physical Jerusalem)

Ministry of Death Copy Shadow

Faith Freedom

(Jerusalem above)

Spirit of Life True Substance

CHAPTER

Rom 9Gal 4

2 Cor 3Heb 9Col 2

Jesus said the Holy Spirit would come to the apostles Teach and remind them of all things (John 14:26) Testify of Jesus and be His witness (John 15:26) He will convict the world of sin (John 16:8)

To the Jews first, then to Gentiles Starting at Jerusalem Then Judea and Samaria The rest of the earth

Apostles are baptized with the Holy Spirit

Peter speaks first gospel sermon and tells the Jews that they killed the Christ

They believe and ask what they should do

He tells them to repent and be baptized for the remission of sins and they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit

Church is established with 3000 baptized believers

They continued in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.  

What the Gospel is The Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Christ (1

Cor 15:1-4) What the Gospel does

Saves us – if we obey it (1 Cor 15:1-4) Eternal destruction – if we don’t obey it (2 Thes

1:8-9) How we obey it

Jesus died – so we should die to our sins (repentance)

Jesus was buried – so we should be buried (baptism)

Jesus was resurrected – we should be raised as a new person