According to the Apostle Paul, the most prolific New Testament writer, ALL SCRIPTURE is inspired by God.

When Paul wrote his letters to Timothy, Paul referred to the Old Testament.  He asserted how the Scriptures could rightly be used.

2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Notice that the use of the Old Testament Scriptures is not limited to historical accounts.  These Scriptures are profitable to us for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness.

Many people carry only copies of the New Testament writings, with Psalms and Proverbs possibly being added.  And, of course, these are inspired Words from God.  We need to read them and use them for doctrine, reproof, correction, and righteousness.  AND, we need the Old Testament as well. True Believers need not limit ourselves by ignoring the “inspired” Word of God.  Let us never ignore or disregard ANY of God’s Words to us.

The Apostle Matthew quoted Jesus Who puts it best!

Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Yes!  By EVERY WORD!  And, that most certainly includes the Old Testament Scriptures.

Jesus indicated that they were!  And, they are also validated as reliable through the New Testament writings of the early Church leaders.

It is important to realize that prior to Christ’s birth, death, and resurrection, the ONLY Scriptures were those in the Old Testament (currently referred to as the Tenach by the Jews).  New Testament books were not written, so when Jesus spoke of the Scriptures, or said, “It is written,” He could not have been speaking of the Gospels, Acts, or the other New Testament books.

Our Savior validated God’s Word when He answered Satan’s challenges by quoting from Deuteronomy 8:3.

Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 

Notice, that Jesus also said that those very Scriptures testified about Him.

John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

When Jesus was dealing with the leaders of that time, He frequently referred them to the Scriptures, sometimes saying, “It is written,” or, not knowing the scriptures.

Matthew 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 

Jesus often quoted from the Scriptures as in these examples.

Matthew 4:7, 10; 11:10; 21:13; 26:31

In the book of Acts, we find early believers searched those Scriptures daily.  They trusted them to help them prove the truth about our Savior and the wonderful things God was accomplishing.

Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

And, later, New Testament writings underscored the trustworthiness of the Old Testament.  For example, Paul reminded the young evangelist, Timothy, how he had been schooled by them.  Paul asserted that those Scriptures were connected to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Clearly, God wants us to know that we can trust the Old Testament!

Did Jesus transform the Law into something else?  Did He make it of no consequence to His followers?

In Matthew 5:17 Jesus addressed these questions to the people listening to His Sermon on the Mount.  He clearly told them not to think He came to destroy the Law or the Prophets.  Apparently, there was some discussion among the people indicating that He might.

Jesus brought up the subject in order to dispel any error about His relationship to the Law of God.

There have been many people down through the centuries who claim that Jesus’ work of salvation destroyed the Law of God.  They claim He transformed it into a temporary, negative, condemning piece of legislation, and completely did away with any penalty or consequence related to breaking or keeping the Law.

Jesus did no such thing!  In fact, our Savior established the Law.  And, decades after Jesus had died and was resurrected, God inspired the Apostle Paul to label the Law of God as holy, just, and good.

Romans 7:12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

Through the Holy Spirit, the Power of Almighty God, Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life so He could be the ultimate Lamb of God Who would take away the sin of the world.

God prepared His own Sacrifice (the life’s blood of our Savior) to cover the debt we owe.  It is a debt we owe because we have all broken the Law of God.  We have incurred the death penalty. But, through God’s awesome and incredible Plan, Jesus has paid the death penalty for us.

Because of His perfect Sacrifice (meaning He never broke the Law of God), Jesus was able, qualified, and willing to die in our place and make it possible for the Almighty God to forgive us and grant us everlasting life as a GIFT!

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal lie through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Does the question shock you?  Actually, the Pharisees confronted Jesus about commandment breaking.

John 5:18 Therefore the Jews sought to kill Him, because he not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was his Father, making Himself equal with God.

Do we believe those words? Did the Apostle John actually write that Jesus broke the Sabbath? Or, did John report the Jew’s accusations?

Many people have been falsely accused of things they have not done, and so it is the case here.  So, how did this happen?

Jesus, Himself, said that He kept the Father’s commandments.

John 15:10 I have kept my Father’s commandments.

But, it’s true that Jesus did break some commandments!  What He broke were the commandments of men!

During their captivity in Babylon around 500 BC and until the time of Jesus, the JEWS, (both Pharisees and Sadducees) created a massive set of their own commandments.  And, they added them to the law of God.  They began to teach their version of what was right and wrong.  In essence, they set aside the commandments of God so they could teach their twisted, distorted version.

Matthew 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Jesus is our SINLESS Savior!  He never broke any of God’s commandments!  If He had ever sinned, He could not have become the perfect Lamb of God, slain from the foundation of the world.  Jesus always submitted Himself in complete obedience to His Father.  This is truth you can count on!

When the Apostle Paul wrote to the Church of God in Philippi about the mind that was in Christ, he directed them to allow that same mind to be in them.

Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.

It seems Paul knew what the mind in Christ was like.  Further, it appears that Paul knew true believers could also have that same mind in them.

How is that possible?  How does one receive the same mind that was in Christ?  What does the mind of Christ look like, anyway?

From the context of Philippians, we find that humility and self-sacrifice were hallmarks of Christ’s mind.  And, it was a mind that was in perfect harmony with God.  Notice that Jesus was “obedient” to God when He gave Himself for mankind.

Philippians 2:3-8 (3) Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.  (4) Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. (5) Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (6) Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: (7) But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (8) And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

All honest humans must surely realize that this is a very special kind of mind!  This mind is the very mind of God, our Father.  This mind sees things very differently from the average human mind.  In fact, in Isaiah 55:8 God tells us that His thoughts are not as our thoughts.

This mind comes to believers by the Holy Spirit of God.  And, the Spirit of God is given to those who obey what they know God expects of them.

Acts 5:32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost [SPIRIT], whom God hath given to them that obey him.

The Apostle Paul referred to the Holy Spirit which gives believers the mind of Christ as a TREASURE in earthen vessels.  It is to be highly prized.  Nothing else can compare to this GIFT from God and to the changes that come about when a person yields to God in joyful hope and faith.

2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

The mind of Christ is a treasure worth knowing about, diligently seeking and cherishing both now and forever.