Why do many people today ignore the Old Testament?
Many people today ignore the Old Testament because they wrongly assume it has nothing to do with them, dismissing it as written only to Israel under the Law. Yet Paul teaches it was written for our learning, serving as the bedrock for the New Testament, which cannot be understood without it.
Les points out that Paul, writing to Christians at Rome, says whatsoever things were written aforetime—the Old Testament—were written for our learning. Many today shut their eyes to the Old Testament, saying, 'We've got nothing to do with that.' But Les explains the Old Testament is the bedrock for the New, and you cannot understand the New unless you understand the Old. Paul clarifies these things were written for our learning, not our doctrine; you won't find the plan of salvation in Exodus, only a picture of it. They are there so that through patience and comfort of the Scriptures we might have hope.
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
More Questions
Why is the Old Testament still relevant for learning today?
The Old Testament is still relevant for our learning because it provides the background of how God's plan of salvation unfolded and how God can offer salvation to the whole human race.