The value of the OT to the New Covenant believer

Does the OT have any relevance or benefit to us as believers living under the New Covenant? I mean beyond just good illustrations for sermons or Sunday school stories for our children? If so, how do we know? And how are the helpful. How do we know that? Romans 15:4 tells us that events and stories of the OT were written for our encouragement. And in an extended passage we learn how the OT is for our benefit. Specifically drawing on some stories from the book of Numbers primarily Paul writes,

"I want you to know, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." (1 Corinthians 10:1-13)

I heard a message recently from a well-known Presbyterian pastor named Ligon Duncan and in it he made several salient observations about how and why we as believers who are partakers of the New Covenant should view the Old Testament as edifying and important for us today. These events actually happened for us and God wants us to learn from them how we should now live today.

1 - The events that occurred in the OT were examples to us. The New Testament often uses examples from the Old Testament to draw application for the reader. The inspired writers use the Old Testament to encourage and exhort Christians to live the Christian life. Here Paul says the examples in the Old Testament happened to teach us.

2 - The events that happened happened as a moral warning to us. Those events are designed to warn us off from evil cravings.

3 - The Apostle does not merely say these things are recorded as examples for us but that they happened as examples for us. In God's design, all the pain and suffering in the wilderness happened so that we can learn from it and from this we learn just how much He loves us.

4 - The events of the OT provide exhortation to New Testament believers. God in His providence has in view New Covenant believers even in the events that happen in OT.

5 - Paul specifically applies this to New Testament believers in four areas. 1) Do not be idolaters. 2) Do not be immoral. 3) Do not presumptuously test the Lord. 4) Do not grumble against providence.

6 - Not only did these events happen for Christians, but they were written down for Christians. They were written for our instruction.

7 - The Apostle warns us against thinking that we will not fall like they did. Don't think that just because you have seen the glories of the cross that you are impervious to the temptation to fall like the people in the wilderness and in the OT kingdom.

8 - We are to learn from their temptations and failures in order to escape ours. Duncan quoted the old phrase "He who does not learn from history is doomed to repeat it" and suggested that this is the spiritual corollary.

9 - Christ is at the very center of this story, the whole wilderness experience, yes of the OT kingly line that would eventuate in the coming of the Messiah who is Christ.. He is the rock and it is all about Him.

So, read, learn, apply the OT to your life, follower of Jesus Christ!