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The New Testament
Preamble
The New Testament is a continuation of the story
begun in the Old Testament. In the Old Testament God promised to bring
blessing and redemption upon mankind through the Messiah. The New
Testament is the record of God doing just that. Without the twenty-seven
books of the New Testament there would be many unanswered questions
regarding the promises and purposes of God.
The New Testament is much smaller than the Old
Testament - and it covers a period of history much shorter than the Old
Testament. Nevertheless, it covers the most significant time in the
history of our world - a period of time when God became man and brought
salvation to a lost mankind. The New Testament answers the most profound
of human questions. Questions like: What is the purpose of my life? What
is God like? Does anyone love me? What happens to me when I die? Can I be
free from sin and guilt? Jesus Christ, the very Word of God, is the
answer! This marvelous book is worthy of a lifetime of study!
Like the Old Testament, the New Testament has a
consistency, a cohesiveness not found in any other book. Comprised of
twenty-seven separate books, there are "themes" throughout the
New Testament.
It begins with the four Gospels that record the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. Gospel
means "Good News," and they are good news indeed!
Books and Themes of the New Testament
The Gospels need to be
studied as individual books, and also as a collection. Each one looks at
Christ from a different perspective. The Gospels record Christ's sinless
life, authoritative teaching, and His authenticating miracles. His life
ended when He voluntarily gave up His life on the cross of Calvary. It was
this death and His resurrection that instituted God's "New Covenant"
making it possible for people to be free of their sin and to live in a
right relationship with God.
The book of Acts tells of the birth
of the Church and the coming of the Holy Spirit. The followers of Jesus
had the privilege of announcing to both Jews and Gentiles that anyone
could be redeemed because of Christ's substitutionary death on the cross.
The book of Acts records the acts of the apostles about 30 years following the resurrection of
Christ.
The epistles follow the book of Acts. Epistle means
letter. These twenty-one letters give all of the information that is
needed for followers of Christ to live as "New Covenant" people. People
living in this newly-established 'Church Age' would not be living under
the requirements of the Old Covenant - the law code given by Moses -
rather, their rule of life would be found in the new revelation given by
God in the New Covenant, or Testament. These letters record the commands,
principles, and standards that are to govern the lives of those who claim
to have entered into this new relationship with God based on the works of
Christ on the cross.
The New Testament ends with the book of the
Revelation, which tells of the final, glorious consummation of the New
Covenant. Revelation reveals Jesus Christ and assures us that God is in
control and sovereign over world affairs. It is in this marvelous book of
Revelation that God will completely fulfill His promises to believing
Israelites and to believing Gentiles. People who have received eternal
life through this New Covenant will live forever in a marvelous new heavens and
new earth. Those who have rejected Jesus Christ will face Him at the Great
White Throne Judgment and will be banished to eternal torment.
A Word About the New Covenant
The New Covenant is largely occupied with the matter
of salvation. After the Fall of man, it was God's declared purpose to
bring salvation to people. The animal sacrifices of the Old Testament
could temporarily 'cover' sin but could never take away sin. See Hebrews
9:11-15; 9:24-28; 10:4-14. It is only the blood of Christ that is
capable of removing sin and setting men free from the penalty and power of
sin. There is no other method by which the sinner may be set free.
In this present church age, the New Covenant is primarily applied to the
Gentiles. But in the future, because of God's promises to Abraham and his
descendants, Israel will become the focus of the New Covenant. During the
days of the Great Tribulation the eyes of the Jews will be opened, and
many will come to faith in their Messiah, thus becoming partakers of the
New Covenant along with the Gentiles.
Books of the New Testament by Category
The Gospels
Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
The Church
Acts of the Apostles
The Early Epistles
Galatians, I Thessalonians, II Thessalonians
The Major Epistles
I Corinthians, II Corinthians, Romans
The Prison Epistles
Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon, Philippians
The Pastoral Epistles
I Timothy, Titus, II Timothy
General Epistles
James, Hebrews, I Peter, II Peter, Jude, I John, II John, III John
Final Things
The Revelation
If you are new to the Bible, a suggested place to
begin reading is in the New Testament Gospel of John.
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