THE NEW TESTAMENT
Lesson Ten

"Many other signs therefore did Jesus in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book: but these are written, that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye may have life in his name" (John 20:30-31).  Here the apostle John has given us at least two reasons for writing his gospel account.  They are: that we might believe that Jesus is who He said He was and that by this belief we may have eternal life.  Jesus left us His "last will and testament."  This is spoken of in Hebrews chapter nine.  A testament is a binding document that is valid only after the one who made it dies.  When Jesus died upon the cross for your sins and mine, His last will and testament came into effect and, thus, became binding.  It is this "testament" that testifies of Jesus so that we can have the life mentioned by John.

WHY IS ONE OLD AND THE OTHER NEW?
The covenant that God made with the Jews was not to last forever.  It was to last until "the fullness of the times" (Galatians 4:4).  Then Jesus was to come and fulfill those things written within that covenant.  He said, "Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfil" (Matthew 5:17).  When all was finished (John 17:4) and Jesus died on the cross, the Old Law was taken out of the way (Colossians 2:14; Hebrews 8:13).  In the same way that various laws governing men may change from time to time, so, too, did the Law of God binding upon mankind change.  God's rule over man changed from the Law of Moses that was binding upon the Jew and the law of Patriarchy that governed the conscience of the Gentiles to the law of Christ which is bound upon all men everywhere.  Paul said that there was coming a "day when God shall judge the secrets of men, according to my gospel, by Jesus Christ" (Romans 2:16).  All men are to repent (Acts 17:30) and live by the law of Christ (1 Corinthians 9:21; Galatians 6:2).  As James says, it is a "perfect law, the law of liberty" which he also says will judge us: "So speak ye, and so do, as men that are to be judged by a law of liberty" (James 2:12).

FOUR DIVISIONS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
The 27 books of the New Testament are arranged thus: four gospel accounts; one book of the history of the beginning of the church; twenty-one letters to churches and individual Christians teaching how to live the Christian life; one book of prophecy written to encourage persecuted Christians not to give up . . . God will deliver them so that they may overcome!

PERIODS IN CHRIST'S LIFE
There are seven periods of our Lord's life as outlined by some.  Here is a suggested way to outline the life of our Master:
 

  •    Birth (preparation)-escape to Egypt; to Nazareth; first Passover; baptism and temptation.
  •    First Year (obscurity)-first miracle at Cana; Nicodemus; the woman at the well; healing a few.
  •    Second Year (popularity)-calling the twelve; sermon on the mount; many parables; much healing.
  •    Third Year (opposition)-feeding five thousand; Peter's confession; transfiguration; parable of good Samaritan.
  •    Last Three Months (persecution)-raising Lazarus; ten lepers; little children; the rich young ruler; Zacchaeus.
  •    Last Week (passion)-Mary's anointing; entry into Jerusalem; parable of the ten virgins; the upper room; crucifixion/burial.
  •    Forty Days (resurrection)-first day of the week; appearing to many and to the apostles; ascension.

    • The theme of the Old Testament was "Christ Is Coming."  The theme of the New Testament is "Christ has come!"

    Now, study the questions and the Bible verses in the study sheet and answer them.

     Questions for Lesson 10

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