The Old Testament makes up 77% of the Bible. Could you leave out 77% of any other book and hope to get a clear understanding of the contents and its meaning? Why do we think its possible to do this with the Bible? The Old Testament is important for several reasons: it tells the story of redemptive history, it reveals God, and it gives us vicarious experience.

The Old Testament tells the story of redemptive history. History is the stage that shows us God's activity and self-revelation. The fact that Christianity is an historical religion separates it from other religions that might involve themselves with a philosophy of life, a way of looking at things, a theory of about the universe, or a code of ethics or behavior. To be sure all these things are a part of Christianity, but Christianity is distinct because it involves God breaking into history. That's the nature of the incarnate Christ. It was necessary for God to break into history to redeem a people lost in sin. The Old Testament reveals God breaking into history and foretells the need for the coming of Christ.

The Old Testament reveals God. From the beginning of Genesis to the end of Malachi the words of the Old Testament show us God working in our world. They show how God interacts with man and how man should interact with God. They reveal to us the fact that God wants all men to come to know Him and He is willing to go to great lengths to make sure that can happen. In the pages of the Old Testament we see a God who is compassionate, merciful, loving, just, and jealous.

The narrative sections of the Old Testament provide us with experience vicariously. Why is experience so important? Why do employers look into the past experience of potential employees? Experience is the way we truly get to know something. When trying to teach someone something we usually try to use an illustration which provides a vicarious experience to draw them in and help them understand the truth being taught. Real knowledge comes from experience. The narrative sections of the Old Testament help us grasp the truth.

A Christian church without the Old Testament is in constant danger of turning the faith into various forms of gnostic, mystic, or romantic speculation. Therefore it is important for Christians today to not only study but to understand the Old Testament. For without an understanding of the Old Testament we are doomed to repeat the failings of God's elect.