In Matthew 7, Jesus pictured His teachings as a rock. Wise people build on that rock by following His teachings (Matthew 7:24-27). Ephesians 2:19-20 also draws a picture of building.
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone [foundation].
Jesus chose special apostles and prophets to serve as the “foundation” with Him. Since that time, all others who follow Jesus should build on that firm foundation. In what sense were the apostles and prophets of the New Testament the foundation? They passed on the teachings of Jesus. He gave His very words to them (John 17:8). Jesus used the Holy Spirit to keep His teachings safe (John 14:26; 16:12-15; 1 Corinthians 2:10-16). Jesus promised the apostles,
When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth (John 16:13).
When these teachings were written down they were respected as words from the Lord Himself.
If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge [say] that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord (1 Corinthians 14:37).
So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter (2 Thessalonians 2:15).
Today we no longer hear the apostles speak in a direct way (“by word of mouth”). But we do have their letters. So we must continue to “stand firm and hold to the teachings” given in these letters. The holy writings of the apostles and their helpers are called the New Testament. “Testament” means a will or a covenant. When we call these writings the “New Testament,” we reflect the fact that the “New Covenant” has now come. When we call the writings of the Hebrew prophets the “Old Testament,” we reflect the fact that it included the Old Covenant. By calling that first covenant an “Old Covenant,” we imply that a New Covenant has come. (See a similar thought in Hebrews 8:13.)
The best news of this new covenant is that Christ brought something that Moses’ Law could never bring. Laws can only show us what sin is and tell the punishment for sin. But laws and animal sacrifices do not provide forgiveness for us (Hebrews 10:1-18). We needed God’s kindness and mercy, which the Bible also calls God’s “grace.”
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (John 1:17).
In this new agreement God forgives and forgets our sins because of Jesus.
For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more (Hebrews 8:12; 10:17).
Do you need God to forgive your sins? Do you need God to forget the bad things in your past? Do you need God’s kindness and mercy? Then you need the New Covenant! Even we who are non-Jews are welcomed into it and share in its blessings (Ephesians 2:11-3:7). All who truly want to belong to God today must enter into this New Covenant with Him.
Let’s Sum Up
We have already seen how important it is to listen carefully to God’s prophets, and especially to the Prophet like Moses. But how can we today listen carefully when they spoke so long ago? God knows our need for clear words from Him. Therefore He has also worked carefully. His Holy Spirit worked in the writers of the Bible. Through them He gives us His pure words that can be fully trusted. God also knew that people who read the Bible might be confused about which rules apply to them. Therefore He has made clear that we today are not under the Old Covenant that was given at Sinai for the Israelites. We are under the far better covenant, the New Covenant, given through Christ for all people. In the New Covenant, we know God and enjoy His full forgiveness.
LORD, how you have blessed us by your prophets and the written record they left for us! Thank You for showing so clearly how the old prophecies were fulfilled. Help us to enter Your New Covenant through Jesus Christ…