THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH THROUGH THE AGES

The Church of the Old Testament

God's church stretches from Eden to Eden. Those who have obeyed God have been called by various names such as "the sons of God,"(see Genesis 6:2 and Romans 8:14) "the seed of Abraham*(see Isaiah 41:8 and Hebrews 2:16)", "the children of Israel,"(see Genesis 46:8 and Acts 10:36) or "Christians."(see Acts 11:26) They all have the same fundamental beliefs.


The Church of the Old Testament accepted the law of God as its rule of life

The Ten-Commandment law is unchangeable because it is an expression of God's character, which is universal, eternal, unchangeable (see Hebrews 13:8). Long before the commandments were given to Moses on Mount Sinai, the people of God were keeping them. God said, "Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes and my laws." (Genesis 26:5)


God has had only one method of salvation, one standard of righteousness, all through the ages

We read in Psalm 105:8-11 that He made a covenant with Abraham, Issac and Jacob and the children of Israel for an everlasting covenant. God declares that that covenant was made forever, "the word which He commanded to a thousand generations." It is not correct to say that in Old Testament times people were under law and in New Testament times people were under grace. God has always maintained a harmony of law and grace. We are saved by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and when we have experienced this salvation and have entered into a saving relationship with Him, we delight to do His will (and keep His commandments).

The members of the Old Testament church showed their faith in the plan of salvation by offering a sacrifice. By faith they accepted God's plan, for the sacrifice was a symbol of the Lamb of God, who would take away the sins of the world. They became free men and women, new creatures through faith in the coming Messiah. The hope of the ages has always been the coming of the Lord.

God instructed the church members in Old Testiment times through prophets. Moses was the first writer whom God used to record permenent instructions for His church and to preserve the people's experiences for future generations. These inspired writings were read to the congregations on the seventh-day Sabbath and on other special occasions. These writings are known to us as the Old Testament.

Excerps Taken from Church Heritage: A Course in Church History

Bold emphasis and red references added

*more on "the seed of Abraham" in another Blog (http://jarsofoil.blogspot.com/2008/07/seed-of-abraham.html)