CTS NOTES ON NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGY

NOTES FOR CTS ON THE NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGY

By Alex Oguh

INTRODUCTION

Remember where we started in the first class. We agreed on the truths in:

Hebrews 1:1-3 (KJV)  God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

IMPLICATIONS

1. This implies that we have better Revelation/truth now.

2. It also implies that Christ is the uniqueness of the New Testament.

This truth is confirmed all through scriptures.

1. We are told to listen to Him instead of the other two big personalities, Moses and Elijah, in that great revelation in: 

Matthew 17:2-8 (KJV)  And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.

Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.

And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.

And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.

Note the following about this encounter with those who were the first witnesses of this Image of God (Heb. 1:1-2).

1. If you take Moses and Elijah out of the Revelations of God to that point, there will be very little left of the Old Testament

2. Jesus had promised earlier that some will see among His audience will live to see the kingdom before they die. 

Matthew 16:28 (KJV)  Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

This revelation came six days later. It came to show the Kingdom, and, of course, the King. Jesus is the King of this Kingdom. He spoke so much and likened His work on Earth as a King invading another place to annex it to His land and to rule it. Remember He taught us to pray for His will to be done and we are to occupy (dominate, put up our own Kingdom flag it) till He comes.

3. Of the three men, only one (this, not these) is to be listened to. The book of Hebrews confirmed this in Hebrews 3:3

For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house.

This is a uniqueness of the New Testament. This is what Jesus meant by 

Matthew 11:11

Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Luke 7:28

For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.

We must thank God for being alive in this dispensation. There is so much here that we must stop portraying big names in the Old Testament, except as they point to Christ. Peter did so as he preached that message on Pentecost Day. He pointed to David only to show Jesus is greater than him.

Acts 2:34-39 (KJV)  For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,

Until I make thy foes thy footstool.

Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

And Peter was talking to people from the Old Testament background. 

Do you now know why we are told to preach Christ? Do you now know why we are to be His witnesses? Do you now see Him as the author and finisher of our faith? 

Hebrews 12:1-2 (KJV)  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

WHAT SHOULD WE NOW BE DOING?

Ask everyone everywhere to deny himself or herself, including all we know to be correct from Adam to the end of the New Testament. (Mt 16:24; Mk 8:34; Lk 9:23 & Lk 14:25-33). We are to completely lean on Christ and not on our own understanding. 

    

Prov 3:5-7

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding; 

6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He shall direct* your paths. 

7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;

Fear the Lord and depart from evil. 

NKJV

2. Take up his or her cross (living as if dead). (Mt 16:24; Mk 8:34; Lk 9:23 & Lk 14:25-33).

3. Follow Him, do like Him, live like Him, etc as in John 14:12 (KJV)  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

THE FOCUS IS ON HAVING HIS LIFE IN US

That is what Col. 1:27 is saying. 

Colossians 1:27-29 (KJV)  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

It is what to labour on. This should be our focus. That makes disciple-making the most important work. That is why preaching just topics anyhow without having tied them to Christ is ineffective work. Paul kept warning about this.

Galatians 6:15

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

Circumcision was a great religious ritual in the Old Testament. The Temple was great in the Old Testament, but now 

John 4:20-24 (KJV) Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.

Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.

Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

MORE ON THE WORK OF THE NEW TESTAMENT MINISTER

His job is described in 

Ephesians 4:11-16 (KJV)  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

We are to:

1  Perfect the saints

2. Prepare people of God for ministry. This means that in the New Testament, everyone is expected to become a minister. It is no more for those born into Levite families and it is not for a few persons. All are called. Why then are so many not in ministry? It is because those in Eph. 4:11 (servants of God) are not doing their work well. You must do your work. That is why I am writing you this note. 

3. Edify/build up the Church and make it glorious.

HOW DO KNOW WHEN WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY DONE OUR WORK?

Eph. 4:13-

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

We have done our work well:

1. When we have the same faith and knowledge of the Son of God. V. 13. Do you now see that Theological education is not exclusive for some people?

2. We have done our work when a soul in our hands or in the Church is no more like a child that can be tossed here and there. They should all know Christ so well that there should be no confusion about what is of Christ and what is not of Christ. 

God is implying that deception would be common all through the Church age. Train your members against deceptions.

3. We know that a soul is now established when he or she has grown into Him (Christ) in all things. V.15.

4. We know that a person has been successfully worked on when the convert has fully become part of the body of Christ and is also supplying what is needed for body to keep growing. That is ministry. Have you produced anybody doing ministry? If not, you are not doing well.

CONCLUSIONS

Study of the New Testament is the study of Christ. The difference between the Old Testament and the New Testament is Christ. New Testament studies should lead us to fulfill the GREAT COMMISSION. 

Matthew 28:18-20 (KJV)  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

The Great Commission has all we need.

1. Power, which He has delegated to us

2. The Great Commission involves going. We may stay in the Church long enough to learn Christ, but we ultimately should be going. Refusal to go may make God force us to go because of persecution. Every Christian went during the persecution that arose when Stephen was killed. 

Acts 8:1, 3-4 (KJV)  And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.

As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

Everyone ran and everyone became a preacher along his or her way. Acts 8:4.

Prepare your Church members for such a day. Such a day, another revival, has come upon us by the mercy of God.

May God help you understand these truths (2 Tim 2:7). May God help you put them to practice. Note the benefit of obeying the Great Commission in Mt. 28:20b.

Matthew 28:20 (KJV) ...., lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Your needs shall be met. What to say will be given to you as in Mt. 10:19-20. God will always be with you and bless and protect you.

Alex Oguh'

08065792749