I think I need to explain myself more. I am 66 years old and have been athiest for 50 years. But I have always been inspired by the teachings and morality as is represented by Jesus. Meaning I love Jesus. I am absolutely amazed at the discussion that is developing here. I am not so concerned at being saved as I am concerned more with the fate of Christianity. It is the greatest religion ever and a source of inspiration for so many people. And I want it ever so much to continue in that way.I think you are making a great choice in deciding to follow Jesus. However, on this point you could not be more wrong. I hope you don't mind if I use the bible to prove my point. If you want to learn about Jesus it really the only place to go. Jesus in the road to Damascus spoke to two of His followers:
And he said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.He also said on an earlier occasion:
~ Luke 24:25-27 ESV.
You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.
~ John 5:39-40 ESV.
They didn't have the New Testament during the time of the Jesus and even Paul used the Old Testament to show others and teach them about Jesus. The Old Testament is about Jesus, Jesus said it Himself.
Jesus did rebuke the Pharisees for there lack of understanding of the Old Testament:
But Jesus answered them, "You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.Jesus in his ministry did not diminish the Old Testament teachings in fact he elevated them to a higher understanding:
~ Matthew 22:29 ESV.
"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire.
~ Matthew 5:17-22 ESV.
Jesus as our example continually quoted what we now call the Old Testament.
But he answered, "It is written, "'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'"
Then Jesus said to him, "Be gone, Satan! For it is written, "'You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.'"
~ Matthew 4:4,7,10 ESV.
You may say well Jesus was talking to the Jews of course he would quote the Old Testament. Read His words again and the scriptures He quotes, do you really think these are matters only concerning the Jews. Did Jesus come to save the Jews or did he come to save all mankind? The OT is the foundation of the teachings of Jesus. You would not build a house without a foundation. In the New Testament when you see the phrase "It is written" or "The Scripture saith" they were referencing the OT. Jesus didn't so much as give them something new, but rather opened their eyes to what was right in front of them all along. Peter said:
To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."
~ Acts 10:43 ESV.
I made a reference about having a house without a foundation. To that end there are many keys to understanding the NT that are found in the OT. Case in point; when Martin Luther translated the bible into common language he started at the back, Revelation, and worked forward. When he completed his translation of Revelation came to the conclusion that nobody could ever understand the mysteries it contained. All of the symbolic prophetic language, he was completely baffled. As he worked backward he eventually hit the book of Daniel. When he finished Daniel it was like a light switch had been turned on. Suddenly Revelation started to make sense. Daniel contains the keys that unlock Revelation. The whole bible is like this. You use the entire collection of 66 book to give interpretation. The bible interprets itself. You can gain a lot bu reading the NT and if you read that alone, with the Holy Spirit you be a better person for it. However, you miss out on a larger and deeper understanding buy not including the OT. I'm not sure what parts of it frighten you but I assure you all of it was written and is pertinent for us today, however it's not always lying on the surface. Sometimes you have to look a little deeper.
If you really want to get on board with the bible I suggest you start buy studying prophecy. It was prophecy that convinced me. I read all the predictions made and how every single one was fulfilled exactly to the letter. I said to myself, "Wow! this is all true. God is real." May God bless you.
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