Dr Paul Allen

There is continuity between the Old and New Testaments, but there is also significant discontinuity. We are a New Testament people and a new covenant people. Therefore, when we read the Old Testament, we must read it in light of its fulfillment in Christ; that is to say, we must employ a distinctively Christological hermeneutic. Christians, therefore, must not resent, ignore, dismiss, or uncritically exalt the Old Testament. Christ did not come to abolish the Old Testament but to fulfill it (Matt 5:17). His followers must always remember that our Bible begins with Genesis, not Matthew.  The Old Testament was written for our instruction and is profitable even now in the new covenant era “for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness” (2 Tim 3:16). Further, in Romans 15:4, Paul writes, For whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that we may have hope through endurance and through the encouragement from the Scriptures. The

Image via Wikipedia Image via Wikipedia " The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne , and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord , to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." ( Revelation 4:10-11 ) As Christians , we are promised crowns of various sorts. Those we have ministered to are our "crown of rejoicing" ( 1 Thessalonians 2:19 ), our "joy and crown" ( Philippians 4:1 ). We have the "crown of righteousness" ( 2 Timothy 4:8 ) for service to the Lord. If we endure, we will "receive the crown of life" ( James 1:12 ) and the "crown of glory" ( 1 Peter 5:4 ). These crowns are "incorruptible" ( 1 Corinthians 9:25 ), lasting for eternity. But of what use will crowns be in glory? We will willingly cast our "crowns"--our accom