Christianity is Based Upon Old Testament Y^ehowah Worship

The worship prescribed in the New Testament is fully compatible with the Old Testament; and aligns with it in every respect. The key is, we look backwards to the cross as an historic event; those in the Old Testament looked forward to a Messiah Who would deliver (save) them.

Christianity is not completely divorced from Judaism (I will use that word in a less precise way, to refer to Y^ehowah worship in the previous dispensation of Israel). Originally, I was going to use material from the Pulpit Commentary, then recognized that their work could be improved upon.

The first column refers to the correct and proper worship of Y^ehowah as presented in the Old Testament. This is not a reference to the bastardization of the worship of God, as observed by the scribes and pharisees and their Jewish traditions during the time of Jesus.

The ESV; capitalized is used below, unless otherwise noted.

Each point could be made into a separate doctrine. From 1Kings 6 (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).

Christianity is Founded Upon Old Testament Y^ehowah Worship

Worship of Y^ehowah in the Age of Israel

Parallel Christian Beliefs

The original sin of Adam. The idea is that, Adam committed a sin back 5000 or so years ago, and the residual affects of this sin continue until today. It is in part, because of this sin, that we stand condemned before God. Gen. 3 Because of our sin nature and because of Adam’s imputed sin, we are estranged from the womb (Psalm 58:3).

We are all infected with Adam’s original sin. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. (Rom. 5:14) Rom. 5:12–14 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.

See the Doctrine of Adam’s Original Sin (Got Questions?) (Theopedia)

All men in the Old Testament have sinned against God. "If they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—...” (1Kings 8:46a) Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins. (Eccles. 7:20) All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way;... (Isa. 53:6a) See also Job 15:14–16 Psalm 143:2 Prov. 20:9

All men in the New Testament have sinned against God. ...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,... (Rom 3:23) But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin,... (Gal. 3:22a) See also Rom. 3:9, 19 11:32a

See the Doctrine of Sin (which, right now, is James Rickard’s doctrine of sin) (HTML) (PDF) (WPD). See also (Grace Notes) (L. G. Merritt) (What is Sin? From Cherreguine Bible Doctrine Ministries).

Man has a sin nature, which is often indicated by the singular noun sin. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. (Psalm 51:5). There are synonyms for the sin nature in the OT, like the word iniquity (Psalm 51:5); wicked (Psalm 58:3); Adam’s own likeness (Gen. 5:3), which indicates that Seth, like Adam, was also fallen; man’s heart (Gen. 8:21); unclean (Job 14:4—being unclean suggests both having a sin nature and Adam’s original sin).

Man has a sin nature, which is often indicated by the singular noun sin. We are called the slaves of sin in Rom. 6:6. Rom. 6:12–13a Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness,... The sin nature has many synonyms: the flesh (Gal.5:17 6:8 Eph. 2:3); the old man (Eph.4:22 Col.3:9); body of corruption (1Cor.15:42,50) are some of these.

A fascinating study of this is the Coniah Curse and the Sin Nature (HTML) (PDF) (WPD), where the curse laid upon Coniah is analogous to the curse of the old sin nature. See also the Doctrine of the Sin Nature (htm—Grace Notes) (pdf—Grace Notes) (Verse by verse) (L. G. Merritt) (CBD Ministries)

Man has a sin nature and its production cannot please God. Isa. 64:6a We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.

Man has a sin nature and its production cannot please God. Rom. 8:8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

In both the Old and New Testaments, there can be some overlap when talking about Adam’s original sin; the imputation of Adam’s sin, the sin nature, the works of the sin nature:

Some Old Testament passages connect man’s sin, sin nature or Adam’s original sin to what needs to be done in order to save us. Isa. 53:5–6 But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Isa. 53:11–12 Out of the anguish of his soul He shall see and be satisfied; by His knowledge shall the Righteous One, My servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and He shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the many, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong, because He poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet He bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors. See also Daniel 9:24 Zech. 13:7.

Some New Testament passages connect man’s sin, sin nature or Adam’s original sin to what needs to be done in order to save us. Rom. 3:23–26 ...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, Whom God put forward as a propitiation by His blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in His divine forbearance He had passed over former sins. It was to show His righteousness at the present time, so that He might be just and the Justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Heb 10:10–13 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for His feet. (Psalm 110:1) See also Rom. 4:22–25 5:6–10 15–21 2Cor. 5:21 Heb. 10:7–12.

All men in the Old Testament need to be redeemed by God (Ex. 12 21:30 Deut. 7:8). God is the Redeemer (Ex. 6:6 Deut. 7:8 9:26 Isa. 41:14). He redeems His people from destruction (Isa. 43:1 62:12 63:16).

All men in the New Testament need to be redeemed by God, the purchase price being the blood of Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of the earth. Rom. 3:24 Gal. 3:13 1Peter 1:18–19 Rev. 14:4

Job. 19:25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will stand upon the earth.

Hosea 13:14a Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol? Shall I redeem them from Death? O Death, where are your plagues? O Sheol, where is your sting?

Titus 2:13–14 [We are] waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Salvation comes by means of faith in Y^ehowah, the Revealed God. Gen. 15:6 2Chron. 20:20b Psalm 2:12b 26:1

Salvation comes by means of faith in Jesus Christ, the God-man, the Revealed God. John 3:16 Eph. 2:8–9 Titus 3:5

Here is a list of nearly all salvation verses, Old Testament and New: Salvation (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).

The world, the flesh and Satan are the enemies of the Old Testament believer. The world (Gen. 13:10–13 Matt. 13:22), the flesh (Isa. 53:6 64:6–7) and the devil (Gen. 3 Job 1–2).

The world, the flesh and Satan are the enemies of the believer. Eph. 2:1–3

Much of the worship was centered around the sacrifice of animals, which sacrifices represent the death of the Lord Jesus Christ for our sins. Exodus 12 The Book of Leviticus

Our worship is founded upon having placed our faith in the Saving Work of Jesus Christ (John 14:6 Rom. 5). The animal sacrifice of the Old Testament was representative of what the Lord would do (Heb. 9:13–14 10:1–14).

The offering of animals is known as a type of the offering of Jesus Christ for out sins. See The Doctrine of Typology (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).

There is a specialized priesthood in the Old Testament. In the Old Testament, the priest represented man to God. The Book of Leviticus Heb. 8–9

There is the universal priesthood of the believer in the New Testament. In the New Testament, because we stand on the completed sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we can represent ourselves directly to God. 1Peter 2:5-9 Rev. 1:6

See the (interrelated) Priesthoods of God (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).

Prophets revealed the Word and thinking of God to the people, some of which is prophetic.

Pastor-teachers reveal the Word of God and the thinking of God to the people, some of which is prophetic. A pastor-teacher is prophetic inasmuch as, he observes the historical trends occurring in a nation or in the world and comments about them.

The laws of divine establishment are defined for nation Israel. Much of the Mosaic Law and the book of Proverbs define divine establishment for us.

The laws of divine establishment are given for all client nations; and provide the best means of governance of any nation. Rom. 13

See the Laws of Divine Establishment (HTML) (PDF) (WPD). It ought to be noted that the believer is responsible for the gospel to those around him; we are not responsible to force our nation or any other nation into conformity with the laws of divine establishment (missionaries do not go to a foreign country in hopes of transforming it into America). In a democracy, of course we vote in such a way as to promote or preserve the laws of divine establishment. However, a nation push towards this conformity without the gospel is nothing.

The function of the soul of man (one’s thinking, volition, vocabulary, conscience, norms and standards, and emotion) is what is important to man and to God. 2Chron. 1:11 Prov. 23:7 19:22

The function of the soul of man (one’s thinking, volition, vocabulary, conscience, norms and standards, and emotions) is what is important to man and to God. Rom. 12:1–2

See the Doctrine of the Soul (Grace Notes’ Doctrine of the Soul) (Cherreguine Bible Doctrine Ministries’ Doctrine of the Soul) See also the Doctrine of the Human Soul and Human Spirit (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).

Jer. 9:23–24 Thus says the LORD: "Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD."

Eph. 4:20–24 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about Him and were taught in Him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

2Cor. 10:17–18 "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord." For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

God wants to create a new heart and spirit in us. Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

God creates a new life in us. 2Cor. 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

It is the thinking and decisions of man which are related to the Angelic Conflict. Gen. 3 Job 1–2 John 12:31 14:11 16:30

It is the thinking and decisions of man which are related to the Angelic Conflict. John 12:31 14:11 16:30 Eph. 6:11–12

See the Doctrine of the Angelic Conflict (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).

The Ark of God, in many ways, is the core of Y^ehowah worship. Bear in mind that it is the most prized item housed by the Temple. It is made of acacia wood and gold. In it is the decalogue, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the pot of manna. Exodus 25 Heb. 9:4

The Ark of God represents the Lord Jesus Christ (the wood refers to His humanity; the gold to His deity). The Ten Commandments both condemn us; but were also fulfilled by the Lord. Aaron’s rod that budded is both the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and our resurrection in the future; the pot of manna is the eternal provision of God (in time, we know this as logistical grace).

See the doctrine of the Ark of God (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).

God is a very specific God; not just a national God or a very important god, but the God of the Universe; the God Who created the heavens and the earth. Deut. 4:32–33 "For ask now of the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and ask from one end of heaven to the other, whether such a great thing as this has ever happened or was ever heard of. Did any people ever hear the voice of a god speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and still live?” See also Gen. 1:1 Deut. 32:6 Psalm 104:24 Isa. 40:28 42:5 43:15 45:12, 18.

Jesus Christ is God; not just a great teacher, not just a messenger from God, or some really good prophet; but He is the God of the Universe Who created the heavens and the earth. Col. 1:16–17 For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is before all things, and all things have subsisted in Him. See also John 1:1–3, 14.

Isa. 37:20 “So now, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone are the LORD."

Deut. 4:39 “...know therefore today, and lay it to your heart, that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other.”

1Cor. 8:4–6 Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that "an idol has no real existence," and that "there is no God but one." For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many "gods" and many "lords"— yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

Despite the oft-quoted Deut. 6:4, the God of the Old Testament is a Triune God. Gen. 1:26 Isa. 9:6 48:16 This did not mean that the Jews really understood this; and it is possible that many of the believers—even those who wrote Scripture—did not understand this.

The Christian also worships a Triune God. John 1:14 14:9–11 2Cor. 1:21–22 13:14 Col. 2:9 Philip. 2:5–8

God is presented in Isa. 44:6–7a as separate from the Redeemer: Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and His Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: "I am the first and I am the last; besides Me there is no god. Who is like Me?”

2Cor. 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

See the Doctrine of the Trinity in the Old Testament (HTML) (PDF) (WPD). Also see the Doctrine of the Trinity (Bible Doctrine Resource) (Trinity 1 @ Bible Doctrine Resource) (Grace Notes htm) (pdf) (Verse by verse).

There is a whole host of parallels between Y^ehowah worship of the Age of Israel and the worship of Jesus Christ in the Church Age. These are the things which came to mind first; but there are many more.

We should clearly understand that Christianity did not simply take Judaism as a jumping off point, as did Islam (and even, to some degree, Catholicism and Mormonism).

The Abbreviated Doctrine of

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