Purpose of Scripture: New Testament

Why is the New Testament important to us? What does it tell us, and why does it matter what people wrote about 2000 years ago?

The New Testament is one of the greatest messages we have from our Heavenly Father and his son Jesus Christ. It gives us hope, knowledge, and direction.  It builds the faith of anyone who will read it that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior.

The four Gospels tell us of the life and teachings of Christ. These are very important so we can grow closer to Christ through knowing what he was like, and following his example. After the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; we have many books that were written by some of the closest followers of Christ, his Apostles. They detail some of their journeys, their teachings, and the testimonies they have the Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

One of the greatest things that we learn from the New Testament is about Christ's Church. Not buildings, but the people of His church. Probably the most important thing that we learn, is how his church works. In John Christ says to his Apostles, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you..." (John 15: 16). We learn from this that the Lord chooses who the leaders of his church are, and he gives them the authority to act in his name and lead his church.

We also learn of the organization of his church. The officers in Christ's church are told to us in Ephesians:
"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;" (Ephesians 4:11-14)

The reason Christ needed apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers is so his church would have a "unity of the faith." Or in other words, so that everyone was teaching the same things. So Christ's doctrine wasn't replaced by man's ideas. So that every member of his church know's what they need to do to gain salvation.

Who is better qualified to set up an organization of a church than the person who churches are designed to follow, Jesus Christ himself? Without this perfect organization, people become lost. Without authority from Christ, it isn't his church.

I'm so grateful for the teachings of Christ. For the whole Bible, and especially the New Testament. The things that we learn in it are a blessing. I know this is true, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.