What use is the Old Testament after the birth of Christ?

For history and to better understand God.

There are many reasons to study the Old Testament. For one, the Old Testament lays the foundation for the teachings and events found in the New Testament. The Bible is a progressive revelation. If you skip the first half of any good book and try to finish it, you will have a hard time understanding the characters, the plot, and the ending. In the same way, the New Testament is only completely understood when we see its foundation of the events, characters, laws, sacrificial system, covenants, and promises of the Old Testament.

If we only had the New Testament, we would come to the Gospels and not know why the Jews were looking for a Messiah (a Savior King). We would not understand why this Messiah was coming (see Isaiah 53), and we would not have been able to identify Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah through the many detailed prophecies that were given concerning Him [e.g., His birth place (Micah 5:2), His manner of death (Psalm 22, especially verses 1, 7–8, 14–18; 69:21), His resurrection (Psalm 16:10), and many more details of His ministry (Isaiah 9:2; 52:3)].

A study of the Old Testament is also important for understanding the Jewish customs mentioned in passing in the New Testament. We would not understand the way the Pharisees had perverted God’s law by adding their own traditions to it, or why Jesus was so upset as He cleansed the temple courtyard, or where Jesus got the words He used in His many replies to adversaries.

The Old Testament records numerous detailed prophecies that could only have come true if the Bible is God’s Word, not man’s (e.g., Daniel 7 and the following chapters). Daniel’s prophecies give specific details about the rise and fall of nations. These prophecies are so accurate, in fact, that skeptics choose to believe they were written after the fact.

We should study the Old Testament because of the countless lessons it contains for us. By observing the lives of the characters of the Old Testament, we find guidance for our own lives. We are exhorted to trust God no matter what (Daniel 3). We learn to stand firm in our convictions (Daniel 1) and to await the reward of faithfulness (Daniel 6). We learn it is best to confess sin early and sincerely instead of shifting blame (1 Samuel 15). We learn not to toy with sin, because it will find us out (Judges 13—16). We learn that our sin has consequences not only for ourselves but for our loved ones (Genesis 3) and, conversely, that our good behavior has rewards for us and those around us (Exodus 20:5–6).

A study of the Old Testament also helps us understand prophecy. The Old Testament contains many promises that God will yet fulfill for the Jewish nation. The Old Testament reveals such things as the length of the Tribulation, how Christ’s future 1,000-year reign fulfills His promises to the Jews, and how the conclusion of the Bible ties up the loose ends that were unraveled in the beginning of time.

In summary, the Old Testament allows us to learn how to love and serve God, and it reveals more about God’s character. It shows through repeatedly fulfilled prophecy why the Bible is unique among holy books—it alone is able to demonstrate that it is what it claims to be: the inspired Word of God. In short, if you have not yet ventured into the pages of the Old Testament, you are missing much that God has available for you.

Read more: http://www.gotquestions.org/old-testament.html#ixz...

It proves who Jesus is, tells us how wicked we are, how much we need a Savior, shows us who the Savior is, etc.

The Old Testament still also has good teachings, good messages, if we didn't have the Old Testament, ccults like Mormonism and Jehovah's Witnesses may be more difficult to challenge.

The Old Testament is the word of God, just as much of the Word of God as the New Testament is.

The Old Testament reminds us of what God disproves of from us with our behavior. The Old Testament prepared the people for the birth, life crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus. the New Testament prepares us for His return for His church/bride. The Old Testament is still as important as the New one. Both are of God.For God and His word are one in the same... John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

And it still is God.

Jesus spent his life teaching the Old Testament in a new way. It is required reading to appreciate the new.

The OT prophesied of Christ. HE is the literal fulfillment of the OT law and prophets.

Jhn 1:45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

The OT is te NT concealed

The NT is the OT revealed

We cannot neglect either portion - but context is always necessary to understanding

Do you know why Jesus had to die? Do you know how? Do you know what He had to be to be a sacrifice?

The Old Testament is the shadow of the New Testament.

Jesus did not do away with the Law of the Old Testament.

The two new commandments of Love of God and Neighbor as Self, encompasses all of these other laws, which love overrules them in the sense, that they cannot be attained, without the Love Rule Command, even when God established those laws as contained there.

The Other books of Prophecy including the Major and Minor Prophets are to be fulfilled, including the Jewish specific Exclusion of the Book of Daniel, because Daniel is identified specifically, by Jesus Christ the Son of God and the Important and solely exclusive Part or Role that Daniel's Prophecy connects with Jewish Prophecy End Times and the Book of Revelation End of DAYS.

If we pay close attention to the importance of Bible Prophecy, Jesus Christ made mention of :

the Book of Daniel Specially

Noah and the Ark Specially and the number of souls saved (he did preach to them during his ministry to them to condemn them of course)

Isaiah the Prophet

Sodom and Gomorrah

Satan falling like lightning from heaven - Jesus witnessed this

Satan being a liar and a murderer from the beginning (rebellion in heaven found in Isaiah and Ezekiel) and in the Garden of Eden especially in dealing with Adam and Eve and Lying to them.

Conversation with Elijah and Moses (In light of the Two Witnesses of the book of Revelation and the Great Tribulation which is to come and involving the Jewish Nation of Israel solely , where the world would go against them)

Jonah and the fish/whale

Abraham (Before Abraham was I AM)

King David's reference ("The Lord said to my Lord, sit thou at my Right Hand, till I make thy enemies thy Footstool)

Jesus' reference to Hell and Gehenna (in light of Jewish interpretation of both)

The marriage clause in relation to divorce and its connection as to why Moses allowed it.

The non-marriage of angels not being part of this, in light of husbands and wives not recogniszing each other in this manner, but just as brothers and sisters in the Lord.

I have not touched the surface, in relation to OT and NT connections, especially, in Joel's Malachi and Isaiah, Daniel and King David, prophesying about "the Christ" or Anointed One

All of these are given in no special order of appearance, only to show the relevance of this in the fact that Jesus being t Perfect and God the Son, so anything that Jesus says, has a LOT of Weight to it and cannot be ignored.

Reference material.

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