We get a lot of questions in the inbox about how to interpret the Old Testament as a Christian

and trying to understand which promises apply to us and which ones don't. A podcast listener Joe

from Boston writes in with this question. Pastor John, I often struggle to interpret and apply

portions of the Old Testament, specifically the prophetic books where the word of God was being

spoken to God's people as the nation of Israel. How can we discern if warnings or promises

directed toward Israel are applicable to other nations, the body of Christ and the global church

or even to ourselves as individuals? What benefit or dangers may there be in carrying over

meaning from Israel to those other modern day audiences? Second Chronicles 714 is one specific

example. Pastor John, what would you say to Joe? Let me see if I can simplify some very complex

issues and provide maybe just a two-step process that enables Joe and the rest of us Christians

to appropriate the Old Testament, especially the promises for our use as Christians in the 21st century.

So here's step number one. Second Corinthians 120 says, all the promises of God find their

yes in Christ. That is why it is through him that we utter the amen to the glory of God.

Now I think that means that in union with Christ the Messiah Christians become the errors of all

the promises in the Old Testament and there are different ways to explain why that is and one is

to realize that in spiritual union with the Jewish Messiah, Jesus Christ, Christians are the

Messianic people, the true Israel, the errors of everything promised to the true Israel. Here's

the way Paul puts it in Philippians 3.3. He says, for we are the circumcision and he's talking

to his Gentile audience there in Philippi, we are the circumcision who worship by the spirit of God,

glory in Christ Jesus, put no confidence in the flesh. And what he means when he says, we are

the circumcision, he means we Gentiles who are united to the Jewish Messiah Jesus are the true

circumcised people, the true Israel of God. And therefore all the promises made to the circumcision,

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