Evangelism in the Old Testament

The great themes of the Scriptures start in Genesis and end in Revelation; where we get in trouble, as a Church, is to start imposing separations and systems that just aren't there.  One way that we do this is by placing a great divide between the Old and New Testaments.  To not see great continuity between the Testaments one has to contort the scriptures to absurdity - thankfully most in Christendom aren't consistent enough to accomplish that, even though their stated positions do.  One such contortion is to read The Great Commission and Evangelism as a completely NEW, and thus unique, call to the Church.  However, Evangelism is not new, it has been a part of the plan since the beginning.  Here are some examples:  

• Israel being called to faith and repentance: Deut. 30:8; Josh. 24:15; Lev. 5:5; 16:29-31; Deut 10:16; Ezek. 18:30-31;
• Israel being called witness to their children: Deut. 6:7, 20-25;
• Israel being called to witness to their neighbors: Jer. 31:34;
• David's call to witness to the nations: Ps. 18:49;
• David's prayer that salvation would be known among all the nations: Ps. 67;
• David's confidence that all nations would be converted: Ps. 22:27;
• The missionary work of the prophets:  Isa. 2:2-4; 19:25; 40:5, 9; 42:6; 45:22; 49:6; 56:7; 66:19; Zech. 8:23; cf. Ps. 68:31; 85:92;

So, clearly, it is established that Evangelism was prescribed and practiced in the Old Testament; but what does that buy us?  It gets us several things:

1. The consistent Character of God.  Same God, same work, same destiny.  This means, then that there has always been one plan of redemption, no changes, and no accidents.
2. More proof that God's Word (and Law) applies to all people, in every time, everywhere.  There is a modern error afoot that teaches that all has been abrogated until reinstated in the New Testament.  This is a more "palatable" form of Dispensationalism and one that is counter-Scriptural.
3. It further lends proof to the idea that the New Testament is NOT a starting point, at least not in the same way it is held in the modern church.  Now, granted most people would never admit this but practically speaking, especially when they ask the question "where do you see that in the New Testament", they are implicitly relying on this fallacy.
4. Understanding the above would also lend one to the understanding that God is at work and His work is large and grand - what He started in Israel is now EXPANDING to all the nations, and that's exciting.
5. In tends to inoculate us against the error that makes "saving lost souls" the primary concern and over-individualizing all things Evangelical.

Personally, I find it incredibility reassuring that Kingdom growth has always been a part of the plan Israel the Church, and that I get to live in the "last days" on the other side of the fulfillment of Genesis 3:15 to witness His Kingdom expansion.  What a great time to be alive!!

Comments

[Douglas Padgett]

David, it was great meeting you a few weeks back. The Ehrlich’s pointed me to your blog which I have greatly enjoyed! I look forward to our dinner Monday night and hopefully my response to your post can lead to some enjoyable discussion at the dinner table.

I agree with 95% of this, but...

"More proof that God's Word (and Law) applies to all people, in every time, everywhere. There is a modern error afoot that teaches that all has been abrogated until reinstated in the New Testament. This is a more "palatable" form of Dispensationalism and one that is counter-Scriptural"

My first question would be, how do you define 'Law'. Would you say that different NT authors have differing definitions of Law?

Second, I'm still not seeing how a covenant made between national Israel and God at Sinai applies to non-national-Israelites today?

[Dave]

Doug - these are GREAT questions. In the short time I've known you, you've been a real encouragement. To the first, I would say that the word is used differently in areas of the NT, but the definition is the same. For instance, I know that there are places that use the word to mean the "law" that was consequently invented by Israel, and the Law that was handed to Moses. And even contextually we see that Law could mean Ceremonial or Moral.

To the second, there was no "new" covenant handed down to Moses at Sinai, at least not in the way the some use that word. I say this to mean that this was not a replacement of the Covenant of Grace with a Covenant of Works, by any means.

There is a ton more that I need to say... I will turn this into another article and post in the next day or so...