Identifying Which Parts of the Bible are Relevant to Today’s Believer (1) By Babatunde Olugboji
Which sections of the Bible are relevant to us in the present day? How can we ascertain this? This is the subject of the series we are starting this week.
From the very outset, God made Himself known to humanity. The Bible, which is the written Word of God, was inspired by divine influence to convey what God intended for us to understand about Himself, humanity, and His plan for redemption and restoration. 
However, not every passage in the Bible serves as a model for us to emulate. The mere presence of a narrative in the Bible does not imply that we should endorse or replicate it. The Scriptures depict instances of individuals sinning and disobeying God, alongside those who honour Him. Each element within Scripture offers insights for our learning. Additionally, the Bible outlines the path to salvation and God’s invitation to live in accordance with His will.
God’s commandments are invariably linked to His character and His overarching plan for humanity. The covenants and laws that God instituted with His people were intended to be upheld by all subsequent generations (Genesis 17:7). 
While many Levitical laws were tailored specifically for ancient Israel, this does not diminish their significance today. These laws continue to reveal aspects of God’s character and His intentions for humanity. Even sections of the Bible that were directed specifically at Israel ultimately point to our creator, who loves us and sacrificed Himself for us. God’s laws have not been nullified; rather, they have been fulfilled through Christ (Matthew 5:17).
From the Old Testament, the first book of the Bible, Genesis, God started His revelation to humanity as the creator who brings forth existence from nothing (Genesis 1:1). Even after Adam and Eve sinned, God continued to unveil His actions in human history by imposing consequences for sin and promising a Messiah who would bear the burden of sin (Genesis 3:15).
God established the nation of Israel and pledged to bless the world through them (Genesis 12:1-3).
God further disclosed Himself through covenants, some of which were specifically made with the nation of Israel, illustrating His work in human history. He formed a covenant with Noah “for all future generations” (Genesis 9:12).
The covenant with Abraham was everlasting (Genesis 17:7), and they were instructed to uphold it (17:9). The covenant with his people, who possessed the land (Deuteronomy 30:1-10), reiterated God’s promise to grant Israel the land and to restore them despite their dispersion. God’s covenant with David assured that David’s lineage would endure eternally and that he would possess a kingdom that would never cease (2 Samuel 7:8-16). God’s name was intended to be remembered throughout eternity (Exodus 3:15).
God provided His people with laws and communicated through His prophets, revealing His character and divine plan through humanity. God instituted feasts such as the Passover (Exodus 12:14) and the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Exodus 12:17) to help the people remember how God had acted in their history, serving as continual observances for all generations.
A jar of manna was to be preserved for all future generations (Exodus 16:33) to remind the Israelites of God’s provision during their exodus from Egypt. Offerings were to be made as sacrifices throughout all generations (Exodus 29:42; 30:8; 30:10) to remind the people of their sins and their need for redemption. The Sabbath was to be observed forever (Exodus 31:13-16) as a reminder of God’s provision and His rest on the seventh day. The priesthood was to be everlasting (Exodus 40:15).
To be continued
Have a great week!
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