Jesus Christ transforms the past and sets people free to live in a new way. God's people should remember former blessings but not return to former sins.
Recalling God's work in the past
Remembering God's work of creation
Exodus 20:11; Psalm 104:5–9, Psalm 136:1–9
Remembering God's saving works
Psalm 105:5 parallel 1 Chronicles 16:12 See also Deuteronomy 8:2; Joshua 24:2; 1 Samuel 12:6; Nehemiah 9:7; Psalm 106:6, Psalm 114:1, Psalm 136:10, Psalm 143:5; Isaiah 51:1–2; Micah 6:5
Remember the wonders He has done, His marvels, and the judgments He has pronounced,
Remembering God's work in Jesus Christ
2 Timothy 2:8 See also 1 Corinthians 11:23–26 One of the purposes of the Lord's Supper is to remember Jesus Christ and his death on the cross.
Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David, as proclaimed by my gospel,
Learning from the past
Romans 15:4 See also Deuteronomy 4:9, Deuteronomy 32:7; Zechariah 1:4; 1 Corinthians 10:6, 1 Corinthians 10:11; Hebrews 12:16; 1 Peter 3:5–6; 1 John 3:12
For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.
Rediscovering God's word from the past
2 Kings 22:8–13 parallel 2 Chronicles 34:15–21 See also 2 Kings 23:1–3 parallel 2 Chronicles 34:29–31; 2 Kings 23:21–23
Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD!” And he gave it to Shaphan, who read it. And Shaphan the scribe went to the king and reported, “Your servants have paid out the money that was found in the temple and have put it into the hands of the workers and supervisors of the house of the LORD.” Moreover , Shaphan the scribe told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it in the presence of the king. When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes and commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Achbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the servant of the king: “Go and inquire of the LORD for me, for the people, and for all Judah concerning the words in this book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the LORD that burns against us because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book by doing all that is written about us.”
Leaving the past behind
Jesus Christ sets believers free from the past
2 Corinthians 5:17 See also Isaiah 65:16; Galatians 4:3–5; Colossians 1:13–14
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!
Warnings not to rely on or be preoccupied with the past
Isaiah 43:18 This can mean either that God is not to be restricted to his past actions or that Israel should forget their former sins. See also Philippians 3:13–14
“Do not call to mind the former things; pay no attention to the things of old.
Dangers of the past
The danger of ignoring the past
Psalm 78:11 See also Exodus 1:8; Deuteronomy 32:18; Psalm 106:13, Psalm 106:21; Hosea 2:13
They forgot what He had done, the wonders He had shown them.
The danger of lapsing into past sins
Galatians 4:8–9 See also Hebrews 6:4–6; 2 Peter 1:9; Revelation 2:4–5, Revelation 3:3
Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?
Jesus Christ supersedes God's revelation in the past
Jesus Christ supersedes earlier expectations
Acts 17:30 See also Acts 14:15–16
Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent.
Jesus Christ supersedes earlier covenants
Hebrews 7:22 See also Hebrews 1:1–2, Hebrews 8:13, Hebrews 9:14–15, Hebrews 10:15–18; Jeremiah 31:33–34; Hebrews 12:24
Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.
Jesus Christ reveals God's past mystery
Colossians 1:26–27 See also Romans 16:25–26; 1 Corinthians 2:7; Ephesians 1:9, Ephesians 3:2–6, Ephesians 3:9
the mystery that was hidden for ages and generations but is now revealed to His saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.