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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 Ex 20:11; Ps 104:5-9; Ps 136:1-9

Remembering God’s saving works Ps 105:5 pp 1Ch 16:12 See also Dt 8:2; Jos 24:2; 1Sa 12:6; Ne 9:7; Ps 106:6; Ps 114:1; Ps 136:10; Ps 143:5; Isa 51:1-2; Mic 6:5

Remembering God’s work in Jesus Christ 2Ti 2:8 See also 1Co 11:23-26 One of the purposes of the Lord’s Supper is to remember Jesus Christ and his death on the cross.

Learning from the past

Ro 15:4 See also Dt 4:9; Dt 32:7; Zec 1:4; 1Co 10:6,11; Heb 12:16; 1Pe 3:5-6; 1Jn 3:12

Rediscovering God’s word from the past

2Ki 22:8-13 pp 2Ch 34:15-21 See also 2Ki 23:1-3 pp 2Ch 34:29-31; 2Ki 23:21-23

Leaving the past behind

Jesus Christ sets believers free from the past 2Co 5:17 See also Isa 65:16; Gal 4:3-5; Col 1:13-14

Warnings not to rely on or be preoccupied with the past Isa 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 Php 3:13-14

Dangers of the past

The danger of ignoring the past Ps 78:11 See also Ex 1:8; Dt 32:18; Ps 106:13,21; Hos 2:13

The danger of lapsing into past sins Gal 4:8-9 See also Heb 6:4-6; 2Pe 1:9; Rev 2:4-5; Rev 3:3

Jesus Christ supersedes God’s revelation in the past

Jesus Christ supersedes earlier expectations Ac 17:30 See also Ac 14:15-16

Jesus Christ supersedes earlier covenants Heb 7:22 See also Heb 1:1-2; Heb 8:13; Heb 9:14-15; Heb 10:15-18; Jer 31:33-34; Heb 12:24

Jesus Christ reveals God’s past mystery Col 1:26-27 See also Ro 16:25-26; 1Co 2:7; Eph 1:9; Eph 3:2-6,9

See also