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On the Old Testament: Free Chapter
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Jesus summarized the Old Testament Scripture as existing in three parts: the Law, Prophets, and Psalms. He accepted the Old Testament canon as it exists today without any modifications and came to fulfill it. As a rabbi, or preacher and teacher of Scripture, Jesus’ entire ministry involved the instruction and application of the Old Testament. Jesus’ public ministry even began with him reading from the Old Testament book of Isaiah and stating that his ministry was to fulfill the Old Testament promises about his coming (Luke 4:16–21). Jesus clearly stated that his ministry was an Old Testament ministry in that it was to fulfill all of the Old Testament promises and longings that pointed to him.
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Consequently, it is impossible to be a faithful Christian and not fully embrace the Old Testament as God’s Word. Occasionally, someone will claim to be a Christian yet not embrace all of the Old Testament. One example is an ancient heretic (false teacher) named Marcion. He said that the Old Testament was in fact a far lesser book than the New Testament and encouraged Christians to remove it from their Bible.
From On the Old Testament, Chapter 1: “Answers to Nine Common Questions about the Old Testament.”