and deliver the nation of Israel from their oppressors and from bondage to sin. The New Testament contains the Good News of Jesus Christ who was the one sent by God to be the ultimate liberator of the human soul. This Gospel is at the heart of Gods plan for humanitys salvation and at the heart of God. Early Christians regarded Hebrew Scriptures to be just as authoritative as the New Testament but viewed the law as being fulfilled in Jesus so it was no longer necessary for righteousness. Besides, the law could never produce the complete righteousness in a person needed for the complete acceptance before a holy God. All this places the message contained in the New Testament above all other messages through out the history of man. The instrument which God chose to carry out His great plan of salvation is seen throughout all the New Testament. That instrument which God uses to reconcile humanities lost relationship with Him is through faith in His Son Jesus Christ. For all of these reasons I focused more specifically on the formation of the New Testament canon. The one thing that I have reflected upon and has impacted me most through this Witucke, study of the Old and New Testament canon is the importance of faith in an individuals life. Through the Protestant Reformation came the widespread rediscovery of the true meaning of the Gospel. Salvation was not something that needed to be earned or attained through good works but through faith in the redemptive work of the true Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Faith is of supreme importance to the authors of the Bible and especially to Paul, the New Testaments main contributor. Paul stresses the fact that salvation is a gift, freely given by God to an individual person by grace through faith. Jesus even stresses the profound importance of faith when He said, Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. (John 20:29) Righteou...
