CHRISTOCENTRICITY OF THE OT

(How do we understand the OT and Messianic Prophecy?)

 

 

EVERY PROPHET SPOKE OF CHRIST

  • Acts 3:24 Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.
    • How about the prophets that make no explicit mention of anything messianic?

 

  • Acts 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

 

CHRIST WAS SURELY PRESENT

 

  • 1 Cor. 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

 

  • 1 Cor. 10:9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

 

  • Hebrews 8:5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.

 

 

 

CHRIST SEEMED TO AFFIRM THAT ALL SCRIPTURE IS ABOUT HIM

 

  • Luke 24:27 And beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.

 

  • John 5:39  Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
    • Is Christ referring to all Scripture?

 

PERHAPS UNDERLYING ALL REVELATION IS THE PERSON OF CHRIST

 

  • 1 Peter 1:10-11 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: [11] Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

 

  • Rev. 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

 

  • HE FULFILLED IT ALL!

 

·         2 Cor. 1:20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

 

·         1 Cor. 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

 

·         Matthew 5:17-18 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

 

 

  • EVIDENCE OF THIS

 

 

·        Hosea 11:1  When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.

 

·        Matthew 2:15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

 

·        Everything is a “type”?

 

·        David’s suffering is a “type” of Christ’s suffering

 

·        Psalm 69

 

IMPLICATIONS FOR THE STUDY OF MESSIANIC PROPHECY

  • Everything might be Messianic (To the Glory of God!)
  • In some ways, we have to confine our study  to passages that are EXPLICITLY Messianic.
    • To reassure ourselves
    • To convince others
  • How does Christ as fulfillment of Scripture affect the way we see Scripture?

Psalm 15:1-5

Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? 2He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. 3He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. 4In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. 5He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.

 

o        We must understand this in the context of Law

o        In the context of its fulfillment!