The Gospel is neither a discussion nor a debate. It is an announcement –
P.S. Rees
Jesus of the Old Testament
All of God’s Word,
both the Old Testament and the New Testament
where breathed by the Holy Spirit
and recorded by men of faith.
The Word itself tells us
that the totality of Scripture
was given to provide us with:
1. sound doctrinal truths, (things we can hang our hat on)
2. and for reproof (convicting us of our true state),
3. for correction (pointing us back in the right direction)
4. and for instruction as to how we are to live a Godly lifestyle.
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God,
and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof,
elegchos (el'-eng-khos) From G1651;
proof, conviction: - evidence, reproof.
for correction,
epanorthōsis (ep-an-or'-tho-sis) From a compound of G1909 and G461;
a straightening up again, that is, (figuratively) rectification (reformation): - correction.
for instruction in righteousness,
17 that the man of God may be complete,
thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 NASB (my emphasis bold)
Many believers have a great propensity
to spend the majority of their time
in the New Testament
with special emphasis to the red letters,
the Words of Christ.
I am totally in agreement, that these inspired words
are exceedingly important to every believer.
That said, there is much
to be gleaned from Jesus
in the pages of the Old Testament.
After all Jesus is the Word!
1 In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made through Him,
and without Him nothing was made that was made.
4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness did not comprehend it.
John 1:1-5 NASB
If you will take the time
to look for Jesus
on the pages of the Old Testament
you will not be disappointed.
He is there, alive and well!
Jesus is virtually there on every page!
This issue is simple,
Will we take the time
and make the effort to discover His presence.
Finding life giving words
in these marvelous accounts
has but one requirement.
We must be willing to search out His Word
to discover the truths He has hidden there for us.
My Pastor (Dave Hess Christ Community Church, Camp Hill Pa.)
is fond of saying that,
“God doesn’t hide thing from us,
but he hides things for us.”
Jeremiah put it this way:
3'Call to Me and I will answer you,
and I will tell you great and mighty things,
which you do not know.'
Jeremiah 33:3 NASB
In the second chapter of Proverbs it says:
If you seek her (Wisdom and/or Christ) as silver
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
5Then you will discern the fear of the LORD
And discover the knowledge of God.
6For the LORD gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Proverbs 2:4b-6
I love to read these verses to believers,
and then ask them this:
“If I told you that there was a huge gold nugget
buried in your back yard, worth several millions of dollars,
how long do you think it would take you
to find a shovel and start digging?”
Truth be told most of us (me included)
would be out renting a backhoe in a matter of minutes.
It is no exaggeration to say that the Word of God
is far more valuable that Gold.
7The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
8The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether.
10 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
Psalm 19:7-10 NASB (my emphasis bold)
It is so because it holds the key to life and life abundant (John 10:10)
to all who read it and take it to heart.
We who believe, will spend all eternity
enthralled in His presence
telling Jesus He is worthy!
9And when the living creatures
give glory and honor and thanks to Him
who sits on the throne,
to Him who lives forever and ever,
10the twenty-four elders
will fall down before Him who sits on the throne,
and will worship Him who lives forever and ever,
and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11"Worthy are You, our Lord and our God,
to receive glory and honor and power;
for You created all things,
and because of Your will they existed, and were created."
Revelation 4:9-11 NASB
Lord you are worth it!
The minute sacrifices
we are asked to yield in this lifetime
will be minuscule in comparison
to spending eternity in His presence!!!!
Often we will find images of Christ
in the people and principles
of the Old Testament.
Here’s just one example
for your consideration.
In the Book of Ezekiel
we hear the Word of the Lord
given to a hard hearted and rebellious people
with regard to their sinful condition.
The principle set down
in this discourse of God
is that each man/woman is held responsible
for their sinful condition.
A son is not held accountable
for the fathers sin
not the father for the son’s sin.
As we consider these examples
there comes a message of God’s love and grace
that could be straight off the lips of our Savior.
21"But if the wicked man
turns from all his sins
which he has committed
and observes all My statutes
and practices justice and righteousness,
he shall surely live; he shall not die.
22"All his transgressions
which he has committed
will not be remembered against him;
because of his righteousness
which he has practiced, he will live.
23"Do I have any pleasure
in the death of the wicked,"
declares the Lord GOD,
"rather than that he
should turn from his ways and live?
Ezekiel 18:21-23 NASB
The Lord continues through the prophet saying,
Repent and turn away from all your transgressions,
so that iniquity may not become a stumbling block to you.
31"Cast away from you all your transgressions
which you have committed
and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit!
For why will you die, O house of Israel?
32"For I have no pleasure
in the death of anyone who dies,
" declares the Lord GOD.
"Therefore, repent and live."
Ezekiel 18:30b-32 NASB
30
fkj
P.S. Rees
Jesus of the Old Testament
All of God’s Word,
both the Old Testament and the New Testament
where breathed by the Holy Spirit
and recorded by men of faith.
The Word itself tells us
that the totality of Scripture
was given to provide us with:
1. sound doctrinal truths, (things we can hang our hat on)
2. and for reproof (convicting us of our true state),
3. for correction (pointing us back in the right direction)
4. and for instruction as to how we are to live a Godly lifestyle.
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God,
and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof,
elegchos (el'-eng-khos) From G1651;
proof, conviction: - evidence, reproof.
for correction,
epanorthōsis (ep-an-or'-tho-sis) From a compound of G1909 and G461;
a straightening up again, that is, (figuratively) rectification (reformation): - correction.
for instruction in righteousness,
17 that the man of God may be complete,
thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 NASB (my emphasis bold)
Many believers have a great propensity
to spend the majority of their time
in the New Testament
with special emphasis to the red letters,
the Words of Christ.
I am totally in agreement, that these inspired words
are exceedingly important to every believer.
That said, there is much
to be gleaned from Jesus
in the pages of the Old Testament.
After all Jesus is the Word!
1 In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made through Him,
and without Him nothing was made that was made.
4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness did not comprehend it.
John 1:1-5 NASB
If you will take the time
to look for Jesus
on the pages of the Old Testament
you will not be disappointed.
He is there, alive and well!
Jesus is virtually there on every page!
This issue is simple,
Will we take the time
and make the effort to discover His presence.
Finding life giving words
in these marvelous accounts
has but one requirement.
We must be willing to search out His Word
to discover the truths He has hidden there for us.
My Pastor (Dave Hess Christ Community Church, Camp Hill Pa.)
is fond of saying that,
“God doesn’t hide thing from us,
but he hides things for us.”
Jeremiah put it this way:
3'Call to Me and I will answer you,
and I will tell you great and mighty things,
which you do not know.'
Jeremiah 33:3 NASB
In the second chapter of Proverbs it says:
If you seek her (Wisdom and/or Christ) as silver
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
5Then you will discern the fear of the LORD
And discover the knowledge of God.
6For the LORD gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Proverbs 2:4b-6
I love to read these verses to believers,
and then ask them this:
“If I told you that there was a huge gold nugget
buried in your back yard, worth several millions of dollars,
how long do you think it would take you
to find a shovel and start digging?”
Truth be told most of us (me included)
would be out renting a backhoe in a matter of minutes.
It is no exaggeration to say that the Word of God
is far more valuable that Gold.
7The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
8The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether.
10 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
Psalm 19:7-10 NASB (my emphasis bold)
It is so because it holds the key to life and life abundant (John 10:10)
to all who read it and take it to heart.
We who believe, will spend all eternity
enthralled in His presence
telling Jesus He is worthy!
9And when the living creatures
give glory and honor and thanks to Him
who sits on the throne,
to Him who lives forever and ever,
10the twenty-four elders
will fall down before Him who sits on the throne,
and will worship Him who lives forever and ever,
and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11"Worthy are You, our Lord and our God,
to receive glory and honor and power;
for You created all things,
and because of Your will they existed, and were created."
Revelation 4:9-11 NASB
Lord you are worth it!
The minute sacrifices
we are asked to yield in this lifetime
will be minuscule in comparison
to spending eternity in His presence!!!!
Often we will find images of Christ
in the people and principles
of the Old Testament.
Here’s just one example
for your consideration.
In the Book of Ezekiel
we hear the Word of the Lord
given to a hard hearted and rebellious people
with regard to their sinful condition.
The principle set down
in this discourse of God
is that each man/woman is held responsible
for their sinful condition.
A son is not held accountable
for the fathers sin
not the father for the son’s sin.
As we consider these examples
there comes a message of God’s love and grace
that could be straight off the lips of our Savior.
21"But if the wicked man
turns from all his sins
which he has committed
and observes all My statutes
and practices justice and righteousness,
he shall surely live; he shall not die.
22"All his transgressions
which he has committed
will not be remembered against him;
because of his righteousness
which he has practiced, he will live.
23"Do I have any pleasure
in the death of the wicked,"
declares the Lord GOD,
"rather than that he
should turn from his ways and live?
Ezekiel 18:21-23 NASB
The Lord continues through the prophet saying,
Repent and turn away from all your transgressions,
so that iniquity may not become a stumbling block to you.
31"Cast away from you all your transgressions
which you have committed
and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit!
For why will you die, O house of Israel?
32"For I have no pleasure
in the death of anyone who dies,
" declares the Lord GOD.
"Therefore, repent and live."
Ezekiel 18:30b-32 NASB
30
fkj
No comments:
Post a Comment