Many from our Sunday night Bible Study (“Seeing Christ in all of Scripture”) have asked me to post some of my notes.  Here is an overview of a few of the things we have been studying and looked at this past Sunday.  If you would like a more thorough description feel free to email me. 

Main Point: The Old Testament is a narrative of literal people and literal events but only foreshadow what God is ultimately doing, namely progressively guiding us towards one man…Jesus Christ. The entire OT is longing for, pointing towards, and drawing us closer to the anointed One of God, who Paul says fulfills all the promises of God. (2 Cor 1:19-20)

Old Testament types of Christ (a partial list)

Gen 3:15 promises an offspring
Jesus is that offspring (Gal 3:16)

Exodus 4:22 Israel is God's firstborn
Jesus is God's firstborn (Col 1:15)

Gen 17:10 Covenant sign of circumcision
Circumcision points to Christ (Col 2:11-12)

Exodus 26 Israel is given a temple
Jesus says He is the temple (Jn 2:19)

Exodus 19 Israel is given a priesthood
Jesus is the priesthood (Heb 4:15, 5:6, 8:1)

Deut 8:2 Israel is 40 yrs in the wilderness
Jesus is 40 days in the wilderness (Matt 4:1)

Israel is promised a New Covenant (Jer 31)
Jesus is that New Covenant (Heb 10)

Is 45 Israel is God's chosen people
Jesus is God's chosen (Matt 3:16, 12:18)

Hosea 11:1 Israel is brought from Egypt
Jesus is brought from Egypt (Matt 2:15)

Ezekiel 19 Israel is a fruitless vineyard
Jesus is the true Vine (John 15)

Joshua 4 Israel comes out of the Jordan
Jesus comes up from the Jordan (Matt 3:13)

Exodus 12:5 A spotless male lamb is to be sacrificed
Jesus is the male Lamb of God (Jn 1:29)

Gen 12/15 Abraham promised land
Jesus inherits the earth (Matt 28)

Gen 12/15 Abraham promised a people
Jesus is the Israel of God (Gal 3)

2 Sam 7 David is promised a throne
Jesus receives the throne of David (Luke 2)

Regarding Israel, Israel is Jesus of Nazareth.  The One that, as was promised to OT Israel, is raised from the dead and marked out with the Spirit (Ezek 37:13-14; Rom 1:2-4). That same Spirit guarantees that all who share the Spirit of Christ are “joint heirs with Christ” and promised the same inheritance (Rom 8:17).  Therefore in Christ, we receive the inheritance of Abraham because I am in the fulfillment of Abraham’s true seed, Jesus Christ.  

Therefore, when you interpret the Old Testament, you must interpret it in light of Christ. The promises in the Old Testament are stages of God's revelation, which come to final fulfillment in Christ.  May you find your fulfillment in Him as well!

Pastor Wes