Broadly speaking there are five great divisions in the Scriptures. Christ in many facets of His glory-Each division portrayed. These divisions can be conveniently fixed in the memory by five key words.
Christ Himself is the one theme of the Scriptures.
He Himself attested this truth when He took the Scriptures: And beginning at Moses i.e. the Pentateuch—then going through the writings of the prophets—He expounded—explained—interpreted—unto them, in every part of the Scripture the things concerning Himself. Luke 24:25-27.
On this hallowed occasion Cleopas and his companion had the inestimable privilege of hearing the Incarnate Word—Christ the Risen Lord—expound the Written Word—the Holy Scriptures.
As He expounded the Scriptures to them, He gave them the “great key” to the understanding of them. He Himself is the subject, and that in Him the entire canon of Scripture finds its oneness, harmony and unity. “Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked with us along the way and while He opened to us the Scriptures.” “Lord our Teacher be” 348.
Here are the five key words.
The “Preparation” for Christ is in the Old Testament.
The “Manifestation” is in the Gospels.
The “Propagation” is in the Acts.
The “Explanation” is in the Epistles.
The “Consummation” is in the Revelation.
· In the Old Testament we see God “preparing” for the coming of Christ.
· In the Gospels He is “manifested” to the world.
· In the Acts, through the Gospel, He is “propagated” in the world.
· In the Epistles His Gospel is “explained.”
· In the Revelation all the purposes of God in Christ are “consummated.”
The Scriptures are the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
1. As to His Person, as God manifest in flesh.
2. His sacrificial death.
3. His resurrection.
These truths constitute the Gospel. To this point all preceding Scriptures lead. From this point all following Scriptures proceed.
In the fullness of this divine revelation we see Christ as: Son of God—Son of man—Son of Abraham—Son of David. He is Israel’s king—the desire of all nations.
He is also the seed of the woman. Gen 3:5. As such, He is the ultimate destroyer of Satan and his works.
As the seed of Abraham He is the benefactor of the world. In thee shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.
As the seed of David He is Israel’s king.
At present the Scriptures reveal Him as “Exalted to the right hand of God.” In Ephesians 1 Paul describes for us the greatest display of God’s power as seen in the resurrection and ascension of Christ. It would seem from verse 21 that the hosts of hell were massed to frustrate God’s purposes by keeping Christ in the grave, and to prevent His ascension. God triumphed over every opposition.
Christ was raised by God from the grave of mortality to the throne of eternal God.
From the darkness of the tomb to insufferable and unbearable light.
From this small world to the metropolis of the Universe.
He is exalted above every principality—power—might—dominion—and every name that is named. “He is God over all blessed forever.”
Paul continues with an incredible truth. This blessed One with the nail scarred hands—the marks of the thorns on His brow—the spear wound in His side—God has given Him to the Church to be its glorious Head. Meanwhile the Church looks momentarily for the fulfillment of His special promise. “I will come again and receive you unto Myself.”
Describe the Rapture. 1 Thess 4 and 1 Cor 15.
In Gen 3:18, we see the curse pronounced upon sin, of which the thorns were the emblem. This very emblem the Savior bore upon His brow when He was made a curse for us.
In the Old Testament we see God preparing for the coming of His Son. Coats of skin provided for Adam and Eve. Animals were slain—their blood shed to provide a covering, so that they were fit for God’s presence.
The blood of Christ, the Anti-type, provides us with the garment of righteousness, making us fit for God’s presence.
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Abel’s lamb points forward to the Lamb of God. |
For the individual. |
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Passover Lamb speaks of redemption in Christ. |
For the nation. |
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Behold the Lamb of God, etc. Blood. |
For the world. |
The Bible almost always speaks of blood as being shed—Blood is the life—blood-shed is death. The death of Christ is our sacrifice. We are made righteous by God.
The seed of the woman would bruise the serpent’s head, and in doing so His heel would be bruised.
Hebrews 2. But we see Jesus who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, should taste death for every man. For as much then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same, that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.
Jesus was the seed of the woman. This is a remarkable statement. In the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew, the term used throughout is “begot.” But when we come to verse 16 we read: “And Jacob begat Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, Who is called Christ.”
The change of expression is significant. Mary, of whom was born Jesus. Jesus is the seed of the woman. “A man shall be a hiding place from the wind, and a place of safety from the tempest. Isa 32:2. The Ark is a type of Christ. The Ark was God’s plan. It was a place of safety—It bore the storm of judgment—It had to be entered by the door. Pitched within and without. Eternally secure in Christ. John 10.
Jacob’s ladder—bridging the gulf between earth and heaven. This is a picture of the Cross of Christ, which has forever bridged the gulf for us.
The Manna is a type of Christ the Living Bread. The smitten rock is a type of Christ from Whom came the Living Water. = The Holy Spirit. “He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out” Psalm 105:41.
The offerings—Burnt—Sin—Trespass—Meal—Peace.
Adam=Headship—Abel=His death—Noah=His work—Melchizedek=Priest—Moses=Prophet.
The types—Isaac—Joseph.
The Tabernacle speaks of Christ.
In Leviticus we see the importance of the blood.
· Redemption through the blood. - 1 Peter 1:18-19.
· Forgiveness through the blood. - Eph 1:7.
· Justification through the blood. - Rom 5:9.
· Peace through the blood. - Col 1:20.
· Cleansing through the blood. - 1 John 1:7.
· Sanctification through the blood. - Heb 13:12.
· Access through the blood. - Heb 10:19.
· Victory through the blood. - Rev 12:11.
Isaiah—prophecies about Christ’s birth.
Description of Jehovah’s perfect Servant. —Jehovah’s suffering Servant.
Manifestation in the Gospels. God manifest in the flesh. Matthew the King—Mark the Servant—Luke the Son of Man—John the Son of God.
Ezekiel’s vision. Ch 1:10. The likeness of their faces was as:
· the face of a lion. - Matt-King.
· the face of an ox. - Mark-Servant.
· the face of a man. - Luke-Son of man.
· the face of an eagle. - John-Son of God.
In Matthew the King is worshiped. “The wise men.” In Mark the Servant is obedient—and immediately. In Luke the Son of man—the incarnation—His life as a man. In John the Son of God—the I Am’s
I Am the Bread of life, Light of the world, the door, the good Shepherd, the resurrection and Life, the Way-Truth-and Life, the true vine.
When the Lord used the word “I AM” in the garden they all fell backward. Before Abraham was I AM. John 8:58. There are seven miracles in John, each one proving the Deity of the Lord.
Propagated in the Acts. The disciples were witnesses to His resurrection. They preached this at all times. They spread the glory of His name abroad, beginning at Jerusalem—Judea—Samaria—the uttermost parts of the earth. Acts is the account of the greatest missionary endeavors ever undertaken.
Explanation in the Epistles.
· Romans is the Gospel of God concerning His Son Jesus Christ.
· Galatians we see the Cross of Christ.
· Ephesians we see the Heavenlies in Christ.
· Philippians we see the Joy in Christ.
· Colossians we see the Christ as our Head.
· 1-2 Thessalonians we see the Christ our Hope.
· Titus we see the Christ our Savior.
· Hebrews we see the Christ our High Priest.
· 1-2-3 John we see the Fellowship with Christ.
Revelation the Consummation. We see Him in this book as Christ the Lamb. The Lamb is all the glory in Emmanuel’s land.
· Salvation through the Lamb. - Rev 7:14.
· The new song of eternity, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain.” - Rev 5:12-13.
· The worship of the Lamb. - Rev 5:8.
· The victory of the Lamb over all His enemies. - “These shall make war with the Lamb; and the Lamb shall overcome them; for He is Lord of Lord’s and King of King’s.” - Rev 17:14.
· The coming again of the Lamb.
· “Behold I come quickly” Amen. “Even so come Lord Jesus.” - Rev 22:20.