“The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing their way into it. 17 It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law.
18 “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’
25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’
29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’
30 “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”
Moses and the Prophets. What is that? That is scripture minus the New Testament. That is all they had back then and it was enough for salvation. It was supernatural - Nature could pass away but Scripture wouldn't. It was compiled and written by men yet Jesus referred to it as authoritative, outside of time, and enough. Preachers tend to downplay the Old Testament lately, in fact Andy Stanley says that if you have problems with the Old Testament it wasn't for you anyway it was for the Jews. He says, "if someone can predict their death and resurrection and pull it off - I go with them. I believe what they say." John MacArthur rarely preaches from the Old Testament yet Jesus says, if they don't believe the Old Testament, they won't be convinced if I rise from the dead. So somehow, our faith is not based on the resurrection alone but also the understanding of the significance of that death and resurrection as found in the Old Testament.
When Jesus said that He fulfilled the Old Testament in Matthew 5, the illustration is like a jar filled with water. The jar is the law and prophets or Old Testament, which brings us the water which is Jesus. We cant hold and see Jesus apart from the container. We see Him as prophet, priest, king, lover of our soul, creator, and so much more. But even more than that, we see Him as the fulfillment of all the blood sacrifices because "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins", and "the soul that sins - it shall die", and "cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree". We see Him as the fulfillment of the feasts. We see Him bringing the ultimate cleansing pointed to in the ceremonial laws. How do we even understand or explain sin without the scriptures? How do we understand pain and suffering and what is wrong with this world. The jar without Jesus is what the Pharisees had. The water without the jar is what contemporary Christianity is in danger of trying to sell us. The jar with water is what I think Jesus is trying to give us through this story.
Can you lead someone to saving faith through the Old Testament. I like to use the gospel beads which goes like this;
Gold - Gold stands for God who is King of Heaven and Earth. He is Holy and righteous and lives in the streets of Gold in Heaven.
Your eyes are too pure to look on evil;
you cannot tolerate wrongdoing. Hab. 1:13
Black - Black stands for us. We are sinful and our hearts are dirty. Because of that, we are separated from a Holy God who can't be in the presence of sin
All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. Ps. 14:3
Red - Red stands for the blood of Jesus which he shed on the cross as He died for our sins
Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the Lord makes[ his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
11 After he has suffered,
he will see the light of life[d] and be satisfied;
by his knowledge[f] my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors. Isa. 53
and though the Lord makes[ his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
11 After he has suffered,
he will see the light of life[d] and be satisfied;
by his knowledge[f] my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors. Isa. 53
White- White stands for our hearts cleansed from sin and made white as snow if we receive by faith the free gift of Christ's substitutionary death on the cross for us. Now we can be restored to a relationship with God again which is why we are created
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Eek. 36:26
“Come now, let us settle the matter,”
says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool. Isa. 1:18
Green - Green stands for growth. Now that we are cleansed of our sin, the Holy Spirit comes inside us and causes us to grow. We start becoming more like Jesus.
Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
so that sinners will turn back to you.
14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
you who are God my Savior,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
15 Open my lips, Lord,
and my mouth will declare your praise. Ps. 51:10-15
so that sinners will turn back to you.
14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
you who are God my Savior,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
15 Open my lips, Lord,
and my mouth will declare your praise. Ps. 51:10-15
Maybe you know some better verses. The point is that the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation is inspired, complete, without error or contradiction and what people need to be saved. That's what Jesus says and I believe Him!
No comments:
Post a Comment