5.17 Epistles – Unveiling the gospel mystery kept secret since the world began
Today, we continue into the Epistles. We have been on an exciting progression in understanding the redemption work of Christ throughout the Bible. Let us summarize our journey so far.
The whole of the Old Testament (the Law and the Prophets) pointed externally to Jesus. He was hidden in type in all the rituals of the law. For example, the ritual of animal sacrifices pointed to Jesus in type. For about 1,500 years, every animal that was sacrificed in the tabernacle pointed to Jesus.
When Israel broke the the covenant of law, and the law had shown mankind as sinners, God sent prophets to prophesy directly about the coming of the Savior who would rescue mankind from their sin. For example, in the prophetic book of Isaiah, it describes Jesus as a lamb led to the slaughter (53:7). He was stricken for the transgressions of mankind (53:8). He shall make many righteous for He shall bear their sins (53:11).
Then in the 4 Gospels, Jesus came personally to this world die for us. John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” Jesus was the Lamb that the rituals had been pointing to. Jesus was the Lamb that Isaiah and the prophets had been prophesying about. He came to redeem mankind from their sin. On the cross, when His mission was completed, He cried, “It is finished.”
But the Gospels did not tell us what happened in heaven after Jesus died on the cross. They did not fully explain why Jesus had to die and what it meant for us. It was the Epistles that unveiled the finished work of redemption and explained how it has changed the basis of our relationship with God.
The Old Testament is like the Outer Court – we see Christ from the outside through external types and prophecies. The Gospels is like the Holy Place - we see Jesus’ life and we hear Jesus’ thoughts through His preaching and teaching. Finally, the Epistles are like the Holy of Holies – we enter inside to see God’s spiritual perspective of Jesus’ finished work on the cross. We can also understand the inner-working of Jesus’ redemption work in the believer’s heart.
In this series, we have seen Jesus from the outside; but we will now unveil the gospel mystery from the inside. Paul describes the gospel as a mystery (Eph 6:19). Paul preaches the revelation of this mystery kept secret since the world began (Rom 16:25). The kingdom of God is within us in our hearts. Romans 14:17 says that the kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. We can know a lot of about Christ, but there is nothing like experiencing Christ in our hearts.
The whole of the Old Testament (the Law and the Prophets) pointed externally to Jesus. He was hidden in type in all the rituals of the law. For example, the ritual of animal sacrifices pointed to Jesus in type. For about 1,500 years, every animal that was sacrificed in the tabernacle pointed to Jesus.
When Israel broke the the covenant of law, and the law had shown mankind as sinners, God sent prophets to prophesy directly about the coming of the Savior who would rescue mankind from their sin. For example, in the prophetic book of Isaiah, it describes Jesus as a lamb led to the slaughter (53:7). He was stricken for the transgressions of mankind (53:8). He shall make many righteous for He shall bear their sins (53:11).
Then in the 4 Gospels, Jesus came personally to this world die for us. John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” Jesus was the Lamb that the rituals had been pointing to. Jesus was the Lamb that Isaiah and the prophets had been prophesying about. He came to redeem mankind from their sin. On the cross, when His mission was completed, He cried, “It is finished.”
But the Gospels did not tell us what happened in heaven after Jesus died on the cross. They did not fully explain why Jesus had to die and what it meant for us. It was the Epistles that unveiled the finished work of redemption and explained how it has changed the basis of our relationship with God.
The Old Testament is like the Outer Court – we see Christ from the outside through external types and prophecies. The Gospels is like the Holy Place - we see Jesus’ life and we hear Jesus’ thoughts through His preaching and teaching. Finally, the Epistles are like the Holy of Holies – we enter inside to see God’s spiritual perspective of Jesus’ finished work on the cross. We can also understand the inner-working of Jesus’ redemption work in the believer’s heart.
In this series, we have seen Jesus from the outside; but we will now unveil the gospel mystery from the inside. Paul describes the gospel as a mystery (Eph 6:19). Paul preaches the revelation of this mystery kept secret since the world began (Rom 16:25). The kingdom of God is within us in our hearts. Romans 14:17 says that the kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. We can know a lot of about Christ, but there is nothing like experiencing Christ in our hearts.
posted by Joshua Lye @ 12:51 PM
<< Home