9.2 The Epistles explain what has happened after the cross
To understand the Bible, I find it helpful to divide the Bible into 3 sections: 1) The Old Testament, 2) The Gospels, and 3) The Epistles.
The Old Testament
Christ is concealed in the Old Testament. Many of the stories point to Him. All the institutions under the system of law point to Him – be it the Tabernacle, the Offerings, The High Priest, the Feasts, etc. If we read the stories in the natural, we will miss the most important message hidden inside. Jesus Himself declared that the Old Testament Scriptures testify of Him. He said in John 5:39, “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which TESTIFY OF ME.” When Jesus taught His disciples from the Old Testament, He expounded to them all the scriptures the things concerning Himself (Luke 24:25-27).
The Gospels
In the fullness of time, Jesus came to this earth to fulfill all the prophecies (Matt 5:17). He ministered for 3 years, and then He went to the cross to die for all mankind. But while the Gospels is an account of Jesus life, it does not explain why He went to the cross.
In fact, before Jesus went to the cross, he told His disciples, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.” (John 16:12) The disciples were about to graduate after 3 years with Jesus, when Jesus told them that they were not ready for the most important truths – about the New Covenant He was about to cut. They were to wait for the Holy Spirit to reveal these truths to them. This means that the Gospels do not explain the revelation of the cross.
The Epistles
After the Holy Spirit had been poured out on Pentecost, the mystery of the gospel was revealed to Paul – for Him to explain to us. Paul received the explanation directly from God (Gal 1:11-12). So Paul wrote his epistles, especially the book of Romans and Galatians to explain God’s redemption plan. He reconciled the Old Testament to the New Covenant through the finished work of Christ.
Therefor the Epistles contain revelations that are not found in the Old Testament or the Gospels. The Gospel tells us that Christ died and rose again, but the Epistles tell us that we died with Christ and was resurrected into newness of life. The Gospel tells us that Jesus walked among His disciples. But Paul explains that we are now “in Christ” and Christ is “in us”.
Since the Epistles are letters written to us – New Covenant believers, we should be spending sufficient time on them. We will be using the Epistles, especially the Epistles of Paul, to explain the truths of what has happened after the cross.
The Old Testament
Christ is concealed in the Old Testament. Many of the stories point to Him. All the institutions under the system of law point to Him – be it the Tabernacle, the Offerings, The High Priest, the Feasts, etc. If we read the stories in the natural, we will miss the most important message hidden inside. Jesus Himself declared that the Old Testament Scriptures testify of Him. He said in John 5:39, “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which TESTIFY OF ME.” When Jesus taught His disciples from the Old Testament, He expounded to them all the scriptures the things concerning Himself (Luke 24:25-27).
The Gospels
In the fullness of time, Jesus came to this earth to fulfill all the prophecies (Matt 5:17). He ministered for 3 years, and then He went to the cross to die for all mankind. But while the Gospels is an account of Jesus life, it does not explain why He went to the cross.
In fact, before Jesus went to the cross, he told His disciples, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.” (John 16:12) The disciples were about to graduate after 3 years with Jesus, when Jesus told them that they were not ready for the most important truths – about the New Covenant He was about to cut. They were to wait for the Holy Spirit to reveal these truths to them. This means that the Gospels do not explain the revelation of the cross.
The Epistles
After the Holy Spirit had been poured out on Pentecost, the mystery of the gospel was revealed to Paul – for Him to explain to us. Paul received the explanation directly from God (Gal 1:11-12). So Paul wrote his epistles, especially the book of Romans and Galatians to explain God’s redemption plan. He reconciled the Old Testament to the New Covenant through the finished work of Christ.
Therefor the Epistles contain revelations that are not found in the Old Testament or the Gospels. The Gospel tells us that Christ died and rose again, but the Epistles tell us that we died with Christ and was resurrected into newness of life. The Gospel tells us that Jesus walked among His disciples. But Paul explains that we are now “in Christ” and Christ is “in us”.
Since the Epistles are letters written to us – New Covenant believers, we should be spending sufficient time on them. We will be using the Epistles, especially the Epistles of Paul, to explain the truths of what has happened after the cross.
posted by Joshua Lye @ 1:11 AM
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