A Biblical Vision, Part I: Mastering the Old Testament Witness to Christ

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A B i b l i ca l Vi s i on, Par t I : Mas ter i ng the Ol d Tes tament Wi tnes s to Chr i s t

Jesus (i.e., Gal. 3.13-14 – Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us – for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree” – [14] so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.)

Gal. 3.7-9 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. [8] And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” [9] So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

VI. Connections for Urban Ministry Today

How do we so interact with the Old Testament so as to see, as if for the first time, the universal promise of God for salvation for all people through Messiah Jesus?

A. Connection to your life and spiritual growth

1. Do I tend to see faith in Christ as a thing for “ me and mine alone, ” or do I understand our hope in Christ as a faith for all peoples?

2. Does my application of the world include God’s plan for all people on earth , or am I suffering from a kind of “ spiritual nearsightedness ” when it comes to how I use the Old Testament?

3. Do I understand my relationship with God in terms of “me and Jesus” or as a member of the one Church of Jesus Christ worldwide? What forces cause me to shrink my understanding of my faith down to my personal life alone?

4. What things can I do in my reading of the Old Testament that can help me understand that the hope of the Messiah, from the very beginning, was for all people on earth, of which I am only a single individual?