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

Ses s i on 2: Promi se and Fu l f i l lment i n the Ol d Tes tament ’ s Wi tnes s to Chr i s t 29

2. The New Testament brings to a full climax the promise of God in the Old Testament.

C. Shadow and substance: What is embodied and prefigured in the Old Testament regarding Christ and his Kingdom is revealed and given substance in the New (the physical tabernacle of Heb. 8.5 is the shadow of the true tabernacle mentioned regarding Jesus as priest in heaven) .

Heb. 10.1-7 For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. [2] Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sin? [3] But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sin every year. [4] For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. [5] Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; [6] in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. [7] Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your

1. The Old Testament prefigures provide pictures of God’s Messiah in metaphor, story, image, and symbol what the New Testament makes visible in Jesus.

2. The New Testament serves as the actual substance and meaning behind all of the pictures, visions, stories, images, and analogies mentioned in the Old Testament.

D. Ineffective former and consummated latter: What is demonstrated and found to be ineffective in the Old Testament is finalized and consummated in the New (e.g., the entire book of Hebrews speaks of the insufficiency of the old sacrificial system to actually take sins away; Jesus’ death is the effective reality behind the Old Testament example).

1. The Old Testament prefigures a system that was ineffective in actually solving the problem of humankind’s bondage to satanic deception and sin.

2. The New Testament builds upon and fulfills the Old Testament picture through the blood sacrifice of Jesus of Nazareth.

E. Particular and universal: what is particularized in the experience of the people of Israel in the Old Testament is extended and expanded to all who believe in the New

will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’”