The Old Testament Witness to Christ and His Kingdom, Mentor's Guide, MG09

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T H E O L D T E S T A M E N T W I T N E S S T O C H R I S T A N D H I S K I N G D O M

• Outline how Melchizedek, the Priest of the Most High God, is an OT character type of Jesus Christ, whose name resonates with the title of Christ (King of righteousness, King of peace), who was both a priest and a king, who possessed no genealogy, who was called the Priest of the Most High God, who received tithes from God’s people, who blessed faithful Abraham, and whose priesthood is eternal and unchanging. • Articulate how David, the King of Israel, is an OT character type of Jesus Christ, who was born in Bethlehem, grew in lowly reputation, was chosen and anointed by God to rule over God’s people Israel, who was a shepherd (risking his life for his sheep), was sent to his brothers who derided him, and who as God’s warrior defeated God’s enemy who had oppressed God’s people. Articulate further how prophetic promises were given regarding his future reign, how God made a covenant with him that the Kingdom would never depart from his heart, and how his reign was an administration of justice and equity to all the people. • Show how special cases of character types in the OT deserve special mention because of their significance in understanding Christ’s role as head of humanity, redeemer of his kinsmen, and warrior in God’s conquest. These characters represent the person of Adam, Joseph, and Joshua. • Detail the various aspects of Adam, the Source of humankind, as an OT character type of Jesus Christ by contrast. Show how both Adam and Jesus are the source and head of all those connected to them by birth and rebirth, with Adam as the head of the old creation, and Christ of the new creation , Adam being of the earth, Christ as the Lord from heaven , Adam being made a living soul, and Christ a life-giving Spirit . As in Adam all die, in Christ all are made alive, and as Adam brought pride and disobedience into the world, so the righteousness of Christ justifies those who believe in him. • Lay out how Joseph, redeemer of his kinsman, is an OT character type of Jesus, beloved of his father, sent by his father to his kinsman, hated by his brothers who plotted to kill him, rejected by his brothers the “first time,” and was sold for “blood money” (pieces of silver). Further show how he was imprisoned with two criminals (one who “died” and the other “lived”), was considered dead but lived as one alive to the Gentiles. Show how he was raised from the dungeon and exalted to a place of authority, and power, and took a Gentile bride. Finally, show how, like Christ, he gave all honor to the king, and delivered all glory and treasure into the king’s hand, brought

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