The Centerpiece

 

Centerpiece - The central or outstanding point.  One that is of central importance.  An adornment in the center.

 

Jesus Christ should be the centerpiece in every Christian’s heart.

 

Jesus Christ is the centerpiece of scripture.

 

The Old Testament is full of types and shadows of the Messiah

 

Type are prophetic in nature as an integral part of redemptive history.

 

A type is from Old Testament history whose antitype is found in the New Testament revelation.

 

An antitype is something that is fore-shadowed by a type or symbol

 

Types are Christocentric meaning they point to Christ in one way or another.

 

Romans 5:14 states that Adam was a type of Him who was to come.

 

1 Corinthians 15:45 states the first man Adam became a living being." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.  (Explain)

 

Romans 5:18

Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.(NKJV)

The fact that Christ was typified and prophesied throughout the ages of time makes the gospel message an undeniable fact.

Let’s look at some Old Testament type of Christ

 

Not all types perfectly reflect Christ but there are notable similarities

 

Matthew 12:40

For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.(NKJV)

 

Remember Jacob’s dream about the ladder

 

Genesis 28:12

Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.(NKJV)

 

Jesus presented Himself as the reality of access to heaven from this earth

 

In John 14:6 Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

 

Why not?   (sin)

 

One mediator between man and God.    (Only one way)

 

As Moses was the deliverer from Egypt which a type of sin so is Jesus Christ our deliverer freeing us from the law of sin and death

 

The Rock in the wilderness was a type of Christ

 

1 Corinthians 10:4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.(NKJV)

 

God gave Moses instructions to build the tabernacle in the wilderness.

 

The sacrifices in that tabernacle typified the supreme sacrifice of Christ.

 

Hebrews 9:11

But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.(NKJV)

 

John 1:14 says the Word became flesh and dwelt or tabernacled among us.

 

The living Word made manifest tabernacled in the flesh to obtain eternal redemption

 

Boaz who married Ruth who was a gentile--is a type of Christ.

 

Both sprang from the tribe of Judah in order to acquire a bride from the gentile nations.

 

Melchizedek is a significant type of Jesus Christ---(Theophany)

 

A Theophany is a manifestation of appearance of God to a person.

 

Melchizedek

 

King of Salem         ----Salem means peace Jesus is the prince of peace

 

King of Righteousness   Jesus was the only one perfectly righteous

 

Without Genealogy

 

Having neither beginning or ending of days

 

Made like the son of God

 

Priest of the most high God –  Jesus effectively became our high priest

 

Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek

 

The priesthood of Aaron and his sons though ordained by God points out the inherent weakness of human priests in need or a high priest themselves.

 

Jesus is forever a priest ---not after Aaronic priesthood but after the order of Melchizedek.

Isaac was a type of Christ

 

Both were referred to as the only begotten son      compare John 3:16 to Hebrews 11:17 (Abraham offered up his only begotten son)

 

Both offered up as an offering by their Father

 

Both were willing to be the sacrifice.

 

Isaac asked his father Abraham here is the fire and the wood but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?

 

Let’s see how Abraham answers.

 

Genesis 22:8

And Abraham said, "My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering." So the two of them went together.(NKJV)

 

What a prophetic utterance by Abraham

 

God provided the sacrifice   and bore the penalty for violating the law that He established that He know man could not keep.

 

John the Baptist said behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world.

 

Abraham was persuaded that God would raise Isaac from the dead

if necessary.

 

In a figurative sense he did receive Him back from the dead according to Hebrews 11:19

 

Joseph is also a type of Jesus Christ.

 

A Comparison Of Joseph & Jesus

 

Both were loved by their father

Both were sent to their brethren

Both were rejected by their brethren

Both were falsely accused.

Both were exalted after their sufferings  

Both offered forgiveness

Both were saviors to their people

 

Let’s mention a few more—

 

Noah’s Ark

 

The Brass Serpent in the wilderness

 

The cities of refuge

 

Aaron’s rod that budded--- typifies Christ being brought back to life

 

The clothing of Adam and Eve--- a blood sacrifice had to be made

 

Why are these things significant?

 

They all point to the centerpiece----Jesus Christ!!!

 

The bible is not just a great literary work, but also the inspired and infallible word of God.

 

Presenting Jesus Christ and the gospel message.

 

All of the animal sacrifices made in the Old Testament were as type of the ultimate sacrifice made by Jesus Christ.

 

Hebrews 10:4-5

For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me.(NKJV)

 

Christ dwelt in a human body to do the will of God.

 

Hebrews 10:6 says In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure.

 

There is a difference in a covering for sin and removal of sins.

 

The shedding of Christ precious blood has retroactive implications.

 

Jesus Christ died for the sins of the whole world, past present and future.

 

If God had no pleasure in burnt offerings why did He accept them?

 

Because they were made in faith and pointed to Jesus Christ, the one sacrifice worthy to atone for all the sins of the world.

 

Jesus Christ was predestined as the blameless Lamb, slain from the foundation of the world. 

 

To impress his firm intent into our hearts, God gave us –even before His coming- various proofs of His intent from the beginning.

 

 

The plan of God requires careful consideration.

 

Salvation is easily received but also easily neglected.

We want to remember His sacrifice never moving from the profound illustration of love He had made toward us.