The End?
Ok time to bring these thoughts to a close (for now).
For links to the 14 posts in this series go here.
For the full text of the 14 posts go here.
Let me finish with a plea from the heart of true doctrine... Jesus is the Word of God. He is not the best Word. He is not the ultimate Word. He is not the seal of series of improving words. He is the Word. There is no knowledge of God that is not mediated through the Son. Please consider these foundational verses.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. (John 1:1-2)
No-one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made Him known. (John 1:18)
He is the Image of the invisible God, the Firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created (Col 1:15-16)
The context for these verses is not incarnation. The Word became flesh long after the Word was. The Son has been the revelation of God from before the creation of the world. Incarnation does not make Jesus the Word, rather the pre-existing Word became flesh. At the risk of sledge-hammer repetition: Jesus is the Word and Image of God prior to incarnation. He has always been the one Way, Truth and Life. To be ignorant of the Son pre or post-incarnation is to be ignorant of God.
Consider additionally these crucial passages:
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)
"All things have been committed to me by my Father. No-one knows the Son except the Father, and no-one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." (Matt 11:27)
Christ in the OT is not an irritating hobby horse that some people ride and we wish they didn't and would let us alone 'cos we all get to Jesus in the end'. It's about the identity of Jesus. Is He the revelation of God or is He something less?
Is solus Christus true in revelation just as it is in salvation or is it a case of 'Jesus and...'? Are there other ways? Other truths? Or does Jesus retain for Himself all the glory?
Ok so what are your thoughts on this issue? Boring? Irrelevant? Untrue? Are my arguments overstated? Unworkable? Old hat? Garbage? What?
Over to you...
.
Amen! Christ alone! Heb 1:1 God has spoken in these last days through His Son.
Hi Solus Christus. Thanks for the encouragement. Ironically some would quote that verse to qualify my position, saying revelation has not always been solus Christus (would the dative be soli Christi you latin buffs?).
To that I’d counter:
* The rest of the chapter assumes that the OT is a christocentric revelation. E.g. “But about the Son He says (Psalm 45)” – Heb 1:8. The writer says that the Psalmists etc were speaking about the Son.
* It’s not a change in the content of revelation between v1 and 2.
* Therefore, what is new about these ‘last days’ (v2)? Well it’s surely that the Son has addressed His people in person. On only one occasion does the Son address Israel as a whole (Judges 2:1-4). Every other OT revelation is mediated by the Son through the prophets and to the people. (cf Num 12:7-8; Isaiah 6:8; Jer 1:4-5). God has spoken by the prophets, repeatedly, in so many different ways.
* But in these last days the Son has got up in front of the people as His own Prophet. There hasn't been an intermediary saying ‘Thus sayeth the LORD’ instead He Himself said: ‘Truly *I* say unto you.’
* So for 3 years in the middle of history the Son has addressed His people as His own Apostle and Prophet.
* This has ushered in the last days
* But don’t forget that ever since those three years the Son addresses us as mediated through others – the apostles. Those years of Jesus’ earthly ministry were utterly unique but God’s revelation has always been through and concerning the Son.
glenscriv,
I couldn't have said it better myself:
http://msamudio.wordpress.com/2008/03/31/how-is-christ-a-prophet-lesson-6-question-5-answer/
Sounds like we have quite a bit in common.
S2C
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i want to get some artilcles from you...
About Jesus christ appearing in the old testament.
1.The prophetic pictures of Pre-existence
i.the slain lamb
ii the obedient servant
iii. the beloved son
plex, send to me my mail if you are possible
Hi Nawyeli
Not sure what you want beyond the articles that are here or on my website:
http://www.christthetruth.org.uk
I don't have specific articles on the topics you list here but perhaps some of my other articles that I've posted up will help?
Search the tag marked "covenant continuity" or "Old Testament" for more.
And please do email me about the specifics you're looking for:
glen@christthetruth.org.uk
yours in Christ,
Glen
Glen - I have been very helped by this blog series! (Though I am a bit late to the game, it seems.) One thing though is that you put a link to a post by Reeves on Psalm 1 which no longer works. Could you perhaps update that?
Hey Clayton,
Thanks for following the thread! The direct link to that talk is: http://allsouls.org/Media/PlayMedia.aspx?download=file&media_id=49764&file_id=55110
Otherwise it's the bottom sermon on this page:
http://allsouls.org/Groups/139429/Resources/Sermons_and_Media/Sundays/A081_Two_Ways/A081_Two_Ways.aspx
Hello Mr. Scrivener,
I recently listened to you on the Unbelievable? podcast and was encouraged to check out your "Christ in OT" section of your website. What you present is compelling, and it has been refreshing to read these passages in both the Old and New Testaments without the assumption of the superiority of the modern perspective. I just wanted to let you know I appreciate the hard work you put into this and that I look forward to reading through Scripture again with fresh eyes open to Christ's plain supremacy throughout.
Hi Tommy,
Really glad you dropped by and were helped by this stuff. Grasping the wonder of 'Christ alone' in *all* Scripture has been huge in my Christian life. It's always fun when others get the bug too!
Every blessing in Jesus