8th August 2025

Christ In All The Scriptures

For I delivered to you first of all that

which I also received:

    that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.

  1 Corinthians 15:3

The Old Testament is God’s Word just as much as the New Testament is; in fact, it was the only Bible that the Lord Jesus knew (since the New Testament had not yet been written). The Bible says, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16). Indeed, the Old Testament was all the apostles and the early Christians had to preach Christ, and yet they preached Christ “ according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor 15:3).

For example, the Old Testament makes clear that God taught the people to approach Him by way of animal sacrifices. The Mosaic Law required that animals be offered as sacrifices and that the priests sprinkle the blood upon the designated altar. Those sacrifices foreshadowed and symbolized the anticipated shedding of blood and sacrificial death of Jesus, the Messiah. You see, there are these pictures of the Lord throughout the Old Testament.

However, there is no clearer picture of the Cross and the sacrifice the Father made for us in Christ than Genesis chapter 22. Notice the powerful parallels between Isaac and Christ. Isaac, Abraham's son is one of the clearest pictures or types of Christ in the Old Testament.

Both fulfilled PROMISES:

Isaac was the long-promised son to Abraham (Genesis 12:3)

Jesus was the long-promised Messiah and Son of God (Gen 3:15; 13:3, John 1:1-12)

Both were the ONLY SON of their father:

God said that to Abraham, Isaac is “Your son, your only son, whom you love…” Gen 22: 2. God said “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased!” Matthew 3:16, 17.

Both had a MIRACULOUS BIRTH:

Isaac was born to parents who were very old - Genesis 18:13.

Jesus was born of a virgin, Mary, and conceived by the Holy Spirit - Luke 1:34-35.

Both had a conception and birth that was PRE-ANNOUNCED - Genesis 18:10 & Luke 1:30–31.

Both were NAMED before their birth - Genesis 17:19 & Matthew 1:21.

Both were UNDESERVING of their sacrificial death - Genesis 22:2, Luke 23:41.

Both were LOVED by their fathers Genesis 22:2; Matthew 3:16, 17.

This is just a sample; One could go on to share with you Christ in Gen 6, Noah and the Ark or even in the Garden of Eden, but time does not permit in today's devotional.

READ: Above

Prayer: Father, thank You, that the whole Bible speaks of Christ, the Messiah. Amen.