Jesus in the Old Testament

Jesus Always Existed

The teaching of the Trinity is a mainstay of the Christian faith. Genesis gives us the first glimpse. “The Spirit of God moved upon the earth”. Genesis 1:2

This hovering of the Holy Spirit teaches about the spirit of God over the dark formless earth before God’s first command. Then in verse 3 “Almighty God” speaks. This started a series of  acts of God to create all things.

When we read John 1:1-2 we learn that Jesus the “Word”, was there at the beginning.  The “Word, was “with God”  and “was God.”

So the triune God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit were all there at the beginning. Colossians 1:16-17 says, “all things were created by him and for him.”

One cannot say that we can only follow the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament, because Jesus Christ is God and has always existed. He has never had a beginning or will never have an end. He is eternal.

Those who seek God, will find Him in Jesus who came into this world, in flesh as a man, but wholly God.

The Fall and the Resurrection

The Fall and the Resurrection

One can go to Genesis 3 and immediately discover why man suffers so today. It is because of turning away from God, that man is separated from the blessings first given him in the Garden of Eden.

Satan right off the bat tempted Eve by introducing three lies. Here they are:

1. “Did God really say?”

Genesis 3: 1 …He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden.’”

Here Satan is putting doubt into Eve’s mind about the truth of God’s Word. Isn’t it easy for us today to doubt the truth we find in scripture. We let skeptics and the sheep in wolves’ clothing [1] lead us astray.

2. “You will not surely die”

This statement defied God’s instruction in Genesis 2:17 which says, “for when you eat of it you will surely die.” And die they did. Not only did they suffer spiritual death by separation from God, they tasted physical death. And so it is today. Genesis 5 brings home the point.

Altogether, Adam lived 930 years, and then he died.

Altogether, Seth lived 912 years, and then he died.

Altogether, Enosh lived 905 years, and then he died.

Altogether, Kenan lived 910 years, and then he died.

Altogether, Mahalalel lived 895 years, and then he died.

Altogether, Jared lived 962 years, and then he died.

Altogether, Methuselah lived 969 years, and then he died.

Altogether, Lamech lived 777 years, and then he died.

To Genesis 9:29:

Noah lived 950 years, and then he died.

3. “And you will be like God”

Ah, don’t we want to be the rulers of our own lives? Don’t we want to be in charge? Be submissive? Man has to give up his pride to be submissive and only walk in humility. You will not hear that in any psychology course. Self-love is the mantra of today. The Bible teaches that in the latter days “people will be lovers of themselves.” (2 Tim. 3:2)

The search for divinity goes on today. People are going “within” to find their higher spiritual self. But wait….what about this verse ” The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” [2] or, “There is no one righteous, not even one.” [3] “and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags.” [4] And we want to go “within?”

We cannot be like God….because all have sinned and fall short [5].

It is only through Jesus Christ that we can be saved. We cannot save ourselves with self-help, upping our self-esteem, or by doing good works. It is only through faith that we can be justified.

So you see, man fell in the Garden of Eden, but God in His mercy provided a way for salvation. Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

“God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement through faith in his blood….” Roman 3:25

The apple….shiny, sweet, “pleasing to the eye”, a source of knowledge…how easy we are tempted today to desire what pleases us instead of God. Times have not changed and we will be tempted all throughout our lives.

But through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can deny ourselves and not love the things of this world. We can give up self-love and instead live for God.

God did say,

that His Word is true…

That we are destined to die once and then be judged….

And that on resurrection day, those who belong to him, will be raised.

“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the air. And so will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.”

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

Amen…Come Lord Jesus.

 

*references*

[1] Matthew 7:15 Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.

[2] Jeremiah 17:9

[3] Romans 3:10

[4] Isaiah 64:6

[5] Romans 3:23

Why do Christians Suffer?

This is a question we hear very often. Why is there so much suffering the world? Why is there evil, sickness, death, and poverty. Mankind has been plagued with these things since the fall of man. Therein lies the answer.

When Adam and Eve sinned, they were separated from God. Their sin took them out of perfect harmony with the Creator. God only asked of them one thing. Do not eat of this tree.

Genesis 3:3

“You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.”

Rebellion caused a loss of fellowship with God and therefore were cut off from God, who is life. Separation from God is spiritual death and this death is the result of sin. This was the choice of man, not God.

Satan said man could be little Gods and know good and evil.  And so it is today. The lie of Genesis 3:5 is still deceiving mankind today.

Genesis 3:5

For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.

I like to turn the question around. Why are Christians NOT suffering for the Lord Jesus Christ? While it is true that Christians receive blessings, this is not to be our focus, for we are to store our treasures in heaven and not on earth. The Bible tells us we will suffer for Christ. But do we? Do we stand up for the truth in the Bible when others reject it? Do we speak up and tell others the Gospel when we would rather keep our mouths shut?

We are told to pick up our cross and carry it every day. Jesus went to the cross and suffered for us. Will you suffer for Him? Will you give up a life of ease and self-concern and concern yourself instead with the salvation of those who are lost and do not know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. He is our only salvation.

1 Peter 4:19

So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful creator and continue to do good.