The gospel Part 6
The Authenticity of the Gospel
The Gospel was prophesied in the Old Testament, fulfilled in the person and ministry of Jesus Christ and revealed in the New Testament ( As in the Books of Acts and the Epistles).
The Books of Moses (the law), the historic and prophetic books and all the Psalms were written concerning Christ and his coming Kingdom. All that was later fulfilled in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ were foretold in the form of veiled dramas; right from the first man Adam up to the last Old Testament prophet, John the Baptist. All these men, their life stories, the covenants, the whole history of the nation of Israel, all pointed to the one who was to come, Jesus Christ.
From the fall of man in Adam, a cycle of man’s futile attempts to make himself right with God began. God gave the Law to Moses and the children of Israel as a token, a pointer to that which would be fulfilled in Christ. God was not pleased with all those burnt offerings and sin offerings, he had to send his only son in the likeness of man as the perfect atonement for our sins.
Quoting from Psalms 40:6-8, the writer of the book of Hebrews says, “That is why, when Christ came into the world, he said to God, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings. But you have given me a body to offer. You were not pleased with burnt offerings or other offerings for sin. Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will, O God— as is written about me in the Scriptures.’ Hebrews 10:5-7 NLT
Christ came as a fulfilment of the law of Moses and of the writings of the prophets. That is why He said “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.” Matthew 5:17 NKJV
Speaking to the Jews at one of the feasts in Jerusalem Jesus said, “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life.
“Yet it isn’t I who will accuse you before the Father. Moses will accuse you! Yes, Moses, in whom you put your hopes. If you really believed Moses, you would believe me, because he wrote about me.” John 5:39-40, 45-46 NLT
Moses prophesied concerning Christ as recorded in the Law;
“…….., “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.”
“I will raise up a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites. I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell the people everything I command him. I will personally deal with anyone who will not listen to the messages the prophet proclaims on my behalf.” Deuteronomy 18:15, 18-19 NLT
The Apostle Peter alluded to the same prophecy of Moses as he preached to the Jews under the power of the Holy Spirit in Acts 3:22-23.
The sufferings of Christ, his death and resurrection, the redemption of mankind, and the blessing of eternal life for both Jews and Gentiles, were prophesied in the scriptures. And guess what, Jesus rebuked Cleopas and his friend for failing to believe the scriptures:
“Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?” Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” Luke 24:25-27 NLT
Jesus had to open the spiritual eyes of his disciples so they could understand that the very scriptures they read in the temple every sabbath spoke of himself:
“Then he said, “When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ You are witnesses of all these things.” Luke 24:44-48 NLT
In conclusion the Holy Spirit would have us know this, “Every Scripture has been inspired by the Holy Spirit, the breath of God. It will empower you by its instruction and correction, giving you the strength to take the right direction and lead you deeper into the path of godliness.” 2 Timothy 3:16 TPT
Further Study:
2 Peter 2:19-21
Hebrews 1:1-3
1 Corinthians 15:3-4
Isaiah 7:14 ; 11:1-5,10
Isaiah 53:1-12
Matthew 1:1
Mark 1:1-3
Luke 1:1-4 , 26-38 , 67-75
John 20:30-31
Acts 2:14-36 ; 3:18-26
Acts 4:23-28
Romans 1:1-4