The Christ-Centered Focus of the Old and New Testament

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Jesus Christ, Messiah of the Old and New Testament, and

Lord of History

 

 *Selections on the Christ-centered focus of the Old and New Testament, taken from Key Connections: Understanding the Changes from the Old to New Testament (2023, by M. A. Erickson)

 

The prophetic predictions and prophetic concepts fulfilled by Jesus, taken together, give a remarkable number of confirmations that Jesus was the Messiah. They clearly reveal the long-range purposes of God—showing that the Messiah predicted in the Old Testament is revealed in the New.  (Key Connections: Understanding the Changes from the Old to New Testament 2023, 119).  Kindle Edition (Wipf & Stock).

 

 With the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus as they are described in the New Testament, God’s work moves forward in a major way. The Savior and Redeemer has come. God now begins to reveal his ultimate purposes as to why he worked for so many centuries with the nation of Israel. Israel is the womb that would bring forth the Messiah and the platform from which God would reveal his plan of restoration for the entire world. (Key Connections 2023, 26) (Kindle)

 

This far-reaching plan of restoration is summarized by saying that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself (2 Cor 5:17–19). This overarching, eternal plan is revealed in the fullness of time (Gal 4:4), the time known to be the most impactful for the world by the foreknowledge and wisdom of God—so that all the nations could have the maximum impact from the message of reconciliation and forgiveness through Christ. Through Christ, people would be transformed and God’s image in human beings could be restored. Through the cross of Christ, sin is dealt with and forgiveness is offered to the world. Through the cross, God’s very nature is revealed: he will sacrifice himself in order to bring forgiveness. The cross reveals the depths of God’s character—his compassion and love for every human being, and his willingness to forgive sin. The depths of compassion revealed at the cross include not only forgiveness but the invitation to be reconciled with God and the invitation to become part of God’s family for eternity.  (Key Connections 2023, 26).

 

With the coming of Christ, key purposes of the temple were fulfilled. Christ is the once-for-all sacrifice for the sins of humanity. Christ died for all (1 John 2:1–2), and the message of forgiveness through Christ is at the center of the gospel. Through faith in Christ, people can be forgiven. Through Christ, forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed to the nations (Luke 24:46–47).  (Key Connections 2023, 44)

 

As seen in connection with the temple, one of the great paradigms of fulfillment when moving from OT to NT is in the realm of animal sacrifices. From a wide viewpoint, the many types of animal sacrifice in the OT are rendered unnecessary by the once–for–all sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. (2023, 99)

 

The animal sacrifices were only a temporary provision that pointed forward to Christ’s sacrifice. The focus is on a single offering: Christ’s death on the cross. This offering “has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified” (Heb 10:14). Christ’s offering has complete cleansing power for all time and is viewed in the completed sense as enabling the perfection of all believers. (2023, 106)

 

God’s overarching plan through the centuries was not just to work with people and show them the correct path. In the New Testament, it is revealed that God’s overarching purpose for sending his Son is to transform people into the Son’s image: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers” (Rom 8:28–29). This is an amazing transformation, to become like Christ. But this is the plan of God for all who come to Christ, without exception. The Colossians are told that they have “put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator” (Col 3:9–10). Similarly, the Ephesians are told to “put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph 4:24). (2023, 113)

 

 When God’s purposes for this age are fulfilled, Christ will return to bring an end to this stage of human history. The infection that entered the human race (the corruption caused by sin and selfishness) will be finally and firmly dealt with by God’s just and fair judgments of human beings, everywhere. (2023, 28)

 

These and other points on the Christ-centered focus of the Old and New Testament are explored more fully in the book, 

Key Connections: Understanding the Changes from the Old to New Testament by M. A. Erickson (Wipf & Stock Dec. 2023). The book is available in print or Kindle formats at Amazon.com, at:


 Amazon.com, Key Connections: Understanding the Changes from the Old to New Testament

 

   ** Regarding Key Connections: Understanding the Changes from the Old to New Testament, Dr. Roger Cotton, professor of Old Testament for many years at Evangel University / AGTS, wrote the following recommendation (from the back cover of the book):



“M. A. Erickson has written the best exposition I have seen of the changes and the continuity between the Old Testament and the New. He expresses it in very similar ways to mine so that this is the book I wish I could have written. He deals very well with difficult issues like the use of the sword in the OT but no longer by the communities of faith in Christ. All Christians, especially teachers, should read this book.”

 

 

 

 

 

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Below: The Hundred Gilder Print, by Rembrandt