Old Testament Ends – In the Old Testament, we learned how God created the heavens and the earth, formed man from the dust of the ground, and began a story of failure and redemption. 

 

The books of the Old Testament reveal a big story about God’s creation and the people that He called for Himself. It’s not just a history account, but it shows us how we, as the people of God, fell from grace and the struggles that we live in when we don’t obey the words of our creator. Though there were many saviors sent by God to help the people of God and even show them the ways of God, the Old Testament is filled with failure because people were not able to follow the commandments of God through the flesh.

 

Romans 8:1-4 (NKJV) There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

 

Today, we still fail God’s commandments if we try to accomplish them through the flesh. With much failure, it would seem all hope is lost, and yet if you were paying attention while going through the Old Testament Overview, you saw a hidden message within its pages. God hid a secret message about a Messiah in the books of the Old Testament who was waiting to be revealed in His time. It was a message that said God would send a Messiah who would redeem His people, and teach them how to live in His promises and obtain eternal life.

 

This promise hidden in the Old Testament is about Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who would be the new King of Israel. One that would save His people from all their enemies. Because the Old Testament comes with a veil, it is often difficult to see the prophecies of the Messiah, and that’s where the New Testament comes in.

 

The Old Testament is full of prophecies of the coming Messiah who is called Christ, the Son of God. It also has many types and shadows of Jesus hidden in its pages, just waiting to be revealed by the New Testament Gospel. (I listed some of these prophecies at the bottom of this page.)

 

The Old Testament is a gospel that manifests the sin and death that works in man, specifically the first Adam. Under the burden of the first Adam, sin would find its strength in the law of God and work much death in God’s people and beyond.

 

The Old Testament is full of many examples to learn. These examples, however, need the Spirit of God to make them come alive in us so that we can genuinely learn from them. This brings us to the New Testament, or the new covenant. This new covenant is the answer to overcoming sin and death. The New Testament reveals God’s greatest gift: Jesus. Without the New Testament, we will not be able to fulfill the promises of God.

 

 

The New Testament Begins – The Old Testament is full of many promises of God, but because of the weakness of the flesh, those promises are incomplete. The good news is that there is more of God’s story to tell. Once sin has been manifested, and death is at work in you, there needs to be a way of escape from sin and death. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life that God provides for His people.  John 14:6  Without the new covenant, the first Adam would have no hope of ever waking up from his deep sleep. Jesus, who is the last Adam, is the hope of waking Adam up.  Ephesians 5:14

 

God gives Adam hope as Jesus Christ is born into the same world that he got put into when he was sent from the garden of God. Why is this important? This is your story because you are Adam, and you have the same hope. You may not remember, but you were sent forth from God’s dwelling place to learn how sin and death will destroy you. Your only hope, just like Adam, just like Israel, and every other person on the earth, is the coming of Jesus Christ.

 

In the New Testament, God fulfills His promise that He gave Abraham.

 

Galatians 3:16 The promises were spoken to Abraham and his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Christ. 

 

It’s exciting to think that before the world even began, God already had the predestination of Jesus Christ in His thoughts. God’s will for His people will not fail and never even have a chance to fail. As long as Jesus is manifested in the world, the hope of eternal life, free from death, remains our hope.

 

Before Jesus would be revealed, a forerunner named John the Baptist would be born to prepare the way of Jesus Christ.

 

 

A  Few Old Testament Prophecies of Jesus the Messiah.

 

Born of a virgin

• Isaiah 7:14 — Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

  • Fulfilled: Matthew 1:22–23

Born in Bethlehem

• Micah 5:2 — The ruler of Israel will come from Bethlehem, whose “goings forth are from of old.”

  • Fulfilled: Matthew 2:1, Luke 2:4–7

A descendant of David

• 2 Samuel 7:12–13 — God promises David an everlasting kingdom through his descendant.

• Isaiah 11:1 — A “Branch” from Jesse (David’s father).

  • Fulfilled: Luke 1:32–33, Romans 1:3

A forerunner will prepare the way

• Isaiah 40:3 — A voice crying in the wilderness.

• Malachi 3:1 — The messenger preparing the Lord’s way.

  • Fulfilled: John the Baptist — Matthew 3:1–3; Mark 1:2–4

A prophet like Moses

• Deuteronomy 18:15–19

  • Fulfilled: Acts 3:22–23

The suffering servant

One of the clearest prophetic pictures of Jesus:

• Isaiah 52:13–53:12

  • Describes His rejection, suffering, death, and bearing of sin.

  • Fulfilled: Matthew 27, John 19, 1 Peter 2:24

The rejected cornerstone

• Psalm 118:22

  • Fulfilled: Matthew 21:42, Acts 4:11

Entering Jerusalem on a donkey

• Zechariah 9:9

  • Fulfilled: Matthew 21:4–5, John 12:14–15

Betrayed by a close friend

• Psalm 41:9

  • Fulfilled: John 13:18–26

Betrayed for 30 pieces of silver

• Zechariah 11:12–13

  • Fulfilled: Matthew 26:14–15, Matthew 27:3–1

Pierced hands and feet

• Psalm 22:16

  • Fulfilled: John 19:18, Luke 24:39

Lots cast for His clothing

• Psalm 22:18

  • Fulfilled: John 19:23–24

He will be despised and rejected

• Isaiah 53:3

  • Fulfilled: In the trial and crucifixion narratives

Given gall and vinegar

• Psalm 69:21

  • Fulfilled: Matthew 27:34, John 19:29

No bones broken

• Psalm 34:20

  • Fulfilled: John 19:31–36⠀

Pierced side

• Zechariah 12:10

  • Fulfilled: John 19:34–37

The Holy One will not see decay

• Psalm 16:10

  • Fulfilled: Acts 2:27–31

Raised on the third day 

• Jonah 1:17 — Jesus points to Jonah as a sign of His resurrection.

  • Fulfilled: Matthew 12:40, Luke 24:46

Ascension

• Psalm 110:1 — “Sit at my right hand…”

  • Fulfilled: Acts 1:9, Hebrews 1:3