OLD TESTAMENT PICTURE OF SALVATION

OLD TESTAMENT PICTURE OF SALVATION
(this little lesson helps explain the Bible message).

The Biblical account of the actual events concerning Israel being delivered from Egypt and brought into the Promised Land is also a Divine revelation concerning the Christian life, given as a figure or image (1 Co. 10:6 & 11, see passage below). I realize I have mentioned this is in the past, but I want to say something about it I have never, ever said before. FIRST, the overview of the analogy, SECOND, the specific meaning of the giving of the Ten Commandments.

As I was preparing my mind to teach the lesson last night (concerning holiness and entering the Promised Land) I was also thinking about the old question about the figurative significance of the Ten Commandments in this scenario. In fact, it finally dawned on me this morning. (I know, I am a little slow).

FIRST, the Overview: figure and fulfillment.
(Scripture references found in Comment Box below.)

1. Israel was in bondage to Pharaoh in Egypt.
Sinners are enslaved to sin and Satan (Ac. 26:18; Ep. 2:1-3; Ro. 6:16-17; 1 Jn. 3:8).

2. God had mercy on Israel's plight, and sent Moses to deliver them.
God is not willing that any should perish, and He prepared Jesus to seek and to save the lost (Lk. 19:10; Jn. 3:16; 2 Pe. 3:9).

3. God dethroned the false gods of Egypt through the Ten Plagues.
The God of the Bible is the only God (Mk. 12:29-32; Ga. 4:8; 1 Co. 8:4-6; 1 Tm. 2:5).

4. God instructed Israel to celebrate the Passover.
Jesus is the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world (Jn. 1:29; Ac. 8:32; 1 Pe. 1:19).

5. Israel crossed the Red Sea and escaped bondage to Egypt and Pharaoh.
When a person believes on Christ, Jesus saves them from sin and Satan (Lk. 8:12; Jn. 1:12; 3:36; 6:47-54; Ro. 8:1; 1 Jn. 5:10-13).

6. God gave the Ten Commandments at Mt. Sinai.
God establishes His holy rule in the lives of His people (Mt. 7:21; 12:49-50; Jn. 14:15, 21-24; 15:10-14; 1 Jn. 2:3-5). THIS WILL BE MY SECOND POINT.

7. God provided food, drink, guidance, deliverance, protection, sustenance to Israel.
God supplies everything we need for life and godliness to Christians (Ro. 8:32; Ph. 4:19; 2 Pe. 1:3).

8. Israel balked at the command of God to enter the Promised Land at Kadesh.
Carnal Christians hesitate to enter the life of heart purity (Ro. 8:5-9; 1 Co. 3:1-4; Ga. 5:14-21).

9. Israel wandered in the wilderness for 40 years before entering the Promised Land.
Christians often live the carnal life because the do not trust God for heart purity (Ro. 7:14-25; Ja. 1:8; 4:8; He. 3:2).

10. The old generation of Israelites died before the new generation crossed the Jordan River and entered the Promised Land.
Before believers can enter the Spirit filled life, their "Old Man," sinful nature must die (Ro. 6:6-7; 7:24-8:9; Ga. 2:20; 5:24-26; 6:14).

The Promised Land is not heaven, but it is the life flowing with milk and honey.

SECOND, the giving of the Ten Commandments.
As a person receives Jesus as his own Passover Lamb, and he chooses to follow God out of the life of sin and bondage, and he is delivered from the rule of Satan, a Christian also comes under the moral and spiritual authority of God. Remember, whoever you obey is your god/God.

Leaving Egypt did not set the Israelites free from submission to authority; it changed their submission from Egypt and Pharaoh, to God. Likewise, when a person comes out of the life of sin and Satan's rule, Christians do not become lawless or self ruled; Christians are under the rule of God.

Jesus did not come to destroy the revelation of the Old Testament (the law and the prophets), but to fulfill and enact the promises and prophecies of the Old Testament.
Christians are not saved so that they might break the moral law of God, but that they might be set free from the law of sin and death, and that they might be empowered and enabled to obey God.
We are not expected to simply keep the letter of the law based on a sense of self righteousness, but through love and faith we are enabled to manifest the spirit of the law by keeping His commandments.

There is not a verse in the New Testament that justifies disobedience to God.
There is not a verse in the New Testament that promises redemption to those who walk in disobedience and darkness.
There is not a verse in the New Testament that allows un-repented rebellion to exist in the Christian life.
There is not a verse in the New Testament that accepts the power of sin over the people of God.
There is not a verse in the New Testament that excuses resistance to God's ruile.

To come out of spiritual bondage to sin is not to come into spiritual lawlessness, but to come into a life of love, submission, obedience, righteousness.
The giving of the law on Mt. Sinai established the right of God's sovereignty over His people Israel in the Exodus. The acknowledging of the Lordship of Christ establishes the right of God's sovereignty over His Church.

The Christian reaction to Legalism is not Lawlessness, but Love from a pure heart; it is life lived submission to the Law of Love, the Law of Liberty, the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.

Freedom in Jesus is not freedom from righteousness or freedom from God's sovereignty, it is freedom from sin and Satan.

The Christian submission is not submission to a list of written regulations, but submission to the Risen and Regal Redeemer.

SCRIPTURE PASSAGE
1 Corinthians 10:1-14
(1) Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
(2) And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
(3) And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
(4) And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
(5) But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
(6) Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
(7) Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
(8) Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
(9) Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
(10) Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
(11) Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
(12) Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
(13) There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
(14) Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.

(10/1/15 dlg on fb)