Bible Study SESSION

Understanding the Bible can indeed be a daunting task, considering its vast scope, spanning approximately 4000 years of human history. With numerous writers, various dispensations, cultures, and communication styles, the challenge lies in deciphering the consistent message that runs through its pages. While the prophets of old communicated differently, today, we have the privilege of comprehending the truth through the Son, as Hebrews 1:1-3 beautifully articulates.

In ancient times, prophets served as the mouthpieces of God, offering glimpses of truth through their words. However, with the dawn of the present age, God revealed the ultimate truth through His Son, who not only created the universe but also orchestrated the reconciliation between God and humanity. This shift in communication signifies a progression in divine revelation, culminating in the person of Jesus Christ.

Luke 24:25-27 provides further insight into this transition, as Jesus Himself expounded on the scriptures to reveal how they all pointed to Him. From Genesis to Malachi, every passage finds its fulfillment in Christ, serving as types and shadows that foreshadowed His coming and redemptive work.

For instance, Abel’s offering symbolized Christ’s righteousness, which grants believers a right standing with God. Noah’s Ark, constructed to save humanity from judgment, prefigures Christ as the ultimate savior, whose sacrificial work alone delivers from the judgment of sin.

Similarly, Isaac, the child of promise, serves as a symbolic representation of Christ, the true seed who brings salvation. Melchizedek’s mysterious appearance hints at Christ’s priesthood, which surpasses the Levitical priesthood and points to His dual role as Priest and King.

Even the sacrifice of Isaac on Mount Moriah finds its fulfillment in the sacrificial lamb provided by Jehovah, prefiguring Christ’s ultimate sacrifice for humanity’s redemption. Moreover, the intricate sacrificial system outlined in Moses’ law finds its culmination in Christ, who becomes the ultimate sacrifice for sin once and for all.

This comprehensive understanding of scripture reveals a beautiful harmony, where every book, passage, and prophecy finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. From Genesis to Revelation, He is the central figure, the substance of all types and shadows, and the fulfillment of every promise and prophecy.

As believers, we are privileged to live in the age of the Church, where Christ is no longer veiled in types and symbols but revealed plainly through the scriptures. In the Gospels, we witness the Word becoming flesh, while the Epistles further elucidate the revelation of Christ, who now dwells within His people by the Holy Spirit.

In essence, interpreting the Bible correctly requires discerning Christ in every aspect of scripture. In Genesis, He is the seed in germ form, gradually unfolding His redemptive plan. In the Law, He is prefigured through various sacrifices and offerings, pointing to His ultimate sacrifice on the cross.

The Psalms prophesy about Him, while the Prophets declare God’s promise of salvation through His coming. In the Gospels, we witness the culmination of God’s plan as the Word becomes flesh in the person of Jesus Christ. Finally, in the Epistles, we find a clear exposition of Christ, who is plainly seen, revealed, and taught as the fulfillment of all things.

In conclusion, the Bible is not merely a collection of historical accounts, moral lessons, or religious rituals. It is the revelation of God’s redemptive plan for humanity, centered on His Son, Jesus Christ. Through diligent study and illumination by the Holy Spirit, believers can rightly divide the Word of truth, discerning Christ in every passage and applying its timeless truths to their lives. In Him, we find the fulfillment of every promise, the substance of every shadow, and the hope of eternal life.