To: Hebraic-Foundations@yahoogroups.com
From: "Pastor Buddy Martin" <Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org>
Date sent: Thu, 10 Aug 2000 21:28:30 -0000
Subject: HF018 - The Gospel of the Prophets (A Challenge)
Hebraics,
In this Bible study I want to challenge you to think about how you
would be able to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with someone if you did
not have available the writings of the New Testament. The purpose of the
challenge is to get you familiar with how the early Church preached the
gospel from the writings Moses and the prophets.
Let me give a scenario so you can get a feel for the challenge. It is 45
A.D. Pentecost was 12 years ago. The primitive church is still made up
largely of Jewish peoples, but it is causing no small stir everywhere. The
synagogues in Judea are being pulled to and fro with a strange new
message. A sect of Jews called the Nazarenes are preaching that the man
crucified under the rule of Pilate was the Messiah of Israel, and that He
has resurrected from the dead. And they are preaching that this Man was
the Son of God, and that He was also God manifest in the flesh. It is a
disturbing message.
To make matters worse, something dreadful has just happened in
Jerusalem. A young Jewish man named Stephen has been stoned. He was
one of these new preachers. You would think that would slow things
down a bit, but these preachers can't be stopped. They are scattering
everywhere, and everywhere they go they keep preaching Jesus as the
Messiah. They are even saying that we must worship Him.
You find them boldly speaking in the synagogues debating from Moses
that Jesus is 'the' prophet. Thoughts are racing through the minds of the
peoples. "Who are these Jews?" "Where did they get the right to preach
this message?" "Did the prophets teach any such thing?" And the God
fearers are beginning to feel deep stirrings in their hearts. "What about
all these Gentiles who are asking about this new message?"
"And this rumor. Surely it is not true!?" A report is making the
rounds that one of Gameliel's star disciples has joined up with these
Jewish folk, and he himself is now preaching that Jesus is the Messiah.
His Hebrew name is Saul.
There is the scene. Keep in mind that no apostolic writings are
available just yet. Everything that is being preached is coming right out
of Moses, David and the prophets.
Now for a short Bible Study. This study is entitled 'HF018 - The
Gospel of the Prophets.' Our Scripture portion for reference is taken from
Paul's defense before Agrippa. Listen carefully and think about what Paul
is expressing.
"So, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly
vision, but kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at
Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even to the
Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds
appropriate to repentance. For this reason some Jews seized me in the
temple and tried to put me to death. So, having obtained help from God, I
stand to this day testifying both to small and great, STATING NOTHING BUT
WHAT THE PROPHETS AND MOSES SAID WAS GOING TO TAKE PLACE, that the Christ
was to suffer, and by reason of His resurrection from dead He would be the
first to proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles."
(Acts 26:19-23 - Caps for emphasis only.)
Notice carefully that Paul said he preached nothing but what the
prophets and Moses had said was going to take place. Why did Paul
limit his preaching to Moses and the prophets? The reason is because of
all the peoples on the earth, there was one people group alone that God
had entrusted with the message of redemption.
Paul explains this to the Roman Church. He said, "Then what advantage as
the Jew? Or what is the benefit of circumcism? Great in every respect.
First of all, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God."
(Rom3:1,2) The oracles of God have to do with the divine revelations. Have
you ever wondered why our Bible from Genesis to Revelations is written by
Semitic men? (Think about it.)
Back to Paul's defense before Agrippa - Where in the Old Testament
did it say Christ was to suffer, and by reason of His resurrection
from dead He would be the first to proclaim light both to the Jewish
people and to the Gentiles?
Rather than making this a lengthy study, let me draw you to what
Jesus said to the disciples after the resurrection in preparing them for
new covenant ministry.
"Now He said to them, 'These are My words which I spoke to you while I was
still with you, that all things which are written about me in the Law of
Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.' Then He opened
their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, 'Thus it is
written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the
third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed
in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem." (Luke 24:44-47)
Stop and think about it. Where in the Old Testament is it written
that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third
day? Where is it written that repentance for forgiveness of sins
would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from
Jerusalem?
And finally listen to Paul again: "Now these things, brethren, I have
figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that in us
you may learn NOT TO EXCEED WHAT IS WRITTEN, so that no one of you will
become arrogant in behalf of one against the other." (1Co4:6)
Paul's point is that no matter how popular a minister may be, if he
is not preaching according to what has been written, we are not to
become enamored over him. No one has the right to preach a message
that is not in accordance with the sacred oracles.
We are wonderfully blessed to have the New Testament writings. The
apostles were given the task of completing the sacred canon. Never in a
thousand years are we to take away from this wonderful book called the New
Testament. Keep in mind that the twelve foundation stones of the heavenly
Jerusalem each have the name of an apostle of the Lamb written on them. No
prophet shares this distinction. And the apostles alone have priority in
the new covenant.
So what about the challenge? The purpose of the challenge is to get you
to thinking Hebraically; to get you to search for the gospel that the
prophets preached. If you did not have the apostolic memoirs to draw from,
but you do have the Holy Spirit to help you bring out the gospel from the
Old Testament, how then would you present the gospel by using only these
sacred writings?
I've scattered a few questions around in this study. Use them if you like.
As a modern day example, how would you present the gospel to an orthodox
Jew from his Bible? (How did Philip preach the gospel to the Ethiopian
eunuch?)
You may want to take time to study the sermon that Peter preached on the
day of Pentecost. What I would like to see you do is present the gospel
from the prophets. Can you do it?
The challenge is simply this: How would you present the gospel to
anyone by using the Old Testament only?
Any discussion? Questions? Presentations?
Shalom in Christ,
Buddy
Lawrence E. (Buddy) Martin, HF Host
email: Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org
Web: http://www.ChristianChallenge.org