Basic Bible Course 2

The unity of the Scriptures becomes very clear when one explores their content. What is the grand theme of the Scriptures? Peter writes in his first letter about the prophets of the Old Testament:

Concerning which salvation prophets, who have prophesied of the grace towards you, sought out and searched out; searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ which was in them pointed out, testifying before of the sufferings which belonged to Christ, and the glories after these. (1 Peter 1:10.11)

Christ in His sufferings and Christ in His future glory - this is the theme of the Old Testament. The prophets spoke of this. In the New Testament, we find the fulfillment of these prophecies. That's what we will be dealing with in this lesson, and in doing so, we'll see that the Scriptures form a harmonious whole.

Regarding the main content of the Old Testament, we read an important testimony in the Gospel of John. It applies equally to the New Testament. In John 5:39, the Lord Jesus says to the Jews:

You search the scriptures, for you think that in them you have life eternal, ...

In regard to the unity and content of the Bible, we will examine the prophecies concerning the Lord Jesus. The first prediction can be found in Genesis 3:15. There God speaks to the serpent and announces the coming Redeemer.

After Abraham was ready to sacrifice Isaac, his son, he was promised abundant blessings and God spoke of the coming Saviour:

And in your seed will all the nations of the earth bless themselves, because you have listened to my voice. (Genesis 22:18)

These words are explained in the letter to the Galatians:

But to Abraham were the promises addressed, and to his seed: he does not say, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to your seed; which is Christ. (Galatians 3:16)

How clearly it is emphasized that the discussion is of descendants in the singular and no one else but Christ is intended!

With what words does the Gospel of Matthew begin?