It has been said that the Old Testament is the New Testament concealed and the New Testament is Old Testament revealed. 法学论文代写, many preachers do not understand the relationship between the types and shadows of the Old Testament and their fulfillment in the New Testament (Col. 2:17).
When interpreting the relationship between the types and shadows of the Old Testament and their fulfillment in the New Testament, we must progress in revelation and knowledge from a revealed truth (the New Testament covenant of Grace) in order to understand a concealed truth (the Old Testament covenant of The Law).
Think of the Law as the shadow of an object which is cast backward through time. The shadow (in this instance) is the Old Testament typology of the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms (Lk. 24:44). The object which cast the shadow backward through time is the cross of Jesus Christ, His “finished work,“ and the New Testament of Grace. In other words, as New Testament believers, we must interpret the types and shadows of the Law from the standpoint of Grace rather than interpret Grace from the standpoint of the Law.
Just because we are first introduced to The Law (the shadow) does not mean that we are to use the Law to interpret Grace (the body casting the shadow) (Col.2:17). Why is this so? A shadow cannot interpret or give meaning to the object that cast the shadow. However, the object that casts the shadow interprets and gives meaning to the shadow. In this case, the shadow (the Law) is a vague and ambiguous representation of something else (Grace).
For example, the shadow of a person might not be clear enough to tell if it were a man or a woman, much less whom it is. The shadow of a plane or bird flying would not reveal its type. Even the shadow of a hand and two fingers cast upon the ground may appear to be a rabbit, a dog, or some other creature.
The truth is, until the object that cast the shadow is fully known or revealed, questions will remain. What color, how tall, deep, or wide an object is will remain a mystery until the object itself is in plain view. Similarly, as the Old Testament believers had only the Law, we are unable to fully interpret what we find there because it is only a shadow of good things to come. Nevertheless, if we track the shadow it will lead us to its source, the cross.
The unknown or concealed truth in this instance consists of the types and shadows of the Law itself. That is why we refer to them as types and shadows, because they represent something else-something yet to come. The revealed or known truth in this instance is that: Jesus Christ, His finished work of atonement, and the New Covenant of Grace is the true object that cast the shadow (backward) into the Old Testament.
If we can understand this, our understanding of Grace theology is much clearer. The Law with its types and shadows does not interpret Grace, but rather, Grace interprets the Law. Grace, therefore is the true object known only by revelation, and the Law is merely the shadow of Grace not yet revealed or made known.
The legalist preaches Christ to bring believers under the yoke of the Law. Therefore, legalism makes Christ the shadow and the Law the fulfillment or object of truth (Acts 15:10). The result is: Legalism removes the believer from Calvary and the liberty of the cross of Christ, and takes him back to Sinai to the yoke of bondage. The legalist might begin his message at Calvary, but eventually he will end up at Sinai. However:
Grace removes men from Sinai and the bondage of the Law, takes them to Calvary, and plants them in the grace and liberty of God. Remember, track the shadow (the Law) to its source (Christ) (Gal. 3:24).
When preaching Christ from the Old Testament – Philip, Paul, and Aquila used the Law to bring others to Christ. They did not preach Christ for the Law’s sake; they preached the Law for Christ’s sake. They made use of the Law to show that Jesus was the Christ because he was the only person in history who could truly fulfill all the types, shadows, and prophecies given in the Old Testament concerning the Messiah(Gal. 3:24-25; Acts 8:32-35, 17:2-3, 18:28).
When preaching to the Ethiopian Eunuch, Philip the evangelist understood that the lamb brought to the slaughter and the sheep shorn in Isaiah 53 was none other than Jesus Christ (Isa. 53:7; Acts 8:32-35)! Likewise, as Grace believers we must use the Law to preach Christ and not use Christ to preach the Law!
