HOW THE NEW TESTAMENT TEACHES
Matthew
28:18-20
The New Testament teaches through
establishing a relationship between all its parts to the work of Christ. This
relationship is tied to the Gospels as they relate the example, atonement, and victory
of the Lord. The remaining three divisions of the New Covenant, Acts (history
of the early church), Epistles (letters to churches and individual Christians),
and Revelation (Prophecy), each take one of the three themes of the Gospels as
their special emphasis.
A. The Gospels—The Example, Atonement, And Victory
of Christ.
1.
A transition between the Old and New Testaments is here presented as
Jesus comes
to fulfill the Old (Matt. 5:17) and
establish a New (Matt. 16:14-19; 26:26-29).
2.
The person of God is most clearly revealed in the Christ (John 1:1, 14,
18; 14:8-9).
3.
The Gospels are the center or hub of the Bible from which all things
receive their
clearest meaning.
4.
Unless Jesus is understood clearly, the Old Testament and the remainder
of the New
Testament cannot be seen in a mature
light.
5.
The Gospels center on Jesus’: example, atonement, and victory
(Matt. 28:16-20).
B. Acts—The Atonement of Christ Emphasized.
1.
Salvation from past sins is here emphasized.
2.
Salvation or atonement is the means to the end of
fellowship and relationship
between God and man.
3. A
vital step is thus given in Acts, but not the ultimate purpose of God’s plan—we
are
saved for something, fellowship with God here and in heaven.
4.
Acts is, therefore, the book of transition from darkness to light.
5.
It shows that when the Christ of the Gospels is preached and His atoning
death is
appreciated (I Cor. 2: 2) good and
honest hearts will respond.
C. The Letters (Romans – Jude)—The Example of Christ Emphasized.
1.
The behavior of the saved is here stressed as they are to follow the example
of Christ.
2.
Those who have been saved through Christ’s atonement are now to live by
the example
of Jesus revealed in the mind of
Christ and walk in fellowship with God (I Jn. 1:7).
3.
The indwelling of Christ is the chief emphasis of the Epistles.
D. Revelation—The Victory of Christ Emphasized.
1.
Because Jesus won the victory over Satan (Gen.3:15; Rev.12),
those faithful to Christ will
also prevail (Rom.16:20 Rev. 2:10).
2. The
faithful cannot lose, they will share in the victory of Christ!
The Gospels in portraying the Example,
Atonement,
and Victory
of Jesus, set the stage for the further developing of these great themes in the
remainder of the New Testament. In this way the New Testament teaches its
message with all the parts working toward a common purpose.
ESJ
4/2/00
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