Biblical Theology in the New: Fulfillment in Christ

Loading Scripture… Galatians 4:4–5 (ESV)

Are we there yet? The phrase has become cliché in our culture. Every child has at some point yelled that phrase from the back seat of a long road trip. Or a trip to the grocery store. Or just because they know it’s annoying. As the author, I don’t have to listen to you asking yourself that question time and time again as you make your way through this book. But I know it happens. You’re impatient to get to Jesus. And rightly so. The New Testament is the pièce de resistance of the Bible. The place where it all comes together. The place where God’s eternal plan manifests in the flesh. And guess what? We’re here.

What is it and why does it matter?

Saint Augustine is attributed this quote concerning the Old and New Testaments: “The New is in the Old concealed; the Old is in the New revealed.” The meaning is a simple one. The Old Testament speaks of things in types and shadows. The New Testament reveals what was truly meant by those types and shadows. What was unclear became clear. All the prophecies of the Old point to the fulfillment in the coming of the Messiah in the New. The Suffering Servant of Isaiah is revealed as the Good Shepherd of John.

Most importantly, the New Covenant federal head is revealed. The fulfillment of the covenantal promises made to Abraham have come. In Jeremiah 31, God promises a new covenant unlike the “old” one. And in Luke 22:20, Jesus confirms the sealing of that new covenant when he declares “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” The writer of Hebrews declares Jesus to be “the mediator of a new covenant.” (Hebrews 12:24)

The New Testament is chock full of things that really matter. The first four books provide the accounts of Jesus’ life and ministry – the reason he came, the work he did, the people he saved. The next book traces the missionary activity of the disciples and the early church after Jesus ascended to Heaven. The letters of the New Testament minister to the early church and provide the modern church with both right doctrine (orthodoxy) and right practice (orthopraxy). And Revelation brings straightforward clarity to the future. Or was it the past? Or are there helicopters involved? OK, maybe Revelation and straightforward don’t belong in the same sentence. But keep reading. I have some recommendations that will clear up a lot of misconceptions about that book.

What should I seek to understand about the topic?

• How the Gospels point to Christ's fulfillment of prophecy
• How the Gospel spread through the Acts of the Apostles
• Paul's theology as it relates to Christ: themes of justification, adoption, union with Christ, new creation, etc
• The teaching of the epistles as it relates to both right doctrine and right practice
• Jesus is superior
• Already/not yet kingdom understanding
• The purpose of the Book of Revelation
• How the New Testament uses the Old Testament

My thoughts on the topic

The New Testament is where the rubber hits the road. Jesus is declared to be the only way to the Father. Acts 4:12 tells us, “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” And Paul declares in Galatians 1:8, “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.”

High stakes are involved when it comes to the New Testament. And much of professing Christendom gets it wrong – damned wrong. Your Muslim neighbor is going to Hell if he doesn’t turn to Christ alone for salvation. Your Catholic priest is going to Hell if he keeps preaching a works-based gospel. Paul isn’t speaking for himself when he declares in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10:

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 6:9–10

I might caution that using the term “gay Christian” is preaching peace where there is no peace. (Ezekiel 13:10)

I don’t say these things out of hatred. It is not hateful to see someone about to be hit by a bus and scream for them to jump to safety. It is not hateful to tell someone with a two-pack-a-day habit that smoking that much will kill you. It is loving to warn your neighbor of danger – regardless of whether they don’t believe you or whether they think you are hateful. And there is no greater danger than hellfire. So, if you’re quick to warn someone about their dietary habits and slow to warn them about their false religion, you may be more hateful that the words I’ve written.

Jesus is the most important message we can share with our neighbors, our family, our friends, and our co-workers. But the Jesus of our modern day is usually not the Jesus of the Bible. Studying your New Testament will ensure that the Jesus you proclaim is the Jesus that saves. Here are some book recommendations that may help you with your studies.