Series: Types of Christ
Title: Christ our Prophet
Text: Deuteronomy 18:
Date: September 19, 2010
Place: SGBC, New Jersey
I ask you to listen carefully to the words which I speak to you this day.
1 Corinthians 1: 21:…it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
I am not speaking my own words. Those are the words of my God and my Savior, whose I am and who I serve.
In times past, the LORD suffered all nations to walk in their own ways (Acts 14: 16.) But showing us how God would provide his true children with teachers who would preach his word, when the time came that God would deliver the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage, the first thing God did was to send his prophet Moses into Egypt to speak the words of God. Before the LORD delivered them into the land of Canaan, he put his words in Moses mouth and Moses warned them that there were many in that land who taught things which were an abomination to God. In those nations we see how utterly necessary it is for God to teach us his word by the mouth of his messengers. And we see the great grace of God toward his true children to provide us with his messengers.
Deuteronomy 18:14: For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so [to do]. 15: The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; 16: According to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not. 17: And the LORD said unto [Moses], They have well spoken that which they have spoken. 18: I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
Proposition: THE SON OF GOD, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, IS THAT PROPHET--THE PROPHET OF GOD.
We have seen from the scriptures:
1. Christ Jesus is the High Priest of God, of whom Aaron was a type.
2. Christ Jesus is the King of whom David was a type.
3. Now, we see, Christ Jesus is the Prophet of whom Moses was a type.
No man--but Christ Jesus alone--ever held all three of these offices. Christ Jesus is the Prophet, Priest and King.
What does that mean that Christ is Prophet, Priest and King?
As King, Christ Jesus has all power in heaven and earth to govern his kingdom and all his servants therein--to protect us, to govern us, to rule in our midst.
As the High Priest, Christ has effectually accomplished the work of making his people the righteousness which God requires. Not only this, but if you believe on God, it is because Christ, through the Spirit, purges the conscious of each one of his sheep through the sprinkling of his blood.
As the Prophet, Christ has power to effectually teach each and every one of his redeemed children so that the scriptures are fulfilled "they shall all be taught of God" and come to the Father through faith in him.
The glory that belongs to God the Father in teaching all of his chosen children effectually in their hearts, was given to the Son of God. The gospel which Christ teaches effectually in the heart is that salvation is by Christ alone.
Points: I. Before Christ Came II. When Christ Came III. Now That Christ is Risen
I. Before Christ ever came in human flesh, every true prophet spoke by the Spirit of Christ and every prophet spoke about Christ.
1 Peter 1:10: Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace [that should come] unto you: 11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. 12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves [only], but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
Romans 1: 1: the gospel of God: 2: (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) 3: Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord,
II. Then Christ THE PROPHET came and spake to his children in person, in human flesh.
Hebrews 1: 1: God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by [his] Son,…
Moses was a type of Christ in several ways
Deuteronomy 18: 15: The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren…
John 1: 14: And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Deuteronomy 18: 15: The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;
1. What did the Father say?
Matthew 17: 5:…behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
2. Moses was sent for this reason:
Exodus 3: 10: Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.
Christ did something far greater.
John 8: 36: If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
3. Moses was given a word from God to tell the people so they would know God had sent him.
Exodus 3: 13:…what shall I say unto them? 14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM.
What did Christ say to the woman at the well?
John 4: 25-26: 25: The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. 26: Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee AM he.
4. God gave Moses power to perform miracles so the people would know he was a prophet.
John 6:14: Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.
Our text shows Moses was the mediator who delivered the law--the legal covenant, which none could keep.
Deuteronomy 18: 16: According to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not. 17 And the LORD said unto me, They have well [spoken that] which they have spoken.
God's law came as a killing letter, the ministration of condemnation and death. It struck terror so that without a mediator they could not hear the voice of the LORD directly, lest they die. So they asked Moses to go to God and bring them the law of God lest they die. Moses was a mediator of a legal covenant which we could never keep. Christ is the Mediator of a better covenant established upon better promises.
John 1: 17: For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 8:5: 6: But now hath [CHRIST] obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. 7: For if that first [covenant] had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. 8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: 9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. 10 For this [is] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: 11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. 12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
The better covenant is God's testament to give his free inheritance to his true sons and daughters. A testator has to die for the testament to be in force. Christ is that testator who died to give his children free inheritance. He is the Prophet who calls and teaches in the heart what he has accomplished!
Hebrews 9:15: And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions [that were] under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
When he calls, Christ the Prophet speaks into the heart through this gospel, declaring this better covenant is done: Christ has established the law and justified his people, the chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his stripes all his children are healed. He says to his child, "your sins and iniquities I remember no more" Free inheritance is yours--joint-heirs with Christ
III. Now, Christ the Prophet sends forth his messengers and teaches this word in the hearts through them.
2 Corinthians 5:20: Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech [you] by us: we pray [you] in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”
Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
All Power belongs to our Prophet, Priest and King. The King who reigns supremely to deliver us and protect us and order his kingdom in righteousness. All Power as The High Priest whose one offering has perfected forever them that are sanctified--who brings us to God, who purges our conscious from dead works to serve the living God. All Power as the Prophet to teach effectually in the heart through his word:
Colossians 2: 19:…the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
Ephesians 4: 15:…the head, [even] Christ: 16: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
The Prophet, Priest and King declares to his insufficient, earthen messengers that all power is his, then says,
Matthew 28: 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:
And Christ our Prophet, Priest and King give us this cause of certain triumph, saying,
Matthew 28: 19:…and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen….
Make no mistake. Right now, as he always has, as he did when he walked this earth--it is THE KING who is conquering the hearts of his people; the High Priest who is washing his redeemed in regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost; and it is THE PROPHET who is teaching effectually in the hearts of his people. All glory belongs to God.
1 Corinthians 3:6: I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase
1 Corinthians 1:17: For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
2 Corinthians 4:7: But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
A WORD OF WARNING--
Deuteronomy 18:19: And it shall come to pass, [that] whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require [it] of him.
John 6: 28: Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29: Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
John 3: 36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Hebrews 2:1: 1: Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let [them] slip. 2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; 3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard [him];
Hebrews 12: 18: For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, 19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which [voice] they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: 20 (For they could not endure that which was commanded,…22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than [that of] Abel. 25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more [shall not] we [escape], if we turn away from him that [speaketh] from heaven:
This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
AMEN!