Sixty-Six Books—One Story

Introduction

This week I want to take a step back and I want to remind everyone of one of the most fundamental truths about the Bible that we need to understand.

That truth is, that the Bible is Sixty-Six Books—One Story. Throughout the entire Bible, the old testament and the new, there is one continuing story that centers around one person. That person is Jesus Christ.  

We need to put on the right spiritual lenses so we can have proper understanding when we read the Bible.

Many people read the Bible through the lenses of their traditions. Through commentaries. Through the teachings of other men.

People often come to different conclusions and interpretations when reading the Bible because they fail to see Jesus throughout the entirety of God’s Word.

For example, your view of end times events will be greatly affected when you don’t understand that the main subject of the Bible is Jesus Christ.

It is so important that we understand this simple truth. Once you realize everything in the Bible is pointing to Jesus Christ, everything will make way more sense to you as you read the scriptures.

There are many people that think that Jesus is not in the Old Testament simply because his name is not found there.

The first time the name of Jesus appears is in the Bible is in Matthew 1:1

Matthew 1:1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ…

There are those that deny the deity of Jesus and say that he was just a prophet that appears in the new testament only.

The fact is that Jesus Christ can be found in every book of the Bible because that is who the entire Bible is about. From beginning to end.

Luke 24:25-27 25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

Beginning at Moses and all the Prophets

So just like Jesus expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself, beginning at Moses, I would also like to do the same and look at some of the major prophecies and pictures of Jesus Christ in the Old Testament where many people today think Jesus is absent.

We will not even get close to looking at all the examples in the amount of time we have tonight. But I would like to at least give a short introduction so the next time that your studying, you will start to see how everything is pointing to the one and only Savior.

I grew up in a Christian home, I believed on Jesus Christ at the age of six years old, but it wasn’t until later in adulthood when I finally started to see the whole picture of the Bible coming together.

So just like Jesus did, let’s begin at Moses. Let’s go back to the book of Genesis. Genesis is the first book of the Bible and the first out of the five Books that Moses recorded through the Holy Ghost. Those first five books are also known as the “books of the law”, or the Torah.

During this past Sunday evening we learned that Jesus is God in the flesh. He is also the creator.

Jesus the Creator

John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2. The same was in the beginning with God. 3. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

If Jesus Christ made all things and was there from the beginning. Not a creation. You would expect to find him in the first chapter in the Bible.

Let’s look at Genesis Chapter 1 verse 1

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

Who is this talking about? Understand that Jesus Christ is in the first verse of the Bible. You might say,
“I thought that was God the Father?”

Colossians 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:…

Colossians 1:16-17 …For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

Isn’t it awesome that right under our noses, Jesus Christ is revealed in the first verse of the entire Bible.

It would make sense that a book about Jesus Christ would start with Jesus Christ.

Not only do we see Jesus Christ in the first chapter, we also get to see the nature of God. The Godhead.

Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

All three persons of God were present at creation and they all eternally existed as God.

1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

Let’s move to Genesis 3 where we see the first clear reference to the Gospel.

The Gospel Revealed

Genesis 3:14-15 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: 15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

I want you to notice the serpent, who is the devil, will bruise the heel of the woman’s seed.
It specifically says “his heel”

But the seed of the woman will bruise the head of the serpent.
Who is the seed of the woman?

Hebrews 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same;…

(Jesus was born through a woman, taking on flesh and blood)…Why?

…that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

The devil bruised Jesus’ heel on the cross. But Jesus bruised the head of Satan when he conquered death and hell.

Not By Works

Let’s look again at Genesis 3…

Genesis 3:7-11 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. 8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. 9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. 11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?

I want you to notice that after Adam and Eve sinned, they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves aprons. They tried to cover their sin and shame on their own. But what did God do?

Genesis 3:21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

God himself clothed Adam and Eve from coats of animal skins.

Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

This is an awesome picture of man trying to cover our sin by our works, but our works will never be enough. The blood of Jesus Christ is the only thing that can cover our sins.

Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

A very similar picture of Jesus is in the next chapter. Chapter 4

Being Dead Yet Speaketh

Genesis 4:3-5 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. 4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: 5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

Cain’s offering was from the toil and work of his own hands. He worked the field and brought the fruit of his labor. Cain’s offering represents our works.

Abel brought the firstlings of his flock and the fat thereof as a blood sacrifice.

God rejected Cain’s offer from the work of his hands. But had respect unto Abel’s offering.
Because remember, “Without the shedding of blood there is no remission”

The same way that Cain killed Abel because he was envious and his own works were evil. The Jews killed Jesus Christ because of envy and their own evil works.

Matthew 23:34-35 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: 35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.

So righteous Abel was counted by Jesus with the prophets. Abel’s offering and death spoke of the things that were to come, that is the death and sacrifice of the lamb of God.

Why was Abel righteous? Was it because of his obedience? Was it because he was a good man?

Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

Because of the faith that Abel had, he offered a more excellent sacrifice. That sacrifice did not make him righteous. That sacrifice was a witness that he was righteous because of his faith.

His sacrifice was pointing to the righteousness that we obtain through faith in Jesus Christ.

So if we continue on at the end of Genesis Chapter 4 there is a very significant event that takes place…

From Seth to Christ

Genesis 4:25-26 And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. 26 And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.

So Seth is born to Adam and Eve after Abel dies, and in Chapter 5 we see the generations of Adam and specifically the lineage of Seth.

This is very significant because this lineage of Seth will eventually lead to Jesus Christ coming into the world as flesh and blood.

Luke 3:23-24 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli, 24 Which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Janna, which was the son of Joseph…

Luke 3:37-38 Which was the son of Mathusala, which was the son of Enoch, which was the son of Jared, which was the son of Maleleel, which was the son of Cainan, 38 Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.

Understand that these names and genealogies are important. They are pointing to Jesus Christ.
And you can remember that next time you’re reading through all the different names in the Bible.

Let’s keep moving on to Genesis Chapter 6

The Ark of Salvation

Genesis 6:11-14   The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.  12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.  13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.  14 Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch…

Genesis 6:16 A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it.

Genesis 6:18-19 But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons’ wives with thee. 19 And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female.

Genesis 7:15-16 And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life. 16 And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in.

Genesis 7:19 And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered.

Genesis 7:23 And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark.

Understand that the Ark that God commanded Noah to build was a picture and foreshadowing of the salvation what we have through Jesus Christ.

Notice how the ark had one door. There was one way in and one way out.
Salvation has one door, there’s only one way in, and that way is Jesus Christ.

John 10:1-2 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

John 10:6-11 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. 7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

The ark is that picture of salvation in Jesus Christ alone.

Let’s move to Genesis 12

The Seed of Abraham

Genesis 12:1-3 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

These verses are greatly taken out of context today by supposed Bible believing Christians.

Many people think that these verses are saying that those who bless the physical nation of Israel will be blessed and those that curse the physical nation of Israel shall be cursed.

But is that what these verses are saying? Remember, the entire Bible is one story that centers around one person, Jesus Christ.

This is a promise to Abram that ” in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed”
How will all families be blessed through Abram?

Genesis 13:15-16 For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. 16 And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.

Many people will say, the seed of Abraham is the physical nation of Israel, the blessings are for Israel. And we can be blessed if we also bless Israel.

What does the Bible actually say?

Galatians 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

Who were the promises made to? To Abraham and his seed. Seed as of one. That seed is Jesus Christ.

It’s not a physical nation. It’s not a family heritage, or a bloodline.

Galatians 3:6-9   Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.  7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.  8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.  9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

   

 

Galatians 3:13-14 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

When we read God’s Word through the lenses of tradition, commentaries, and doctrines of men,
we miss the entire point of the Bible. Everything…and I mean everything centers around Jesus.

It’s plain and simple. Yet so many people miss this truth.

When God made those promises to Abram all the way back in Genesis 12…
Understand what was being said. All nations shall be blessed through faith in Jesus Christ.

Praise God!

The Only Begotten Son

Let’s move forward to Genesis 22…

Genesis 22:1-2 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. 2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

Imagine you wanting to have a son for your entire life. You have a great longing and desire.

And God finally gives you a son when you are a hundred years old.   

And then God tells you to take your one and only son that you love dearly, and to offer him as a burnt offering. Imagine the pain and the agony that one would feel.

Genesis 22:6-13 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together. 7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? 8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. 9 And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. 10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. 11 And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. 12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.

Understand that this is a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ. The same way that Abraham offered his only son Isaac—God the Father offered his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ on the cross.

In Abraham’s trial, God provided himself a lamb to be the substitute for Isaac.

In our case, God provided HIMSELF AS A LAMB, Jesus Christ, as the substitute for us.

Hebrews 11:17-19 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness. Abraham knew that the seed, Jesus Christ, would come through Isaac. He knew that God was able to raise Isaac from the dead.
The same way that the Father would later raise His only begotten son.

Closing Thoughts

We are going to stop here tonight. And realize that we have not even gone half way through the book of Genesis, and we already have seen 8 different examples of Jesus Christ in the Old Testament.

There are even more that I skipped over leading up to Chapter 22 for sake of time.

27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

We have barely scratched the surface when it comes to Jesus in the Old Testament.
This was only a small portion of Genesis, we still have the rest of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth…And it goes on and on and on.

And there is example after example after example. It’s sixty-six books—One Story.
And it’s all about Him. Our Creator, Our Savior, Jesus Christ.

And remember, The Bible starts with Jesus Christ…

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

That is the Word of God, the lamb slain from the foundation of the World.

So if the Bible starts with Jesus, how do you think it ends?

Revelation 22:20-21 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. 21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

The Bible starts with Jesus Christ and ends with Jesus Christ. He is the alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. All glory and honor and worship belong to Him and him alone.

You put your faith in Him, not in yourself, and he will cloth you with His righteousness.

So when you’re reading the Bible, make sure you put on the right spiritual lenses.

The Bible is Sixty-Six books—One Story. It’s a story of redemption and restoration through one Savior, Jesus Christ. Once you see it, you cannot un see it. You will see him throughout the entirety of scripture.

We will continue to study into the future and see countless more examples of Christ in the Old Testament. Let’s Pray.