Quoting from Sinclair Ferguson’s In Christ Alone again. This time I’ve chosen a quote on the book of Hebrews, because it’s my favorite book in the Bible and this is the primary reason I love it.
Hebrews reveals Christ as the key to understanding the Old Testament. Gentle reader, that is 75 percent of your Bible! Hebrews acts as a master interpreter, taking you through the pages of the Old Testament and highlighting its central message. It provides a sure-footed guide to the way in which various elements in the Old Testament combine to lead to Jesus—history, liturgy, typology, and prophecy are all woven together into a harmonious portrayal of the significance of His ministry. The whole book unfolds the statement with which it opens:
God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom he has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds.
—Hebrews 1:1-2
The Old Testament message is:
- In time past
- multifaceted revelation
- expressed through the prophets
- given to the fathers
The New Testament message is:
- Now, in the last days
- focused revelation
- expressed in Christ
- given to us
The two are related—as Hebrews explains—as promise and fulfillment; type and antitype; shadow and reality. They are bound together by one promise, one plan of salvation, one way of grace, one Savior. Therefore, understand Hebrews and you will be able to read the Old Testament with spectacles that will help you see how it all makes unified, glorious, Christ-centered sense.
I reviewed this book last week. I also recommend these audio sermons on the book of Hebrews by D. A. Carson.