Christ in the Law

“In the volume of the book it is written of Me.” (Heb 10:7). This book is the law and the prophets. Throughout the Old Testament we see that it speaks of Christ. In the book of Leviticus, for example, we can see the many ways in which Christ has cleansed us and the many feasts Christ has fulfilled for us. It opens our understanding of His finished work.

And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him. (Lev 1:4).

This is just one example. His sins were not imparted into the animal, but it was just a symbol, a type. Our sins were carried in the body of Jesus in the sense that God allowed His sufferings to be our punishment. This is what is meant by, “He was made to be sin for us.” (2 Cor 5:21). He did not become a sinner. He suffered for and thereby carried and put away our sin. He was legally reckoned to be a sinner to suffer for us. Now that He has done this, to make an animal sacrifice would be to deny Christ.

Years ago Oral Roberts preached a sermon entitled The Fourth Man, referring to the Fourth man in the fiery furnace in the book of Daniel. He asked, “Who is this fourth man?”. Then he started:

In Genesis He is the Seed of the Woman. In Exodus He is the Passover Lamb. In Leviticus He is our High Priest. In Numbers He is the Pillar of Cloud by day and the Pillar of Fire by night. In Deuteronomy He is the Prophet like unto Moses. In Joshua He is the Captain of our Salvation. In Judges He is our Judge and Lawgiver. In Ruth He is our Kinsman Redeemer. In I and II Samuel He is our Trusted Prophet. In Kings and Chronicles He is our Reigning King.

In Ezra He is our Faithful Scribe. In Nehemiah He is the Re-builder of the Broken Down Walls of our human life. In Esther He is our Mordecai. In Job He is our Dayspring from on high and our Ever-Living Redeemer. In Psalms He is the Lord our Shepherd. In Proverbs and Ecclesiastes He is our Wisdom. In the Song of Solomon He is our Lover and the bridegroom. In Isaiah He is the Prince of Peace. In Jeremiah He is the Righteous Branch.

In Lamentations He is the Weeping Prophet. In Ezekiel He is the Wonderful Four-Faced Man. In Daniel He is the Fourth Man in the burning fiery furnace. In Hosea He is the Faithful Husband, forever married to the backslider. In Joel He is the Baptizer with the Holy Ghost and Fire. In Amos He is our Burden-Bearer. In Obadiah He is the Mighty to Save. In Jonah He is our Great Foreign Missionary. In Micah He is the Messenger of Beautiful Feet carrying the Gospel.

In Nahum He is the Avenger of God's Elect. In Habakkuk He is God's Evangelist, crying, "Revive thy work in the midst of the years.". In Zephaniah He is the Savior. In Haggai He is the Restorer of God's Lost Heritage. In Zechariah He is the Fountain Opened in the House of David for sin and uncleanness. And in Malachi He is the Sun of Righteousness, rising with healing in His wings.

He continued through the New Testament books. You can see the whole sermon on the Internet and listen to an audio the sermon preached by Oral at www.earstohear.net/Kingdom/fourthman.html

David also explains the use of the law:

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the law are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever: the judgements of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold, yes, than much fine gold: sweeter also than the honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is warned: and in keeping of them there is much reward. (Ps 19:7-11).

Here David knew the pastor heart of God. He saw the law not as restrictive, but as good, caring and protective. He saw that God gave it not in legalism to condemn, but to warn and save from trouble. David said the law converts the soul (Ps 19:7). It cannot convert a sinner, but it renews the mind. It can teach, but it can only teach through Christ. In Christ the veil is lifted, so that we see Him in the law and prophets.

But their minds were blinded: for until this day remains the same veil untaken away in the reading of the Old Testament: which veil is done away in Christ. (2 Cor 3:14).

The Holy Spirit can teach us from the law by opening to us the intent and principles and revealing in it the work, person and love of Christ. It points us to Christ, not to itself. We do not live by this law, but by the person it points us to. The law, when used by the Spirit of God, points us to its Author, Jesus Christ. When Christ is in us the law comes to life (fulfilment) in Him. He does not do away with the law, but He fulfils it in us.