Devotions

All the Old Testament prophets bear testimony to Christ. That was Peter’s message to Cornelius. He had learned it from His Master who, in the days of His flesh, quoted the Old Testament to validate His claims and ministry and who, after His resurrection, began at Moses and all the prophets and expounded unto the two disciples on the Emmaus road “in all the scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:27).

The Old Testament is full of Christ. Moses wrote of Him and described Him as our prophet, priest, and king. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, and the so- called Minor Prophets all wrote of His person and work, His birth, life, death, resurrection, and glorious return. We do not understand the Old Testament aright or employ it legitimately if we treat it as the religious reflections of fallible men who were locked into their primitive culture, as some critics do. Martin Luther well said of the Bible, “Here you will find the swaddling clothes and manger in which Christ lies.” And again, “I see nothing in Scripture except Christ and him crucified.” There is no better way to study the Bible than to look for Christ in all its parts.

In summarizing the message of Scripture to Christ, Peter preached Cornelius a sermon of six points. He spoke of Christ’s person, life, death, resurrection, judgment, and salvation. This message brought Cornelius to life eternal. It is still the only Bible message for today. It is what men need to hear if they are to be saved. The Old Testament prophets testified beforehand of Christ. Can we who have experienced the fulness of His grace do any less? Let us then bear witness to Christ today before a perishing world.