Christian Confidence Derived from the Fulfillment of Scripture
The Bible is the Word of God. God is true (Rom 3:4); therefore, His Word is truth (Ps 119:60; Jn 17:17). Jesus is the Word of God incarnate (Jn 1:14). He took on flesh and dwelt among us, saying, “I am…the truth” (Jn 14:6).
There is no other book like the Bible; and the Bible reveals that there is no one else like Jesus Christ. To state it in plain words, the whole Bible is about Jesus the Nazarene. Thus, the Christian faith is not a religion as men have concocted them; rather, it is the trust of each individual — placed in the Person and work of the Son of God, who is the Son of Man (Jn 5:27).
When the prophets of ethnic Israel of the Old Testament spoke to the people, they preached and wrote the Word of God as the Holy Spirit moved them along to do so by God’s design. The Scriptures are inspired by the Holy Spirit (2 Tim 3:16), who is the divine Author of both the Old Testament and the New Testament (2 Pet 1:20–21).
God spoke through the prophets until the very Word was present in Israel. In latter days, God spoke to Israel in His only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus (Heb 1:2). Thus, Jesus was the fulfillment of what the prophets had foretold; and He was Himself a prophet. Jesus foretold of His coming again to judge the living and the dead (Mt 24–25; Mk 13; Lk 21; Acts 10:42; 2 Tim 4:1; 1 Pet 4:5; Rev 19:11–21).
When Holy Scripture is fulfilled, it means that a Word of the true prophet has come to fruition. It is profound for a man to say, “Thus says the Lord…” True men of God have no interest in misrepresenting the true God and His true Word. In contradistinction, the false prophet and false teacher make it their work to twist the Scripture, in order to lead people away from the truth as it is in Jesus (Eph 4:21).
When Jesus, the enfleshed Word, spoke to His disciples or the Jews, He would often preface His teaching with the repetitious, “Truly, truly I say to you…” The truth is to be spoken in love (Eph 4:15); for there is no love if there is no truth.
Readers of the Bible note how much of the New Testament is a quote or allusion to the Old Testament. The New Testament explains how Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of what was spoken and written by the prophets. Thus, it is common for Christians to say, “The Old Testament looked forward to Christ coming into the world and the New Testament looks back to His earthly ministry.” This makes the cross the pivot point in human history.
When the calendar year (A.D. 2024) is noted in spoken or printed word, it is an acknowledgement of the significance of the Christ of history. We must add the reminder that both the Old and the New Testament look forward to the future, second advent, when Christ comes in all His glory. This, too, is of primary importance.
The first advent of the Son of God was to save His people from their sins (Mt 1:21). Ethnic Israel, Jesus’ own people, missed the purpose of Messiah’s mission (Jn 1:10–11). Simply put, Jesus became incarnate in order to be crucified (Is 53). He came to die for the sins of His people all over the world, not just the Jews (Jn 3:16; 1 Jn 2:2). The Gentiles were included in Yahweh’s plan of salvation (Acts 15). Jews and Gentiles of every age are justified before God’s judgment throne, by their faith in Christ (Rom 3:28; 5:1).
Abraham believed the Word of God spoken to him (Rom 4:3; Gal 3:6; Jas 2:23); and it was reckoned to him as righteousness (right standing before God). We follow the example of our father, Abraham, as adopted sons, by believing the Word of God preached to us (Gal 3:7). Adam and Eve did not believe the Word of God preached to them (Gen 3). The people of Noah’s generation did not believe the Word preached to them (Gen 6–9). Later, in the history of Israel, the testimony of the Jews was unbelief…save for a remnant.
The purpose of prophecy is for us to see the fulfillment and the Person at the center of the fulfillment. The pure volume of prophecy regarding Messiah, now fulfilled, should give each Christian both joy and blessed assurance. These things were written to be believed.
The result of seeing Scripture fulfilled in Jesus also means we can consider how we are included in the fulfillment of Scripture, too. We who are in Christ are beneficiaries of the covenant promises fulfilled in Him. The promises of God are “yes” and “amen” in Him (2 Cor 1:20).
Unbelievers are also mentioned in the Bible. Although they are outside of Christ, the Word of God exposes the plight of man and foretells the horrible future that awaits those who do not believe His Word (Mt 25:41, 46; Jude 7; Rev 20:14–15; 21:8). Not believing the truth of God’s Word of prophecy, regarding the eternal home of the reprobate, comes natural to the unbelieving reprobate. They do exactly what the Bible says they will do. This is also a comfort to believers; and it is a cause for giving thanks to God for the faith to believe His revelation of Himself.
Finally, a narcissist is a hypocrite because he is not nearly as important as the attention he gives himself. In contrast, all focus should be placed on Jesus Christ (Col 3:2; Heb 12:2). Jesus included this self-focus in His earthly ministry. The difference between Jesus and a narcissist is that Jesus is not a hypocrite. His Word about Himself was true. In other words, Jesus Christ preached Christ and Him crucified.
All that was written beforehand, by true prophets of God, made much of Messiah to come. When He came, He did not shy away from that which was written about Him long before. No one else in human history could be mistaken for being the One spoken of in the prophets. Therefore, let us come to the Scriptures, once again, and learn of Him. No one who does this and places his faith and hope in Jesus Christ will be disappointed.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
January 11, 2024
