New Life Bible Course 2 >>>

NEW LIFE BIBLE STUDY
LESSON 2 of 5

OLD TESTAMENT TYPES AND SHADOWS OF SALVATION I

A type or shadow of something is a symbol representing something else. For instance, in John 7:37-39, Jesus uses water (which quenches thirst and gives life) as a type or symbol of the Holy Ghost.

"The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith" (Galatians 3:24).

The first five books of the Old Testament are referred to as "the law." These five books are filled with types and shadows of things which clearly teach us the plan of salvation. They clearly "bring us unto Christ."

Paul wrote concerning the children of Israel's journey from Egypt to Canaan, which is covered in the Old Testament book of Exodus:

"Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come" (I Corinthians 10:11).

He also wrote to the church at Rome: "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope" (Romans 15:4).

THE SPIRIT, WATER, AND BLOOD IN GOD'S PLAN
"And there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. (I John 5:7, 8).

The subject matter of the fifth chapter of the Apostle John's first epistle (I John) is salvation. In fact, in my Bible, verses 6-13 have been given a sub title: "Assurance of Salvation."

John wrote to some people who had doubts concerning their salvation. In verse eight he informed them that there are three that bear witness on earth, and they agree in one. Agree concerning what? Concerning God's plan of salvation. As we shall see clearly in these lessons, true salvation always includes the blood, water and spirit.

We have already studied how that after man sinned, God instituted the substitutionary sacrifice system. If a man sinned, he must offer an animal sacrifice. There must be blood shed. When the guilty person offered his sacrifice, his faith was not in the animal, but in the Lamb of God (Jesus) who would some day come and give His life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28).

The hundreds of thousands of sacrifices that were offered during Old Testament days were all types of the true Lamb of God that would come (John 1:29). Remember, there is no salvation outside of the blood of Jesus Christ!


NOAH'S ARK, A TYPE OF FULL SALVATION
Many years after the death of Adam and Eve, and their children, the ungodly seed of Cain began to intermarry with the seed of Seth, who were called "the sons of God," because they still believed and feared the true God (Genesis 6:1-2). This marriage, however, resulted in a corrupt world:

1. "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" (Genesis 6:5).

2. "The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence" (verse 11).

3. "For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe (Noah) entered into the ark" (Matthew 24:38).

Despite the wickedness of men everywhere, "Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. Noah was a just man, and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God" (Genesis 6:8, 9). God gave to him a plan that would lead to his salvation, and that of his household.

Noah was commanded to build an ark (a big boat). It was to have three stories, but only one door. When the ark was finished, Noah was commanded to enter the ark with his family, two of every unclean animal, and seven of every clean animal.

". . . the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (I Peter 3:20-21).

A "figure" is a type, shadow or symbol. Peter informs us that the building of the ark symbolizes or is a type of our salvation.

The ark had three stories. This represents the gospel of Jesus Christ:

Paul tells us in I Corinthians 15:1-4 that the gospel of Jesus Christ is:

1. The good news that Jesus died for us, even while we were yet in our sins.

2. Jesus was buried.

3. Jesus rose again from the dead.

Both Paul and Peter wrote about the judgement of God that will come upon them that "obey not the gospel" (II Thessalonians 1:8 and I Peter 4:17). The gospel of Jesus Christ must be believed (Mark 16:15, 16), and obeyed. But if the gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, how do we obey this?

We shall see later that the message Jesus and the apostles preached for full salvation was:

1. Death -- Repentance: We die out to our sins (Romans 6:2). (Blood)

2. Burial -- Baptism: We are buried with Christ by baptism (Rom. 6:3, 4). (Water)

3. Resurrection -- Holy Ghost Baptism: We receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:11). (Spirit)

Noah's ark had only one door. Jesus said:
"I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved" (John 10:9).

The ark is a type of the church of Jesus Christ, which is the spiritual kingdom of God. We cannot join His church. We must enter the one door, Jesus Christ, by being born of the water and the Spirit (John 3:1-8).

THE IMPORTANCE OF BAPTISM
Many churches teach that baptism is not important to salvation. However, Peter wrote: "eight souls were saved by water" and "baptism doth also now save us." Jesus declared, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16).

TYPES AND SHADOWS OF SALVATION IN MOSES' DAY
The book of Genesis ends with the children of Israel in the land of Egypt. At that time there were only seventy of them, but by the time we read of them again in the book of Exodus, we read: "the children of Israel were fruitful and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them" (Exodus 1:7).

The former king of Egypt, had been favorable to the children of Israel (the Jews), but that king died, and a new king took his place which considered them a threat. (It is estimated that there were two to three million Jews in Egypt at that time.) He set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens. The children of Israel begin to cry out, and God heard their groanings (Exodus 2:23, 24), and called Moses to lead the children of Israel out of their Egyptian bondage (Exodus 3:1-10).

There are many types and shadows in this story:

1. The children of Israel's bondage in Egypt is a type of the bondage of sin.

2. Pharaoh, which is what the kings of Egypt were always called, did not want the children of Israel to leave their Egyptian bondage. He was a type of Satan.

3. The land of Canaan, the land that was promised to the children of Israel for their inheritance, is a type of the spiritual kingdom of God, the church of Jesus Christ.

4. Moses, who was called to deliver the children of Israel from their bondage and bring them into the land of Canaan, is a beautiful type of Jesus Christ.

Moses and Aaron went before Pharaoh and demanded of him, "Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness. And Pharaoh said, 'Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go" (Exodus 5:1, 2).

Pharaoh was very angry, and increased the amount of work they were given to do. When they couldn't finish it, they were beaten (verses 5-19).

In the same way, when a person decides to become a Christian and follow the truth, the devil will become angry and try to hinder them--often times through friends and family members, and sometimes even through well-meaning preachers who are not walking in the fullness of the truth.

The LORD began to send plagues upon Pharaoh and Egypt, and after each plague the king would momentarily repent and send for Moses. Then after the plague was finished, he would harden his heart once more and refused to allow them to leave. God sent the following things:

1. All of the water in the rivers, pools, ponds, and streams became blood
(Exodus 7:14-15).

2. Frogs covered the land, even in the houses and on the beds (Exodus 8:1-15).

3. All the dust became lice (verses 16-19).

4. Swarms of flies (verses 20-32).

5. A disease killed all of the cattle ((Exodus 9:1-7).

6. Boils broke out upon all of the men and the animals (verses 8-12).

7. The LORD sent thunder, hail, and fire, killing many people and animals
(verses 13-35).

8. Locusts covered the face of the earth (Exodus 10:1-20).

9. The LORD sent "darkness which may be felt" all over the land of Egypt
(verses 21-29).

None of these things were successful in freeing the children of Israel from their bondage. But when it seemed nothing would convince Pharaoh to let Israel leave Egypt, God gave a plan that worked--the "blood plan."

"And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt" (Exodus 12:1, 3, 5-7, 13).

The blood was put on the two side posts and upper door post of all of the house of Israel. This would form the shape of a cross. In fact, the blood was to be from a lamb without blemish, because this was a type of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross:

"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation (life-style) received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you" (I Peter 1:18-20).

Where every other plan failed, this one worked! In all the houses of the Egyptians, the firstborn were slain during the night, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon--even the firstborn of cattle (Exodus 12:29).

"And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead. And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as ye have said. Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also. And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men" (verses 30-33).

When everything else failed, the blood worked! The song says,

What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus!

THE RED SEA EXPERIENCE.
If the children of Israel thought all of their problems were over because they had left Egypt, they were wrong. God hardened the heart of Pharaoh once again, and he took his armies and pursued the Israelites.

Moses and Israel came down to the Red Sea, and with the armies of Pharaoh getting closer, there seemed to be no hope. But Moses, with God's instructions, stretched out his rod over the sea, and a strong east wind began to blow, making a path through the sea for the Israelites.

"And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left" (Exodus 14:22).

Pharaoh and his mighty armies followed Israel into the sea, but as soon as all of Israel had safely crossed, Moses stretched out his rod again, and the waters returned, covering the chariots, horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh. Not one person survived.

Before we show you the spiritual meaning of this, let us look at one more of Israel's experiences.

BREAD FROM HEAVEN, WATER FROM A ROCK!
Yes, that's exactly how God supplied Israel's needs. When the children of Israel complained for lack of food, God rained down miraculous bread from heaven, which they named manna. Six days a week God supplied this bread. The day before the sabbath God gave a double supply, so they always had food! (Exodus 16:2-35).

Next, they suffered thirst, so God instructed Moses to take his rod and strike a huge rock. When he did so, water begin to flow out, sufficient to quench the thirst of all of the Israelites, and their animals.

Now let us see what Paul has to say about these historical events:

"Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual *food: And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ" (I Corinthians 10:1-4). *Bible margin.

Now, let's go backwards a little bit. We have been studying how the blood, water, and Spirit agree in one in giving us the beautiful plan of God's salvation. Remember, Egypt was a type of the bondage of sin, Moses was a type of Jesus, and the land of Canaan was a type of the kingdom of God. What were the last three historical events we have just studied?

1. Pharaoh would not let Israel leave Egypt until the Israelites killed a lamb without blemish and put the blood of it upon the two sideposts of the door, and the upper post (evidently in the shape of a cross). The blood!

2. They crossed the Red Sea, led by Moses, their deliverer. The sea separated them from their old life in Egypt! Because this was such a clear type of baptism, Paul wrote that they were baptized in the sea unto Moses, their deliverer. We are baptized unto Jesus, our Deliverer. The water!

3. What about the manna, the miracle bread?

The miracle bread is a type of Jesus Christ. Some people came to Jesus and said to Him: "Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat." Jesus answered them:

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven and giveth life unto the world. I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst" (John 6:32-33, 35).

Paul tells us that the rock that Moses smote, and water came out of it, was a type of Jesus Christ, our Rock (Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 2:20). The smiting of the rock was a type of the crucifying of Jesus on the cross "once for all" (Hebrews 10:10). Because of the death of Jesus on the cross, we can drink "living water" today:

"In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly (innermost being) shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive . . .)" (John 7:37-39).

Paul calls the manna and the water from the rock "spiritual food and spiritual drink." In other words, both the manna and the water from the rock are types of the Spirit. Therefore we have plainly seen the importance of the blood, the water, and the Spirit in bringing us into the spiritual kingdom of God, the church of Jesus Christ! ds

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NEW LIFE BIBLE COURSE I - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - LESSON TWO TEST

1. A type or shadow of something is a _______________ representing something else.

2. The things that happened unto the children of Israel in the Old Testament are
_____________ and they are written for our __________________________.

3. There are three that bear witness in earth, the _________, the _________, and
the __________, and these three ________ in one.

4. Agree concerning what? ________________________________________________.

5. During Old Testament days, when a man had sinned, he must offer ___________.

6. His faith was not in the ______________________, but in ______________.

7. Tell a little concerning the conditions that existed in the world in Noah's day.

8. Noah was commanded to build an ____, _____ stories high, but only _______ door.

9. Peter wrote concerning the flood during Noah's day, "eight souls were
saved by ______________."

10. "The like figure whereunto even _________________ doth also now save us."

11. The ark with its three stories represents the _______________of Jesus Christ.

12. The good news is that:

13. Jesus was _______________, and Jesus ________________ from the dead.

14. When we truly repent, we ____________ to our sins.

15. We are buried with Christ by _____________________.

16. Egypt is a type of the bondage of _______. Pharaoh is a type of _______.

17. The land of Canaan is a type of _____________

18. Moses is a beautiful type of _________________________________.

19. The only plan that worked, so that Pharaoh finally let the children of Israel
go was the __________ plan.

20. The blood was put on the two _______ _______ and upper _____ ______, which
formed the _________ of a ______________.


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