- The Bible begins with the Holy Trinity -
- The Father commands each of the days in Genesis.
- The Son executes those commands.
- The Holy Spirit hovers over Creation and teaches this wonder to us, from the very first Word and throughout the New Testament.
The Apostles only had the Scriptures - not the Old Testament but simply the Testament. Luther called the New Testament a series of sermons on the Old Testament.
In other words, the Old Testament phrases and verses in the New Testament serve - even now - as the NT anchor, not just a quote from ancient times. Those Old Testament statements were puzzles for centuries until they were fulfilled by the Spirit teaching through the Apostles as promised.
Each Old Testament citation in the New Testament is not simply a light from the past, but The Light shining from the earliest days to serve as the foundation for the new and final era of the revealed Gospel.
KJV Exodus 3 reveals the Angel of the Lord as God. The Burning Bush has Two Natures, signifying the bush as burning but never consumed. Moses insisted on a name for God, Who said,
"Exodus 3:14 And God said unto Moses, I AM That I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you."
Around 1400 years later, the Two Natures of Christ enraged His opponents.
KJV John 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM.
The clergy and laity should take this to heart. Those who believe the power of the Gospel can expect to have to rocks thrown, with joy and energy. Oh, but energy is the Greek word for efficacy, effective. They forget the dual nature of effectiveness. The Holy Spirit hardens and blinds those who will not believe the Savior.
