The Church In Prophecy
Inasmuch as the church/kingdom was in God's eternal purpose (Ephesians 3:8-12; Hebrews 9:14; Acts 2:33), the inspired Old Testament prophets foretold of the great, critically needed spiritual blessings to be obtained in the church by God's grace (Ephesians 1:3; 3:21). A few of those prophecies are as follows.
One, there would be immediate, full cleansing through the blood of Christ. Whereas under the law of Moses the sins were forgiven in promise (Hebrews 10:1-18), their being burdened and wearied by the heavy load of sin (Matthew 11:28-30), the blood of Christ after the cross would immediately cleanse the penitent, obedient believer [God remits the sin; it is as though it was never committed] (Acts 2:38; 1 John 1:7; Hebrews 8:12). Jeremiah had prophesied, "...for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin will remember no more" (Jeremiah 31:34).
Two, there would be a suitable sacrifice offered for sin; we could not/cannot redeem ourselves. The only possible sacrifice would be the only begotten Son of God (John 3:16; Hebrews 2:9; 10:1-10). We cannot buy our redemption; it would be possible only through Christ's paying the price for human redemption. "Ho, everyone that thirsteth, Come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price" (Isaiah 55:1). Though man could not pay the price of his own redemption, yet he must meet the conditions -- "come, come ye, buy, eat, come, buy," the prophet said. The alien sinner must "do" what Christ says (Luke 6:46; Matthew 7:21-23; Hebrews 5:8, 9; John 14:22, 42; Mark 16:15, 16; Acts 2:38), and the child of God must continue faithful (Revelation 2:10).
Three, cleansing would be through Christ's blood. "...the sun of righteousness [Christ]" would "arise with healing in his wings" (Malachi 4:2). "In that day there shall be a fountain opened...for sin and for uncleanness" (Zechariah 13:1). "There is a fountain filled with blood, drawn from Immanuel's veins" (See Ephesians 1:7; Matthew 26:28; Colossians 1:13, 14; Revelation 1:5; 7:13, 14). Since that blood was shed in Christ's death, the penitent believer contacts the cleansing blood when he is baptized into Christ's death (Romans 6:3, 4; Colossians 2:11-13; Hebrews 10:22), becoming a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17), being born again into God's family (John 3:3-5; 1 Timothy 3:15), added to the Lord's church (Acts 2:47).
Four, the faithful child of God would have security in the church. "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee; because he trusteth in thee" (Isaiah 26:3). "And a man [Christ] shall be as a hiding place from the wind [the storms of life]...as the shade of a great rock in a weary land" (Isaiah 32:2). See also Isaiah 40:11 cf. John 10:1-18. "...none shall make them afraid" (Micah 4:4). The Christian does have that security as long as he continues faithful (Romans 8:12, 13; 1 Corinthians 10:12; 9:27; 2 Peter 2:20-22).
Let all Christians rejoice because of "...the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Ephesians 3:11)!
From Our Archives, 1994
By: Curtis Cates