Christ in All the Bible
The power of Christ, the crucified Saviour, to give eternal life,
should be presented to the people. We should show them that the
Old Testament is as verily the gospel in types and shadows as the
New Testament is in its unfolding power. The New Testament does
not present a new religion; the Old Testament does not present a
religion to be superseded by the New. The New Testament is only the
advancement and unfolding of the Old. Abel was a believer in Christ,
and was as verily saved by His power as was Peter or Paul. Enoch
was a representative of Christ as surely as was the beloved disciple
John. Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.
To him was committed the message of the second coming of Christ.
“And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying,
Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints, to execute
judgment upon all.”
Jude 1:14, 15
. The message preached by Enoch
and his translation to heaven were a convincing argument to all who
lived in his time. These things were an argument that Methuselah
and Noah could use with power to show that the righteous could be
translated.
That God who walked with Enoch was our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ. He was the light of the world then just as He is now. Those
who lived then were not without teachers to instruct them in the path
of life; for Noah and Enoch were Christians. The gospel is given in
precept in Leviticus. Implicit obedience is required now, as then. How
essential it is that we understand the importance of this word!
The question is asked: What is the cause of the dearth in the
church? The answer is: We allow our minds to be drawn away from
[393]
the word. If the word of God were eaten as the food for the soul, if it
were treated with respect and deference, there would be no necessity
for the many and repeated testimonies that are borne. The simple
declarations of Scripture would be received and acted upon.
* * * * *
336