DO WE NEED MESSIANIC PROPHECIES?

[TrevorHL]

Greetings HealthyShape,

we, from Gentile nations, do not need Jesus Christ to fulfill some Jewish prophecies

They are not "Jewish prophecies" but part of the Word of God and designed to encourage and enlighten the true believers. A healthy spiritual environment is where all aspects of the Word of God are understood and taught in proper balance. Peter in Acts 2 correctly expounds Psalm 16 and Psalm 110.

Kind regards
Trevor

 

[HealthyShape]

Greetings HealthyShape,

They are not "Jewish prophecies" but part of the Word of God and designed to encourage and enlighten the true believers. A healthy spiritual environment is where all aspects of the Word of God are understood and taught in proper balance. Peter in Acts 2 correctly expounds Psalm 16 and Psalm 110.

Kind regards
Trevor

We follow the Son of God, because He is, well, the Son of God. And because of His teachings and because of His works.

If, for example, He were not born in Betlehem, nothing practical would change for us. The cross would still apply, the salvation would be still the same, He would still be the Creator of the Universe etc.

 

[TrevorHL]

Greetings again HealthyShape,

If, for example, He were not born in Betlehem, nothing practical would change for us.

But this seems to cast some possible doubt on the prophecy in Micah 5 and also the records in Matthew 2 and Luke 2. I suggest that your perspective and the perspective of this thread is not in line with the attitude of Jesus and the Apostles. A few examples:

Jesus:
John 5:45–47 (KJV): 45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. 46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. 47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

Paul:
Romans 15:4 (KJV): For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
2 Timothy 3:16–17 (KJV): 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Peter:
1 Peter 1:10–11 (KJV): 10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: 11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

Jesus:
Revelation 1:1–3 (KJV): 1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: 2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. 3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
I have added this to ask the question: If to some extent you dismiss the OT prophecies as not important, how do you treat the Book of Revelation?

Kind regards
Trevor

 

[HealthyShape]

But this seems to cast some possible doubt on the prophecy in Micah 5

It seems you do not understand my point. My point is that such prophecies are not needed for us, today. We do not need to identify the Son of God with some OT prophecy, we do not live in the OT.

People in Gentile nations heard the gospel, accepted it and after that learned about the Old Testament prophecies, if they wanted. Our faith is not built upon the Old Testament, but upon Jesus and upon the testimony of the apostles.

 

[TrevorHL]

Greetings again HealthyShape,

It seems you do not understand my point. My point is that such prophecies are not needed for us, today.

I suggest we need both. We instruct our Sunday School children three years lessons in the OT and two years lessons in the NT. Many of the OT lessons are essential and not repeated in the NT. Our SS has three levels, Junior, Intermediate and Senior, covering 15 years, say from 4 y.o. to 19 y.o.

Kind regards
Trevor

 

[HealthyShape]

Greetings again HealthyShape,

I suggest we need both. We instruct our Sunday School children three years lessons in the OT and two years lessons in the NT. Many of the OT lessons are essential and not repeated in the NT. Our SS has three levels, Junior, Intermediate and Senior, covering 15 years, say from 4 y.o. to 19 y.o.

Kind regards
Trevor

That is how you do it. I would not agree with more OT lessons than the NT lessons. If doctrines are not repeated in the NT, they are not essential or are even obsolete and not for today (like the Law).

But this is a bit off topic, in this thread.

BTW, you do not need to greet me in every post ;-)

 

[TrevorHL]

Greetings again HealthyShape,

BTW, you do not need to greet me in every post ;-)

Part of my standard procedure, hopefully considered courteous and it highlights who I am addressing rather than a general comment.

That is how you do it. I would not agree with more OT lessons than the NT lessons. If doctrines are not repeated in the NT, they are not essential or are even obsolete and not for today (like the Law).

I agree we are not under the law and some information may not be relevant. One reason why we see the need to also concentrate on OT teaching is that we have different doctrines to most.and some of these have their foundations in Genesis. We believe in the mortality of man, and reject the immortality of the soul and heaven going at death. We place a great deal of emphasis on the promises to Abraham and the Land, and later the promises to David, both of these combining to form the framework of the return of Jesus to establish the 1000 year reign of Jesus on the Temple Throne of David in Jerusalem. Also our readings consist of two portions traversing the OT each year, and one portion traversing the NT twice each year.

But this is a bit off topic, in this thread.

Perhaps this difference reveals our different perspective of the OT and the overall importance of the OT including the Messianic prophecies and also our estimation of the greatest respect to these prophecies revealed by Jesus and the Apostles.

Kind regards
Trevor