Katechismus

Question 3 – How do you know your misery? Out of the Law of God.

Question 19 – How do you know your deliverance? Out of the Gospel of God.

gospel (Gk., lit., Good News) 1. Good News of the salvation of mankind through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ and his sacrifice on the cross, or glad tidings of peace and goodwill, announced by the angels to the shepherds at Jerusalem. 2. The first four books of the New Testament written by the four evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. 3. Part of a liturgical service when portions of the four Gospels are read. 4. Gospel music. (Nelson's New Christian Dictionary)

gospel the doctrine which the Son of God, our Mediator, revealed from heaven in Paradise, immediately after the fall, and which he brought from the bosom of the Eternal Father; which promises, and announces, in view of the free grace and mercy of God, to all those who repent and believe, deliverance from sin, death, condemnation, and the wrath of God. ...the doctrine which God revealed first in Paradise, and afterwards published by the Patriarchs and Prophets, which he was pleased to represent by the shadows of sacrifices and the other ceremonies of the law, and which he has accomplished by his only begotten Son. (Ursinus' Commentary)

Luke 24:25-27 And he said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. (ESV)

This our Catechism tells us: Christ is to be known by the light of the Spirit, through the Gospel only. The more our soul is exercised in the Word of God, the more brightly that heavenly light shines upon us, the clearer our knowledge shall be of Christ, the Mediator of the Covenant of Grace; while leaning upon felt impressions darkens the knowledge and we are tortured with many doubts, with unbelief and despair, and Satan's attacks, which causes God's people to deny God's grace whenever they lose the actual sense of God's nearness, all that God has wrought in their soul, and thus they grieve the Spirit and minimize God's love. (G.H. Kersten, Late Minister of the Netherlands Reformed Congregation, Rotterdam, Holland. 1968 )

Genesis 3:15 promise of a Person who would defeat Satan (Adam)

Genesis 22:18 promise of a Seed (not seeds, Galatians 3:16) who would bless the world (Abraham)

Genesis 49:10 promise of a royal descendant of Judah who would rule the world (Jacob)

Exodus 12:21ff promise of deliverance through sacrifice – the Passover Lamb

Leviticus 1-7 system of sacrifice showing the high cost of sin, foreshadowing Christ

Numbers 21:8-9 God's instrument of healing foreshadows Christ; cf.. John 3:14-16)

Deuteronomy18:15 promise of a Prophet whom His people would hear

Joshua 5:13-15 the Commander-in-Chief who wins the battle

Ruth 3:9ff Boaz as the kinsman-redeemer

2 Samuel 7:12-16 promise of a son of David who would have an eternal throne

Job 16:19, 19:25 anticipated a divine-human Redeemer

Psalm 2 Christ, the Son of David and the Son of God

Joel 2:27-29 promise of God in their midst and the Holy Spirit

Hosea 1:10 restatement of the promise to Abraham

Isaiah 7:14, 9:6, etc. son of a virgin, God with us, divine-human King, Servant

Micah 5:2 the divine, eternal Ruler out of Bethlehem

Zephaniah 3:15-17 the King in their midst who would save

Jeremiah 23:5-6 the Messiah who is the righteousness of His people

Ezekiel 34:23-24 promise of David's descendant, the Shepherd-Ruler

Daniel 9:26 promise of the Messiah who would be cut off but not for Himself

Zechariah 6:13 promise of the King-Priest

Malachi 3:1 promise of the Messenger-Mediator who would come

// posted by sundoulos @ 3:34 PM