Progressive Revelation
Hebrews 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son.
I Cor. 4:1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the secrets of God.
Rom. 16:25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the secret which has been kept secret for long ages past, but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith; to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.
“Progressive revelation means that while Scripture’s application to old covenant [generally, Old Testament] believers is different in some ways from its application to new covenant [generally, New Testament] believers, we do not reject any of God’s Word. It reveals one message of salvation that we cannot fully grasp unless we consider the whole of the Bible.” (https://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/progressive-revelation/)
While everything in the Old Testament is true, not all truth is found in the Old Testament. The New Testament often explains and things unseen by the Old Testament figures and writers
The New Testament never contradicts the Old Testament, but the New Testament often shows and explains things unseen by the Old Testament figures and writers.
To children things which were better learned when they got older. Even now, Christians do not see everything clearly (I Cor. 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.)
For purposes of understanding revealed truth, it is of paramount importance that we take what the “more fully enlightened” New Testament writers as the basis for developing Biblical theology. Again, to reiterate this does not mean that the Old Testament is not true nor to be trusted; what it does mean is that the Old Testament must be read in light of what the New Testament teaches. When creating a Biblical theology, we must base it on New Testament revelatory material, and only after that is done, can we read and understand Old Testament doctrine.
Finally, it is important to be reminded that the problem, of course, is related to sin. Adam’s sin as well as our own. Sin is deadly and destructive. Sin ruins life, health, families, business, and societies. It is not a spiritual problem only. It is a real-life metaphysical reality. God designed and beautifully implemented a solution for sin. One of the promises to Abram and the New Covenant are historically God’s solution for mankind. Individuals can and have been “saved” outside of these two salvation dynamics in the Old Testament. After Christ, the only possibility is through the New Covenant.
Weird Christmas message isn’t it?
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For His glory,
Jim