Berean Bible Church

Joseph- Type of Christ –

Lesson VIII

December 23, 2007

 

I. In Romans 5:14 we learn that Adam is a type of Christ. Nowhere in the New Testament is Joseph named a type of Christ even though it is generally accepted that Joseph is one of the greatest, clearest types of Jesus in the Old Testament.

Some years ago I found the following in the writings of Donald G Barnhouse:

1 Adam -  reveals the nature of faith

2. Abel  -  reveals the foundation of faith

3. Enoch – his life illustrates the walk of faith

4. Noah -  here is the illustrated the complete trust of faith

5  Abraham – his life illustrated the obedience  of faith

6. Isaac  -  illustrates the power of faith

7  Jacob – illustrates the discipline of faith

8  Joseph  - his life illustrates the triumph  of faith.

Believing that every thing in the Bible is important, we were arrested by the fact that Joseph is the eighth man of faith named in the Bible.  ‘Eighth’ day was resurrection day.

Was God telling us that Joseph was a type of the last Adam, the second man, the Lord from Heaven?  Therefore He did not have to tell us in the New Testament

 

II  How can we see Joseph as a type of Christ, and connect it with Christmas ?

            I  Joseph’s life can be looked upon as two major parts

                        a) The years of his sufferings

                        b) The years of his glory in the land of Egypt

            2. The Life of Jesus can be seen as having two major parts

1 Peter 1:10-11  the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow

1 Peter 4:13   sufferings and the glory that shall be revealed

1 Peter 5:1   witness of the sufferings and partaker of the glory that shall be revealed.

Luke 24  25- 27  they were fools because they did not believe all…..

“ought not Christ to have suffered and entered into his glory?

                        “all the Scriptures concern him…”

Luke 17: 25 suffer…..Luke  17:36  revealed

 

III  The Christmas story, is that of the First Coming of Jesus Christ, that introduces us to the first part of Jesus’ life on earth,  His sufferings to be our Saviour.

To celebrate Christmas and not believe in the work of Calvary is valueless.

 

IV  It will take His Second Coming, to fulfill the Second Part of His life on earth.  As Joseph in one day rose from the pit of a jail to a place of glory in Egypt, so

Jesus on resurrection day arose from the grave to enter His glory that will be reveal at His Second Coming, when He comes in power and great glory.,

Matthew 24:30  Numbers 14:21;Ezekiel 43:2;Luke 9:32: 2 Peter1:16-17