Exodus: Grace, Law, and the Foreshadowing of Christ

 

Summary

In exploring the book of Exodus, we uncover profound insights into the overarching narrative of the Bible, the principles of the gospel of grace, and the foreshadowing of Jesus Christ. Exodus is pivotal in advancing the biblical storyline from a family to a nation. The descendants of Abraham, initially a family, grow into a nation with laws and a culture, marking a significant progression in God's redemptive plan. This transformation is not just about forming a nation but about establishing a people who are in a covenant relationship with God.

The principles of the gospel are vividly illustrated in Exodus. God saves the Israelites by grace, delivering them from slavery in Egypt before giving them the law. This sequence underscores the gospel truth that salvation is by grace alone, not by works. The law is given not as a means to earn salvation but as a guide for living in a relationship with God. It reveals God's character and the kind of life that reflects His holiness and love. The law is relational, intended to shape a people who are in intimate fellowship with God.

Moreover, Exodus points us to Jesus through the introduction of the Tabernacle and sacrifices. These elements highlight the insufficiency of the law alone to maintain a relationship with a holy God. The sacrificial system foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. The Passover, a central event in Exodus, prefigures Christ's sacrificial death, offering deliverance from sin and death.

The story of Charles Spurgeon testing the acoustics of a grand auditorium by proclaiming, "Behold the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world," serves as a powerful reminder of the transformative power of the gospel message. Just as the workman in the rafters was moved to faith, so too are we called to recognize Jesus as the true Passover Lamb, fulfilling the promises and prophecies of Exodus.

Key Takeaways:

- Exodus marks the transition from a family to a nation, illustrating God's unfolding plan of redemption. This transformation is not merely political but deeply spiritual, as God establishes a covenant relationship with His people, setting the stage for His redemptive work through Israel. [01:38]

- The sequence of events in Exodus—salvation before the law—emphasizes that grace precedes obedience. God delivers the Israelites from Egypt before giving them the law, illustrating that salvation is a gift of grace, not a reward for obedience. This principle is foundational to understanding the gospel. [03:12]

- The law is relational, designed to guide God's people in living in fellowship with Him. It reveals God's character and the kind of life that reflects His holiness and love. Obedience to the law is not about earning favor but about maintaining a relationship with God. [05:03]

- The Tabernacle and sacrifices in Exodus point to the insufficiency of the law alone and the need for atonement. These elements foreshadow the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who fulfills the law and provides the means for a restored relationship with God. [06:19]

- The Passover in Exodus prefigures Christ's sacrificial death, offering deliverance from sin and death. Jesus is the true Passover Lamb, whose sacrifice brings salvation to all who believe, fulfilling the promises and prophecies of Exodus. [08:06]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:55] - Introduction to Exodus
[01:10] - Advancing the Biblical Storyline
[01:38] - From Family to Nation
[02:08] - The Tabernacle and Sacrifices
[02:23] - The Principle of Grace
[02:57] - Salvation Before the Law
[03:29] - Grace and Transformation
[04:16] - The Relational Purpose of the Law
[05:03] - Obedience and Relationship
[06:19] - Foreshadowing Jesus
[07:06] - The Need for Atonement
[07:49] - The Passover and Christ
[08:51] - Spurgeon's Story
[09:49] - Conclusion: The Gospel in Exodus

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Discovering the Gospel in Exodus

Bible Reading:
1. Exodus 12:1-14 (The Passover)
2. Exodus 19:1-6 (God's Covenant with Israel)
3. John 1:29 (John the Baptist's declaration about Jesus)

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Observation Questions:

1. How does the book of Exodus illustrate the transition from a family to a nation, and what significance does this have in the biblical narrative? [01:38]

2. What is the sequence of events regarding salvation and the law in Exodus, and why is this order important? [03:12]

3. How does the introduction of the Tabernacle and sacrifices in Exodus point to the insufficiency of the law alone? [06:19]

4. What role does the Passover play in foreshadowing the coming of Jesus Christ? [08:06]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. In what ways does the transformation from a family to a nation in Exodus reflect God's unfolding plan of redemption? How does this relate to the concept of a covenant relationship with God? [01:38]

2. How does the principle of grace preceding the law in Exodus challenge or affirm your understanding of salvation by grace alone? [03:12]

3. What does the relational purpose of the law in Exodus reveal about God's character and His desire for a relationship with His people? [05:03]

4. How does the story of Charles Spurgeon and the workman in the rafters illustrate the transformative power of recognizing Jesus as the true Passover Lamb? [09:49]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on the transformation from a family to a nation in Exodus. How can you see God working in your life to transform you into a part of His larger plan? [01:38]

2. The Israelites were saved by grace before receiving the law. How does this order of events encourage you to rely on grace in your own spiritual journey? [03:12]

3. Consider the relational aspect of the law. How can you cultivate a deeper relationship with God by understanding His character through His commandments? [05:03]

4. The Tabernacle and sacrifices highlight the need for atonement. In what ways can you acknowledge your need for Jesus' sacrifice in your daily life? [06:19]

5. The Passover prefigures Christ's sacrificial death. How can you live in a way that reflects gratitude for Jesus being the true Passover Lamb? [08:06]

6. Charles Spurgeon's story shows the impact of proclaiming the gospel. How can you share the message of Jesus, the Lamb of God, in your community this week? [09:49]

7. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's grace before understanding His commandments. How did that experience shape your relationship with Him? [03:12]

Devotional

Day 1: God's Redemptive Plan Through Covenant Relationships
In the book of Exodus, we witness the transformation of Abraham's descendants from a family into a nation, marking a significant step in God's redemptive plan. This transformation is not merely political but deeply spiritual, as God establishes a covenant relationship with His people. This covenant is foundational, setting the stage for God's work through Israel and ultimately pointing to the coming of Jesus Christ. The covenant relationship is about God choosing a people for Himself, not because of their merit, but because of His grace and purpose. This relationship is characterized by God's faithfulness and the call for His people to live in obedience and trust. [01:38]

Deuteronomy 7:6-8 (ESV): "For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt."

Reflection: How can you embrace your identity as part of God's chosen people today, living out His covenant promises in your daily interactions?


Day 2: Grace Precedes Obedience
The sequence of events in Exodus—salvation before the law—emphasizes that grace precedes obedience. God delivers the Israelites from Egypt before giving them the law, illustrating that salvation is a gift of grace, not a reward for obedience. This principle is foundational to understanding the gospel, as it highlights that our relationship with God is initiated by His grace, not our works. The law is given as a guide for living in response to God's grace, not as a means to earn it. This understanding frees us from the burden of trying to earn God's favor and invites us to live in gratitude and obedience. [03:12]

Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV): "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."

Reflection: In what ways can you shift your focus from trying to earn God's favor to living in response to His grace today?


Day 3: The Relational Purpose of the Law
The law given to the Israelites is relational, designed to guide God's people in living in fellowship with Him. It reveals God's character and the kind of life that reflects His holiness and love. Obedience to the law is not about earning favor but about maintaining a relationship with God. The law serves as a mirror, showing us our need for God and guiding us in how to live in a way that honors Him. It is a tool for transformation, shaping us into a people who reflect God's character in the world. [05:03]

Psalm 19:7-8 (ESV): "The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes."

Reflection: How can you allow God's law to shape your character and actions today, reflecting His holiness and love in your life?


Day 4: The Need for Atonement and the Foreshadowing of Christ
The Tabernacle and sacrifices in Exodus point to the insufficiency of the law alone and the need for atonement. These elements foreshadow the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who fulfills the law and provides the means for a restored relationship with God. The sacrificial system highlights the seriousness of sin and the need for a mediator between God and humanity. Jesus, as the ultimate sacrifice, bridges this gap, offering us forgiveness and reconciliation with God. This foreshadowing in Exodus points us to the hope and fulfillment found in Christ. [06:19]

Hebrews 9:11-12 (ESV): "But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption."

Reflection: How does understanding Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice change the way you approach God in prayer and worship today?


Day 5: Jesus as the True Passover Lamb
The Passover in Exodus prefigures Christ's sacrificial death, offering deliverance from sin and death. Jesus is the true Passover Lamb, whose sacrifice brings salvation to all who believe, fulfilling the promises and prophecies of Exodus. The Passover was a pivotal event for the Israelites, marking their deliverance from slavery in Egypt. In the same way, Jesus' death and resurrection mark our deliverance from the slavery of sin. Recognizing Jesus as the true Passover Lamb invites us to live in the freedom and new life He offers, celebrating His victory over sin and death. [08:06]

1 Corinthians 5:7 (ESV): "Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed."

Reflection: How can you live in the freedom and new life that Jesus, our Passover Lamb, offers you today, breaking free from the chains of sin and death?

Quotes


but then in the book of Exodus he moves that family into becoming a nation and so the story line moves along because in the book of Exodus we see a family uh the children of Abraham and they still are a family in that sense but they've gotten so large that they are to become a nation [00:01:41]

so you see the the first basically you know the first 19 chapters of the book of Exodus is God uh bringing them out saving them even though he hasn't even given them the law and in many many many ways they show themselves grumblers and unhappy and and way not at all admirable people [00:03:20]

right out of the right out of the gate here in the book of Exodus the principle of Grace God Saves You by Grace then changes your life not well if you if you change your life and you you know pull yourself together then maybe I'll save you other religions you pull yourself together then I'll save you Christianity [00:03:41]

the purpose of the law is not to save us but the purpose of the law is not to you know to still to rack up uh Merit points the purpose of the law is to have a relationship uh the law shows us that this is what this is the kind of God we have uh don't kill don't steal don't commit adultery [00:05:04]

and what is the purpose of the law then the purpose of the law is not to save us but the purpose of the law is not to you know to still to rack up uh Merit points the purpose of the law is to have a relationship uh the law shows us that this is what this is the kind of God we have [00:05:02]

and actually what you if you're going to divide um Exodus in three parts as I would you know the first few chapters um are God bringing the people out then the middle chapters are the law and the last chapters are the Tabernacle and when why would God say you're going to have to have a priests [00:06:22]

the answer is this is pointing forward that the law will never be enough even the law law given after grace even the law given only for uh relationship purposes we'll never live up to it never and therefore unless the law un unless there's some way of paying for our our sin unless there's some way of atoning [00:06:54]

Passover God sent the angel of death into the uh Egypt to uh to kill to destroy and he said however if you kill a lamb and you spread the um the blood um on the doorpost then the angel of death will pass over you and of course Jesus Christ actually has literally said that his uh his Lord's Supper is a Passover [00:07:49]

Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world it's um it's by the way it's it's intriguing I'm just tell you a quick story to end yep I can do that um Charles Spurgeon was a great Baptist preacher and um in the 19th century in London and he was going to preach at a great big um [00:08:36]

he decided to test the Acoustics by calling out Behold the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world which is of course what Jonathan John the Baptist said about Jesus Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world and there was actually a a Workman way high up in the rafters [00:09:22]

those Passover Lambs point to Jesus the great Passover Lamb the book of Exodus shows us The Gospel of Jesus Christ [00:10:07]

the story of Charles Spurgeon testing the acoustics of a grand auditorium by proclaiming, "Behold the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world," serves as a powerful reminder of the transformative power of the gospel message. Just as the workman in the rafters was moved to faith [00:09:49]

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Transcript
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