The Prophets

TEXT:  Rom. 3:21-22

INTRODUCTION:

A.      AS THE LAW BORE WITNESS TO THE NEW COVENANT SO DO THE PROPHETS.

          1.       The law in "types" as a schoolmaster( Gal. 3:23:25 ).

          2.       The prophets in proclamations about Jesus( Acts 3:18, 24 ).

B.      THERE ARE THREE BASIC DIVISIONS IN OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECIES

          1.       Historic - vindicates God's justice & proves his existence.

          2.       Jesus, the Messiah, identifying & describing his role.

          3.       Kingdom giving hope and revealing God's plan.

C.      WE WANT TO DEAL WITH SOME QUESTIONS CONCERNING PROPHETS.

I. WHAT IS A PROPHET?( Deut. 16:15-21 ). 

MY WORDS IN HIS MOUTH.

A.      JESUS IS GOD'S PROPHET...GOD SPEAKS THRU HIM( Heb. 1:1-2 ).

B.      WHO WILL GO AND SPEAK FOR US( Isa. 6:5-9 ).

II.     THE ESSENCE OF PROPHECY IS PREDICTIVE.

A.      OFTEN CONNECTED WITH A THREAT OR A PROMISE( Isa. 1:18-20 ).

B.      A SIGN OF WHAT IS COMING( Isa. 7:14 ).

C.      CONTRASTED WITH PREDICTIONS OF FALSE GODS( Isa. 4:21-26 )

III.    TESTS OR CRITERIA FOR PROPHECIES:

A.      THE EVENT MUST BE BEYOND THE POWER OF MAN TO SEE.

B.      MUST DEMONSTRATE PROPHECY WAS MADE BEFORE THE EVENT.

C.      PREDICTION MUST BE APPLICABLE TO THE EVENT.

D.      PREDICTION MUST BE UNAMBIGUOUS AND UNMISTAKABLE - ENOUGH

          DETAILS TO EXCLUDE ACCIDENT OR GUESSWORK.

E.      PREDICTION MUST HAVE A CLEAR AN UNMISTAKABLE FULFILLMENT.

IV.   TESTS OF THE PROPHETS:

A.      Deut. 18:15-21.  DOES THE PROPHECY COME TRUE?

B.      Deut. 13:1-5;  1 John 4:1, 6. DOES HIS DOCTRINE CONFORM?

C.      Jer. 23:9-32.  DOES TEACHING LEAD TO IMMORALITY OR IDOLATRY?

V.    WILL THERE ALWAYS BE PROPHETS?( Zech. 13:1-6 ).

A.      "THE PROPHETS WILL PASS OUT OF THE LAND."

B.      PROPHETIC KEYS FULFILLED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT SET THE TIME.

          1.       12:10 fulfilled in John 19:37.

          2.       13:7 fulfilled in Mat. 26:3.

C.      "FOUNTAIN OPENED FOR SIN AND UNCLEANNESS"( vs. 1 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      THE NEW TESTAMENT CONTAINS PROPHECIES FOR OUR DAY.

B.      GOD'S WORD WAS IN THEIR PEN.

C.      WHAT IS REQUIRED OF ME?