Isaac A Type of Christ

TYPES - DEFINING THE CONCEPT Type - an archetype serving as a model, type, pattern, model (BDAG) - ex. Rom 5:14 Symbol - something that serves as a model or example pointing beyond itself for later realization, type, figure (BDAG) - ex. Heb 9:9 Copy (hupodeigma) - an indication of something that appears at a subsequent time, outline, sketch, symbol (BDAG) - ex. Heb 9:23

TYPES - DEFINING THE CONCEPT Must be a true picture of the person or the thing it represents or prefigures. Must be of Divine appointment Must always prefigure something future It must be a true picture of the person or the thing it represents or prefigures. A type is a draft or sketch of some well-defined feature of redemption, and therefore it must in some distinct way resemble its antitype, e.g. Aaron as high priest is a rough figure of Christ the Great High Priest, and the Day of Atonement in Israel (Lev 16) must be a true picture of the atoning work of Christ. The type must be of Divine appointment. In its institution it is designed to bear a likeness to the antitype. Both type and antitype are preordained as constituent parts of the scheme of redemption… Only God can make types. A type always prefigures something future. A Scriptural type and predictive prophecy are in substance the same, differing only in form. This fact distinguishes between a symbol and a type. A symbol may represent a thing of the present or of the past as well as of the future, e.g. the symbols in the Lord’s Supper. A type always looks to the future; an element of prediction must necessarily be in it. (From I.S.B.E. article on Types)

The Abrahamic Promise Genesis 12:1–3 (NASB95) 1 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father’s house, To the land which I will show you; 2 And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; 3 And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” A Complicated Promise Promised Abraham land Promised to make Abraham a great nation (seed) Promised to make of Abraham a blessing to all nations Promise would take centuries to fulfill Heb 11:13 A COMPLICATED PROMISE The promise made to Abraham was a multi-faceted covenant God promised Abraham land God promised to make Abraham a great nation (seed) God promised to make of Abraham a blessing to all nations This promise would take centuries to be fulfilled - Heb 11:13 The only land that would belong to Abraham, Isaac or Jacob was the burial cave which Abraham purchased for Sarah - Gen 23:8-20 Abraham was without child at the time of the promise, and even at his death there would only be three descendants connected to this promise Isaac was the necessary component to allow this promise to come to pass

The Abrahamic Promise Isaac was essential to the promises made to Abraham The promise of a nation depended on Isaac The promise of land depended on Isaac The blessing was found through Isaac - Rom 4:18-25 Genesis 15:4–5 (NASB95) 4 Then behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir; but one who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir.” 5 And He took him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” ISAAC - THE KEY TO THE PROMISE Isaac was the essential piece to the promises made to Abraham, without him none of the other facets of the covenant could be accomplished. We see this emphasized in the key moments in Abraham’s life: Gen 15 - After 10 years in Canaan, Abraham had received none of the things God had promised him vs. 2-3 - Abraham is concerned about this and points out the needed step the must be accomplished in order for the covenant to be fulfilled vs. 4-5 - God reassured Abraham that he would have an heir “one who will come from your own body” vs. 18 - The land promise is directly connected to these descendants that come from this heir Gen 17:21 - Prior to his birth, God names this heir - Isaac vs. 6 - It was Abraham’s faith in this promise that was counted as righteousness In Romans 4, Paul explains the connection between Isaac and the blessing promise - Romans 4:18-25

The Abrahamic Promise Isaac’s birth was miraculous - Gen 11:30, 16:2-3 Isaac was sacrificed - Heb 11:17 Isaac was raised from the dead - Heb 11:19 Jesus’s birth was miraculous - Lk 1:30-35 Jesus was sacrificed - Matt 27:50 Jesus was raised from the dead - Lk 24:36-43

The Abrahamic Promise The Type Isaac’s birth was miraculous - Gen 11:30, 16:2-3 Isaac was sacrificed - Heb 11:17 Isaac was raised from the dead - Heb 11:19 The Anti-Type Jesus’s birth was miraculous - Lk 1:30-35 Jesus was sacrificed - Matt 27:50 Jesus was raised from the dead - Lk 24:36-43

Shadows and Types The type is always greater than the shadow Shadow of a tree will not give fruit They are connected essentially (you cannot have one without the other) Isaac could point to Christ, but could not provide what Christ provides The type is always greater than the shadow Shadow of a tree will not give fruit They are connected essentially (you cannot have one without the other) Isaac could point to Christ, but could not provide what Christ provides

Shadows and Types The Lord will provide - Gen 22:13-14 Abraham came to the mountain to make a sacrifice The sacrifice of Isaac could not provide what mankind needed, the ram was supplied to demonstrate that God would provide Old Testament Sacrifices - insufficient in themselves, but offering man an opportunity to demonstrate faith that God would provide The Lord Will Provide Gen 22:13-14 - Abraham came to the mountain to make a sacrifice, he was not to leave until sacrifice had been made While the sacrifice of Isaac could not provide what mankind needed, the ram was supplied to demonstrate that God would provide In this we see the reality of all Old Testament Sacrifices - insufficient in themselves, but offering man an opportunity to demonstrate faith that God would provide

Shadows and Types Sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus - Gal 3 The true sons of Abraham through faith enjoy the promises The true seed of Abraham, Jesus, that provides the redemption that we need Isaac and his descendants pointed us to Christ that we might have faith in Him Gal 3:7-9 - It is the sons of Abraham through faith that enjoy the promises offered in Gen 12 Gal 3:13-16 - It is the true seed of Abraham, Jesus, that provides the redemption that we need Gal 3:22-24 - Isaac and his descendants pointed us to Christ that we might have faith in Him, that we might understand life is found in Him Gal 3:26-29 - Would you be an heir according to the promise? If so put on Christ today!