Devotion #1: His Type

“Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.” Romans 5:14 

Tim Mackie, with “The Bible Project,” likes to say, “The Bible is one unified story that leads to Jesus.” The entire Old Testament points to Jesus, and the entire New Testament is directly about Jesus and His people. As I was reading verse 14 in Romans 5, the word “type” really stuck out to me. Throughout the Old Testament, we have so many people who ultimately point to Christ. These are called “types” of Christ. It is part of what makes the Bible so special and unified. Christ came to fulfill what all these people throughout history could not do: redeem and free their people, forever. 

Here are a few quick examples of people in the Old Testament that point to Jesus’ ultimate fulfillment of their mission: 

• Moses led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt into freedom toward the Promised Land, pointing to Jesus’ ultimate delivery of His people from the slavery of sin and death. 

• Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of the fish before being spat out onto dry land alive, pointing to Jesus’ resurrection after three days. 

• David was a king that sought the Lord and desired to honor Him, just as Jesus is a King that seeks to glorify His Father. 

This passage tells us that even Adam is a “type” of Christ. How? Just as one man brought sin into the world, one man will bring righteousness to all people. Romans 5:18 explains, “Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.”  

The problem with all of the “types” of Christ throughout the Old Testament is that they all fall short. Every single one falls short. 

• Moses sins in his anger and loses the ability to enter the Promised Land. 

• Jonah is bitter and angry that God allowed repentance to his enemies (not to mention his attempt to run away from God’s call in the first place!). 

• David commits adultery and then murders his mistress’ husband. 

Every type of Christ is an example for us to look at Jesus and acknowledge just how good our Savior really is. Their stories are there to remind us of Him, and for us to see God’s true ability to fully redeem. The first man that is ever created, points directly to Jesus. He “was a type of the one who was to come.” Adam falls short of God’s righteous standard right away, and we are made aware that we are in need of a Savior. 

As you read through the Bible, particularly the Old Testament, take note when you run across something that points us to Jesus, just as Adam does. The examples are all over Scripture, and it is mind-blowing.