Today we're going to talk about sin. I want to compare it to the bondage in Egypt that the Israelites went through. There are a lot of similarities between Israel's deliberate deliverance from Egyptian slavery and the Christians' deliverance from the slavery of sin.
- 1 Corinthians 10:1-11
And so, here we see the comparison between what happened in old and what our Christian life is like, today.
Understanding Types and Anit-Types
The Old Testament contains types and anti-types. You may not be familiar with these words.
The word - type, is the Greek word túpos, which means, the representation or pattern of anything. So it's simply a pattern, it's a representation.
The 1828 Webster's dictionary for the word - type says - "a sign, a symbol, a figure of something to come as Abraham's sacrifice and the Pascal lamb were types of Christ."
This word opposed to this word is anti-type. Christ, in this case, is anti. And so, the word anti-type comes from the Greek word anti-tupa, which is the event, person, or circumstance, corresponding to the type.
So this is:
- Israel's bondage in Egypt was a type of our bondage to sin.
- Israel's deliverance from Egyptian bondage is a type of our deliverance from sin. The type and the anti-type there.
Websters defines anti-type as a figure corresponding to another figure that of which the type is the pattern of representation. Thus, the Paschal Lamb in scripture is the type of, which Christ is the anti.
An anti-type then is something which is formed according to a model or pattern bearing strong features or resemblance to it. Again, that's from Webster's 1828 dictionary back when they defined words so that we could understand the Bible. That was a reason why Webster wrote a dictionary, to begin with, so that people could understand the Bible. Now, that's just a little side note there, but, I find it very interesting that there is so much theology tied up in the definitions that you read in Webster's dictionary. His older ones especially.
This word anti-tupa, is found in 1 Peter chapter 3, verse 21, where it is translated as the like figure, talking about comparing baptism to the deliverance of Moses. Not, Moses, but Noah and the ark.
And so, there are striking similarities here between the liberation of Israel from Egyptian captivity and the freedom enjoyed by Christians from the slavery of sin. Because Judaism was never intended to be the final revelation of God to man. It was never intended to be the end result of what God wanted. But it [the Old Testament] contains figures, types, shadows, and patterns of the New Testament, and its counterparts.
- Hebrews 10:1-2
So the law was a shadow of good things to come. You know, a shadow is an outline, the image cast on the ground by light shining on the body, in this case, the body, the reality, the substantial variety, the substance of which the shadow is, but a delineation.
The body in this case is Christ. The imperfect law of Moses was a shadow of the perfection of Christ.
- 1 Corinthians 10:1-2
Baptism unto Moses, the passing through the Red Sea, there was the cloud that was over it. So it's a symbol of being baptized in Christ. And so, Old Testament types perfectly fit the New Testament, its church, the church, and its doctrine. Therefore, we can learn some things about the Lord's Church and its teachings by examining the Old Testament.
Types Confirm the Church of The Bible
Types confirm the church of the Bible to be the fulfillment of the longstanding eternal will of God.
- Ephesians 3:10-11
As we look at Israel and its bondage in Egypt, we see that Moses was chosen by God to liberate Israel. If you'll remember, because of the famine in Genesis chapter 47, all of the family, all of the descendants of Abraham, had come down to live in Egypt. Of course, Joseph enabled that to take place. Joseph spared his family, he saved his family.
Though he was, again, there's a type and a shadow there. There's a type of Christ here when it comes to Joseph and what he went through, and endured in order to save his family. And that might be a lesson for another. Uh, but uh, so they were invited in.
They prospered for many years in Egypt. But when a new line of kings began ruling Egypt, the Israelites were forced into slavery.
- Exodus 1:8-13
And so we see the Israelites have, they have fallen into this bondage, this slavery. Everything in their life was rigorous. But Israel's population continued to grow even despite all of this, to the point that the Egyptians decided to slay all of the male children, and they told the midwives to kill the male children.
But Moses was born during this time. He was protected. He was saved from that. He was placed in the little ark. He was put in the Nile River. And of course, Pharaoh's daughter rescued him from the river. She reared him as her own until the age of 40.
- Hebrews 11:24-26
At 40, he slew one of those taskmasters and fled into the wilderness and he is there for 40 years. He marries, and he is keeping his father-in-law's sheep. And 40 years later, at the age of 80, he's called by God at the burning bush.
- Exodus 3:7-10
And so Moses is chosen by God at the age of 80. He spent 40 years in Egypt. He spent 40 years in the wilderness, and now at age 80, he's being sent back to bring the people out of captivity.
Now we know that Moses offered a number of excuses. He said, who am I that I should go unto Pharaoh? He's this exile, been in the wilderness. He's been a shepherd for the last 40 years. He makes another excuse; They will not believe me, nor harken unto my voice, and finally complained, I'm not eloquent. Yet, God equipped him in every way to carry out the mission that He gave him to do.
For all of his excuses, God had an answer. God had given him the ability to answer those things, and so Moses was chosen by God to deliver Israel and also to be His lawgiver. Moses demonstrated the power of God in all those miracles, which he performed.
- the turning of his rod into a serpent
- all of the 10 plagues that he brought upon Egypt or that God brought upon Egypt through Moses.
The miracles confirmed that Moses was the messenger of God, that he had the authority, and that God was behind him. Miracles also bolstered the faith of Israel. Miracles persuaded Pharaoh in Egypt to free Israel. In fact, the miracles and everything that took place inspired him to not only send them out but to give them all kinds of belongings, to send them out with great wealth, almost like they were bribing them; Please leave, take everything you want, and go.
Now Pharaoh, he tried through all of this to bargain with God through Moses. You know, Pharaoh challenged God's authority.
- Exodus 5:2
Later he would attempt to modify the conditions with which Israel would obey God.
- Exodus 8:25-28
- Exodus 10:24, 26
And so, they left Egypt. Moses delivered Israel from Egypt. Israel heard and believed Moses. Israel acted on its belief in the words of Moses. Israel followed the Passover instructions and later marched to the Red Sea. Israel, however, was not yet delivered from the Egyptians. They were not delivered on the Egyptian side of the Red Sea, so they come to the Red Sea and they are camped there.
The pursuing Egyptians have caught up to them. We see the salvation of Israel from this Egyptian bondage when they cross the Red Sea. Now, God calls the Red Sea apart to allow Israel to cross on dry ground.
- Exodus 14:21-22
And then the sea, after Israel crosses, God looks down through the cloud, he sees the Egyptians, they're in the midst of the sea. They're crossing in pursuit. He causes their chariots to not be able to go. And then he brings the water on top of the Egyptians, finally destroying the Egyptians and freeing Israel from bondage. That was when they were freed from the bondage of sin when they crossed the Red Sea.
Understanding the Type of Baptism at the Red Sea
And so, that figure we referred to in 1 Corinthians 10, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. It is this act of crossing the sea that corresponds to baptism.
They came across the sea and they were on the other side of the Red Sea. Now Israel then wandered in the wilderness, they experienced various trials for 40 years. A lot of it was brought on by themselves. When Israel obeyed God, He protected the nation.
Through Providence:
- He provided manna
- He provided the quail
- He provided everything they needed while they were in that wilderness period.
- Even their clothes and their shoes did not wear.
And so, God was with them all the way till they finally entered into the Promised Land. That second generation entered into the Promised Land, that first generation, well, they blew it, didn't they? They had a lot of faith that got them out of Egypt and across the Red Sea, but when it came to taking those cities that they were told to go and conquer, that God had delivered into their hand, they were afraid.
And then later, after they were told of their punishment, they said, well, now we'll try. And of course, they were unsuccessful because God was not with them at that point. All of that points to the anti-type.
The anti-type of a release from Egyptian bondage is salvation from the slavery of sin.
Now, every accountable soul, every. Uh, is initially in the bondage of sin from which he cannot liberate himself.
- Romans 3:23
- 1 John 1:8
- Romans 6:8-13
Every accountable soul is in bondage to sin when they sin. And sin makes us slaves.
And so, God, of course for us sent Jesus Christ to deliver men from the captivity of sin.
- Romans 5:8-10
- 1 Peter 3:18
- John 3:16
And so, all of us in sin, we're in bondage to sin. We could not free ourselves. But God sent Christ to deliver us.
The Israelites could not free themselves from Egyptian bondage, but God sent Moses to bring them out. And so, Christ was sent to deliver men from the captivity of sin. And Jesus then leads, us out of the place of bondage.
- Colossians 1:13
[He] delivered us out to the place of darkness, the power of darkness, the place of bondage, delivered us from sin and our bondage to it, translated us, brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son.
Deliverance from the Bondage of Sin
Before He can lead sinners, though they must hear and believe.
- Romans 10:17
- John 20:30-31
And so he led us out of the place of bondage.
Now we've got to have that faith in His work. Faith without corresponding action will no more save today than faith without compliance to the Word of God would've saved the Israelites fleeing Egyptian slavery.
- James 2:17-26
You think about, if the people had believed Moses but had not acted upon it and not left Egypt, they would've still been in bondage.
You know, the New Testament teaches that faith must be manifested in repentance, in a changed life. John the Baptizer encouraged those that came to him to bring forth fruit meet for repentance. In other words, they were to do something, in their penitent, with a penitent heart. They were to bring forth fruits, meet for repentance, [Matthew 3:8].
Also, in confessing Jesus as the Lord.
- John 12:42 & 43
We've got to confess our belief.
And of course baptism, immersion in water for the remission of sin. From the day of Pentecost, the Jews on that day were told to repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost [Acts 2:38].
- Colossians 2:12
You know, baptism is that line of demarcation between the world and the church. As the Red Sea was a line of demarcation between Israel's doom and their freedom.
- Romans 6:3-5
You know, the time for rejoicing is after baptism.
- Acts 8:39
We always see that when faith is acted upon us, after that there is rejoicing.
- Exodus 15:1-2
And so they rejoiced in freedom after crossing the Red Sea.
Jesus the Anti-type to Moses the Type
You know Jesus demonstrated like Moses, that He was sent by God by the miracles He performed.
- Acts 2:22
Furthermore, Jesus can only lead those who will follow Him. Moses could only lead those out of Egypt if they would follow him. Jesus can only lead those who will follow Him out of the bondage of sin.
We've got to follow. Jesus is the only way to be saved. We've got to do what Jesus has commanded that we do; believe in Him, that sent Christ, believe in God, believe that Christ is the Son of God, that He died for your sins. Act upon that belief in repenting of your sins, confessing your belief, and being baptized to have your sins washed away.
We urge you to let Jesus lead you from captivity to sin if you are still in that bondage.
If you are one who has not been faithful to God as a faithful child, we urge you to repent and come back.
If we can help you to respond to the Lord's invitation, or if you would like to study further about God's plan for salvation from the bondage of sin please contact us.
