THE VICTOR’S MENTALITY 18 (Knowing Jesus Is Knowing Truth 2)

In the previous articles, we started discussing how to see as God sees. We saw that the only way this is possible is when we start seeing Jesus through the Scriptures.

I mentioned that I would share five ways we can see Jesus intimately through the Scriptures. Last article, we began with the first one:

Seeing Jesus photographically in the gospel

I want to share a bit more on that before moving to the second way.

It’s vital to look at Jesus’ portrait in the gospel: observe Him when He was on earth in His incarnate state; see His active obedience to God’s holy law; notice His reactions to others—His kindness, His compassion, His sensitive nature; and consider His response to His enemies and all they did to Him. This is the portrait of Jesus. If we truly want to walk in the truth, we must consider His life in the gospel.

The reason we see so much junk today, and why some believers sheepishly swallow it, is because they haven’t taken time to see Jesus photographically. For example, when you study Jesus’ portrait in the gospel, you’ll realize that cursing your enemy to die is far from the truth. Jesus faced opposition from infancy, yet He never did anything negative to anyone. He always sought to bless those who caused Him pain. What a Savior! This is the portrait to look at if we desire to walk in the truth.

The second way we should see Jesus in the Scripture is:

Seeing Jesus doctrinally in the Epistles

This is where the foundational Apostles, including Paul, unpack the implications of the person of Christ and His work. Here, we know Jesus theologically—His redemptive work, His relationship with His Church, the meaning of His death and resurrection, and what it means to be in Christ and have eternal life. Understanding the Epistles in the correct light is crucial for a solid doctrinal stance.

When I say doctrine, I mean the interconnectedness of Scriptures—not isolating verses, but seeing the whole counsel of God come into harmony through divine revelation. Doctrine is built on texts agreeing together, rightly divided, and centered on Christ.

Let’s look at Ephesians 3:3-5:“How that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets:”

Doctrine is properly established and clarified in the Epistles. Therefore, understanding the Epistles is essential for a proper doctrinal foundation. This is why we must not isolate Old Testament scriptures and build doctrine from them without cross-referencing with the apostolic revelation found in the New Testament—especially the Epistles.

The Old Testament contains types, symbols, and shadows, as we see in Colossians 2:16-17:“So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.” The Epistles interpret those shadows in the light of Christ, giving us their true context and meaning. So, if you want to understand the right interpretation of God’s acts in the Old Testament, you need to see them through the explanation and revelation provided by the Apostles in the Epistles.

The third way to know Jesus intimately in the Scripture is:

Knowing Jesus prophetically in the Old Testament Scriptures

It’s safe to say that we must see Jesus rightly—photographically in the gospel and doctrinally in the Epistles—to fully grasp what the Law and the Prophets say about Him. Jesus Himself said in Luke 24:27 that He is the central theme of Moses and the prophets.

The Old Testament isn’t just a historical book, though it is historical. It’s much more—it’s a prophetic revelation pointing forward to the person of Christ, His mission, and His kingdom.

Let’s look at key examples of how Jesus is revealed in the Old Testament:

1. Through direct Messianic prophecies: These are explicit foretellings of the coming Messiah.

• For instance, Genesis 3:15 is the first prophecy of Christ’s victory over Satan through the cross.

• Isaiah 7:14 tells us about the virgin birth of Jesus.

• Micah 5:2 gives a vivid prophetic portrait of Christ’s birth in Bethlehem.

• Psalm 22 provides a prophetic description of the crucifixion, centuries before Roman-style execution was invented.

Please ensure you study these scriptures. Time won’t permit me to unpack them one by one, but studying them is a practice of what I’ve been sharing about seeing Jesus intimately in the Scriptures.

In the next article, I’ll share three more ways we can see Jesus prophetically through the Scriptures.

Dear readers, I’m not sharing this just for you to accumulate head knowledge, but to help you begin to see Jesus intimately in the Scriptures. As you see Him, you’ll discover His love for you, and you’ll fall in love with Him over and over again.