Joseph, Jesus, And Salvation

Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday evening, February 01, 2004, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia. 

JOSEPH, JESUS, AND SALVATION

Scripture Reading: Genesis 45:1-8

Text: Genesis 45:7

Genesis 45:7 And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

Introduction: Once again we can’t help but turn to any page of the Bible and find a reflection of the face of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, here in the person of Joseph. I love the interesting accounts of the Bible. They are historically accurate, inspired and profitable. Additionally, they are all testimonies to the eternal Son of God.

Our Lord said:

John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 

According to the Lord, the scriptures testify of Jesus. Not only do the New Testament books testify of Him, but so do the first five books of the Bible, written by Moses. Jesus said:

John 5:46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. 

Moses wrote of Jesus in the first five books of the Bible, the Pentateuch. It is obvious that Jesus was referring to more than just the five books of Moses, however. When He met with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus after His resurrection, He talked with them about these things,

Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

Let us take just a few moments tonight to look for a portrait of our Lord in these pages.

Tonight’s message is titled:

JOSEPH, JESUS, AND SALVATION

I. THERE WAS A PERIL FACING THE WORLD

Genesis 45:6 For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest.

Romans 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 

Egypt in scripture is a type of the world

A. The world was dark
1. Africa (land of Egypt) – “the dark continent”
2. Minds blinded – 2 Corinthians 4:4
3. Understanding darkened – Ephesians 4:18
4. Works of darkness – Ephesians 5:11

B. The world was defiled
1. African (where Israel was in captivity) morals are some of the worst

C. The world was in a drought

II. THERE WAS A PLAN TO SAVE THE WORLD

1 Peter 1:18-20 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 

Genesis 45:7 And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

A. It was a detailed plan

B. It was a dramatic plan

C. It was a devotional plan(a plan of love)

III. THERE WAS A PERSON WHO CAME INTO THE WORLD 

Genesis 45:7 And God sent me …

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

A. He was a special son

B. He was the suffering son

C. He was the Spirit-filled son

IV. THERE WAS A PROVISION FOR THE WORLD

Genesis 45:7 And … great deliverance.

Hebrews 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. 

1 Timothy 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. 

A. The salvation is great
1. Hebrews 2:3 – SO great

B. The salvation is gracious

C. The salvation is a gift