“Lord Jesus, we thank You that all of Scripture conveys Jesus Christ. In You, we are made righteous and we reign with You. In Your name, we pray. Amen.”
Acts 3:24 Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days.
Peter and John were connecting the people to all the prophecies of Jesus in the Old Testament. What was it that the prophets foretold? It was of the righteousness of God. It was about how God would justify those who come to Him by faith in Jesus.
Romans 3:21-26 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, (22) even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; (23) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (24) being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, (25) whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, (26) to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Peter and John spoke particularly of Prophet Samuel. Prophet Samuel exemplified or was a forerunner to Christ. Samuel’s life revealed Christ.
God appointed Samuel as a prophet, priest, and judge of Israel. In these offices alone, Samuel is a type of Christ. In addition to the office of prophet, priest, and judge, there were many other ways, the life of Samuel foreshadows the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ.
One example of the closeness of the life of Samuel with Jesus is the way they were born and the way in which they grew up. Luke 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men. It was the same with Samuel. I Samuel 2:26 And the child Samuel grew in stature, and in favour both with the LORD and men.
Understanding of the righteousness before God began with Abraham. Genesis 15:6 And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.
Isaiah prophesied about God’s righteousness. Isaiah 45:23-25 I have sworn by Myself; The word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, And shall not return, That to Me every knee shall bow, Every tongue shall take an oath. (24) He shall say, ‘Surely in the LORD I have righteousness and strength. To Him men shall come, And all shall be ashamed Who are incensed against Him. (25) In the LORD all the descendants of Israel Shall be justified, and shall glory.’ “
We have generally received the following verse more for personal protection from those who are against us but the real understanding is that the accuser can say nothing against us, for our righteousness is from the Lord. Isaiah 54:17 No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the LORD.
The prophecies of Jeremiah are about Jesus who would give us His righteousness and He would also be our King. As those made righteous through faith in Jesus, we will reign with Jesus. Jeremiah 23:5-6 “Behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. (6) In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Jeremiah 33:15-17 ‘In those days and at that time I will cause to grow up to David A Branch of righteousness; He shall execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. (16) In those days Judah will be saved, And Jerusalem will dwell safely. And this is the name by which she will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.’ (17) “For thus says the LORD: ‘David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel;
Daniel prophesied of the most Holy, Jesus and how He would bring everlasting righteousness. Daniel 9:24 “Seventy weeks are determined For your people and for your holy city, To finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness, To seal up vision and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy.
All of these prophesies and many more were what Jesus expounded to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. Luke 24:25-27 Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! (26) Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” (27) And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
All of Scripture is pointing to Jesus, who gives us His righteousness. It is for us to embrace Christ and to reign with Him.