Christ, the center of Scripture

Tradition, according to Athanasius, is authoritative only if it is in agreement with Scripture. As he made clear in his Easter letter of 367, the New Testament canon is definitive. From what has been said, it is clear that Athanasius worked with a consistent Biblical principle. At the same time, he insisted that the Bible should not be interpreted legalistically; it must rather be understood in the light of its own center, which is Christ and the salvation wrought by Him. Athanasius’ conception of the Bible reminds us of the words of Luther: “What proclaims Christ is God’s Word.”

Hagglund, Bengt (2007-03-01). History of Theology (Kindle Locations 1093-1096). Concordia Publishing House. Kindle Edition.

Christ - the coming one

Rom. 5:12-14   Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all men, because all sinned. In fact, sin was in the world before the law, but sin is not charged to a person’s account when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin in the likeness of Adam’s transgression. He is a prototype of the Coming One. - HCSB

"This verse sets up the way Paul is thinking in the rest of the passage. Notice the most obvious thing first: Christ “was to come.” From the beginning, Christ was “the coming one.” Paul shows that Christ is not an afterthought. Paul does not say that Christ was conceived as a copy of Adam. He says that Adam was a type of Christ. God dealt with Adam in a way that would make him a type of the way he planned to glorify his Son. A type is a foreshadowing of something that will come later and will be like the type—only greater. So God dealt with Adam in a way that would make him a type of Christ. God’s plan for Christ preceded his dealing with Adam." - Piper, John (2008-09-12). Spectacular Sins: And Their Global Purpose in the Glory of Christ (Kindle Locations 828-832). Good News Publishers. Kindle Edition. 

God dealt with many of the characters from Hebrew Scriptures in a way that would make them a type of Christ - Joseph, Moses, Joshua, David are notable examples. Does this help us to understood what Christ spoke of on the road to Emmaus?

Luke 24:25-27   He said to them, “How unwise and slow you are to believe in your hearts all that the prophets have spoken! Didn’t the Messiah have to suffer these things and enter into His glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted for them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. - HCSB

All of scripture, from Genesis to Revelation, points the reader to the coming one. Miss this and you missunderstand the Word of God. - rls

the image of God

Whatever may be the eminent marks that distinguish humans from the rest of creation, the image of God that sets them apart is ethical and covenantal—which is to say, relational. Rectitude (righteousness) is both a judicial status and an actual quality that animates human attitudes, thoughts, and actions. It is not because humans possess an immortal soul but because they are created in true righteousness and holiness that they bear God’s image and likeness.

Horton, Michael S. (2010-12-21). The Christian Faith: A Systematic Theology for Pilgrims on the Way (Kindle Locations 10406-10409). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.