I never knew you

Recently a pastor asked "What good is it?"

"If the OT scriptures are really like 'Where's Waldo' with Christ hidden everywhere in prophetic riddle, why do I need it? I have salvation, I preach the cross, I am a good person."

Jesus said the bread represented his body, a symbol of the cross where he was given for us. He said "Man does not live by bread alone (the cross alone) but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God".

Did the OT proceed from the mouth of God?

2Ti 3:16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Let's start with reproof: You say: I am a good person. Apparently Paul's teaching was insufficient:

Ro 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

"But" you say.. I was a sinner.. now I am a sheep. I am a good person." But where did Paul get his teaching? From the Old Testament scripture: You cannot understand him clearly until you understand his source.

Isa 53:5 But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Isa 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

After he was wounded, after he was bruised ALL we like SHEEP have gone astray!! We are still sinners.

Paul says he does the things he doesn't want to do , and doesn't do the things he wants to do. Is this just his experience, or is he teaching from Isaiah, that even as sheep, we continue to sin?

You say you preach the cross. Paul chose to preach nothing but Christ and him crucified, and he did it from the "Where's Waldo" part of the Bible. He never used your New Testament. It didn't exist. Can you really say you have 'studied to show yourself approved' if you don't even use the 'Where's Waldo' part?

You say you already know Christ, and you are secure in your salvation. Does the real bride say "I had the ceremony... I don't need to know my husband any better?" Or does she cherish every new insight she gets into his marvelous love? Is such a salvation you have an indicator of the first bride or the second. Did Christ ever consummate the marriage so that you are fruitful and multiplying (fruit of the Spirit, and reproducing through teaching)? Or will he say "Depart from me... we had the ceremony.. but I never knew you."?