Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves waist coverings. (Genesis 3:7)

I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your forefathers as the earliest fruit on the fig tree in its first season. But they came to Baal-peor and devoted themselves to shame, And they became as detestable as that which they loved. (Hosea 9:10)

Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” (John 1:48)

There are many Christians around the world who are under the fig tree. They try to avoid God’s wrath using this fig tree, but they fail to see that it does not bear fruit. The fig tree contrasts with the grape vine of Christ. Side to side, fig tree leaves look similar to vine leaves. But fig trees are made not to bear fruit. What we eat is actually flowers. The fig tree tells us that anyone under the old covenant do not bear fruit.

In Hosea 9:10, both grapes and the figs show that God loved the Israelites. But they rebelled against God. Christ is referred Himself as the grape vine, not the fig tree (John 15:1). The fig tree symbolizes prosperity but also the old covenant. The old covenant is based on works/the law. Adam was under this covenant and became dead. All under the fig tree are dead. No one can bear fruit. The Israel nation in the OT was under this fig tree. Theologians and ministers teach us that we are still under the fig tree because our righteousness is from the law. They do not see that Christ is the grape vine. They believe the old covenant is eternal and say that the new covenant is only continuation of the old covenant. They say that Christ had to keep the law for our righteousness. But this is a wrong understanding of our righteousness. Our righteousness is from being one with God. Christ came and made us the children of God by being the ultimate sacrifice. If the Son of God had to become a man to keep the law perfectly to gain righteousness, the Bible would have used the word “kept”. But it uses the word, “fulfilled”.

Do not presume that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. (Matt 5:17)

We who are one with God through Christ and the Holy Spirit uphold the law. But we do not think our righteousness is based on the works of the law. John tells us that Christ’s works are summarized as water and blood. Water is connected with Truth/Word. Christ spent most time teaching during His public ministry. Christ revealed the Father to us. Blood is associated with Christ’s work on the cross. Christ has redeemed us from eternal damnation. Water prepared us for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Blood is for our righteousness because the cross has always been God’s first and foremost will. However, water and blood cannot be separated.

… regarding righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you no longer are going to see Me. (John 16:10)

Paul emphasizes Christ’s work on the cross in Romans 5. He never said Christ kept the law for our righteousness. Theology has gone corrupt because of people’s love for human philosophy. Theologians and ministers believe that Christ’s works are His lifelong obedience to the law and the work on the cross. Their idea is against what the Bible says.

In this passage of the Bible, Nathanael is told by Philip that they have found the Prophet whom Moses told.

Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses wrote in the Law, and the prophets also wrote: Jesus the son of Joseph, from Nazareth!” (John 1:45)

From this, we see that Nathanael has been waiting for the Prophet. If the old covenant was perfect, he would not have waited for Him. While the Pharisees and the teachers of the law emphasized the law, they did not keep the law. Nathanael waited for the Son of God, the King of Israel. While theologians and ministers claim that our righteousness is based on the law, they do not keep the law.

The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen; to him you shall listen. (Deuteronomy 18:15)

The Book of Deuteronomy may be the most important book to understand the old covenant. Christ quoted words from this book when tempted by the devil. In this book, Moses foretold that the Israelites would rebel against God after his death. He gave the Israelites both curse and blessing. He also said that God did not give the Israelites the heart to know Him.

Although I’ve said one must know the NT to understand the OT, the NT cannot be understood without knowing the OT. There are many Christians who read only the NT. But their understandings are often very limited. We cannot understand why Christ called Nathanael under the fig tree without understanding the OT.

I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)

The saints in the OT era are not saved because they have kept the law perfectly. They are saved because of their faith in God’s promise.

And I will make enemies of you and the woman, and of your offspring and her Descendant;
He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise Him on the heel. (Genesis 3:15)