LESSON #7

THE THEME OF THE BIBLE

GOD CREATED US

• God is the reason we are here and continue to live.– Genesis 1:26

“Let Us make man in Our image,

according to Our likeness; let them

have dominion over the fish of the sea,

over the birds of the air, and over the

cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that

creeps on the earth.”

ADAM AND EVE

“And the LORD God commanded the man,

saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may

freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good

and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” Genesis

2:16,17

THE FALL

“So He drove out the man; and He

placed cherubim at the east of the

garden of Eden, and a flaming sword

which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of

life.”

MESSAGE TO THE PROPHETS

• “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord…” Isaiah 1:18

• “As for them, whether they hear, or whether they refuse—for they are a rebellious house—yet they will know that a prophet has been among them.” Ezekiel 2:5

THE BIBLE IS NOT…

• A household ornament— ”good old book.”

• A magic charm.• A panic button.• For comfort at death.– Psalm 23

• A political handbook.• An American symbol =

U.S. flag.

THE BIBLE IS NOT…

• A basis for diverse creeds.• Restricted to “licensed

clergy.”• A reservoir for the Ten

Commandments so everyone can be saved.

• Just one book among many.

• A keepsake to pass down to our children.

WE NEED A SAVIOR

• All men have sinned– Romans 3:23

“For all have

sinned and fall short

of the glory of God.”

WE NEED A SAVIOR

• If we say we have no sin—we lie!– 1 John 1:8

“If we say that we have

no sin, we deceive

ourselves, and the

truth is not in us.”

WE NEED A SAVIOR

• Men cannot direct his own steps!– Jeremiah 10:23

“O LORD, I know the

way of man is not in

himself; It is not in man

who walks to direct his

own steps.”

WE NEED A SAVIOR

• Own ways end in death!– Proverbs 14:12

“There is a way that seems

right to a man, But its end is

the way of death.”

WE NEED A SAVIOR

• Sin is not inherited!– Ezekiel 18:20

“The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall

be upon himself, and the wickedness of

the wicked shall be upon himself.”

WE NEED A SAVIOR

• Sin separates one from God!– Isaiah 59:2

“But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins

have hidden His face from you, So

that He will not hear.”

WE NEED A SAVIOR

• Sin breaks fellowship with God!– 1 John 1:7

“But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship

with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us

from all sin.”

THE SAVIOR IS COMING—MESSAGE OF OLD

TESTAMENT• Bible summarized in

Genesis 12:1-7– Nation– Land – Seed

• Patriarchal Age– 2500 years

• Mosaic Age– 1500 years

• Gospel Age– 2000+ years…

150010000000 500200030004000 1000

Mosaic

John 1:17

Patriarchal

Romans 5:14

Christian

Hebrews 1:2

THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD

BOOKS OF LAW• GENESIS– God’s promises

• EXODUS– A growing nation

• LEVITICUS– Priesthood

• NUMBERS– A census of the people

• DEUTERONOMY– 2nd generation receives

the Law

BOOKS OF HISTORY

• JOSHUA–Conquering the

land

• JUDGES–Othniel—Samuel

(15)

• RUTH–Story of love and

devotion

UNITED KINGDOM

• SAUL–First king

• DAVID–Man after God’s

heart

• SOLOMON–Granted his

request—great wisdom!

DIVIDED KINGDOM

• JEROBOAM–King of 10 tribes—

Northern—ISRAEL

• REHOBOAM–King of 2 tribes—

Southern—JUDAH

• KINGDOM NO LONGER UNITED—DIVIDED!

RETURN FROM EXILE: EZRA AND NEHEMIAH

• After 70 years returned from Babylon– Jeremiah 25:12

• ZERUBBABEL–Rebuilt the temple

• PUNISHMENT ENDED–Allowed to rebuild

walls and gates

RETURN FROM EXILE: EZRA AND NEHEMIAH

• EZRA–Found the book of

the law

• NEHEMIAH–Rebuilt the walls

and gates

• ESTHER–Saved the Jews in

Persia

BOOKS OF WISDOM AND POETRY

• JOB– Human suffering

• PSALMS– Expression of praise

and worship

• PROVERBS– Practical Wisdom

• ECCLESIASTES– Purpose of life

• SONG OF SOLOMON– Value of steadfast love

BOOKS OF PROPHECY

• MAJOR PROPHETS– ISAIAH– JEREMIAH–LAMENTATIONS–EZEKIEL–DANIEL

BOOKS OF PROPHECY

• MINOR PROPHETS–HOSEA– JOEL–AMOS–OBADIAH– JONAH–MICAH

BOOKS OF PROPHECY

• MINOR PROPHETS–NAHUM–HABAKKUK–ZEPHANIAH–HAGGAI–ZECHARIAH–MALACHI

THE NEW TESTAMENT MESSAGE:

OUR SAVIOR HAS COME

“And truly Jesus did many other signs in the

presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are

written that you may believe that Jesus is the

Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.”John 20:30,31

GOSPELS

HISTORY

PASTORALLETTERS GENERAL

LETTERS

PAULINELETTERS

APOCA-LYPTIC

THE GOSPELS: MATTHEW--JOHN

• MATTHEW 1,2– Virgin birth

• MARK 9:1– Some would not die until

the kingdom came with power

• LUKE 19:10– Came to seek and save

the lost

• JOHN 4:24– Worship in spirit and truth

• MATTHEW 16:18,19– Promise to build His

church

ACTS• ACTS 2– Church begins

• ACTS 9– Saul’s conversion

• ACTS 10– First Gentile conversion

• ACTS 12:2– James is martyred

• ACTS 15– First problem in the

church

• PAUL’S THREE PREACHING JOURNEYS

ROMANS• ROMANS 1:16

– Gospel—God’s power to save

• ROMANS 3:23– All have sinned

• ROMANS 6:23– Wages of sin/reward of

faithful

• ROMANS 8:31– God for us—nothing to fear

• ROMANS 12:1,2– Renewing of the mind

• ROMANS 14– Matters of indifference

1 CORINTHIANS

“Now I plead with you, brethren, by the

name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you

all speak the same thing, and that there

be no divisions among you, but that

you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the

same judgment.”

1 Corinthians 1:10

2 CORINTHIANS

“But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,

and he who sows bountifully will also

reap bountifully. So let each one give as he

purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God

loves a cheerful giver.”2 Corinthians 9:6,7

GALATIANS

“But even if we, or an angel from heaven,

preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you

than what you have received, let him be

accursed.”Galatians 1:8,9

EPHESIANS

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as

you were called in one hope of your

calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism;

one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and

in you all.”Ephesians 4:4-6

PHILIPPIANS

“Let nothing be done through selfish

ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of

mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of

you look out not only for his own interests,

but also for the interests of others.”Philippians 2:3,4

COLOSSIANS

“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is,

sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the

earth.”Colossians 3:1,2

1 THESSALONIANS

“Do not quench the Spirit. Do not

despise prophecies. Test all things; hold

fast what is good. Abstain from every

form of evil.”1 Thessalonians 5:19-22

2 THESSALONIANS

“And with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth,

that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie,

that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had

pleasure in unrighteousness.”

2 Thessalonians 2:10-12

1 TIMOTHY

“But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue

righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience,

gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have

confessed the good confession in the presence of

many witnesses.”1 Timothy 6:11,12

2 TIMOTHY

“Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about

words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly

dividing the word of truth.”2 Timothy 2:14,15

Paul’s Last Letter!

TITUS

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,

teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly

lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and

godly in the present age.”Titus 2:11,12

• “But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine.”

• Titus 2:1

PHILEMON

“Having confidence in your obedience, I

write to you, knowing that you will do even

more than I say.”

Philemon 21

THE RUNAW

AY SLAVE

HEBREWS• HEBREWS 1:1-3– Superiority of Christ

• HEBREWS 2:1-4– Danger of drifting

• HEBREWS 4:9– Promise rest

• HEBREWS 5:12-14– Failure to grow

• HEBREWS 9:15-17– Death of testator

• HEBREWS 11– Roll call of the faithful

• “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (11:6)

JAMES

“But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full

of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and

with it we curse men, who have been made in the

similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed

blessing and cursing. My brethren,

these things ought not to be so.”

James 3:8-10

1 PETER

“For he who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking

deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are

open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against

those who do evil.”1 Peter 3:10-12

• “Blessed be the

God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.” (1:3,4)

2 PETER

“But also for this very reason, giving all

diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue

knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control

perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly

kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.”

2 Peter 1:5-7

• ” The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.” (3:9,10)

1 JOHN

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone

loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the

Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”

1 John 2:15-17

2 JOHN

“Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God.

He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this

doctrine, do not receive him into your

house nor greet him; for he who

greets him shares in his evil deeds.”2 John 9-11

3 JOHN

“Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the

brethren and for strangers, who have borne witness of

your love before the church. If you send them

forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God,

you will do well.”3 John 5,6

JUDE

“Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common

salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend

earnestly for the faith which was once for all

delivered to the saints.”Jude 3

REVELATION• REVELATION 1:1,2– Christ’s revelation to John

• REVELATION 1:3– Blessed are those who

READ, KEEP these words

• REVELATION 2,3– Seven churches of Asia

• REVELATION 1:9– John in the kingdom

• REVELATION 21:1-4– Vision of heaven

• REVELATION 22:18,19– Don’t add or subtract

THE NEW TESTAMENT MESSAGE:

OUR SAVIOR COMING AGAIN

• How do we prepare for His 2nd coming?– Obey the gospel– Repent if we are living

in sin– This message can be

understood– This message must be

understood.– Understand this message?– Are you seeking to

understand?

Summary & Conclusion

• The Theme of the Bible:–We Need a Savior–The Savior is Here–The Savior Will Come Again

• The Scheme of Redemption• The Wonderful Story of Love• Why not give the Bible a Read?