Bird’s eye view of the Bible

Q. If you had to summarize the Bible in a word, what would it be? A. JESUS

Q. In a word what would you say is the main theme of the Bible? A. REDEMPTION

Q. Is it easy or difficult to summarize the Bible? Why?____________________________

Summarize the Bible in several words: God’s amazing love-relationship with mankind through Jesus Christ

Summarize the Bible in a complete sentence: God loved mankind so much that he began working out a plan of redemption (Genesis through John), culminating in the shed blood of Jesus Christ, to bring them (us) back into a love-relationship with Himself.

Main purpose of the Bible: for God to reveal Himself , His glory, and His redemptive plan to mankind.

List 4 major events of the Bible

1. CREATION

2. THE FALL

3. CHRIST’S DEATH, BURRIAL & RESURRECTION & subsequent REDEMPTION of mankind

4. THE RE-CREATION OF THE HEAVENS & EARTH

List 5 Key verses/passages:
1. Genesis 3:15 – Declares that the Messiah will come!
2. Habukkuk 2:4 and Romans 1:17 – The just shall live by faith
3. John 3:16 – God loves us and sent Jesus to give us everlasting life, by placing our faith in Him
4. Matthew 22:37-40 – Culmination of the Bible’s teaching: love God first and love people
5. Matthew 28: 19-20 – Make disciples and share the gospel with the whole world

Some evidence that the Bible is all about Jesus:
• John 1:1-3; 14 He was there at the very beginning of the Scriptures in the Creation with God and He is the living Word of God!
• Revelation 21:22 He is there at the end of the Scriptures, in the new heavens & earth & new Jerusalem
He is everywhere in between!
• Gen. 3:15 He was foretold at The Fall -- Christ, the Messiah, was the “seed” of Eve, who would come and crush the “head” or power of Satan.
• Luke 24:25-26,44 Jesus appears to the two men on Emmaus Road and explains all that the O.T. Scriptures foretold and taught about Him
• 1 Corinthians 10:1-4 Christ was the rock that showed up time and again with the Israelites in their wilderness wanderings (Exod. 17:6; Numbers 20:11-12; )
• John 6: 47-51 The O.T. manna of the Israelites wilderness wanderings pointed to Christ
• John 3:14-15; 1 Cor. 10:9-11; Numbers 21:8-9 The bronze serpent on the pole prefigured Jesus on the cross, and how we are saved by believing in His substitutionary death.
• Hebrews 8-10 explain that the O.T. sacrificial system was pointing to Jesus all along!
• Colossians 2:16-17 The O.T. feast days, festivals and Sabbaths were only “shadows” whose purpose was to point to Christ
• Matthew 12:39-40 The real-life story of Jonah being swallowed up by a whale for 3 days foreshadowed Jesus’ death, burial & resurrection after 3 days in the tomb.
• Isaiah 52:13-53:12 & Psalm 22 prophesy of Jesus’ sin bearing and suffering for mankind
• Isaiah 11:1-2; Jeremiah 33:15-16; Zechariah 6: 11-13 Messiah is “the Branch” and Joshua/Jesus will be His name! (Yeshua in Hebrew; Jesus in Greek) = proves that even in the Old Testament, the name of Jesus was foretold as Messiah, the Branch.
• And many other prophecies of the coming Messiah! (Is. 7:14; 9:6-7 etc.)

Major themes and teachings of the
OLD TESTAMENT:

1. The MESSIAH (Yeshua) is coming!

2. God loves people but hates & must punish SIN. Sin separates us from God.

3. The world is utterly corrupt and needs God’s FORGIVENESS and redemption.

4. God is HOLY and righteous.

5. Keep THE LAW by faith and so live right with God and man (but this was humanly impossible)

6. Obedience is BLESSED; disobedience is JUDGED/PUNISHED

7. SATAN is a liar and deceiver and wants to steal, kill, and destroy.

8. The Jews as a nation were to live in such a way as to be a LIGHT to the Gentiles, to showcase the One and only true God.

9. Love GOD and love PEOPLE— and so fulfill the greatest commandments of God.


Major themes and teachings of the
NEW TESTAMENT:

1. The Messiah (Yeshua/Jesus) is HERE!

2. God loved the world so much that He sent JESUS to die (be punished) for our sins. Jesus reconciles us to God.

3. REPENT and believe (in Jesus) and receive salvation and the forgiveness of sin.

4. Man can be HOLY and righteous in Christ.

5. God extends GRACE to us as we place our faith in Christ. Then we are empowered by His HOLY SPIRIT, that we may live right with God and man.

6. OBEDIENCE — motivated by the winsome love of God, working through faith, is blessed; disobedience is punished.

7. SATAN is still a liar and deceiver and wants to steal, kill, and destroy.

8. Serve God by using our SPIRITUAL GIFTS in the church, making disciples and by spreading the gospel (good news) of Jesus.

9. Love GOD & love PEOPLE — and so fulfill the greatest commandments of God.