Introduction to the Bible

Week 3

HUMAN H

ISTORY

Story Arc

Climax

DenouementExposition

Falling ActionRising A

ctio

n

CREATION

†REDEM

PTION

RESTORATION

FALLCHRIST’S RETURN

The Law

God gave Moses over 600 laws, including the 10 commandments, for the Jewish people to obey.

Timeline: From the Red Sea to the Jordan (c. 15th Century BC)

Bible books: Exodus 15-Deuteronomy

The Law

Essential Qualification• Both in the Old Testament Law and in our

lives today, salvation is offered as a gift through the means that God prescribes

• Obedience to God’s commands has never been a means of personal salvation. People have always been saved by putting their faith in God and his provision for forgiveness (Cf. Romans 4:13, Genesis 15:6)

The Law

For the nation of Israel, the Law is a “contract”

The Mosaic Covenant- “Bilateral” Agreement (See Deuteronomy 28:1,2; Deuteronomy 28:15)

ISRAEL’S PART: ObedienceGOD’S PART: Protection & blessing

The Law, as teacher

1. The Law reveals God’s character– God is holy – God is loving

2. The Law reveals the human condition before God

Humans are Sinful (Isaiah 59:1; Jer. 17:9)

The heart of the law: Profound Love– Deut. 6:5 (first three/four commands);– Leviticus 19:18 (last six/seven)

The Law, as teacher

3. The Law prefigures God’s solution: the Old Testament Sacrificial System

Atonement: A covering, payment for sinThe Law provided a way for individuals to have

their sins ‘covered’ (Leviticus 1:3,4; 16)Romans 3:25-26-God presented Christ as a sacrifice of

atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

The Law

Jesus and Tabernacle

• Old Covenant Symbolism (Heb. 9:6, 7)• New Covenant Fulfillment in Christ

(Heb. 9:11,12)The sacrificial system that the Law

prescribed only established a framework for needed sacrifice

• Inadequacy of Old Covenant (Heb. 10:1-4)

• The Sufficiency of Christ’s Work (Heb. 10:19-23; Cf. Luke 23:45)

Poetry and Wisdom

Bible books: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon

Timeline: Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon were mainly written during the life of David and Solomon (Tenth Century)

• Some Psalms were written as late as the 5th century BC (after the Babylonian exile).

• The story of Job takes place during the time of the Patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob).

Prophets

Bible books: Isaiah-MalachiMajor (longer) prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah,

Ezekiel, DanielMinor (shorter – not less important!)

prophets: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

Timeline: Divided Kingdom-Return from Exile

What is a prophet? God’s Spokesperson

Prophets

A. As a Messenger, a prophet speaks forth a message for their times.

What issues do prophets typically address?

1. The Problem of Idolatry (Jeremiah 2:11-12; Isaiah 44:14-15;19)

2. The Problem of Materialism and Social Injustice (Micah 6:8)

Prophets

B. As a Foreteller, a prophet speaks a message about what God will do in the future. (Isaiah 46:9,10)1. The prophets also reaffirmed God’s

promises to Abraham and David.2. The Prophets looked ahead to the “New

Covenant” bought by Christ, lived by the Spirit• Isaiah 53:12• Jeremiah 31:31-33 • Ezekiel 36:25-28