Dec 21-27-08 The Bible Getting The Big Picture

The Bible: Getting the Big Picture

2 Timothy 3:16 NET Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for

reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the person

dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.


As Paul indicates to Timothy and many other passages affirm, the Bible is the

ultimate authority for Christian faith and practice. It is crucial to interpret Scripture

in light of its overall context.


The Bible as it has come down to us is laid out in two parts: the Old Testament, covering the period before Christ, and the New Testament, the period after Christ. The biblical record is a

three-part story:

Part I: God's Original Creation (Genesis 1-2)

The eternal God created a perfect, beautiful world and put it under the management of Adam and Eve and their successors. (Gen.

1-2)

Part I: God's Original Creation (Genesis 1-2)

No one knows how long this part of the story lasted, but Scripture devotes only

the first two of its 1,189 chapters to telling it.

Part II: The Human Dilemma & God's Response (Gen. 3—Rev. 20)

The second part of the story takes up all but the last two chapters of the Bible. Two

story lines weave throughout the record.


One reveals how the balance and beauty of cre ation is terribly damaged by sin and

rebellion. The other unfolds God's response to rescue His creatures and the

creation from this dilemma.


His redemptive work is promised through Israel (as recorded in the Old Testament), provided through Christ (as recorded in the Gospels),

and then applied in and through the church (as told in Acts and the letters).


The Book of Revelation's first 20 chapters display events related to Christ's return to

earth.

Part III: The Achievement of God's Original Design (Rev. 21-22)

The last two chapters of the Bible tell the final third of the story. They offer great hope to the reader by promising a new

heaven and earth.

Part III: The Achievement of God's Original Design (Rev. 21-22)

God's original intentions for the creation will finally and fully be achieved. This parallels and fulfills Genesis 1-2 and also reflects the values of Christ, who is the focus of the

whole Bible.

Reading the Bible

Because the middle third of the account comprises 99 percent of the text, it grabs most

of the attention of Bible readers. But to properly understand it, one must keep the first

and third parts firmly in mind.

Reading the Bible

Like two bookends, they frame and anchor the big picture of God's work throughout history, as shown by the diagram on the

next slide.

Part IIPart I Part III

God’s Plan Begun God’s Plan Achieved

Reading the Bible

They provide the crucial context for the double story line of rebellion and

restoration etched through the middle of the account.

Reading the Bible

That middle part often makes for rather painful reading. With forceful realism it

shows the cruelty that sin unleashes on all of creation.

Reading the Bible

Some readers would prefer to skip over or dismiss that aspect of the story. But God refuses to distort reality or put a positive

"spin" on it.

Reading the Bible

He includes the horrors of sin in His record as "examples to avoid.“

1 Corinthians 10:6 NET These things happened as examples for us, so that we will not

crave evil things as they did.

Reading the Bible

He lets nothing escape either exposure or resolution in Jesus Christ.

(Word In Life Study Bible)

Counterfeit Christianity

Wherever people accept the truth of God and begin practicing it, counterfeits soon

surface. That's what Paul found at Ephesus, and what he warns Timothy

about.


2 Timothy 3:8 NET And just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these people

— who have warped minds and are disqualified in the faith — also oppose the

truth.


9 But they will not go much further, for their foolishness will be obvious to everyone,

just like it was with Jannes and Jambres.


He mentions two characters, Jannes and Jambres, whose names mean "he who seduces" and "he who is rebellious."


Neither name is in the Old Testament, but Jewish legend held that these were the names of two Egyptian magicians who opposed Moses' demand of Pharaoh to

free the Israelites.


They tried to duplicate the miracles of Moses in an attempt to discredit him. But God showed that Moses' authority was

more powerful.


Exodus 7:11 NET Then Pharaoh also summoned wise men and sorcerers, and

the magicians of Egypt by their secret arts did the same thing.


12 Each man threw down his staff, and the staffs became snakes. But Aaron's staff

swallowed up their staffs.


Exodus 7:22 NET But the magicians of Egypt did the same by their secret arts, and so

Pharaoh's heart remained hard, and he refused to listen to Moses and Aaron —

just as the LORD had predicted.


Paul faced a similar experience at Ephesus. For two years he taught the message of Christ there, in a culture heavily steeped

in pagan idolatry and occultism.


God confirmed his teaching through powerful miracles and the release of many

from evil spirits.


But local exorcists attempted to duplicate the miracles. Their scheme backfired, however, to the benefit of the gospel.


Acts 19:11 God was performing extraordinary miracles by Paul's hands, 12 so that when

even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his body were brought to the sick, their diseases left them and the evil spirits

went out of them.


13 But some itinerant Jewish exorcists tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were possessed by evil spirits,

saying, "I sternly warn you by Jesus whom Paul preaches."


14 (Now seven sons of a man named Sceva, a Jewish high priest, were doing this.) 15 But the evil spirit replied to them, "I know about Jesus and I am acquainted

with Paul, but who are you?"


16 Then the man who was possessed by the evil spirit jumped on them and beat them all into

submission. He prevailed against them so that they fled from that house naked and wounded.


17 This became known to all who lived in Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks; fear

came over them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was praised.


18 Many of those who had believed came forward, confessing and making their

deeds known.


19 Large numbers of those who had practiced magic collected their books and

burned them up in the presence of everyone.


When the value of the books was added up, it was found to total fifty thousand silver coins. 20 In this way the word of the Lord

continued to grow in power and to prevail.


Counterfeits to the truth of Christ abound today, as Paul predicted they would. If we

effectively communicate the gospel to friends and coworkers,


we can virtually count on the fact that competing systems and worldviews will

soon appear. That's why we must,


"continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of," basing our

lives and our witness on the firm foundation of Scripture.

(Word In Life Study Bible)


2 Timothy 3:14 NET You, however, must continue in the things you have learned and are confident about. You know who

taught you


15 and how from infancy you have known the holy writings, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in

Christ Jesus.


16 Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for

correction, and for training in righteousness,


17 that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good

work.

The Bible, God’s Word, Only Guide

We started this lesson with Paul’s statement to Timothy about the ultimate authority and usefulness of The Bible,

God’s Word. And we bring it to an end at the same point.

The Bible, God’s Word, Only Guide

The fact is The Bible, God’s Word, is our only guide into the hope and security of Jesus Love which brings us salvation.

Salvation In No One Else

Acts 4:11 NET This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, that has

become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among people by

which we must be saved."


I hope we all grasp the key to these two articles. Throughout all time, since the

beginning of creation, God had a plan. He gave glimpses of His plan through

Prophets.


Then when the time was right he showed us his plan for redeeming humans through His Son, Jesus. At His chosen time He

will Restore humans to Himself as we see in The Revelation to John.

Well done, good and faithful slave

The question is this: Are we who claim to belong to Him reaching out to others who

need his saving grace? When the day arrives will He say to each of us:

Well done, good and faithful slave

Matthew 25:21 NET His master answered, 'Well done, good and faithful slave! You have

been faithful in a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the

joy of your master.'

Education

Dec 21-27-08 The Bible Getting The Big Picture