The Bible -- Its Theme (Part 2)

II. THE THEME UNFOLDED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

The theme of Scripture is the redemption of mankind.  The Scriptures tell us how God buys man back.  Sinful man was doomed to die but in His mercy, God arranged a way for justice to be fully satisfied – a way for man to return to Him in complete fellowship.

A. MAN DIED SPIRITUALLY

The moment man sinned, he died spiritually and the penalty of death was upon him.  At that moment God stepped in and declared His intention to buy man back, to pay the price required to set man free.  This is declared in the prophetic verse of Genesis 3:15.

        B. THE PROMISED ONE COMING

This One promised would come in to the world at the right moment in God’s time (Galatians 4:4).  The Old Testament is the story of how God prepared a people and nurtured a lineage for this One who would redeem mankind.

·        The lineage begins with Seth (Genesis 4:25, 26).

·        It continues with Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3).

·        Isaac, Abraham’s son, was in the lineage (Genesis 17:19).

·        God selected Jacob to continue the line (Genesis 32:24-28).

·        Jacob, whose name was charged to Israel, had twelve sons who fathered the tribes of the nation of Israel Through which the Redeemer was to come.  The specific tribe from which He would come was Judah (Genesis 32:24-28).

Most of the Old Testament is concerned with the nation of Israel.  It tells how God delivered them from bondage, how He gave them the law and the sacrificial system and provided atonement for sin (This system typified the Lamb of God who one day would be sacrificed for all men, John 1:29).

        C. DIVISIONS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

·        History of the world and mankind, but especially of the nation Israel.  Includes the books of Genesis through Esther.

·        Poetry, mostly written by the people of Israel.  Includes the book of Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon.

·        Prophecy concerning the future of Israel and Gentile nations.  The books have historical settings and included Isaiah through Malachi.

III. THE THEME REVEALED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

        A. GOSPELS

The first four books of the New Testament are called the Gospels.  They are the eyewitness accounts of four men who observed The One who came to pay the price to buy man back.  They see Christ from four different viewpoints.

·        Matthew sees Christ as King.

·        Mark presents Christ as a Servant.

·        Luke presents Christ as a Man.

·        John presents Christ as God.

        B. HISTORY   

The book of Acts is a history of the work and faith of the early Christians after the ascension of Christ.

        C. LETTERS

From Romans to Jude, these letters were written to individuals and churches to instruct Christians how the redeemed are to live.

        D. PROPHECY

The Book of Revelation foretells where the redeemed ones will live forever.  It also foretells the doom of those who reject the Redeemer.