Introducing.....the Big Bible Picture

The Pilgrim’s Guide to the Bible

No. 2

Have you ever taken a peep at the last page of a book before you’ve actually got there? Sometimes, it’s hard to resist. We like to know where a story is going. Can we expect a happy or a sad ending?

As Christians, we already know the final scene in God’s Big Story. We know that Jesus will return to earth, wrap up world history, and inaugurate his new kingdom. So, we know where we are heading, but how do we get there? And where do we fit into this story? What does the Bible tell us about God’s plans?

From before the beginning of time, God has planned to have a people who will belong to Him: a people marked by holiness; a people who will live in perfect relationship with Himself and live out God’s Kingdom values. The Bible begins with the story of Adam and Eve who enjoyed this intimacy with God. Sadly, things went wrong! They yielded to temptation.

Sin has separated us from God. The rest of the biblical story, from Genesis 3:21 onwards, recounts how God has taken the initiative by putting in place a plan for restoring the broken relationship between Himself and the human race.

The Bible outlines the story of God’s big plan. Most of it has already happened, but we still await the final chapter! It is rather like a play, with a prologue and five acts.

The Drama of Scripture – a life changing experience in Five Acts.

The Prologue: Genesis 1 – 2, John 1

In the Beginning, God made….

The Bible begins by introducing us to the first great theme of the Bible: God’s creation.

God is the sovereign Creator of everything: matter, energy, space, time. Everything that exists is made by God, and there is an order and purpose to it. The human beings are the pinnacle of God’s creation. Humans are made ‘in the image’ of God. We are here because God has put us here. There is a reason for our existence. Everything about creation is good.

The only way to discover the reason why God made the world is to recognise God’s ‘Lordship’ over our lives.

Act 1: Rebellion: Genesis: Chapters 3 - 11

Genesis 3:11 ‘Who told you?’

The first act of the human world begins with rebellion. Here we have the story of human disobedience towards God.

There are three major scenes in this Act.

Scene 1 Fall

Creation is followed by corruption. In the first recorded sin (Adam and Eve eat the forbidden fruit), people are separated from God, and in the second recorded sin, human relationships are damaged (Cain murders his brother, Abel).

But, despite the consequences of the Fall, we see the beginnings of the hope of redemption.

Gen 3:15 – the woman’s offspring will bring the hope of redemption from the consequences of the serpent’s actions. (Here is the first hint that God will send a Messiah into the world.)

We learn that redemption, even at this early stage in the story, is God’s initiative.

Scene 2 Flood

As people begin to multiply, so too does sin, until God is compelled to destroy the world, except for Noah and his family. God covenants with the world that never again will He destroy the world in this way.

Scene 3 Nations (the story of the tower of Babel)

Sin continues to dominate human society. We are all descendants of Adam, i.e., we share a common humanity, but because of human rebellion and pride, God fragments the single culture and language of the post-flood era and scatters people over the face of the world.

Act 2: Redemption Initiated: The Old Testament

The story of the Old Testament is the story of God’s dealings with His chosen people. Beginning with the call of Abraham, right up to the end of the second exile – in Babylon, God works through the nation of Israel to begin the process of redemption.

Scene 1 A People for the King Genesis 12: 1 – 3

God calls Abraham. The work of redemption is underway. God focuses on one man and his descendants, through whom He will bless all the nations of earth. (12-50)

The call of Abraham is the pivotal story of the book of Genesis. God gives him three covenant promises: land, descendants, blessing. These are foundational to His programme of bringing salvation to the earth.

Scene 2 A land for the people Deuteronomy 34

Moses’ task is to bring the people to the land of promise. The land is central to the story of God’s people. It reminds us of God’s faithfulness to His people – He had a place for them - a visible sign of God’s covenant. The land is a sign of God’s promise.

Scene 3 Redemption Foretold: Jeremiah 31: 31 – 33

The promise of a new covenant

‘The time is coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them.’

‘This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after that time.’ declares the Lord. ‘I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God and they will be my people.’

Throughout the story, we see the development of the Messianic Hope: God’s Chosen One who usher in a new reign of peace and prosperity.

The key characters in this Act are:

Abraham: the call and the covenant established.

Jacob: God takes this selfish man and transforms him into the father of the 12 tribes.

Joseph: he turns out to be his family’s (and nation’s) deliverer from famine. His act of redemption foreshadows the work of Jesus.

Moses: The first great leader and prophet of the nation. The Exodus story of redemption prefigures the redemptive work of Christ.

Joshua: A story of leadership and courage. ‘Be bold, be courageous, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go’ (Joshua 1:9)

The Judges and Kings: the history of the nation moves through recurring periods of sin, repentance and further sin, culminating in exile and the destruction of Jerusalem.

The Prophets: brought God’s message to the nation. We see their message developing over time, as they address the sorry plight of the people of their own generation, and increasingly look forward to a time when God will intervene in the affairs of the world directly – the Messianic Hope.

Amongst the heroes of the prophetic movement are:

Samuel: prophet priest and judge. He foreshadows the work of Christ.

Elijah: the man of God, who stands up against the false prophets of his time.

He calls the people to repentance.

Elisha: the prophet with a pastoral heart – demonstrating God’s

compassionate concern for people.

Isaiah: ) The big three OT Prophets, who brought messages of

Jeremiah: ) warning, judgment, and hope to the nation.

Ezekiel: )

Daniel: the God fearing prophet of the exilic period.

The Minor Prophets: Minor because their books are short – not because

their message is insignificant. They maintain the tradition of bringing

God’s word to the people.

Act 3: The Coming of the King: The Gospels

As we turn to the New Testament, we reach God’s ultimate solution to the problem of human sin. Jesus, the central figure of the story, makes his appearance on earth. His coming is prophesied in the Old Testament, narrated in the Gospels, and explained in the Epistles.

Scenes 1 – 4 Matthew, Mark, Luke, John (combined)

Jesus is the centre of history

Galatians 4:4 When the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.

Jesus is firmly established within the story of God’s people:

Matthew 1:1: Jesus, the Christ, son of David, son of Abraham.

Jesus inaugurates a new creation.

Mark 1:15: The time has come. The Kingdom of God is here. Repent, and believe the good news.

Jesus has a clear mission

Luke 4:18: The spirit of God is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners, and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.

Jesus role is unique within God’s redemptive plan for the world.

John 14:6: ‘I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No-one comes to the Father except through me.’

Jesus said, ‘I am the way, the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me.’ (John 14:6)

His death and resurrection offers the once for all, final solution to the problem of sin. Through faith in him, we are granted the gift of eternal life.

Act 4: Spreading the News of the King: Acts and Epistles

Following the ascension of Jesus, we see the rapid growth of the community of believers, from a small group of dejected followers huddled in the Upper Room, to a vast movement, reaching every culture and community on earth. The church spreads from Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria, across the Roman Empire to Rome, and onwards to every part of the world.

Acts 28:31 Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.

The key character in this Act is the Holy Spirit. The apostles feature in the story, but it is God who grows the church.

Scene 1 The Mission of the Church

The Spirit forms a community.

Acts 2: 42 – 47: They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to the fellowship.to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Scene 2 Into all the world.

Our commission as God’s people.

Matthew 28: 19: Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

Our calling – we too are called to continue the work.

Scene 3 Living the Faith

The letters, written by Paul and other apostles, offer practical advise and guidelines for living as kingdom people within the community of God’s family.

Act 5: The Return of the King: Revelation

Redemption completed. We look forward to a new age, ‘a new heaven and a new earth’ (Revelation 21:1), when we shall be with God.

Revelation 21:3-4 God’s home is with His People.

‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them, and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’

Here, in the Book of Revelation, we have a picture of the new age. God will restore the whole of creation to His perfect plan.

We are part of God’s big story!

The Christian life is a journey. We are pilgrims, called to live as disciples of Jesus Christ, with the privilege of belonging to God’s people, and the responsibility of sharing in His mission. These responsibilities include:

· being part of the church, founded by the apostles, and still going strong!

· Believing the Good News and teaching the lessons of the apostles.

· being engaged in the mission of the whole church;

to share in God’s vision: teach, baptize, nurture

respond to human need

transform unjust structures.

to make disciples

What do we need for the journey?

• the presence of the Holy Spirit (God with us)

• each other (the fellowship of the church)

• spiritual nourishment – a life based on prayer and Bible reading.