An overview of the bible
Since the beginning of time, there has been a plan for Jesus and our souls. God’s plan is revealed throughout the entire Bible! Many view the Old and New Testaments as unrelated, but there is an amazing message that begins in the Old Testament and carries through to the New Testament. The message is of God’s love and man’s redemption. That is what this booklet is about. I hope it will be an encouragement to you.
If you have any questions about the material in this booklet or would like to study further, please get into contact with me.
2. What was the purpose of animal sacrifice? Why did God create man? What does God want from me? Why did Jesus have to die? 2
3. 66 books 40 men 3 languages Over 1500 years Written on 3 continents ONE UNIFIED THEME: God’s amazing plan of redemption An Amazing Book 3
4. Teacher Guardian SchoolMaster A Progressive Revelation Old Testament Tutor Christ Galatians 3:24 4 “Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.” JUSTIFIED BY FAITH
5. God’s Eternal Plan God purposed for us to be in fellowship with Him Our purpose is to seek the Lord and to know Him. Acts 17:24-28 5 "The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; 25 nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; 26 and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, 27 that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28 for in Him we live and move and exist “ -Acts 17:24-28 that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us
6. God’s character is defined by holiness God is completely free from moral evil This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5 God is Holy 6 For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness; No evil dwells with You. Psalms 5:4
7. God’s Holiness in Action “For the word of the LORD is upright, And all His work is done in faithfulness. 5 He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the LORD.” God’s holiness is demonstrated to us in His: ”Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Lovingkindness and truth go before You.” Justice and Love 7 Psalm 33:4-5 Psalm 89:14
8. God’s Demand “Thus you are to be holy to Me, for I the LORD am holy; and I have set you apart from the peoples to be Mine.” God instructed His people to be holy because He is holy Leviticus 20:26 We must be holy to have a relationship with God Is this possible? 8
9. The Problem of Sin God cannot and will not tolerate sin Breaking God’s law is sin For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness; No evil dwells with You. Psalms 5:4 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. 1 John 3:4 Sin causes man to be separated from God! 9
10. The Problem of Sin Sin separates us from God spiritually Isaiah 59:2 Spiritual Death Ephesians 2:1 Colossians 2:13 Any sin separates us from a Holy God! “your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God” 10 “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins” -Eph 2:1 “you were dead in your transgressions” -Col 2:13
11. Sin: Our Problem Also “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God ” Romans 3:23 11
12. God’s Justice Demands a Price “the wages of sin is death” Romans 6:23 A Death Sentence! The sinner should justly die for his sin 12
15. In danger of eternal separation from GodWe cannot pay the price for sin alone 13
16. God loves us and helps to pay the price for sin through His But God… (Ephesians 2:4) Grace and Mercy 14 God does not give us what we truly deserve God gives us what we don’t deserve Mercy Grace Life Death
17. God’s Grace and Mercy God allows the price to be paid by an innocent representative Animal sacrifices made atonement for sin Leviticus 16:30 Leviticus 17:11 15 “for it is on this day that atonement shall be made for you to cleanse you; you will be clean from all your sins before the LORD.” “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement.”
18. Blood Pays the Price 16 REPRESENTS BLOOD LIFE ATONES FOR Innocent LIFE SINNER RECIEVES THE PENALTY OF Guilty LIFE Innocent LIFE “without shedding of blood there is no remission” -Hebrews 9:22
19. Facts about Animal Sacrifice The animal had to be innocent If animals had the ability to sin, they would be liable for their own sins The animal had to be perfect Leviticus 22:21-27 The guilty did not deserve this substitution! 17
20. What Made Sacrifice Work? Just the act of sacrifice? Was it good enough just to believe In animal sacrifice? What made it effective? The Faith of the Believer 18
21. Faith Must Respond Hebrews 11:6 demonstrates faith God requires belief based action James 2:14, 24 Belief and Action 19 “What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? “(v14) “You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.”(v24). NO! “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is andthat He is a rewarderof those who seek Him.”
22. Old Testament Examples By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice -Heb 11:4 By faith Noah… in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household -Heb 11:7 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance -Heb 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac -Heb 11:17 20
23. “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” -John 1:29 God’s Sacrificial Lamb 21
26. “My Servant, will justify the many, as He will bear their iniquities” (v11). Isaiah 53 Matthew 26:28
27. Jesus Paid the Price Jesus’ sinless life qualified Him to be a sacrifice to die in place of the guilty He died for you and me! 23 1 John 3:5 1 Peter1:18-19 “knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.” “You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin.” Hebrews 2:9
28. Jesus Defeated Sin & Death He defeated sin and the death that it causes by the resurrection Without the resurrection, Jesus’ death for our sins is meaningless (1 Cor. 15.13-22) “if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.” 24
29. The Gospel “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.’” --Mark 16:15 25
30. An Important Message Jesus will come “in flaming fire, 8 dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power” Romans 1:16 The Gospel = Salvation God’s Power 26 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” Seriousness of obeying the gospel -2 Thessalonians 1:7-9
31. 27 What must I do to be saved from my sins? What must I do to obey the Gospel?
33. 29 What must I do to be saved from my sins? What must I do to obey the Gospel?
34. Animal Sacrifice in Leviticus 1 In the Old Testament the sinner was active in the sacrifice of the animal He brought the animal to the priest He laid his hands on the head of the animal He killed the animal The priest offered the animal as a burnt offering Leviticus 1:1-9 The guilty paid the price or symbolically died with the sacrifice 30
35. United w/ our Sacrifice “For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin” We must die with our innocent representative to have our sins forgiven Romans 6:5-6 31
36. New Testament terminology identifying the point when one is forgiven: 32 …If we died with Him we shall also live with Him 2 Timothy 2:11 Now if we died with Christ we believe we will also live with Him. Romans 6:8 …for you died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:3 I have been crucified with Christ… Galatians 2:20 When does this happen?
37. When does God say that I am: Dead to sin? Freed from sin? Dying with Christ? Crucified with Christ? United with Christ in His death? We need God’s answer! He gives it in Romans 6 33
38. “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2 May it never be! How shall we who died to sinstill live in it?...Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” When does this happen. Look at v3! “Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.” Dead to sin Romans 6:2, 11 “knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin” Dying with Christ Romans 6:3-4 “For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection” “for he who has died is freedfrom sin.” United with Christ in His death Romans 6:5 Crucified with Christ Romans 6:6 Freed from sin Romans 6:7 34
39. United with Christ’s death…through faith Romans 6:17-18 United with Christ by FAITH 35 “But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.” For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. --Galatians 3:26-27 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead --Colossians 2:12 obedient from the heart
40. Sanctified (Romans 6:22) Spiritually Dead Ephesians 2:1, 5 New Life, Born Again 2 Corinthians 5:17 John 3:5 Raised into New Life Buried With Jesus By our Faith (Col.2:12) Romans 6:4, Colossians 2:12 United with Jesus in His Death Romans 6:5
41. Counting the Cost God expects us to be obedient and make the appropriate changes in our lives (Repentance) Romans 6:1-2; 10-16 37 “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, 13 and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2 May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?”
42. A Gift from God! Romans 6 But now having been freed from sin (v7) and enslaved to God (v16), you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. 38 Made Holy! Gift
44. Acts 2: The 1st Gospel Sermon When Peter preached to the crowd on the day of Pentecost, they believed the gospel and were convicted of their sin. They asked the Apostles: “Men and Brethren, What shall we do?” (Acts 2:37) How did Peter answer this question? 40
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46. “Just say this prayer with me and Jesus will come into your heart.”
47. “It seems like you already believe what I’ve said, so you are already saved!” 41
48. Peter’s answer... 42 “Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).”
52. Paul’s conversion: Acts 9 & 22 Paul’s sins were not washed away by his belief, his repentance, or his prayers. He was told by Ananias what he needed to do in Acts 22:16 44 “Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins”
54. Jesus’ Teaching Can someone leave one of these out if they want to be a disciple? Matthew 28:19-20 How does this text teach disciples are made? "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always , even to the end of the age." 1 baptizing them 2 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you 46
55. Mark 16:15-16 47 Jesus’ Teaching + “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.” Most religious groups teach that belief w/o baptism brings salvation Belief – baptism = saved? Does 1-1=2 ? 1-1= 2 Belief Baptism Saved
56. Jesus’ Teaching John 3:5 48 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit -Titus 3:4-5 "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God..." "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” Jesus is saying the same thing that Romans 6 teaches washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit
58. 2nd century baptism beliefs These writings are not inspired. They are not part of the Bible. They are not authoritative in determining doctrine. However, these quotes do contain an interesting picture of the doctrine early Christians believed. What did the Christians right after the time of the Apostles teach? How did they understand what Jesus, His Apostles, and His Prophets taught in their writings? 50
59. Barnabas wrote in 70 AD: “Blessed are they who, placing their trust in the cross, have gone down into the water; for, says He, they shall receive their reward in due time...we indeed descend into the water full of sins and defilement, but come up, bearing fruit in our heart, having the fear [of God] and trust in Jesus in our spirit.” (The Early Church Fathers: Ante-Nicene Fathers Volume 1, The Epistle of Barnabas 11:114-16) 51
60. Irenaeus wrote in 120-205 AD: "As we are lepers in sin, we are made clean from our old transgressions by means of the sacred water and the invocation of the Lord. We are thus spiritually regenerated as newborn infants, even as the Lord has declared: 'Except a man be born again through water and the Spirit, he shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.'" (Irenaeus, "Fragments From Lost Writings", no. 34, Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1, pg. 574) What was the main proof text early Christians used for baptism? 52 John 3:5 'Except a man be born again through water and the Spirit, he shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.'"
61. In 110-165 AD, Justin Martyr wrote: “they are brought by us where there is water, and are regenerated in the same manner in which we were ourselves regenerated. For, in the name of God, the Father and Lord of the universe, and of our Savior Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit, they then receive the washing with water. For Christ also said, Now, that it is impossible for 'Except ye be born again, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Justin Martyr, "First Apology," Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1, pg. 183) 53 It seems Justin Martyr is using Titus 3:5 and John 3:5 as parallel verses! Titus 3:5 John 3:5 regenerated in the same manner in which we were ourselves regenerated. washing with water 'Except ye be born again, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”
62. In 140-230 AD, Tertullian wrote, "Baptism itself is a corporal act by which we are plunged into the water, while its effect is spiritual, in that we are freed from our sins" (Baptism 7:2). 54 freed from our sins That is what Romans 6:7 teaches! “for he who has died is freed from sin.” freed from sin
63. In 140-230 AD, Tertullian wrote, "Happy is our sacrament of water, in that, by washing away the sins of our early blindness, we are set free and admitted into eternal life!... The consequence is, that a viper of the Cainite heresy, lately conversant in this quarter, has carried away a great number with her most venomous doctrine, making it her first aim to destroy baptism. Which is quite in accordance with nature; for vipers and asps and serpents themselves generally do affect arid and waterless places. (On Baptism, Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 3, pg. 669.) are set free and admitted into eternal life! 55 washing away the sins of our early blindness, we making it her first aim to destroy baptism Tertullian is combating a false doctrine that was denying the importance of baptism!
64. Tertullian also wrote, "The prescript is laid down that 'without baptism, salvation is attainable by none' chiefly on the ground of that declaration of the Lord, who says, 'Unless one be born of water, he hath not life.'" (On Baptism, Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 3, pg. 674-675) 56 'without baptism, salvation is attainable by none' John 3:5
65. In 150-200 AD, CLEMENT wrote, “when you are regenerated and born again of water and of God, the frailty of your former birth, which you have through men, is cut off, and so at length you shall be able to attain salvation; but otherwise it is impossible. For thus hath the true prophet testified to us with an oath: 'Verily I say to you, That unless a man is born again of water, he shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.' Therefore make haste; for there is in these waters a certain power of mercy which was borne upon them at the beginning...Betake yourselves therefore to these waters, for they alone can quench the violence of the future fire; and he who delays to approach to them, it is evident that the idol of unbelief remains in him, and by it he is prevented from hastening to the waters which confer salvation." (Clement, "Recognitions of Clement," Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 8, pg. 155) 57
68. You deserve death for disobeying GodGod gives you a way to be forgiven: Jesus Christ He died for your sins so you could be sanctified! Will you obey the gospel? 58
69. Be Sanctified (Romans 6:22) Are You Spiritually Dead? Why do you delay? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord. Acts 22:16 Be Raised into New Life Be Buried With Jesus By Your Faith (Col.2:12) Romans 6:4, Colossians 2:12 Be United with Him in His Death Romans 6:5
