|
T |
here are those who consider studying the
Bible, but come to the conclusion that it is too difficult to understand. It is
true that the Bible is filled with many facts and even mysteries, but it is a
fact that the overall picture of the Bible can be understood in three steps.
May we consider these three?
The
first step declares
that SOMEONE IS COMING! The first announcement of this began in the Garden of
Eden, when disobedience by the first couple brought both physical and spiritual
death. However, the promise that SOMEONE IS COMING involved only spiritual
death, because all would face physical death. “For as in Adam all die, even
so in Christ all shall be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22). The One coming to bruise the head of
the serpent would be born of the Seed of Woman (Genesis 3:15).
Therefore,
when God appeared to Abraham, He put the future plan for salvation into action!
For God promised him, “I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse
him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:3). The prophets over
the years also announced the coming of the great One as to His purpose, His
kingdom, His ministry, and even His sacrificial death! (Isaiah 53).
The
second step
announces the good news that SOMEONE HAS COME! At the birth of God’s Son and
the world’s Savior, an angelic chorus sang, “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:14). He was called Jesus Christ, and lived up
to the greatness of His name by His authoritative teaching, divine promises,
and His powerful miracles.
Even
the death He experienced fulfilled God’s plan to bring salvation. “He who
believes and is baptized will be saved; . .” (Mark 16:16). After His death, He came forth from the
grave, and after proving to many eyewitnesses that He was alive and the
resurrected One, He was taken up in a cloud to reign at the right hand of His
Father.
The
third step reminds
us that Jesus will return at His second coming, the same way He was taken up
(Acts 1:11). To some, His return will be a joyful time, but to the ones lost, it
will be a sad time for eternal destruction. Jesus, the Son of God will be the
Judge of both good and evil (Acts 17:31).
Those who have allowed His blood to cleanse them through obedience and
faithfulness will receive eternal joy, but those who have refused Him will receive eternal punishment! “And
these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal
life” (Matthew
25:46).