The Bible - Its Theme
 

English	Origin	Theme	Main Character	Application
Latviski	Pirmavots	Tēmats	Pamata Persons	Izlietošan

The object of this lesson is to explain the theme of the Bible. We'll see how this one theme is
woven throughout the Old and New Testaments.

A. MAN WAS MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD Key Verses: Genesis 1:26, 27.

1. This does not mean man was made in the physical image of God, for God is Spirit (John 4:24).

2. This does mean the immaterial part of man was created in God's likeness.
This is the part of man which sets him apart from all other earthly creatures. We were made in the image of God in three ways:

Intellect: Man's capacity to use his mind. Only man has a concept of God.

Sensibility: Man has the complex emotion of love, hate, anger, joy, compassion, etc.

Will: When God fashioned man, He did not want a robot or an automaton. He gave man a will which could be exercised in one of two ways: to be obedient to the will of God, or to rebel against God and exert self-will.

B. MAN NEEDED A CHOICE

1. In order for man's will to be of value, he had to have the right of choice.

2. Every inducement to live in obedience to God was made in the Garden of Eden. The choice was man's.

3. God said, "There is one tree I do not want you to eat of" (Genesis 2:17). God gave man an opportunity to freely use his will.

C. OPPOSITION TO GOD'S REVEALED WILL IS SIN

God told man if he exercised his will in disobedience to God's will, he would then have to pay a penalty for his sin. The penalty then, as always, was death (Genesis 2:17).

D. MAN SINNED

Man used his will to disobey God, sinned, and therefore died
(Genesis 3:1-15).

1. Death, in Biblical terms, always means separation. There are different types of death mentioned in the Bible, yet each one means a type of separation.

2. Adam died spiritually. Spiritual death is the separation of man from God forever. See how Adam attempted to hide from God, a symptom of separation (Genesis 3:8, 9). The Bible tells us, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).

E. GOD EXPLAINS THE PLAN

The Bible was written to explain God's wonderful plan for man enabling him to
once again know God and have fellowship with Him.

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 into 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.

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

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

3. Isaac, Abraham's son, was in the lineage (Genesis 17:!9).

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

5. Jacob, whose name was changed 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 49:10).

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 sins (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

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

2. Poetry, mostly written by the people of Israel. Includes the books of Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, and Lamentations.

3. Prophecy concerning the future of Israel and Gentile nation. The books have historical settings and include Isaiah through Malachi except Lamentations.

A. GOSPELS

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

1. Matthew sees Jesus as a King.

2. Mark presents Christ as a Servant.

3. Luke presents Christ as a Man.

4. 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.