The Bible in 25 Minutes (What does God want from you?)

Voltaire, 18^th century French philosopher, predicted that the Bible would vanish within a hundred years – two hundred years ago. Nathaniel Webster said of the Bible, “I pity the man who cannot find in it a rich supply of thought and rules for conduct.” Abe Lincoln called it “the best gift God has given to man. And but for it we could not know right from wrong.” Greek scholar, A.T. Roberson said, “Give a man an opened Bible, an opened mind, and a conscience in good working order and he will have a hard time to keep from being a Baptist.”

George Gallop says that Americans revere the Bible but they don't read it. Many think that the Bible is beyond the understanding of common folks.

Today I will try to give you the basic arrangement, theme, and message of the Bible - written in 66 books - written by at least 30 different writers - writing over 1500 years - in different styles of writing - in different places and times attitudes - in different languages (Hebrew and Greek) - without knowing each others writings – yet fitting together into a book that tells what God wants from you.

THE BEGINNING The Table of Contents

Old Testament – Three sections

1. The Law – 17 books

2. The Writings – 5 books

3. The Prophets – 17 books

The Law – first 5 of 17 called Pentateuch (5 books) – give the law of God which reveals the character of God.

The Law – last 12 of 17 = narrative history of the activity of God which demonstrates His character, avoiding the “resume' problem.”

The Writings – Job through Song of Solomon = the experiences of the people of God – mostly wisdom and devotional literature.

The Prophets – Isaiah through Malachi = God's commentary on the history of Israel.

THE CHARACTER OF GOD

Eternal Creator – Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning, God...”

Loving Creator – Genesis 1:26 “Let us make man...”

Revealing Creator

Of Himself – Genesis 3:8

Of His Standards – Exodus 3:5-6; 6:7; 20

Sovereign (selective) Creator – Genesis 12; 25:23Exodus6:7; Deuteronomy 7:7-8

THEMES IN OLD TESTAMENT

God's Righteousness and Passion for Holiness (God's anger) Exodus19:6

Covenant – legalism versus relationship Genesis 6:18; 17:4; Exodus19:5

Atonement – (at one ment) not to appease or placate, but in relationship

Sacrifice – by guilty of innocent Exodus 12:27; 20:24

Anointed One (Messiah [Hebrew], Christ [Greek]) Hbakkuk3:17 no question of whether, but when Messiah would come. But as OT comes to Malachi God's people are near despair. At time of New Testament hope almost vanished

Old Testament = History, Holiness, Hope

God the Father as Sovereign/Savior God eager to have a relationship with man

God revealing Himself to men as guide and Captain of His army

God the Spirit, hovering over all the earth and inhabiting and empower His chosen for special tasks.

Problem Promise for His People :

Exodus 34:6-7

"The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,

Exo 34:7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty,

NEW TESTAMENT (NEW COVENANT) Christ, Covenant People, Creation - 27 books -4 gospels, Acts, 21 letter, Revelation

CHRIST - 4 stories of Messiah come = gospels

God became man, lived sinless life among needy, sinful men, gave His life for man's sin, resurrected victorious over sin and death, appeared to disciples

- Acts = transition to crucified and risen Jesus working through the church

COVENANT PEOPLE – based on faith in the Sovereign becoming the substitute ... Son of Man came to give His life a ransom Matthew20:28 Lion becomes the Lamb Revelation 5

CREATION REDEEMED – New heaven and new earth

Not only soul goes to be with God – the scandal – one day our bodies will be remade and God will be glorified in it.

Jesus = first fruits ... Garden of Eden restored (but become a city) New Jerusalem (holy of holies without separation)

In the New Testament God , the Father is still Sovereign -- eager to being relationship with mankind.

God the Son – the promised Messiah, the Anointed One has come to reconcile Man to God So THAT Exodus 34:6-7 is fulfilled.

God has been gracious. Wickedness and iniquity have been punished.

God the Holy Spirit is still moving over the face of the earth, moving on the hearts of people, convicting of sin, convincing of the righteousness of Jesus, drawing you to a relationship with God and enabling to live that life of relationship in the righteousness of Jesus, the Anointed One

Man in relationship with God through Jesus

God gracious and forgiving

Sin not forgotten but rather punished in Jesus

Man is able to Glorify God and Enjoy Him Forever. That is what God expect of you.

You Are Not Alone 1Peter 5:8-14

Let's set the stage. Imagine where Peter might have seen lions...probably not in a zoo...certainly not on a safari or a National Geographic TV special. He most likely had seen or known of the lions that were part of the gory Roman entertainment where victims faced lions in a public coliseum. Or maybe he thought back to pictures from the Old Testament such as Psalms 7:2; 10:9-10; 17:12. The warning is for believers to be on guard against the lion who is growling and intimidating and against the one who waylays his victim by hiding in the bushes waiting for him to pass by. Jesus said our adversary comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John10:10).

The call is not for us to hide or live in fear, neither is it to attack the devil or demons with prayers or formulas (Jude 8-ff); but to understand our need of the protection and power of God in our everyday lives and the lives of our beloved brothers and sisters in Christ.

A COMMON FOE

Adversary – opponent in a case of law

Devil - slanderer,false accuser

Intimidator - roaring, open mouthed Psalm22:13

What can the devil do?

• Attack believers in the realm of personal relationships – family, church, work place

• Attack the believers as the church –

  • Careless in responsibilities ... such as service and appointing leaders.

  • Cause possessiveness and lack of unity

  • Confuse the purpose of the church

• Be used by God to strengthen and discipline believers (Job; 1Corinthian5:1-5)

What can we do?

• Be sober = speaks against being intoxicated with alcohol + There are other things that can cause us to be as useless and careless as beverage alcohol... Luke 21:34 “heart overcharged (weighed down) with

  • surfeiting (excess) and drunkenness and cares of this life...”

  • Be watchful = be on guard as one who is in danger Matthew26:41; 6:13

  • Depend on God 1Peter5:6-7

  • Resist by firm faith = take a stand ... on the Word of God in faithful obedience to the Truth (the devil is a liar).

  
  

  COMMON AFFLICTION v.9b Hebrews 13:3

• vom.org

UNCOMMON GRACE ENABLES

• Endure by looking ahead v. 10 Hebrews 12:2

• Called you

• 1)perfect, 2)establish, 3)strengthen, 4)settle (Lumber terms) 1)make the joints in the building complete; 2)make each part mutually supported; 3)bind every part so do danger of warping, splitting, or falling; 4)cause all to rest evenly and firmly on the best foundation.

• Pray for others --- The Benedict missionary family in Jerez, Zacatecas, Mexico ask their supporters to pray “When you see a Taco Bell”. It would be worth while to find something to remind you to pray for persecuted and other fellow believers.

• Seek God's Glory v.11

Has He called you ?