The Big Story of Scripture
The Bible is the story of God’s Redemption of Man and creation.
We are made for relationship - created from it and for it, designed to reflect the image of God, who exists in relationship within the trinity. Genesis 1:26 “Then God said ‘Let us make man in our likeness.’
-Ephesians 1:4 says “God chose us in Jesus before the foundation of the world”
- 1Peter 1:18-20 describes Jesus sacrificing to be our redemption”;before the foundation of the world”
So when God says “;Let us make man in our likeness,” the love demonstrated at the cross to restore relationship was already the plan. The cross was the plan before creation. What does that mean? It means that love could best be revealed in sacrifice, redemption and choice.
-John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that
whosoever would believe in Him, shall not perish but have everlasting life” This was the only way to demonstrate His love for us and that was a given before the foundation of the World.
-Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Creation as God designed it Genesis 1:1- 2:25 Things as they were
created
1 Commands given to Adam amidst Creation - Gen. 1:28, 2:15
2 One NO given - Genesis 2:17
“The Fall” from perfection and its consequences - Gen. 3:1-6 Things as they become
fallen
1 Sin brings changes to everything.
a. To Man’s relationship with God - Gen 3:7-12
b. To the Serpent Gen 3:14-15
c. To Woman Gen 3:15-16
d. to Adam Gen 3:17-19; Rom 5:12-
e. to creation Gen 3:17-19; Rom 8:19-21
2 First sacrifice to cover - Gen 3:21 Things put Right- redemption!
Redemption is and has always been the plan. The rest of the old Testament
contains shadows of the Perfect Sacrifice to come in Jesus!
-Hebrews chapter 11 “The Faith Chapter” describes the OT saints that believed in the
redemption to come.
-Galatians 3:6 So also “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness”
-James 2:23 And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, ”Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness” and he was called a friend of God.
The Ark: A boat bears Noah and 7 others to safety and newness of Life. Gen 7-9
The flood is wrath against sinful people.
Rainbow a sign of God’s promise
Command given to Adam repeated Gen 9:1
Future Redemption
-For Creation - Romans 8:19-21. The creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
-For Our Bodies - Romans 8:23. Not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
-For All Things - Acts 3:21. Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
