Getting the Bible from Beginning to End – Part 1
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As a part of our Online Ministry we will be studying the Bible together every week. This study is called “Getting the Bible from Beginning to End”. Sometimes we have trouble seeing how the Bible fits together. For some it is just a collection of stories and sayings. For others it is seen in light of a series of dispensations (dispensation of law, dispensation of grace, dispensation of Kingdom, etc). For this study, we are going to look at the Bible and see how it all ties together from beginning to end and how it works together to impact our lives. We will look at the Bible through the lens of our understanding of the Kingdom of God.
In short, God created us for relationship. He gave us the ability to choose whether we wanted relationship with Him or not. In the garden, when given the choice, we chose sin. We would rather be like God than worship Him. The Evil One set up a counterfeit kingdom and enslaved the creation. God did not give up on us, and through a series of promises (covenants) He came and paid the price for our sin at the Cross. He is coming back again and when he does He will restore everything the way it was at the beginning. We live in this tension of “The Now and the Not Yet” and through this understanding we can see how the Bible fits together. (For a clearer understanding of the Kingdom of God and the concept of “The Now and Not Yet” I recommend reading “The Gospel of the Kingdom by George Eldon Ladd)
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The Gospel of the Kingdom: Scriptural Studies in the Kingdom of God By George Eldon Ladd |
To understand how everything fits we have to start with knowing who is involved. Let’s introduce God the King, and the Holy Trinity.
God is eternal. Let’s look at these verses.
Deuteronomy 33:27a (NIV)
27 The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.
Isaiah 44:6 (NIV)
6 “This is what the LORD says– Israel’s King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God.
Romans 1:20 (NIV)
20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities–his eternal power and divine nature–have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
Not only is He eternal He is also the King. God is the eternal King.
Psalms 95:3 (NIV)
3 For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods.
Isaiah 43:15 (NIV)
15 I am the LORD, your Holy One, Israel’s Creator, your King.”
What is the Eternal King like? I am reminded of the C.S. Lewis book “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe”. Lucy is asking Beaver about Aslan. The discussion goes like this:
“Is–is he a man?” asked Lucy.
“Aslan a man!” said Mr. Beaver sternly. “Certainly not. I tell you he is the King of the wood and the son of the great Emperor-beyond-the-sea. Don’t you know who is the King of Beasts? Aslan is a lion – the Lion, the great Lion.”
“Ooh!” said Susan, “I’d thought he was man. Is he–quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.”
“That you will, dearie, and no mistake,” said Mrs. Beaver; “if there’s anyone who can appear before Aslan iwithout their knees knocking, they’re either braver than most or else just silly.”
“Then isn’t he safe?” said Lucy.
“Safe?” said Mr. Beaver; “don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”
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The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe By C.S. Lewis |
He is Infinite
Psalms 147:5 (NASB)
5 Great is our Lord and abundant in strength; His understanding is infinite.
Job 11:7-9 (NIV)
7 “Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?
8 They are higher than the heavens–what can you do? They are deeper than the depths of the grave–what can you know? 9 Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.
He is Unchangeable
James 1:17 (NIV)
17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
He is Spirit
John 4:24 (NIV)
24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”
He is Perfect
Matthew 5:48 (NIV)
48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
He is Holy
Isaiah 6:3 (NIV)
3 And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”
1 Peter 1:15-16 (NIV)
15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;
16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
He is Wise
Psalms 104:24 (NIV)
24 How many are your works, O LORD! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.
Proverbs 2:6 (NIV)
6 For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Isaiah 28:29 (NIV)
29 All this also comes from the LORD Almighty, wonderful in counsel and magnificent in wisdom.
He is Good
Exodus 33:19 (NIV)
19 And the LORD said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
Psalms 31:19 (NIV)
19 How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you.
He is Just
Psalms 33:5 (NIV)
5 The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.
Psalms 89:14 (NIV)
14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you.
Isaiah 30:18 (NIV)
18 Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!
He is Powerful
Exodus 15:6 (NIV)
6 “Your right hand, O LORD, was majestic in power. Your right hand, O LORD, shattered the enemy.
Psalms 63:2 (NIV)
2 I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.
He is Loving
1 John 4:8 (NIV)
8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
So what is He like?
God is the eternal King. He is an infinite, unchangeable, Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, goodness, justice, power, and love. Yes, but is He safe? Of course He’s not safe, but He’s good. My hope is that you will know Him as the eternal King. That you will know Him as infinite and unchangeable. That you will know him as perfect, holy, wise, just, powerful and loving. I hope you will know Him not as a safe God, for when you know Him as safe He is able to be kept in a box and under control. If He is in your box and in your control you will never know life. I pray that you will know Him as good. That knowing He is good will allow you to trust him and step out of your comfort zones and experience the life and adventure you were created for. Of course He’s not safe, but He’s good!
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