Tuesday, May 06, 2008

What is the message of the Bible?

John Woodhouse, principal of Moore College, Sydney, Australia, provides this helpful summary in his new book 1 Samuel: looking for a leader :
Stated briefly the Bible’s message is this: God’s good purpose in creation (Genesis 1–2) was not abandoned at the Fall (Genesis 3), but God promised to bring blessing to the whole world through Abraham’s offspring (Genesis 12:1-3; cf. 22:18). The Old Testament history of Israel is the record of God’s faithfulness to this promise despite repeated and disastrous human failure. The New Testament message is that in Jesus Christ God’s promises are fulfilled:
Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. (Galatians 3:16)
And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus. . . . (Acts 13:32, 33)
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures. . . . (Romans 1:1, 2)
For all the promises of God find their Yes in him [Jesus Christ].
(2 Corinthians 1:20)
If we read the Bible with this in mind, it will make a lot more sense. It is very similar to Mark Dever's description in his series of 69 sermons on the Bible, which includes an overview sermon on the whole Bible, the Old Testament and the New Testament.

1 comment:

Paul said...

A handy summary. Thanks.