GOD’S REDEMPTIVE STORY AND THE GREAT INVITATION
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IS THERE A GOD? Despite what others may say, if we are honest with ourselves, we know that there is something beyond all of us (intelligent design, patterns in nature, patterns in sound, the order and process all of creation illustrates). In Romans 1:20, Paul says, “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 people are without excuse.”
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF LIFE? Ecclesiastes 1-2:11, John 14:6, John 17:3
Solomon admits that life under the sun seems meaningless (Ecclesiastes). However, his cry for understanding is answered in the person of Jesus Christ (New Testament). It’s as if Solomon cried out, “What is the point of life?” and Jesus answered, “I am the way the truth and the life…” (John 14:6) and, “This is eternal life, that they (believers) would know God and that they would know the one He sent (Jesus Himself). John 17:3
THERE IS A GOD, THERE IS A PURPOSE IN LIFE, AND IT’S WRAPPED UP IN ONE GREAT STORY (THE BIBLE). The Bible is ONE story of God’s love for His creation. He created a good world and entrusted man to care for it and work with Him in a partnership. However, mankind chose to go his own way. He rebelled and disobeyed God. At this time, sin entered the world, along with a curse (death, hunger, disease, etc.) However, even during this dark time, God promised that He would send someone one day to ultimately destroy all evil (Genesis 3:15). That would be Jesus Christ. Not only would He pay for the sin of the world (John 1:29), He would one day redeem all of creation, bringing forth a new heaven and earth free of sin, where He would rule and reign forever (Revelation 22).
GOD CREATES: The Bible tells us that a great, eternal, and Holy being created the universe, He created man, the earth, everything. He created it all good. Genesis (1-2)
MANKIND SINS: He created it all good, but mankind, by trusting in his own knowledge disobeyed God and sin entered the world (Genesis 3). And ever since that moment God has set a plan in motion to make all things right (Genesis 3:15).
WHAT IS SIN? Sin is described in the Bible as (breaking God’s law: 1 John 3:4) and/or (rebellion against God: Deuteronomy 9:7) Sin literally means to “miss the mark” or “fail to fulfill a goal.” What is the goal? We find this goal in the New Testament in the book of Matthew. When asked what He considered to be the GREATEST LAW (the Jewish people had many laws to follow), Jesus said “to love God with all your heart, soul, and strength…and to love your neighbor” (Matthew 22:36-40) But this love, God’s love surpasses all of our own ideas of what it means to love.
If we read 1 Corinthians 13, we see an in-depth description of the love God requires us to possess for Him and for one another: “4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.8 Love never fails.”
Paul tells us in Romans 13 that to love like God is to fulfill the law: 8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,”[a] and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[b] 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law.”
If we are honest with ourselves, we see where we have failed. We sin when we fail to love God and love others (whom God has created in His image). No matter who we are, we know that all of us have failed at this one time or another.
WHY IS SIN A PROBLEM? Because sin, at its core, is a failure to love God fully and to love one another, we can easily see it as the result of so much of the pain, suffering, disease, hate, despair, and death we see in the world today. It hurts us, and it hurts others. However, the biggest problem with sin (the root form which all other sin comes) is that it separates us from God (Isaiah 59:2) Sin separates us from God. (How can mankind fulfill His purpose in life…to know God…if he is separated from Him by sin?)
HOW GOD DEALS WITH SIN: After Adam and Eve's initial sin, God instituted the practice of sacrifice, which is the shedding of blood, to atone for (to make amends for/to make up for) sin. The Lord tells us that "without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sin" (Leviticus 17:11, Hebrews 9:22). And from Adam to Christ, we see hundreds upon hundreds of sacrifices throughout the Old Testament, all of which point to the ultimate and final sacrifice, the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). This is Jesus Christ. And to those who will receive His sacrifice, He offers eternal life. John 3:16, John 1:1-13
JESUS TAKES AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD: Bible tells us that God sent Christ, the FINAL sacrifice, at JUST THE RIGHT TIME (Galatians 4:4-5). He is the true Lamb of God (the TRUE SACRIFICE) that takes away the sin of the whole world (John 1:29) Now (in Christ) man can accomplish life's purpose (ETERNAL LIFE, which is KNOWING GOD and KNOWING Christ) John 17:3
HOW CAN ONE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE? The bible provides verses on how to receive eternal life:
For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life. John 3:16, Romans 10:9-10
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe with your heart God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9-10
Repent and be baptized and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:39
A NEW BIRTH, A NEW LIFE, NEW CITIZENSHIP: To those who will receive Him, Christ offers A NEW BIRTH, and a NEW LIFE in Him. Jesus calls this being “born again.” (John 3) We are born into the kingdom of God and into His family (1 John 3:9). Now we can truly call God, “Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15) The Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, gives us new life (the Spirit of God that raised Jesus from the dead) (Romans 8:11), and our heavenly Father begins making us like Jesus (Romans 8:29-30).
ETERNAL LIFE (KNOWING GOD AND JESUS) NOW
God says that if I believe in Christ and confess Him as Lord, I have eternal life (John 3:16, Romans 10:9-11). What is that? Does that just mean living forever? John 17:3 says that “This IS ETERNAL LIFE, that they know you (God) and the ONE you sent (Christ). It’s not about saying a correct prayer or doing certain things, but about coming to KNOW God. (Matthew 7:21-23)
As man comes to know God,
He conforms us to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29)
We learn to trust in Jesus and follow His example (this is abiding): Jesus (John 15)
We learn to submit to and follow the Holy Spirit of God (this is walking in the Spirit of God) (Romans 8)
Who pours out the love of God into our hearts, enabling us to fulfill the greatest command (Matthew 22:36-40, John 13:34)
Who bears His fruit in us (Galatians 5:22-23)
We learn to deny ourselves and choose Jesus (this is described as putting off the Old Self and Putting on the New) (Ephesians 4:22-24)
How to we learn to do these things?
We study God’s word in private and with other believers.
We pray to God in private and with others.
We follow Christ with a group of believers and invite others on the journey with us (this is discipleship).
THE NEW LIFE (A PROCESS)
For the rest of his life, day by day, little by little, God will conform a man to the image of His Son. As he studies God’s word (Bible) and talks to Him in prayer, he comes to know Him more. And as he comes to know God more, he will come to love God more and trust Him more. This is a process. It’s important to understand that it’s not about man trying to ACT good (Ephesians 2:8-9). It’s about a believer submitting himself to God (Romans 12:1-2) and allowing God to MAKE him GOOD. One day, He will complete His good work in the believer. Philippians 1:6. In the meantime, a believer must simply obey, CHOOSING to put off the old self and put on the new (Ephesians 4:17-24) and abide in Christ as He does His work in him. Remember, the Christian life is NOT about trying to remember to follow all sorts of rules. It’s about knowing God, knowing Christ, and abiding in Him (John 15). It’s about learning to walk in the Spirit and allowing Him to bare His good fruit in us: LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS, AND SELF CONTROL. Galatians 5:22-23
ETERNAL LIFE (KNOWING GOD AND JESUS) IN ETERNITY.
Paul says that at present, it is as if man sees through a mirror dimly, but one day, we shall see face to face. One day the believer will see God and Jesus face to face, they will know Him and be known by Him, and they will dwell with God forever.
A NEW CREATION
When we open the Bible, we come to the beginning of mankind's story. In fact, it says, “In the beginning.” In Revelation, we see the end of the story, which is really no end at all, but only a brand-new beginning. Revelation 21 tells us, “There will be a new heaven and a new earth..., and God's dwelling place will now be among His people, and He will dwell with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’" In His own time, He will redeem (not just mankind) but all of creation (Romans 8:18-20). He will create a NEW heaven and a NEW and will live among us. We will know Him and be known by Him (1 Corinthians 3:12). And we will love Him and be loved by Him. The Bible is the story of God's love for mankind, a love that was, and is, realized through Jesus Christ
THE GREAT INVITATION
God’s redemptive story is one of beauty and splendor, but perhaps even more beautiful is the invitation to participate in His story, an invitation which is open to all who will receive Him.
God loves mankind. “For God so LOVED THE WORLD…that He gave His only Son…”
God calls all men to Himself. “…WHOEVER…”
God made a way for mankind to know Him (that way is Jesus). “…believes in Him WILL NOT PERISH but WILL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.” (John 3:16)
“This is eternal life, that they would KNOW GOD and KNOW the ONE He sent…Jesus” (John 17:3
I WANT TO LEARN MORE…
Where should you start your Bible? A good place to start reading the Bible is the gospel of John. Start off in prayer, asking God to help you understand His word. Consider reading only a chapter (or even just a few verses) a day. Once you have finished, consider reading first John, second John, and third John… During this time, ask God to lead to you to a group of fellow believers.