The Saviour Jesus was promised, came and is King forever
How sweet are Thy words unto my taste! Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! – Psalm 119.103
And He began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears – Luke 4.21
We often say that the Bible is God’s holy book. In God’s holy Book, we find many different books. All together they reveal God’s plan in such an order that we can understand how God reconciles with sinners. The Bible is a wonderful Book!
The first part of the Bible is called the Old Testament. It contains 37 different books from before God’s Son Jesus Christ was born. The other part of the Bible is called New Testament. The books in the New Testament tell us about Jesus’ birth, what happened thereafter and what will happen till Jesus returns.
The main message of the Bible in both Old and New Testament is Jesus and His saving work to restore sinners in a good relationship with God out of grace.
The Old Testament: The Saviour Jesus was promised
The books of God’s law
The first book Genesis tells us that God created everything[1]. God’s creation was perfect. He made Adam in His image to be the head of humanity[2]. God told Adam humanity would receive eternal life, if he obeyed Him[3]. If Adam disobeyed, humanity would receive eternal death. Adam disobeyed God[4]. That was a disaster! We lost God’s image: we are no longer the way God wants us to be. We sin, so we cannot inherit eternal life through obedience anymore[5].
Immediately after Adam’s disobedience God promised to send the Saviour Jesus[6] to conquer sin, restore God’s image in His people and give them eternal life. What a wonderful promise out of grace! This promise keeps occurring in the other books of the Old Testament.
God chose Abraham and his descendants (the Israelites) to be His people[7]. He wanted them to obey Him so that other nations would see Who God is and believe in Him. However, God’s enemy Satan continuously tempted destroy the Israelites so Jesus wouldn’t be born. In Exodus we read that God rescued the Israelites from oppression and led them to the promised land Canaan. This showed that God is faithful and almighty. God gave them instructions on how to serve Him. We read these instruction also in Leviticus, Numeri and Deuteronomy. Through these laws, concerning daily life and their worship, the Israelites learned that God won’t accept any sin. They also learned that they need the promised Jesus to be their Saviour to be restored in God’s image[8].
Books of history
In the book of Joshua we read about the Israelites who conquered the promised land Canaan. However, they forgot God and failed to fulfil their purpose of showing others who God is[9]. In Judges, Ruth, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther we read how the Israelites dealt with enemies. Sometimes God allowed troubles to happen as a way to call them to repent from their sins. When the Israelites didn’t repent they were taken captive to Babylon, a foreign country. Amidst the stories of disobedience and punishment, God kept His promise that the Saviour Jesus would be born from them. Therefore He didn’t allow the Israelites to be eradicated.
Books of wisdom
In the book of Job we read how the wise Job trusted and praised God in suffering[10]. In the book of Psalms we read songs of wise people of God who sang about their relationship with God in all different circumstances. In their songs we notice their longing for the promised Saviour to come[11]. The books Proverbs and Ecclesiastes contain words of wisdom concerning daily life. The book Song of Solomon uses the image of marriage to explain God’s love for His people.
Books of the prophets
In the books of Isaiah, Jeremiah (who also wrote the book of Lamentations), Ezekiel and Daniel we read the words of the prophets who warned the Israelites against sin, false prophets, corrupt priests and wicked kings. They taught about God’s willingness and power to reconcile with sinners through the promised Saviour Jesus Who would come to suffer and die for those who repent and believe in Him[12].
The prophets Hosea, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah and Nahum prophesied to people who had forsaken God. Despite sinning stubbornly, there is a glimpse of hope in these books: out of grace God will save people, because He keeps His promise to send the Saviour Jesus. God is merciful to people who don’t deserve it[13].
The prophets Joel, Micah, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi prophesied mainly about the Saviour Jesus Who was about to come[14]. They spoke about great blessings because of Jesus’ saving work[15]: many people from all over the world will be reconciled with God and start to live the way God wants.
The New Testament: The promised Saviour Jesus came
Books of the Gospel
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John were eyewitnesses of Jesus. They tell the Good News of the promised Saviour Jesus Who came: He was born as a child (Christmas)[16], performed miracles, taught the people, died on a cross (Good Friday)[17], rose from the dead (Easter)[18] and went back to Heaven (Ascension Day)[19]. Everything written in the Old Testament about the Saviour, was fulfilled in and by Jesus.
Book of history
The book of Acts tells us that Jesus sent His Holy Spirit (Pentecost Day)[20]. Many believed in the Saviour Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit. They preached the gospel of Jesus not only in Israel (to the Jews) but also abroad (to the Gentiles). The Holy Spirit led and helped the founders of the Christian church so that it grew despite persecution. God’s Kingdom grew as a fruit of the saving work done by Saviour Jesus Who had come[21].
Letters
One of the Christian believers was Paul. He wrote the letters Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and 1 and 2 Thessalonians to young Christian churches. The letters 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus and Philemon were written to individuals. The purpose of Paul was to help Christians understand better how to be restored in God’s image through the Saviour Jesus who had finished His work of salvation[22]. Paul also wrote about pleasing God in daily lives and how to organise the church[23].
The author of the letter to the Hebrews highlights that the Saviour Jesus had fulfilled the Old Testament and God’s law[24]. Therefore, Christian believers don’t have to follow the Old Testament ceremonial laws. Everyone who is in Jesus, is reconciled with God and has eternal life out of grace. James accentuated that faith is always accompanied by good works[25]. Christians don’t do good works to get saved, but out of love to God as a fruit of being saved.
In the letters 1 and 2 Peter, 1, 2 and 3 John and Jude we read warnings against heresy, we are being called to live a holy life and to love one another.
Book of prophecy
The book Revelation reveals many terrible things that will happen before Jesus returns to earth. Amidst persecution God cares for His people. When Jesus returns, He will judge everyone. Those who are not His, will be in hell forever. His own people will be with Him forever to praise God for His wonderful work of salvation through Jesus Who was promised, came and is King forever.
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But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His Name – John 20.31