66 Books: 39 OT + 27 NTWritten over 1500 years (1450 BC – AD 100)40 different authorsFrom 3 different continents, different nations, and varying culturesContains 3 different languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek)HEBREW ARAMAIC GREEK

The Incredible Book

1500 Years… 66 Books…

40 Authors…6 Major Empires…

3 Continents…3 Languages

God’s Plan of RedemptionGod’s Plan of Redemption

One Theme!11

THE GREAT COMMISSION

““Go into all the world Go into all the world and and

preachpreach the gospel the gospel to all creation.”to all creation.”Mark 16:15

An Urgent and Important Command

The Gospel – The Power of God

““I am not I am not ashamed of ashamed of the gospel the gospel for it is the for it is the

power of God power of God for for

salvation...”salvation...”Romans 1:16

The Gospel…Must be Obeyed

2 Thessalonians 1:7-9

““...when the Lord Jesus will be ...when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know retribution to those who do not know God and to those who God and to those who do not obey do not obey the the gospelgospel of our Lord Jesus. These will of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power...” and from the glory of His power...”

do not obey do not obey the gospelthe gospel

A Serious Warning…To Christians

““I am amazed that you are so quickly I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for agrace of Christ, for a different gospeldifferent gospel;; which is really not another; only there which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and are some who are disturbing you and want to want to distort distort the gospelthe gospel of Christ. of Christ. But even if But even if we or an angelwe or an angel from heaven from heaven should preach should preach a gospel other than a gospel other than the one we preached to youthe one we preached to you, , let him be eternally let him be eternally condemnedcondemned!”!”

Galatians 1:6-12 (see also Acts 20:28)

““I am amazed that you are so quickly I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for agrace of Christ, for a different gospel different gospel; ; which is really not another; only there which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and are some who are disturbing you and want to distort want to distort the gospelthe gospel of Christ. of Christ. But even if we or an angel from But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach heaven should preach a gospel other a gospel other than the one we preached to youthan the one we preached to you, let , let him be eternally him be eternally condemned!”

Galatians 1:6-12

The ONE GospelHow can I be certain? Where would we start?

GOSPEGOSPELL11

TO BRING US TO CHRISTTO BRING US TO CHRIST

TEACHERTEACHER

JUSTIFIED BY FAITHJUSTIFIED BY FAITH

OLD LAWAlso: Rom. 15:4 For whatever things were

written before were written for

our learning, that we through the patience and

comfort of the Scriptures might

have hope.

1 Cor. 10:11Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction(see also 2 Tim 3:14-15(see also 2 Tim 3:14-15))

Galatians 3:24

Which God?OTOT NTNT

GOD IS HOLY

Ps 33:4-5 “For the word of the LORD is upright, And all His work is done in faithfulness. He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the LORD.”

God’s holiness is demonstrated in God’s holiness is demonstrated in HisHis justice justice andand love love toward His toward His

creation.creation.

JUSTICEJUSTICE LOVELOVE

A DESIRED A DESIRED RELATIONSHIP:RELATIONSHIP:

SPIRITUAL FELLOWSHIPSPIRITUAL FELLOWSHIPWITH A HOLY GODWITH A HOLY GOD

God exhibits an attitude of God exhibits an attitude of abhorrence and hatred to all that abhorrence and hatred to all that

is wrongis wrong““You are of purer eyes than to You are of purer eyes than to

behold evil, and cannot look upon behold evil, and cannot look upon wickedness.” wickedness.”

Hab 1:13

Sin Separates us from GodSin Separates us from God““Your iniquities have separated Your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins you from your God; and your sins have hidden his face from you.” have hidden his face from you.”

Is 59:2

““you were dead in your trespasses and sins”you were dead in your trespasses and sins” Eph 2:1

SPIRITUAL SPIRITUAL DEATHDEATH

Romans 3:23 ...for all have

sinned and fall short of the glory

of God

Romans 6:23 ...for the wages of sin is

death

DEATHDEATHSINSIN

“For out of the dust you were taken; for dust you are, and to the

dust you shall return.”Genesis 3:19

The CONSEQUENCES of Sin

DEATHDEATHSPIRITUALSPIRITUALMORTALMORTAL

Romans 3:23 ...for all have sinned and fall short of the

glory of God

The PRICE for SIN

DEATHDEATHLIFELIFE

“without the shedding of blood

there can be no remission of

sins.” Heb. 9:22

no remission of sinsno remission of sins

Three DeathsSPIRITUALSPIRITUAL MORTAMORTA

LLJUDICIAJUDICIA

LL

Life paymentLife payment for sinfor sin

“The wages of sin is death”

Romans 3:23

“for dust you are, and to the dust you shall

return.” Genesis 3:19

““without the shedding without the shedding of blood there can be of blood there can be no forgiveness of sin” no forgiveness of sin”

Hebrews 9:22Hebrews 9:22

Required of every sinner

Death of our Death of our bodiesbodies

Result of Adam and Eve’s first

sin

Separation Separation From GodFrom GodResult of

individual sin

God’s Justice Demands Death as Payment for Sin

We find ourselves in a very desperate situation:We have broken the laws of the God of the universe, this has separated us from a Holy God, and the price of death hangs over our head (which we cannot pay!) by a just God!

God’s Love Provides a Way to Pay the Price

God God givesgives what is what is notnot deserved deserved (Romans 3:23-26; 5:6-11)(Romans 3:23-26; 5:6-11)

God God does not givedoes not give what what isis deserved deserved (Romans 1:18)(Romans 1:18)

LIFE!LIFE!

DEATH!DEATH!

GRACE

MERCY

BLOODBLOOD

MERCYMERCY

Kaphar: to cover, purge, make an atonement, make reconciliation, cover over with pitch

Atonement

Atonement“...for it is on this day that atonement shall be made for you to cleanse you;

you will be clean from all your sins before the LORD” Lev 16:30

SANCTIFICATIONSANCTIFICATION

Leviticus 17:11

'For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on

the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of

the life that makes atonement.'

Atonement

Innocent LIFE

PaymentBLOOD REPRESENTS LIFE

ATONES FORInnocent LIFE SINNER

Heb 9:22 …without the shedding of blood there can be no forgiveness

REPRESENTS orSUBSTITUTES for

Guilty LIFE

Animal Sacrifice

SINNERSINNER SANCTIFIEDSANCTIFIEDINNOCENT INNOCENT SACRIFICESACRIFICE

(FIGURATIVE)(FIGURATIVE)

JUSTICEJUSTICE MERCYMERCY

FAITHFAITHWhat Made it Work?

By Faith…Abel

NoahAbrahamAbraham

SarahAbraham

IsaacIsraelites

Walls of Jericho

OFFEREDPREPAREDOBEYEDLIVEDCONCEIVEDOFFEREDBLESSEDPASSED THROUGHENCIRCLED

Genuine FAITH requires Genuine FAITH requires Belief-based ACTIONBelief-based ACTION

ROM. 10:17ROM. 10:17

But without faith it is impossible to

please Him, for he who comes to God

must believe that He is, and that He is a

rewarder of those who diligently seek

Him.

Genuine Faith – Hebrews 11:6

must believemust believe

diligently seek Him.diligently seek Him.

(v14) Can that type of faith savesave a man? (v17) Faith without action is deaddead

(v18) Faith is shown by actionaction(v20) Faith without action is “uselessuseless” (v21-23) Abraham’s faith was perfectedperfected

by belief working with his actions(v24) Justified by action, notnot “faith

alone”(v26) Faith without action is deaddead

(v19) Devils are believers!Devils are believers! THERE ARE BELIEVERS IN HELL!THERE ARE BELIEVERS IN HELL!

BELIEF ALONE? (James 2:14-26)

DEATH

SINSSINS(FIGURATIVE)(FIGURATIVE)

JUSTICEJUSTICEMERCYMERCY

The OT “Teacher”SINSIN SACRIFICESACRIFICE

BLOODBLOODREPRESENTATIVEREPRESENTATIVE

DEATHDEATH

TEACHERTEACHERGal 3:24

REDEMPTIONREDEMPTION

HOLINESSHOLINESS

SANCTIFICATIONSANCTIFICATION

GRACEGRACE

RECONCILIATIONRECONCILIATION

ATONEMENTATONEMENTFAITHFAITH

that that takes awaytakes away

the sin of the sin of the world”the world”

LAMB OF LAMB OF GODGOD

““Behold theBehold the

Christ’s Blood in Prophecy4 Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He

carried… 5 He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was

crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.

6 All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.

Isaiah 53 – 750 years before Christ!

Christ’s Blood in Prophecy8 He was cut off out of the land of

the living For the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due

10 But the LORD was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities.

12 He poured out Himself to death, And was numbered with the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the transgressors.

Isaiah 53 – 750 years before Christ!

Heb 9:22 …without the shedding of blood there is no remission.

1 Pet 1:18-19, Mt 5:17

Christ’s SacrificeOT Fulfillment

1 Pet 2:24A Judicial Death

2 Cor 5:21Sin Bearer

Col 1:22Reconciliation

Rom 6:6Removes Sin

SINNERSINNER SANCTIFIEDSANCTIFIEDINNOCENT INNOCENT SACRIFICESACRIFICE

“…who [Christ], was declared the Son of God

with power by the resurrection

from the dead…” Romans 1:4

Heb 9:22 …without the shedding of blood there is no remission.

DEATHDEATH

SINSSINS

Propitiation – By Faith for all have

sinned, and fall short of the glory

of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ

Jesus: whom God set forth to be a

propitiation, through faith, in his

blood...

Romans 3:23-25

1 Peter 1:18-19

you were you were redeemed redeemed

with with precious precious blood, as blood, as of a lamb of a lamb unblemishunblemish

ed and ed and spotless, spotless, the blood the blood of Christ.of Christ.

1 Peter 2:24 1 Peter 2:24 He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we

might die to sin.might die to sin.

Romans Romans 6:86:8

Our old Our old self was self was crucified crucified with Him,with Him,That our That our body of body of

sin might sin might be done be done

away away with. with.

Christ’s Sacrifice – Who Died?

Heb 9:22 …without the shedding of blood there can be no forgiveness

DEATHDEATH

SINSSINS

JUDICIALJUDICIALDEATHDEATH

The Death of the Believer

2 Tim 2:11 – “died with Him”Gal 2:20 – “crucified with Christ”

2 Cor 5:14 – “all died”

Christ’s death results in the death

of the believer!

This is according to the scheme of redemption for “without the shedding of bloodthere is no forgiveness of sins.”

We have died We have died withwith Christ ChristWe have been united We have been united withwith Christ in His death Christ in His death

We have been crucified We have been crucified withwith Christ ChristWe have died We have died toto sinsin

Our sins can notcan not and will notwill not be forgiven

UNLESS:

At what point in my faith . . . At what point in my faith . . . do I die to sin?

do I die with Christ? When does God view me as . . .When does God view me as . . .

uniting with Christ in his death? crucified with Christ?

Or Or How?How?

The fundamental question of the gospel is:

United with Christ in the United with Christ in the likeness of His deathlikeness of His death

ROMANS 6ROMANS 6

Have you died with Christ?

Four TestimoniesTO THE ONE GOSPEL

What the Apostles Taught

What the Apostles Practiced

What the Early Church Taught and Practiced

What Jesus Taught

What the Apostles Taught:

Gal. 3:22-27 Justified by faith, When?

1 Pet. 3:21 Baptism saves, How?

Eph. 5:25-27 Church is sanctified, How?

Eph. 4:3-6 Why is baptism on this list?

The testimony of the epistles

Acts 2:36-37 What should we do?

Acts 8:35-39 Preaching the gospel of Jesus

Acts 8:5-13 Preaching Christ in Samaria

Acts 9 & 22 The conversion of Saul

What the Apostles Actually Practiced:The power of actual historical examples

Saving Paul – Already a God fearing man

• Believed - “What shall I do,...”

• Confessed - “What shall I do, Lord?”

• Obeyed – “Get up and go into Damascus”

• Fasted – “three days… and neither ate nor drank”

• Prayed – “for he is praying”

After all of these acts of repentancePaul was commanded:

Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.'

Acts 22:16

be baptized, and be baptized, and wash away your sinswash away your sins,,

Saving Paul – Repented for 3 Days

What the Early Church Taught and Practiced:

The teachings and practice of those trained and taught directly by the apostles

Barnabas (70 ad)Barnabas (70 ad)““Blessed are they who, Blessed are they who, placing their placing their trust in the crosstrust in the cross, have , have gone down in gone down in the waterthe water…We indeed descend into …We indeed descend into the waterthe water full of sinsfull of sins and defilement. and defilement. However,However, we come upwe come up, bearing fruit , bearing fruit in our heart, in our heart, having the fear of God having the fear of God andand the trust of Jesus in our spirit.the trust of Jesus in our spirit.””The Epistle of Barnabas, Chapter 11, Roberts-The Epistle of Barnabas, Chapter 11, Roberts-DonaldsonDonaldson

““Go into all the world and Go into all the world and preach preach the gospelthe gospel to all creation. to all creation.

He who He who believes believes andand is baptized is baptized shall be savedshall be saved; ;

but he who has not believedbut he who has not believed shall be condemned.shall be condemned.

Mark 16:15-16Mark 16:15-16

See also: John 3:3-5 Must be born again, How?Mt. 28:19-20 Making disciples, How?

believes believes andand is baptized is baptized

What Jesus Taught:The power of Jesus’ own words