No.2.
A Wonderful Theme
The Bible has one main theme – God’s love for man.
This love is brought to a climax in the death of Jesus upon the cross on Calvary.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.
The Amazing Bible
“The heart of God yearns over His earthly children with a love stronger than death. In giving up His Son, He has poured out to us all heaven in one gift. The Saviour’s life and death and intercession, the ministry of angels, the pleading of the Spirit, the Father working above and through all, the unceasing interest of heavenly beings – all are enlisted in behalf of man’s redemption.” Steps to Christ p24.
The love of God for His earthly children is the theme of the whole Bible. In all its stories and experiences is shown either the need to be rescued from sin or the rescue.
Although Eve was the first to break the law of God and commit sin, Adam had the greater condemnation because he was the head of the human family. 1 Corinthians 15:45.47. Eve was deceived, but Adam knew what he was doing. 1 Timothy 2:14.
“Therefore by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.” Romans 5:18.
Without our having any say in the matter, we are condemned and under the penalty of death – simply because our first representative failed to obey the law. But, without our having any say in the matter, we are justified in Christ – because our second Representative was victorious over temptation and sin.
Christ signed a legal contract in blood upon the cross of Calvary, and He did it on our behalf. “The wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23). His death has legally cancelled our sin and its penalty. But, we must accept the gift. “The gift of God is eternal life.” (Romans 6:23). If we refuse the gift, we will have to pay our own penalty.
Jesus told Nicodemus, a ruler in Israel, “Ye must be born again.” John 3:3. Everything man does in his own strength is polluted with sin, for “all our righteousness is as filthy rags.” Isaiah 64:6. “The heart is deceitfully wicked.” Jeremiah 17:9.
Thus we need to be born again, not of the flesh, but of the Spirit, a spiritual birth from heaven. “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” John 3:5. (Born of water – baptism by immersion symbolises the death of the old life, and coming out of the water, a resurrection to a new life in Christ)
The new birth is a miracle that takes place by faith. And through faith in Christ we are accounted as if we have not sinned. “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1.
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:1.
At the end of the world, there will be two resurrections. “Marvel not… for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” John 5:28.29.
Those who have been born once – will die twice.
Those who have been born twice – will die once.
Those who have been born once – will be raised in the second resurrection – to die the second death. Revelation 20:14.15.
Those who have been born twice – will be raised in the first resurrection – to receive eternal life. Revelation 20:6. “They will not be hurt of the second death.” Revelation 2:11.
After their sin in Eden, Adam and Eve covered themselves with fig leaves. Genesis 3:7. God clothed them with coats from the skin of an animal. Genesis 3:21.
Over and over the Bible shows the comparison between the work of men’s hands and the gift of God. If we choose God’s gift of the death of His Son, we will have life. If we choose to live according to the work of our own hands, we will have death.
God formed man from the dust of the ground, and putting him into a deep sleep, from one of his ribs, He brought forth Adam’s bride. Genesis 3:21.22.
Jesus Christ died the sleep of death for the sins of every man. Romans 5:8. He was laid in another man’s tomb, and from this deep sleep, He brought forth His bride, the church.
On the cross, Jesus was placed between two thieves.
- One man asked Jesus to forgive his sins. He died with hope. He represents all who receive the gift of salvation.
- One man cursed Jesus and died without any hope. He represents all who refuse the gift of salvation.
“All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23. “There is none righteous, no, not one…. Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” Romans 3:19.
The cross of Christ shows us there is hope for all.
When He came the first time, it was to wear the crown of humility and suffering. “And the soldiers plaited a crown of thorns.” John 19:2. When He comes the second time, He will wear a diadem of glory. “And on His head were many crowns.” Revelation 19:12.
Reader, God loves you so much. And Jesus would have died just for you alone.
Will you accept the gift?
The theme of the Bible is Jesus
And how He died to save men
The plan of salvation assures us
He’s coming back again.