If you have not had the opportunity to read the first three articles in this series, here they are:
Today we will look at the united theme of the Bible. The fact that 40 penmen spanning 1,600 years writing in three different languages,
and from multiple locations wrote the same theme, hints at the Bible being from the mind of God and not man.
The one theme is The Redemption of Mankind (Reconciliation of God’s Fallen Creation to Himself).
In Genesis we read about God’s creation. Soon the man and woman God placed in the garden sin against Him. God can no longer associate with them because of their fallen state. However, God has a plan to bring man back into relationship with Him. A plan to redeem man and reconcile man to the Creator. He makes a promise of vengeance through seed of woman(cf. Gen 3:15). Through Noah that seed line perseveres. In Abram (Abraham) God chooses a family chosen to be the nation to bring the Messiah (the Seed of Woman, anointed of God) who will make reconciliation possible.
As we read Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy we learn that this family grows into a great people. They are living as slaves in Egypt, when God calls them out to fulfill the nation promise to Abraham. In these books we learn how this people begin to understand more and more about God. Through Moses, God gives them a theocentric law to govern and protect them. Through this great people God will bring the Messiah, the Christ.
After the death of Moses, Joshua takes charge of the people. Through Joshua’s leadership this people with a law change from a large nomadic collective of tribes into a nation, the nation of Israel. The now live in the land promised to their ancestors.
In the recordings of Judges, I & II Samuel, I & II Kings, I & II Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obidiah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi we learn the history of this nation. We read about the leaders, kings, strength, weakness, victories, and failures. We learn about their struggle to remain faithful to God. We learn about God’s love, patience, mercy, grace, as well as His anger and vengeance. We learn how God continues to preserve this family nation to bring about the Messiah. The prophets continue to prepare the nation and the world for His arrival and the Word of the Lord that will come from Mount Zion for all nations.
In Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon, we get a glimpse of the heart and soul of this people through their poetry, songs, prose, and wisdom. We see more about God and His desire to bring fallen man back into relationship with the Divine.
The New Covenant begins with the arrival of the Messiah. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John all record events from the life of the Messiah, the Christ. He comes with the mission of God to proclaim the good news of the kingdom and remission of sin. He came to seek and save the lost. He teaches spiritual truths and a spiritual kingdom and ultimately the Messiah, the spotless Lamb of God, shed His own innocent blood to pay the price for the sin of Jew and Gentile alike. Redemption is in effect! Reconciliation begins!
In the book of Acts, we read of the birth of the God’s new people. God’s people are no longer a nation with physical boundaries, but are a universal people united in the and by the blood of the Christ. God’s new people are Jews and Gentiles, slave and free, male and female, they are those whose sin the blood of Christ removed (Acts 2:36-47). We read of how this new Kingdom of God rapidly spreads across the known world.
In Romans, I & II Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, I & II Thessalonians, I & II Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, I & II Peter, I, II, & II John, Jude, and Revelation we learn how these early followers of Christ (Christians) were taught to live in the kingdom (household of God – the Church. We see their growth pains, we see the synergy of Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians as they learn to abandon old prejudices. We learn along with them, how to overcome the world and be ready for Christ’s return when He ushers in complete reconciliation (eternity in God’s presence).
Many books – One Theme! Many penmen – One Author of All! One God!
Driving Thought 