Summary of the Bible

Creation and the Fall Into Sin

The story begins with creation. God created a perfect world. Humankind was the crown of that creation; a close intimate relationship existed between God and his people. That close relationship was ruined when people choose to rebel against God's authority. Sinfullness spread quickly throughout all creation. Its effect was devasting. But God promised to repair the fallen state of humankind.

The Nation of Israel

At this point, the global perspective of the Bible shifts to focus on a single man and his descendants. Through Abraham and the nation of Israel, God promised to fulfill his plan of salvation. Initially, Abraham's descendants grew into a nation as a slave-race in Egypt. But God personally led them out of Egypt and established them in the land of Canaan (modern-day Palestine). Throughout this period, the Israelites often rebelled against God's authority. God responded with patience, mercy, and sometimes punishment, yet he always remained true to his promises.

The Life of Jesus Christ

God's plan for salvation reaches a climax 1500 years after the Isrealites were established in Canaan, in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. This son of a Jewish carpenter conducted a walking ministry in which he taught how the promises of God would be fulfilled. He spoke with authority and performed miracles. He pointed to himself as the promised Messiah, the Christ, a sacrificial lamb whose death would atone for the sins of all humanity. After a brief three-year ministry, he was executed on a cross by Jewish leaders and the Roman authorities.

Jesus's Resurrection and the Spread of the Gospel

On the third day after his death, God raised Jesus to life, a testament to his identity as the Messiah. Jesus appeared to many of his disciples in the next forty days. Before ascending into heaven, he gave them the mission of spreading the news of God's salvation, which they have done in both written and spoken word. The teachings of Jesus, as recorded by his disciples, comprise the New Testament portion of the Bible. (The books of Moses and the prophets make up the Old Testament.) In summary, the message is this: whoever places their faith and trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior will share in his victory over sin and death. Whoever rejects Christ, rejects the forgiveness of God.