Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Summary of the Bible in 300 Words

Trevin Wax writes:
LifeWay often prints a plan of salvation on the inside cover of our printed resources. When we began working on The Gospel Project, we decided to create something new that would go along with the curriculum’s focus: the grand narrative of Scripture. In the end, we summarized the Bible in roughly 300 words and finished with a call for people to repent and believe. Here’s how we did it…
In the beginning, the all-powerful, personal God created the universe. This God created human beings in His image to live joyfully in His presence, in humble submission to His gracious authority. But all of us have rebelled against God and, in consequence, must suffer the punishment of our rebellion: physical death and the wrath of God.

Thankfully, God initiated a rescue plan, which began with His choosing the nation of Israel to display His glory in a fallen world. The Bible describes how God acted mightily on Israel’s behalf, rescuing His people from slavery and then giving them His holy law. But God’s people – like all of us – failed to rightly reflect the glory of God.

Then, in the fullness of time, in the Person of Jesus Christ, God Himself came to renew the world and restore His people. Jesus perfectly obeyed the law given to Israel. Though innocent, He suffered the consequences of human rebellion by His death on a cross. But three days later, God raised Him from the dead.

Now the church of Jesus Christ has been commissioned by God to take the news of Christ’s work to the world. Empowered by God’s Spirit, the church calls all people everywhere to repent of sin and to trust in Christ alone for our forgiveness. Repentance and faith restores our relationship with God and results in a life of ongoing transformation.

The Bible promises that Jesus Christ will return to this earth as the conquering King. Only those who live in repentant faith in Christ will escape God’s judgment and live joyfully in God’s presence for all eternity. God’s message is the same to all of us: repent and believe, before it is too late. Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, and you will be saved.

1 comment:

Alex Finn said...

This passage from the book of Wisdom is a perfect insight into the persecution of Jesus Christ that is to come a few hundred years later. It is also an incredible insight into the minds of Jesus’ persecutors. It highlights, in a striking way, the beauty of the Word of God. more information on liberal catholics