Four Truths [3000]
The Bible is a large book with many details. In order to
understand the Bible and/or any book for that matter, the reader needs points of
reference. These four reference points provide the "hooks" on which the reader
hangs the events and ideas.
I believe that The Four Truths provide a basic
understanding of the entire Bible. From these Four Truths the reader can put the various
stories and ideas in the Bible in proper order.
The Bible is misinterpreted and/or misused by many sincere
folk. I believe that much care must be taken to avoid taking passages out of context.
Using the Bible "prove" our pre-conceived notions is a grave misuse of the
Bible.
These Four Truths provide a basic overview of the Bible.
The Four Truths provide an over-arching view of God and man.
- Creation
- Fall
- Christ Event
- Consummation
Before creation? For most of us considering and understand
eternity is complicated. Genesis 1-3 teaches that for reasons known to God, a created
order began.
Today you will find many different views on the HOW
and WHEN of Creation. In our course we will not wander off into the pros and/or cons of
each.
- What was created was good. (Yahweh) created. "And God
said that it was good."
- Man had a purpose. The garden was not a welfare state. Adam
and Eve had a task to do, tend to the garden.
- Creation demonstrates several characteristics about God:
- He is a revealing God: (Romans 1, Psalm 19)
- He created a world which is well designed (Grapefruit). Hebrews 11:1-3
- Man was the last or culmination of the creation
- God was/is concerned about his creation.
- The Creation is not God. The creation is His handiwork.
- Creator/creation implies dependence of creation upon Creator
FALL
- The world created was good. Adam was provided a choice.
- Dr. David Garland, Southwestern Baptist Theological
Seminary, said many times that God's generosity is demonstrated, in the fact that there
was only one tree with restrictions, all the others were available.
- Adam and Eve sinned and that sin brought about a
"different" world. Man and woman were cast out of the garden.
- The fall brought complication into the creation. Man was to
now gain his sustenance by the sweat of brow. Creation groans under the power of sin even
today according to Romans 8:18-25.
- All of creation needs "fixing." The physical
universe will be made new. (add passages)
- However, a special "fixing" is needed for mankind
who alone were created in the image of God.
- The coming of the Messiah, Christ (Anointed one) provide the necessary payment to right not only man,
but the creation.
- The Christ event includes:
- Existence before coming to earth
- Incarnation
- Christ's life among men
- Death-Burial-Resurrection
- Ascension
- Promised return
- Things will end. God will bring about closure.
- There will be some continuity of the future with the now.
Yet, there will be radical differences.
- There are a variety of views and variations within these
views.
- For this study Consummation means simply: God will bring an
end to the world order as we know it and do what He has promises.
Last Updated 24 February, 2000
