Introduction to the Bible Part 1 by Victor Torres

Transcription

1 Introduction to the Bible Part 1 by Victor Torres Hello children. From our previous studies, you have been indirectly introduced to the Bible. We have learned from these previous studies that the Bible is the Word of God. It is very important that from a young age that we learn the Scriptures because this is how God tells us how to live our lives. 2Ti 3:15 Since childhood, you have known the Holy Scriptures that are able to make you wise enough to have faith in Christ Jesus and be saved. 2Ti 3:16 Everything in the Scriptures is God's Word. All of it is useful for teaching and helping people and for correcting them and showing them how to live. 2Ti 3:17 The Scriptures train God's servants to do all kinds of good deeds. So the Bible is an instruction book on how we can do all kinds of good deeds. The books were written by prophets or holy men guided by the Spirit of God. 2Pe 1:21 The prophets did not think these things up on their own, but they were guided by the Spirit of God. But we also learned in previous studies that these instructions or lessons were hidden by God from most people and only revealed to a few people. Luk 8:10 So he answered: I have explained the secrets about God's kingdom to you, but for others I can only use stories. These people look, but they don't see, and they hear, but they don't understand. All these people see are stories or parables of how God created the heavens and the earth. How God created Adam and Eve. Stories of Cain and Abel, of Noah, of Moses and stories of Jesus. But to them, these are just stories, but to us, God explains the secrets about His kingdom hidden in these stories. He explains it to us through the teachers in the body of Christ. This is shown in the story of Philip and an Ethiopian official who was reading the Bible: Act 8:27 So Philip left. An important Ethiopian official happened to be going along that road in his chariot. He was the chief treasurer for Candace, the Queen of Ethiopia. The official had gone to Jerusalem to worship Act 8:28 and was now on his way home. He was sitting in his chariot, reading the book of the prophet Isaiah. Act 8:29 The Spirit told Philip to catch up with the chariot.

2 Act 8:30 Philip ran up close and heard the man reading aloud from the book of Isaiah. Philip asked him, "Do you understand what you are reading?" Act 8:31 The official answered, "How can I understand unless someone helps me?" He then invited Philip to come up and sit beside him. Act 8:32 The man was reading the passage that said, "He was led like a sheep on its way to be killed. He was silent as a lamb whose wool is being cut off, and he did not say a word. Act 8:33 He was treated like a nobody and did not receive a fair trial. How can he have children, if his life is snatched away?" Act 8:34 The official said to Philip, "Tell me, was the prophet talking about himself or about someone else?" Act 8:35 So Philip began at this place in the Scriptures and explained the good news about Jesus. So these are what we have learned so far: 1. The Bible is the Word of God that we need to learn from a young age. 2. It was written by men who were guided by the Spirit of God. 3. The Bible contains instructions on how we should live our lives. 4. These instructions or lessons are hidden so we need a teacher who is also guided by the Spirit of God to teach us. 5. All of the Bible is useful for teaching and helping and correcting others. You have also heard me mention the two broad sections of the Bible: the Old and the New Testament. The Old Testament is composed of 39 books (from Genesis to Malachi) written before our Lord was born in the flesh. The New Testament is made up of 27 books (from Matthew to Revelations) written after His death. So all in all, the Bible is composed of 66 books. In our last study, I gave you some homework on the common themes or topics that can be found in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. One reason I wanted you to do that is to teach you that these common themes are truths repeated over and over in both the Old and the New Testament. The reason these truths are repeated is because God wants you to understand them and their great importance in God's plan of saving all mankind.

3 Erika's homework: Obedience Exo 15:26 He said to him, "I am the LORD your God. If you listen to me and do what I say is right, and if you obey all my commands and laws, then I will not give you any of the sicknesses that I gave the Egyptians. I am the LORD who heals you." Ezr 7:10 Ezra had always given his time and attention to studying and obeying the law of the LORD. He also loved to teach its rules and commandments to others in Israel. Mat 7:21 "Not everyone who calls me Lord will enter God's kingdom. The only people who will enter are those who do what my Father in heaven wants. Jas 1:22 Do what God's teaching says; don't just listen and do nothing. When you only sit and listen, you are fooling yourselves. Annika's homework: Peace Psa 119:164 Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous rules. Psa 119:165 Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble. Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Luk 1:79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." Joh 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. Jessica's homework: God's sovereignty Psalm 135:6 The LORD does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths. Psalm 115:3 Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him. Isaiah 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure. Daniel 4:35 All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, But He does according to His will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of earth;

4 and no one can ward off His hand Or say to Him, 'What have You done?' Romans 9:19-21 You will say to me then, "Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?" On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, "Why did you make me like this," will it? Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use? Andre's homework: Patience Neh 9:30 And many years You had patience with them, and testified against them by Your Spirit, by Your prophets, but they would not give ear. And You gave them into the hand of the people of the lands. Luk 21:19 By your patience you will gain your souls. Rom 5:4 and patience works out experience, and experience works out hope. Jas 1:3 knowing that the trying of your faith works patience. Rev 3:10 Because you have kept the Word of My patience, I also will keep you from the hour of temptation which will come upon all the habitable world, to try those who dwell upon the earth. Cole's homework: Faith Deu 32:20 And he said, 'I will hide my face from them; I will see what their end will be, for they are a perverse generation, children in whom is no faithfulness. Hab 2:4 Behold, the soul of him is lifted up, and is not upright; but the just shall live by his faith. Rom 1:5 by whom we have received grace and apostleship, to obedience to the faith among all nations, for His name; Rom 10:17 Then faith is of hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. Eph 2:8 For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, Sean's homework: Joy/Rewards Gen 15:1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: "Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great." Psa 16:11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is

5 fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psa 58:11 Mankind will say, "Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely there is a God who judges on earth." Rev 22:12 "Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. Rev 22:13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end."