If you could sum up the Bible with one word, what word would you choose? Maybe you would choose “love”. Some have referred to the Bible as God’s love letter to humanity. Or maybe you would choose “grace”, “reconciliation”, “God”, or “Jesus”. But if you were to ask me, I would choose “redemption”. We’ll come back to that thought in a minute.
It has become somewhat popular to describe the Bible by turning the word “Bible” into an acronym. “Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.” That’s pretty clever, isn’t it? But is it accurate?
“Basic?”
Is the Bible really “Basic”? Sure, the average person can pick up a modern translation of the Bible and get the gist of what it says. But, on the other hand, a mature Christian of 60 years can pick up that same Bible and continue to discover richer and deeper truths. I like to think of studying the Bible like walking from a sandy seashore into the ocean. The farther you go the deeper it gets.
“Instruction?”
Is the Bible really “Instruction”? In a sense, yes! As Paul told Timothy, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for instruction…” (2 Tim. 3:16). The Bible is full of instructions, but it isn’t an instruction manual. The Bible is full of rules (dos and don’ts), but it isn’t a rule book. If someone has the impression that the Bible is a rule book or manual that gives step by step instructions, then they are going to be pretty confused when they actually sit down and read it.
“Before Leaving Earth?”
Is the Bible really about “leaving earth”? I used to believe leaving earth and going to heaven for eternity was a major theme in the Bible, but now I’m not so sure. In fact, as much as we talk about “going to heaven”, I can’t seem to find a single passage that says those words or anything remotely similar (and yes, I’ve read John 14 and 1 Thessalonians 4).
The Bible reads less like an instruction manual of how to get to heaven and more like a story with characters, themes, and a plot. The Bible is a compilation of ancient, inspired writings that all wondrously contribute to one grand narrative. The story of redemption.
The Bible: The Story Of Redemption
All great stories follow the classic story structure, and the Bible is no different (in fact, the Bible is the greatest story ever told):
There’s a beginning or “Exposition”. This is where we’re introduced to the main characters of the story and get a sense of what normal life is like for them. In the story of redemption, the exposition is the creation narrative in Gen. 1-2, where we learn about God, humanity, and God’s purpose for His “good” creation.
Then there’s the “Rising Action”. This is where a crisis of some sort is introduced to the story. Things are not as they should be, so the hero begins seeking to fix things and save the day. In the story of redemption, the crisis is the fall that takes place in Gen. 3, where sin, death, and the curse enter creation. The hero is God, and the rest of the Old Testament reveals Him putting His plan into motion to atone for sin, defeat death, break the curse, and restore things to the way they should be.
Then there’s the “Climax”. This is what the entire story is building toward. The hero wins the battle and saves the day against all odds. In the story of redemption, the climax is found in the Gospel accounts (the birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus). God, through Jesus, atones for sin, defeats death, breaks the curse, and begins restoring things to the way they should be.
Then there’s the “Falling Action”. The hero has won, but the story isn’t over yet. How does the hero’s victory affect the other characters of the story? What are they to do now? In the story of redemption, the falling action is found in the book of Acts and the epistles. Since God, through Jesus, has won the battle and saved the day, what are we to do now?
And finally, there’s the conclusion or “Resolution”. Because of the hero’s victory, all things are restored to the way they should be. All plot points, character arcs, and themes are tied together and brought to their conclusion. In the story of redemption, the resolution is found at the end of the book of Revelation. This is why there are so many similarities between the beginning of Genesis and the end of Revelation.
To list a few:
- In Genesis, sin, pain, sorrow, and death entered creation, and humanity lost intimate fellowship with God (Gen. 3:16-24). But in Revelation, all sin, pain, sorrow, and death is forever erased, and God dwells with humanity once again (Rev. 21:3-4).
In Conclusion:
What is the Bible? It’s the story of redemption. God created all things good. Humanity disobeyed and the goodness was ruined. God has been working throughout history to restore His creation to a state of eternal goodness. He accomplished His goal through Jesus the Christ, and He will bring about its ultimate fulfillment at Christ’s return.
What an awesome God we have, and what an amazing story we’re a part of!
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