Developing A Biblical World View

The Bible includes many promises, prophecies, and verses of comfort and inspiration. But the entire Bible, from beginning to end, has one central message. It is the message of God's concern and plan for the salvation of sinful man.

God's purpose from the beginning has been. . .

That in the dispensation of the fulness of times, He (God) might gather together in one all things in Christ both which are in Heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him. (Ephesians 1:10)

The plan of salvation for sinful man, fulfilled through Jesus Christ, has been God's purpose for the nations of the world from the beginning of time.

THE OLD TESTAMENT

The Old Testament contains 39 books which have been divided into four major sections:

Law Genesis through Deuteronomy History Joshua through Esther Poetry Job through Song of Solomon Prophecy Isaiah through Malachi

Following is a summary of what these four sections of the Old Testament reveal about God's plan for the world.

THE BOOKS OF LAW

Genesis Through Deuteronomy

The books of Genesis through Deuteronomy are called the books of law because they record God’s first commandments to man and man’s response to these laws.

THE BEGINNING:

Genesis means "beginnings." The first book of the Bible records the beginning of the world, man, nations, sin, and God's plan of salvation.

As you have learned, man was created in the image of God with the spiritual and moral likeness of God. As man reproduced, each new person was to fulfill a part in God's plan. But man fell from moral and spiritual likeness to God when he sinned. The first revelation of God's plan for the world is given in Genesis 3:15:

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. (Genesis 3:15)