Keys of Bible Study Session One

Presuppositions:

The Bible is God breathed and without error.

2 Peter 1:16–21 ESV

16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. 19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

The Bible is Spiritually Discerned

1 Corinthians 2:12–14 ESV

12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. 14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

The Bible is for our Instruction

2 Timothy 3:16–17 KJV

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Doctrine/Truth: What is right

• Historically

• Doctrinally

• Personallly

Reproof: What is wrong:

Identify with the pain of people

Who or what is the villain?

Correction: How to fix it

What is the answer for the pain that we feel?

Instruction: How to keep it?

What steps can I take to ensure I don't feel this pain any longer?

2 Timothy 4:2–4 KJV

2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

The Bible is for Our Salvation & Sanctification

Romans 1:16 ESV

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Psalm 119:9–11 ESV

9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. 10 With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! 11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

1 Thessalonians 4:3–5 ESV

3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, 5 not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God;

A Biblical Overview

The Central Theme of the Bible: The King and His Kingdom.

Any Kingdom requires two things.

A King

Subjects

Old Testament

Israel in Formation

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy

Israel in the Land

Joshua, Judges, Ruth

Establishment of the Kingdom

1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles

Israel in Captivity

Ezra, Nehemiah, Ester

Wisdom Literature

Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon

The King foretold (Major Prophets)

Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel

The Kingdom foretold (Minor Prophets)

Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk,

Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

New Testament

The Kingdom Offered

Matthew, Mark, Luke, John

The Kingdom Rejected

Acts

The Kingdom Given to Gentiles

Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians

Pastoral Epistles

1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon

Jew in the Kingdom of God (Transitional)

Hebrews, James, 1 & 2 Peter

Gentiles in the Kingdom of God (General Epistles)

1, 2, & 3 John, Jude

The Kingdom Revealed

Revelation

A Biblical World View

Definition of a world view:

A world view is a systematic way of looking at the world through some predetermined frame of reference or lens. Or in other words how you see and interact with the world around you. This has evolved from a term I used which was “presuppositions.” Everyone has some influences when they are thinking about life and life after death. These presuppositions that form a world view come from all types of sources in a person’s life whether that be family, church, social media, books, or even imagination.

N. T. Wright, in his book “New Testament and the people of God,” lays out four questions asked to form

a worldview:

• Who are we? Or Where did we come from?

• Where are we?

• What is wrong?

• What is the solution? Or What must we do to be saved?

Principle #1: Context

“In the beginning God...”

Genesis 1:1 ESV

1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

The Phrase "In the beginning" is repeated over and over again in the bible and is a time marker of creation.

Genesis 1:1 gives us our first context by which the rest of the Bible must flow.

God is the creator of all things.

Notice the reference letter "a" on the word beginning. These are translator notes to help you study. Here are some examples:

Job 38:4–7 ESV

4 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. 5 Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? 6 On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, 7 when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

Psalm 33:6 ESV

6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.

Isaiah 42:5 ESV

5 Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it:

Hebrews 1:10 ESV

10 And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands;

Hebrews 11:3 ESV

3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

Christ is the creator of all things.

John 1:1–3 ESV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Colossians 1:13–18 ESV

13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

1 John 1:1–3 ESV

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.

The Gap Theory

Genesis 1:2 ESV

2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

The Dilemma of Darkness

God is light. 1 John 1:5

1 John 1:5 ESV

5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

God created the world to be inhabited. Is 45:18

Isaiah 45:18 ESV

18 For thus says the Lord, who created the heavens (he is God!), who formed the earth and made it (he established it; he did not create it empty, he formed it to be inhabited!): “I am the Lord, and there is no other.

Satan’s rebellion brought God’s Judgement Ezekiel 28:11-17

Ezekiel 28:11–17 ESV

11 Moreover, the word of the Lord came to me: 12 “Son of man, raise a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say to him, Thus says the Lord God: “You were the signet of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. 13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle; and crafted in gold were your settings and your engravings. On the day that you were created they were prepared. 14 You were an anointed guardian cherub. I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God; in the midst of the stones of fire you walked. 15 You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you. 16 In the abundance of your trade you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned; so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God, and I destroyed you, O guardian cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. 17 Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I exposed you before kings, to feast their eyes on you.

God judged the Earth with a deluge of Water

2 Peter 3:5–7 ESV

5 For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, 6 and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. 7 But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

There are 3 time frames of the Earth in the Bible:

The Earth that was in the Beginning

The Earth that is now

The Earth that shall be in the future

Job 38:8–11 ESV

8 “Or who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb, 9 when I made clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling band, 10 and prescribed limits for it and set bars and doors, 11 and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed’?

God separated himself from the waters

Job 38:28–30 ESV

28 “Has the rain a father, or who has begotten the drops of dew? 29 From whose womb did the ice come forth, and who has given birth to the frost of heaven? 30 The waters become hard like stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.

God separated himself from His creation because of the rebellion.

God is doing a work of restoration for all of creation.

Isaiah 66:1–2 ESV

1 Thus says the Lord: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest? 2 All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the Lord. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.

Matthew 5:34–35 ESV

34 But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.

God’s final restoration will be a new heaven and new earth.

Revelation 21:1–4 ESV

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”