God tells us all He wants us to know about Himself and His purpose, in the Bible.
The Bible is complete in itself. It consists of sixty-six sections (each one called a ‘book’). It begins, in Genesis chapter 1, by explaining that God created the earth and all the things that live on it, including us. When the work was completed, everything was described as ‘very good’ (Genesis 1:31).
Next we are told how this ‘very good’ state was spoiled when man disobeyed his Creator. But, to recover the situation, we are told how God then began a process that would repair the damage, and make all things ‘very good’ again, in the course of time.
Man was shown that he could be forgiven if he believed what God said, if he confessed his sins, and offered sacrifices that would teach him important lessons.
But he had to be willing to learn.
God’s solution
As the Bible progresses, this ‘way of salvation’ is made steadily clearer. Generation after generation, mankind made the same mistakes as the first man Adam. All humans failed to some extent, and sooner or later everyone died. Then at last Jesus came, born of a woman and truly human as we all are, but begotten by the power of God.
He succeeded where we have all failed.
Unlike us, Jesus resisted all temptation and lived a perfect life. Then he allowed wicked men to crucify him and he died, of his own free will, as the perfect sacrifice.
In that way Jesus put this troublesome human nature behind him forever, because God his Father raised him to perfect immortal life. After that the apostles of Jesus went out into the world inviting everyone to follow Jesus, to believe his teaching and sincerely try to live the same way.
Those who obeyed this call would be forgiven and have the hope of enjoying eternal life when Jesus returns as King. Then the earth, which sinful men and women have so misruled, will be filled with God’s glory.
The Bible ends with beautiful descriptions of the earth and its people when that ‘very good’ state has been restored. Sin, pain, sorrow, and even death will be gone forever, and God will be praised by all (Revelation chapters 21 & 22). Read more