THE PLAN OF REDEMPTION

INTRODUCTION:

1. What if our Bibles only contained the Old Testament – the first half of the Bible?

2. What if we had absolutely no knowledge of the New Testament?

3. What would we know?

4. Let’s open up our Old Testament and see what it says.

I. THE FIRST VERSE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT SAYS, READ GENESIS 1:1.

A. The first verse of the Old Testament tells me:

1. There is a being that is called God.

2. The Old Testament tells me that and the Old Testament tells me that our heavens

and the earth have been created.

3. God is the creator of what exists.

B. Part of God’s creation was man – Genesis 2:7. READ.

C. Verse 15 of this chapter says that man was placed in a garden.

D. Then in Chapter 3 we learn about a problem.

E. The first man and woman broke one of God’s laws.

F. When God’s laws are broken, sin occurs.

G. Sin brings consequences – Genesis 3:17-19.

H. Adam and Eve were in trouble.

I. Instead of now being blessed by God, they were being punished.

J. If I did not have a New Testament, I would wonder, “Was this situation (lack of favor with God)

to last forever?”

K. Would mankind ever get rid of sin and its consequences?

L. With only a copy of the Old Testament to guide me, I keep reading.

M. When I get to Genesis 12 I find what seems to be an important passage.

N. At this point the writer says something about a man named Abraham.

O. READ Genesis 12:1-3.

1. The third verse is encouraging.

2. Back in Genesis 3 we read about sin and its consequences.

3. God’s blessings, like the garden, are taken away from humanity.

4. Here God says that “all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

5. With only the Old Testament in my possession, I say to myself, “This must include me.”

6. “God has promised to bless me and my family.” That’s great!

P. As I look at Genesis 12, I wonder, “How will God do this?”

Q. Since I only have an Old Testament, I continue to read it looking for an answer.

R. In my studies I get to the book of Isaiah, Chapter 40.

S. Nearly two-thirds of the way through Isaiah I find an exciting passage.

T. This seems to be parallel with the promise in Genesis 12:3.

U. Isaiah 40:3 – READ.

1. God is going to “need a highway”.

2. It sounds as if God is going to come to earth.

3. When God makes this journey, “one will be crying” (announcing).

V. With only my Old Testament in hand, I am excited.

1. I know from Genesis 12 that God wants to bless me and my family.

2. It appears that this blessing is going to come from a personal visit.

3. About the time of this visit, it will somehow be announced.

W. Let’s skip down to Isaiah 40:11 – READ.

1. With only my Old Testament in hand, I see a contrast.

2. In the Old Testament, Adam and Eve were separated from God.

3. Sin broke the close fellowship between man and deity.

4. When God comes to earth, fellowship will be restored.

5. The one who comes will be like a “shepherd”.

6. Instead of casting people out, He will “carry them”.

7. “Gentleness” and not “harshness” will be present.

X. Based upon what I have already found with my Old Testament, I read the rest of it.

Y. I find more and more statements about God coming to earth.

Z. As I get to the end, I feel two things in my heart:

1. I feel that the Old Testament is a wonderful book.

2. I also feel a little disappointed.

3. I do not know when God will come to earth.

4. Maybe this has already happened and I have missed it.

II. AS I AM WONDERING ABOUT HOW THIS STORY TURNS OUT, I GO TO THE STORE.

IN THE BOOK SECTION I FIND A VOLUME ENTITLED “THE FOUR GOSPELS”.

A. As I look at this book I see that there are 4 parts to it.

B. Part 1 is Matthew, Part 2 is called Mark, Part 3 is Luke and Part 4 has the title John.

C. This book is a continuation of my Old Testament.

D. I start with the first of the 4 books.

E. In Matthew 1, I read a lot of names. Verse 17 catches my eye – READ.

F. Abraham is the fellow I read about in my Old Testament.

G. Since Abraham is introduced I eagerly read Verse 18 – READ.

1. Jesus Christ – this is a new name.

2. This name is not anywhere in the Old Testament.

3. Maybe this is the one that God promised to send.

4. Maybe this is the God who was supposed to come to earth.

5. Verses 21-23 – READ.

H. My new book, the four gospels, has helped me better understand the Old Testament.

1. Sin was introduced into the world.

2. This fractured man’s relationship with God.

3. Somehow man was going to be blessed by God when deity came to the earth.

4. I now know that deity has come – it was Jesus Christ.

I. As I read through the rest of Matthew, I find that Jesus Christ fulfills the Old Testament.

J. Matthew 3:3 and 13 – READ.

K. Jesus is the one that the Old Testament described and predicted.

L. Now that Jesus has come I start to wonder, “What did He do?”

M. The book of Matthew tells me – QUOTE Matthew 16:18.

N. Jesus said that He would “build His church”.

1. Did He? If He did, what kind of church is it?

2. Where is it? How do I become a member of it?

3. How important is His church?

O. The rest of Matthew and all of Mark, Luke and John say very little about His church.

P. In reading through these gospels I do find some other interesting things.

Q. Matthew 26:28 says, QUOTE – “For this is my blood.”

1. Why did Jesus speak of His blood?

2. How can blood forgive sins?

R. Two chapters later I find some other interesting statements.

S. Matthew 28:18-20 – QUOTE.

1. This is an impressive passage – Jesus has all authority.

2. He told His disciples to “go” into all the world.

3. Those who went into the world were to “disciple”.

4. Part of the process includes baptism.

III. THE GOSPELS HAVE CLEARED UP A LOT OF THINGS FOR ME. I KNOW THAT IT WAS

JESUS WHO CAME. I KNOW THAT HE SOMEHOW TAKES AWAY SIN. BUT NOW THERE

ARE SOME OTHER THINGS THAT I DO NOT UNDERSTAND, NAMELY: THE CHURCH,

JESUS’ BLOOD, FORGIVENESS OF SINS, AND BAPTISM.

A. I visit another bookstore. In the specialty section I see another book.

B. This one is called “Acts”. That is a strange name.

C. I open it up and look at the first sentence – Acts 1:1 – READ.

D. This is not the Old Testament and it is not one of the gospels.

E. This appears to be a continuation of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

F. I buy this rare find and begin to read it.

G. By the time I get to the second chapter, I am really excited.

1. I learn that Jesus is still alive – Verse 32. READ.

2. I also learn something about sin – Verses 36-38. READ.

3. Acts 2 allows me to understand baptism and sin.

4. Baptism removes my sin. When I am baptized my sins are forgiven.

5. But baptism offers a benefit beyond this.

6. Acts 2:47 – QUOTE – “praising God and having …”

7. The Lord “added to them”.

8. What would Jesus be adding people to?

9. As I read through Acts, I get to Acts 20.

10. Verse 28 puts most of my questions to rest. QUOTE.

H. Jesus bought the church (which He promised to build) with His blood.

I. This “church” is not a physical structure.

J. His church is a “group of people”, hence, Christians are “added to it”. Acts 2:47

K. We cannot join the church that Jesus built.

L. We can be added to it when we are baptized for the remission of sins.

M. With this knowledge, I am baptized. I feel so good.

N. All my sins have been washed away.

IV. AS I CONSIDER MY POSITION I FEEL LIKE THERE IS SOMETHING MISSING.

SHOULDN’T I BE DOING SOMETHING AS A CHRISTIAN? ARE THINGS TO REMAIN

IN MY LIFE AS THEY WERE BEFORE I HAD MY SINS WASHED AWAY?

A. I return to the bookstore.

B. Next to where “Acts” was, I find a volume entitled “New Testament Letters”.

C. I buy this book and start reading it. Guess what I learn.

D. God has instructions for the people who are added to His church.

E. In Romans through Jude God tells His people:

1. How to worship;

2. What His people are to be doing;

3. What His people are to avoid.

4. These New Testament letters tell me how to take care of sin after being baptized.

5. These letters are filled with practical information and doctrine.

F. I am so glad that I have found 65 Bible books.

G. They have helped me so much.

H. There is only one other thing that I would like to know.

I. What if I live as a Christian and serve God faithfully?

J. What will happen to me when I die?

K. I have had good fortune at one of the local bookstores.

L. I return there wondering if there are any more books from God.

M. I find one more book on the shelf. It’s called the book of Revelation.

N. As I read through this book, I get to Revelation 21:3-4. READ.

CONCLUSION:

1. What you have just heard is 6,000 years of history in condensed form.

2. This is the basic message of the Bible.

3. We have the whole story available to use for examination.

4. If you understand the plan, will you obey Jesus?

5. Jesus said that people must be taught and then baptized.

6. This baptism is for the remission of sins.

7. Then He adds us to His church.