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GOD’S STORY 
 
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The Bible is far more than a compilation of truestories about people and nations existing long ago.The Bible itself is one amazing story. It’s the storyGod is telling about himself and the people andworld he created. It’s not only a story of history, it’sa story about what he’s doing today and what heexpects of every person on earth, in general, and allthose who call themselves Christians, in particular.Without understanding this larger story of hisincredible love for the world and his plans to bringpeace on earth once again, the small stories don’talways make much sense.The Bible, made up of 66 books written by men butinspired by God, can be overwhelming to peopleinvestigating Christianity. To get a better feel for thisgrand story, or the meta-narrative of the Bible, I’vesummarized the Bible in less than 2,000 words—akind of
Cliff’s Notes
of the Bible. Even though I hadto leave out massive portions of this incredible book,I hope you’ll get a feel for the heart of God and thelove of God for humans who he uniquely created inhis image.Finally, I hope you’ll see yourself in this story.Whether you’re searching for God or trying to findyour way back to him, God desperately wants you tobe part of his story and his life—forever.Please just sit back and enjoy the story of God.
The Meta-Narrative(The Grand Story) of the Bible
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The very first sentence of the Bible is the bolddeclaration, “In the beginning God created theheavens and the earth”. The Bible and the storyof the Christian worldview begins with God andcreation. God created the universe, our world,plants, animals, and mankind from nothing. Healso created the physical laws of nature andmoral laws of society/relationships to makeeverything work in harmony. He gave humansthe capacity for meaningful work and the abilityfor rational and moral thought, like himself.Because he created all humans, we belong tohim and he has the moral authority to expectus to fulfill certain responsibilities on earth andto determine how we ought to relate to him andeach other. God has a purpose and plan for allthings.
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Of course, God pre-existed creation. He is theperfect, eternal, loving, and sovereign rulerover everything. The opening scenes of theBible show Adam and Eve enjoying intimacy withGod and each other, and God giving humansresponsibility for caring for his creation. Godwas in his glory and he declared all creationgood. The kingdom of God was alive and well onplanet earth.
GOD’S STORY
 
GOD’S STORY 
 
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person who claims to love him be his agent orambassador, working to reverse the effects ofthe fall.
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Therefore, right in Genesis, God made acovenant or promise with Abraham, the father ofthe nation of Israel (Jewish people). If Abrahamtrusted God alone, God would lead him to a newland and make his descendants a great nation.All the nations of the earth would be blessedthrough Abraham.
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Six hundred years later, after God led theIsraelites out of slavery in Egypt under theleadership of Moses, God created the firsttheocracy—Israel—a nation led by God. God,speaking through Moses, wrote their lawsand told them where they were to go and howthey were to live. God was their literal king. Heinstructed them to begin offering ceremonialsacrifices for their sins, looking forward tothe day when he would provide the one finalsacrifice he would ever require. He also madea new covenant with Israel. If Israel would servehim alone and live according to the ceremonialand moral laws he gave them, he would givethem the land he promised Abraham and makethem a showcase of prosperity, peace, andblessing. Other nations would see the greatnessof God and they, too, would choose to love andhonor him, thereby expanding God’s kingdom onearth.
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Unfortunately Israel did not live up to their endof the bargain. They rejected God as their Kingand asked for a human king like other countries.Whenever those kings and Israel obeyed God,they prospered. However as soon as theyprospered, they began worshiping other godsand disobeying God’s moral laws, disregardingthe poor and embarrassing God. When Godpunished them, they repented and started livinglike the people of God again, only to repeat thecycle over and over.
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But something went terribly wrong. Satan,an angel who rebelled against God prior tocreation, tempted Adam and Eve to disobeyGod. Ever since “the fall”, every personexcept Jesus has been born with a sin naturepredisposed to distrust God and others andconstantly trying to live independent of both.Some of the consequences of sin are death,broken relationships, selfish behavior, fear andlack of purpose, but most importantly, ourrelationship with God is broken. Sin traps peopleand destroys dreams. But sin’s effects are notlimited to mankind and society. Animals, plantsand the earth itself have been affected.
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Satan himself has a kingdom, what the Biblerefers to as “the world”. Satan is the championof disobedience—tempting and deceivinghumans to continually ignore God. As a result,the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of thisworld are sworn enemies. Those in God’skingdom are committed to loving God andcaring for other people and his world. Thosein Satan’s kingdom are committed to self-fulfillment and autonomy from their creator; theyhave other gods and allegiances. It is not otherreligions, philosophies, or even non-Christianswho are the enemy. The enemy is Satan and theself-deceptive power of sin in each of us.
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But all is not lost. Right in the Garden of EdenGod initiated his plan to redeem… rescue hisworld. Central to that plan was the sendingof a Messiah, or Savior. However, God’sredemption plan did not lay dormant until Jesuscame, nor was God content to simply redeemmankind spiritually. God’s passion was that hisoriginal intentions for mankind and his worldbe restored. Love, justice, and
shalom
, orGod’s peace, would again be the norm (albeitimperfect until Jesus returns again).
Shalom
isthe wholeness or deep contentment achievedwhen all things are working in harmony asGod intended. God’s expectation is that every
 
GOD’S STORY 
 
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The other reason Jesus came to earth wasto call all who would follow Him, to join aconspiracy of the faithful—a new communityof world changers—the kingdom of God onearth! “May your kingdom come, may yourwill be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Thegospel or “good news” declared by Jesus wasas much about a radical call to social andeconomic justice, mercy, and love as it wasabout salvation and heaven. Jesus made itclear that every true believer has been givena “sub-kingdom”, or responsibilities while onearth to be part of the redemptive purposes ofGod. In effect, Jesus invites us to join the familybusiness! We weren’t saved just so we could goto heaven someday. Salvation’s purpose wasand still is to create an army of people sold outto God, doing the will of God, for the glory andpleasure of God—
in this life and the next! 
 
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The early church took this seriously. We read inthe opening chapters of the Book of Acts thatimmediately upon responding to the gospel,people began to love God with wholehearteddevotion. They took to heart Jesus’ command tolove others as much as they loved themselves.The early church was so radical in their love andlifestyle, that within a few centuries millions ofpeople became followers of Jesus. The Kingdomof God spread like wild fire! They didn’t set outto change the culture around them; they simplyfollowed Jesus’ commands and the peoplearound them found this radical love irresistible.Christ, through his church (followers), was againredeeming or taking back that which had beenlost in the fall of man.
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Unfortunately, within a few more centuriesthis devotion to living out the teachings ofJesus degenerated into religious ritual andinexcusable behavior by the church. Still, inevery generation, God preserved a remnant ofmen and women who loved Jesus more than
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God sent prophets to Israel to remind them ofthe dream and promise of the Kingdom of Godon earth where God’s will would be done as it isin heaven, and the earth would again experiencethe peace and prosperity of God. Isaiah and theother prophets looked forward to the coming ofthe Messiah and the ushering of a new era witha New Testament or promise.
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Jesus, the Son of God, was (and is) thepromised Messiah—The Christ. He came toearth as our rescuer and messenger from Godto explain the new covenant from God andto personally fulfill it. Peace with God was nolonger based on our obedience to the sacrificialor ceremonial laws given to Moses, but onChrist’s sacrifice alone. The Father God made itpossible that by Christ’s death and resurrection,any person who truly has faith that Jesus is theSon of God, believes his teachings, and repentsor turns away from his or her old sinful habits,will be forgiven of all their sins. This is spiritualredemption… a free gift of God through JesusChrist the Bible calls grace. Like the waitingfather in the parable of the prodigal son, Godwelcomes us back with open arms from ourrebellious journey. The Bible tells us that heavenhas a party whenever that happens.
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But, that’s not all! We don’t wake up the morningafter the party essentially the same person,except forgiven. Heaven’s no! We are born againby the Holy Spirit of God, given brand newspiritual DNA, and actually become the spiritualchildren of God. The Holy Spirit’s primaryministries are to remind us of the things Jesustaught and empower us and the church (allbelievers, everywhere) with spiritual gifts whichenable us to serve more effectively. The HolySpirit also causes believers to exhibit what theBible calls the Fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace,patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness, and self-control).
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