 The Single Thread #4 “Salvation through Jesus Christ” has been our theme throughout these lessons… So, we’ve traced that Single Thread through the Bible: From the Creation, through the Great Flood, the Promises made to Abraham, the Development of the Israelite Nation, Its Decline and Fall, and the Preservation/Restoration of a Remnant through which all spiritual blessings would flow, Everything has pointed toward the arrival of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, and the salvation He would bring to all mankind. Think of the story contained in the biblical record as a gigantic funnel of both time and events that all trickle down toward, and finally culminate in, salvation through Jesus Christ.

 The Single Thread #4 There are passages which seem to underscore this concept: Galatians 4:4, “But when the fullness of time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law.” Mark 1:15, “and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Hebrews 9:26, “…but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” Creation Flood Promises to Abraham Development of Israelite Nation Decline and Fall Remnant Salvation through Jesus Christ

 The Single Thread #4 The arrival, then, of Jesus on the biblical scene is the crowning moment of 4,000 years of history! It seems fitting, therefore, to carefully examine this most vital portion of the biblical storyline. Let’s begin by adding the third dispensation to our previous ones by way of comparison. In the: 1.Patriarchal Period, God spoke directly to the patriarchs who disseminated it to their families; it began at Creation and continued until the giving of the Law at Mt. Sinai; Family religion was practiced. 2.Mosaical Period, God spoke through Moses (and the prophets) to the people of Israel; it began at Mt. Sinai and continued until the Cross of Jesus; National religion was practiced. 3.Christian Period, God spoke through Christ (and inspired men); it began at the Cross of Jesus and continues until the end of time; Universal religion is practiced. The comparison is perhaps easier to see graphically…

 The Single Thread #4 Comparison of the Three Periods of Biblical History Now let’s take a closer look at this third and final Christian period… PatriarchalMosaicalChristian Disseminator of God’s Will Patriarchs Moses/Proph ets Christ/Inspire d Men Beginning & End Creation to Law at Sinai Law at Sinai to Crucifixion Crucifixion to End of Time Type of Religion FamilyNationalUniversal Heb.1:1-2; 2:1-4 Heb.9:15-17; 2Pet.3:7-10 Gal.3:16,23- 29; Matt.28:19

 The Single Thread #4 Christian Period Remember the 3 Promises made to Abraham: (Gen.12:1-3) 1.The Land Promise, v.1, was fulfilled when Israel settled the land of Canaan; 2.The Nation Promise, v.2, when 2.5 million people (of his descendants, Israel) came out of Egypt, received the precept (Law) at Sinai, and settled in the place God promised (Canaan). The fulfillment of these 2 of the 3 promises was the story of the Old Testament. Now, we’re ready for the third promise’s fulfillment in the New Testament through Jesus Christ: 3.The Seed Promise, v.3, when all nations of the earth would be spiritually blessed with salvation through Abraham’s Seed…

 The Single Thread #4 Christian Period Significant Events in the Christian Period, Mt.1:1 – Rev.22:21+ 1.The Birth of Jesus. Jesus was born to Joseph and Mary, both of whom were descendants of David, Luke 2:4; 3:23*. The significance of this is that the Messiah was predicted to come from this lineage- which also goes directly back to Abraham, 2Sam.7:12-13; Acts 2:30-36; Rom.1:1-3; Gen.12:3; Matt.1:2-16. Though born to Joseph and Mary, Jesus was the product of the Holy Spirit and Mary; again, this fulfills prophecy concerning Him, Isa.7:14; Matt.1:

 The Single Thread #4 Christian Period Significant Events in the Christian Period, Mt.1:1 – Rev.22:21+ 2.John the Baptist. John had a two-fold mission: a.Prepare the way for Jesus by turning “back many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God,” Luke 1:15- 16; and then, b.Identify Jesus as the Messiah to the people, John 1: John was ultimately killed by Herod Antipas (Matt.14:- 1-12), but his mission had been fulfilled, and the story continues with the Jesus the Christ.

 The Single Thread #4 Christian Period Significant Events in the Christian Period, Mt.1:1 – Rev.22:21+ 3.The Life, Ministry, Miracles, and Teaching of Jesus. These both provided an example, and proved His divinity: a.His life was exemplary, Heb.2:14-18; 4:15-16; b.He ministered, Acts 10:38; c.Though His miracles alleviated much physical suffering, they had a definite spiritual point of proving His divinity, John 20:30-31; Acts 2:22; d.His words/teaching, while certainly instructing in the way of salvation, also proved His divinity, Matt.4:23; 7:28-29.

 The Single Thread #4 Christian Period Significant Events in the Christian Period, Mt.1:1 – Rev.22:21+ 4.The Death of Jesus. Why did Jesus have to die to accomplish His mission of providing salvation to all mankind? a.The unwavering righteousness of God has always demanded a price for transgression, Rom.6:23. b.Prior to Christ, that penalty had been the life-blood of animals, Heb.9:13. c.But rather than remitting the transgression completely, these animal sacrifices only cleansed the “flesh” (outward part) of man for another year, Heb.9:13-14; 10:1-4. Why?

 The Single Thread #4 Christian Period Significant Events in the Christian Period, Mt.1:1 – Rev.22:21+ 4.The Death of Jesus. (cont.) Why did Jesus have to die to accomplish His mission of providing salvation to all mankind? d.An animal’s sacrificed life did not equate in value to the man’s life it was to redeem, Gen.1: e.It would take a perfect man’s life- one who had no sins of his own for which to atone, 2Cor.5:21. f.Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, was that perfect man whose sacrifice could cleanse the conscience (the inward part rather than just the flesh) of man, Heb.9:13-14; 1Pet.2: This is why Jesus had to die!

 The Single Thread #4 Christian Period Significant Events in the Christian Period, Mt.1:1 – Rev.22:21+ 5.The Resurrection of Jesus. Jesus was truly unique on the landscape of human history- He was both God and man, Col.2:9. The death of Jesus proved His humanity, but His resurrection proved His divinity, Rom.1:3-4. While the mortal finite man Jesus was born, lived, and died, the eternal infinite Christ came forth from the tomb to live and reign forever, Rom.6:9. Therefore, it is His resurrection that provides hope to us (beings created in His image, Gen.1:26-27) that we too can be raised immortal, 1Cor.15!

 The Single Thread #4 Christian Period Significant Events in the Christian Period, Mt.1:1 – Rev.22:21+ 6.The Ascension of Jesus. With the commissioning of the apostles, cf. Matt.28:16- 20, Jesus’ purpose and mission of coming to the earth was fulfilled. He had come a God in the flesh, lived the perfect sinless life, and sacrificed His life for that of sinful man to provide redemption, 2Cor.5:21; 1John 2;1-2. Thus, He returned to the heavens from which He had come as the apostles watched, Acts 1:9-10. They then awaited what He had promised- the coming of the Holy Spirit to inspire and guide them, Acts 1:4-8!

 The Single Thread #4 Christian Period Significant Events in the Christian Period, Mt.1:1 – Rev.22:21+ 7.The Establishment of the Church. The Son of God has come to earth, lived and died as a Man, but has been resurrected from the tomb and ascended back to heaven as Conqueror- fulfilling the prediction of Gen.3:15 in the process, cf. Acts 26:18. What yet remains unfinished or incomplete to our story? Has the Single Thread now come to an end? Not quite yet- remember the 3 things we learned were necessary for a physical kingdom: 1) People; 2) Place; and, 3) Precept. These are also necessary for a spiritual kingdom! That story continues…

 The Single Thread #4 Christian Period Significant Events in the Christian Period, Mt.1:1 – Rev.22:21+ 7.The Establishment of the Church. (cont.) The spiritual kingdom of Christ, at the time of His ascension, had: (in different order, but to the same point) 1)A Precept- Matt.4:23; Heb.9:16-17; 2)A Place- John 14:1-3; Phil.3:20; so all it needed was, 3)A People, 1Pet.2:9-10. Thus begins the final chapter of our story and the Single Thread which runs through it, the beginning of the Church- the Kingdom of Christ!

 The Single Thread #4 Christian Period Significant Events in the Christian Period, Mt.1:1 – Rev.22:21+ 7.The Establishment of the Church. (cont.) Jesus had told the apostles that the kingdom would be established within their lifetimes, Mark 9:1. But who would populate it? Those who accepted His terms for admission/adoption: 1)Hear the gospel, Acts 2:22-36; ( cf. 1Cor.15:1-5); 2)Believe Jesus is the Christ, Acts 2:37a; John 8:24; 3)Confess their faith in Him, Acts 2:37b; Rom.10:9; 4)Repent of their sinful ways, Acts 2:38a; Luke 13:3; 5)Baptized for remission of sin, Acts 2:38b; Rom.6:3-4. Receive the 3 rd promise made to Abraham +, Acts 2:39!

 The Single Thread #4 Christian Period Significant Events in the Christian Period, Mt.1:1 – Rev.22:21+ 7.The Establishment of the Church. (cont.) Those meeting Christ’s terms of admission/adoption to His spiritual kingdom were added by Him to the church, Acts 2:41. Then they continued to grow, mature, and reproduce, Acts 2:42-47; 4:4; 8:1-4; 11: The rest of the New Testament (beyond Acts) details the obstacles the growing church faced- collectively, as individual congregations, and as individual Christians, and the inspired instructions given them to overcome that the eternal reward of heaven might be attained, 1John 5:13.

 The Single Thread #4 Christian Period So that: Romans through 2Thessalonians are inspired letters written to individual congregations; 1Timothy through Philemon are inspired letters written to the specific individual Christians named in the title; Hebrews is an inspired letter written to the nation of Israel generally, calling them to Christ and His kingdom; James through Jude are inspired letters written by the author named in the title to individual Christians generally; and, Revelation is the final book of prophecy detailing the ultimate victory of Christ and Christians over the forces of Satan. We’ll put the finishing touches on our Single Thread next time!