God’s Plan

 

Preamble

• If you look at the world you see that there is something wrong with it

          It is full of wickedness, evil and suffering.

• God made the world good but it is spoiled by mankind’s sin

          The big story of the Bible is that God has a plan to restore the world to its intended state.

 

Main Section

   1. The Fall  –  this is how sin, death and suffering came in to the world   

                          (Gen 1:31)  Immediately after creation the world was very good.  This is how God created the world.

                           Rom 5:12 – mankind sinned: this brought death and suffering in to the world

• The cause of suffering in the world is sin.

• Forgiveness of sin is needed before the world can be put right.

 

   2. The Sacrifice of Jesus  -  this provides the only way for the forgiveness of sins

                          Rom 5:16,17 -  The sacrifice of Jesus has provided a way to escape death      therefore escape from sin

                                     v 18 -  The offer of salvation is made to all men – provided that we make use of it

                                     v 21-  Summary: salvation and eternal life is available through Jesus.          *Grace: an undeserved gift

 

    3. The Return of Jesus  -  Jesus died and rose from death. 40 days later he rose to Heaven.

                                                But God promised that he will return. Around 400 verses in the NT are about this.

        Acts 1:6-11  -  this is the time when Jesus rose to heaven.

                  v11  - Jesus is to return from heaven, physically and visibly

                  v7 - we don’t know when this will happen

        Acts 3: 18-21    v18 – the sacrifice of Jesus    v20 – God will send Jesus     v21 – predicted by the prophets

                                                                                                                                                                See 4  OT (NT not written)

        1 Thess 4:15-17     v16 – Jesus to return    v16 – to raise dead     v17 – the faithful to be with Jesus

                                                (1 Thess 5;1-2  No-one knows when)

        Matt 24:30,31     v 30 - visible return    v31 – gather the elect    v36  - No-one knows when

        (Acts 17:31 – Judgement)

 

    4. The Kingdom of God

         Psa 2:all –  a picture of the world at the return of Jesus

         Dan 2:44 –  the kingdom replaces all other kingdoms therefore on earth

         Isa 35:all –  picture of the kingdom

         2 Pet 3:10 -  what sort of people should we be?

 

 

​Summary

Our world is spoiled by sin

Jesus died to remove sin

Jesus will return to rule God’s kingdom

In this the world will be put right