Too Busy to Read the Bible, the Most Important Book Ever Written?
Not a fairy tale as some would believe and even more than an exiting history book, but a owner’s manual for your life. The Bible Executive Summary below was printed on only one side of an 8-1/2″ x 11″ paper with over 300 references on the reverse side for the curious.
GOD (Elohim, a Hebrew plural noun including the FATHER and HOLY SPIRIT), created the Heavens, the Earth and greatly loved it[4]. The Earth was absolutely perfect – including forces of nature, gravity, oxygen, plants, animals and climate with no inclement weather – ever[5]! Besides angels, 3 archangels were created. One, Lucifer (a.k.a. Satan), was so proud of his beauty, that he and 1/3 of the angels (a.k.a. demons or devils) rebelled, were defeated and thrown out of Heaven[6].
GOD created a perfect man Adam in “OUR”[7] own image with a body (called flesh); mind, will, emotions (called soul); and unlike any animal, a spirit deep inside his heart. HE gave His world to Adam, who had superior intellect, then created Eve as a helpmate.[8] Not puppets – GOD gave them freedom, but forbid them to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Satan tricked the couple. Although physically (body) and mentally (soul) alive, their spirits died as GOD warned. In effect the world GOD had given to Adam, was ‘sold-out’ to Satan for a piece of fruit.[9] Sin (evil) entered the world and began ruining HIS perfect Creation.
Wickedness (from wicker or twisted) spread making Earth putrid to (HE who is perfection) GOD (JEHOVAH/YAHWEH).[10] To cleanse the world GOD sent a flood – saving only Noah (who loved HIM), his family and some of every animal species. They survived in a perfect boat that withstood the first rain and flood ever. A rainbow was GOD’s Covenant (unbreakable sacred promise –Testament) that it would never be repeated.[11] Tragically, again sin spread around the world.[12] (HE hates this sin, because it will kill us – HIS creation!) In love GOD instituted the blood sacrifice of perfect lambs[13] to “atone” (or cover over) man’s evil actions.[14] HE told the people to choose between Life and Death. (“Choose Life”![15])
Later, because Abraham trusted in God,[16] GOD made an everlasting Covenant to protect his descendants giving them a land of their own.[17] His grandson Jacob (later known as Israel) with 12 sons (later becoming 12 tribes), prospered in slavery for 430 years in Egypt. GOD honored HIS Covenant, sending Moses to the rescue with miracles, dividing the Red Sea for the million Israelites, then drowned the pursuing army[18]. The 12 tribes wandered through a desert for 40 years where GOD fed them with manna (what is it?[19]). HE instituted The 10 Commandments, plus a legal system[20] and blood sacrifice of perfect lambs. This allowed HIS people to be in right standing (righteous) – clean from their evil thoughts and deeds. The people who followed HIS commands prospered in safety.[21] Evildoers, not under GOD’s protection, received the results of sin; i.e. disease, poverty[22] and final death in Hell (Hades, Sheol, Gehenna).[23]
How Israel Was Formed In The Bible
Those living in Abraham’s land had polluted it with murder, child sacrifice and immorality. GOD directed the Israelites to cleanse the land by killing everyone – only pure was to remain (only partly done). HIS 12 tribes conquered territories. Civil war later separated Judah (the Jews) in Jerusalem and Levi (the Levites) from the rest of Israel’s 10 tribes. During this time HE only spoke to HIS people through specially chosen judges, kings and/or prophets. While GOD kept the Covenant (Testament), HIS people wickedly worshiped other gods.[24] (Only 8 of the 38 kings did HIS will.) Priests and Prophets even became wicked, offering crippled, stolen and sickly sacrifices[25]. They wrote impossibly complicated laws – substituting them for the close relationship GOD had originally intended[26]. GOD is love so hated sin (pride, lies, murder, false testimony, sedition, love of money[27]), because it would hurt mankind by separating them from HIS protection[28]. (No, HE doesn’t need our money,[29] but honors our giving as a sacrifice or seed to make us prosper.[30])
The Old Covenant Replaced by a New Covenant
GOD’s prophets described a coming Savior (Christ) who would bring back the heart of the people to HIM[31]. Not politically correct, Jesus arrived criticizing the Jewish leaders’ evil behavior.[32] HE reduced the 613 Mosaic laws written by priests over 900 years to only two – 1) Love your GOD with all your heart with all your soul and with all your mind and 2) Love your neighbor as yourself.[33] Jesus loved, healed and taught the people to pray directly to GOD gaining access “in the name of Jesus”[34]. HE lived a sinless life and performed miracles, saying, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one can come to the FATHER except through ME”. Jesus knew HE would be murdered, but the FATHER would send the Holy Spirit to comfort HIS followers[35]. The leaders, fearing loss of power and influenced by Satan, had this perfect man killed[36]. About 100 pounds of burial spices and cloth were wrapped around HIS body, becoming rock hard.[37] But 3 days later, Jesus arose from the dead being seen by hundreds[38]. The shedding of Jesus’ blood had become God’s perfect sacrifice (the Lamb of God) ending the Old Covenant and eliminating all need for future animal sacrifice.[39]
As promised, 40 days later the HOLY SPIRIT was sent to earth to be Comforter, Guide and Counselor to those who had absolute trust (faith) in Christ.[40] Now, when anyone accepted and believed Christ’s sacrifice, their spirits were recreated or born again[41], sins were eliminated and eternal life in Heaven was granted. But best of all, they could approach the Father to have a personal relationship with HIM in the name of Jesus. This was God’s New Covenant (Testament) and His victory! Christians are now adopted children of God with the same rights and privileges![42] In love we are to help our Father’s legitimate sons and our Hebrew brothers – the Jews.
Now, you know the major themes of the Bible. No matter what you feel, think or hear from others – only God is actually real! Putting your faith in any man, lifestyle or myth is childish – including Mother Nature, the Easter Bunny, Santa Claus, Superman and Harry Potter. Nations, opinions and leaders come and go. Only GOD is pure love and never changes,[43] BUT, HE cannot associate with sin.
So, just face it! We were born with a selfish, sin-like nature[44]. The wages of sin is death[45], then Hell. But God has been reaching out – forgiving man constantly, instituting blood sacrifice for sin and finally 2000 years ago – the ultimate sacrifice. For HE loved us so much, that HE let HIS Son die for our sins. Now, HE allows us continual access to HIM, giving us eternal life – IF we will accept Jesus’ perfect sacrifice and in our heart, trust that God raised Him from the dead[46]. Yes, anyone can be saved! For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved![47] So, right now just say, “God, I believe in You and that Your Son died for what I’ve done wrong! Christ come into my heart right now. I’ll stop trusting in myself and trust in You!” Now, when you finally die and pass into Heaven, Jesus will be standing in front of GOD saying, “Father – I’d like you to meet my friend”![48] What a wonderful homecoming it will be!
Ed Note: My apologies for the many footnotes. But rightly questioning this document, some may want clarification from the actual document (Bible). The footnotes will direct you to the Bible’s back-up references. More thorough study will help you find the truth for yourself.
[1] Jeremiah 29:11-13; Hebrews 13:5c, 8; Malachi 3:6; James 1:17; I John 5:14-15; Romans 8:28; I Peter 5:7; Psalms 23
[2] II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:16, 20-21; Jeremiah 1:9; 35:2; John 17:8; Habakkuk 2:2
[3] The Evidence Demands a Verdict – Josh McDowell
[4] Genesis 1:26, 1-4; 10,12,18,25,31
[5] Genesis 2:5-6
[6] Isaiah 14:12-23; Luke 10:18; John 10:10; 8:44 (Beelzebub Mark 3:22, 1:23-24)
[7] Genesis 1:26
[8] Genesis 2:7; 2:8; 2:18-25
[9] Luke 4:5-7; John 12:31; Genesis 1:28; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Acts 26:18; John 14:30; Ephesians 2:2
[10] Genesis 6:5-7; 4:8-10,23
[11] Genesis 9:8-17
[12] Gen 9:20-25; 11:4; (Lie) 12:11-13; (Strife) 13:7; (War) 14:2; 18:20; (Homosexual) 13:26; 19:1-29
[13] Leviticus 22:19-25; Malachi 1:7
[14] Gen 3:21; 9:4-6; Hebrews 9:22; Leviticus 17:1 (Without Blemish – Leviticus 1:3,10; 3:1; 4:3, 23, 28,31; 5:15,18;6:6; 9:2-3; 14:10; 23:12,18; Numbers 28:3,9,11,19,31; 29:2,8,13,17,20,23,26,29,32,36; Deuteronomy 17:1
[15] Deuteronomy 30:19
[16] II Chronicles 16:9; Genesis 12:1-4,8; 13:4; 15:6; Romans 4:3; Hebrews 11:8-19
[17] Genesis 15, 17
[18] Exodus 6:5-11; 7-14
[19] Exodus 16:14-35; 17:1-7; Numbers 11:4-9,13,18-20,31-34; Deuteronomy 2:7
[20] Deuteronomy 5:6-21; 6:3,18-19; Exodus 20:1-17
[21] Deuteronomy 28:1-14; 15:26; Leviticus 26:1-13
[22] Deuteronomy 28: 15-68; Leviticus 26:14-39; Galatians 6:7
[23] Psalms 9:17; 55:15; Prov 7:27; 23:14; 27:20; Isaiah 14:9,11,15; 66:24b; Jude 6-7,13; Rev 11:7; 20:6,10,13-15; 21:8
[24] Judges 2:11; 3:7, 12; 4:1; 6:1; 10:6; 13:1; 17:6; 19:22-28; I Kings 11:1-11, 33; 12:8-15, 28-30; 13:33; 14:9, 22-24; 15:3, 34; 16:7,19,25,30; 21:20-26; 22:52; II Kings 3:2, 27; 6:28-29; 8:18,27; 10:19, 29-31; 13:2,11; 14:4,24;
15:9,18,24,28; 16:2; 17:7,19, 22, 29, 34; 18:12; 21:2-9,20; 23:32, 37; 24:9,19, Jeremiah 2:3-8,11,17,19,32; 3:7-14,18; 4:1-4,28; 4:26-30; 6:13; 7; 8:9-13; 9:2-9,13-16; etc.
[25] Malachi 1:11-14; Isaiah 61:8; Jeremiah 14:14
[26] Malachi 2:8-17; 3:7,13-15
[27] Proverbs 6:16-19; 8:13; 11:2; 13:10; 16:18; Mark 7:20-23; I Timothy 1:9-10; 3:8; 4:1-3; 5:13; 6:9-10
[28] Jeremiah 17:7-8; Psalms 18:2,29-30; 23; 91; 121; 27:1; 118:6-12; 144:15b; 145:18-20; Deuteronomy 31:6; I Chronicles 28:20; Isaiah 41:17; Hebrews 13:5b; (Love – I Corinthians 13; I John 4:7-11;19)
[29] Hosea 6:6; I Samuel 15:22; Micah 6:8
[30] Malachi 3:8-11; Luke 6:38; II Corinthians 9:6-8; Philippians 4:19
[31] Isaiah 52:13-15; 53:1-12; 11:1-10; 61:1-3; 6:9-10; 7:14-16; 9:6-7; 26:19d; 42:1-4, 6-7; 50:6; 29:10; Zechariah 1:11;3:8-9;
6:12-13; 9:9; 11:12-13; 12:10; 13:7; Hosea 6:2; Micah 5:2; Habakkuk 1:5; Psalms 2:7-8; 22:1-2, 6-8; 12-18;
69:9, 20-21; 78:2; 117:1; 118:22-23; Deuteronomy 29:4
[32] Matthew 6:1-7; 7:15,21-23; 15:1-9; 23:1-8,13-35; Luke 11:39-54; Mark 7:1-13; Proverbs 17:2
[33] Leviticus 19:18; Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 5:44; 22:37-39; Deuteronomy 5:6-21; Exodus 20:2-17
[34] John 14:13-14; 15:16; 16:23-24; Mark 16:17; Philippians 2:9; Colossians 3:17
[35] John 14:16-18, 26; 15:26; 16:7-15; 20:21-22; Acts 1:5,8; 2:1-13, 33, 38; 4:31; 8:15-18; 9:17, 31; 10:44-47; 11:15-18;
15:8; 19:1-7; I Corinthians 12,14; Romans 8:1-2, 14, 26.
[36] Matt 12:14; 20:18-19; Matt 22:15; 26:59; Mark 10:33-34;
[37] John 19:39-40
[38] Matthew 28; Mark 16:9-14; Luke 24:13-51; John 20:13-31; John 21; Acts 1:3-10; II Peter 1:16; I John 1:1-3
[39] Hebrews 7:27, 9:11-14,22,28a; Isaiah 53:6c-7; I Peter 1:18-20; I John 1:7c
[40] Joel 2:28-32; John 14:16-17,26; 15:26; 16:8,13-15; (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:5,8; 2:1-21,33; 4:31; 8:14-17; 9:17; 10:44-47;
19:2-6; I Corinthians 12 and 14.
[41] John 3:3,5-8; 20:22; II Corinthians 5:17
[42] Galatians 3:6-9,13-16, 26-29; Romans 8:14-17; Deuteronomy 28:1-13; Leviticus 26:3-13; Hosea 2:23b
[43] Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8; James 1:7
[44] Romans 3:10, 23; Psalms 14:1-3; Ecclesiastes 7:20
[45] Romans 6:23; Galatians 6:7, Obadiah 15b
[46] John 3:16-17; Romans 5:9-21
[47] Romans 10:9,13
[48] Matthew 10:32; Romans 8:38-39; Hebrews 9:24;13:5c-6,8; Malachi 3:6; James 1:17
