God’s Rescue Plan for the World – That is my description of the unified story line of the Bible, brought to fulfillment in the incarnation, death, resurrection, ascension, and promised return of Jesus, with the end result being the perfection of the new heaven(s) and the new earth Isaiah 65:17; 66:22; Revelation 21:1; the home of righteousness 2 Peter 3:13.
The story of the Bible from Genesis 3 through Revelation 20 is the rescue plan – promised and illustrated throughout the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) and fulfilled in the New Testament. Genesis 1, 2, the account of creation with Adam and Eve in Garden of Eden, predate what we call the “fall,” man’s rebellion and consequent alienation from God. Revelation 21, 22 reveals the rescue completed with “a new heaven and a new earth” now fully experienced. The whole story, all of the stories combined together, is God’s Rescue, the Good News or Gospel.
Last March, when I purposed to resurrect my blog, I started a series, The Gospel in the Old Testament, focusing on the various elements of God’s Rescue. During 2013, I posted on each Old Testament book in order with the title, “The Gospel of Genesis…. Exodus… Leviticus…” and all the way through 2 Chronicles, the first fourteen books of the Bible. At the outset, I stated that I did not expect to do “The Gospel of…” for all 39 books, but have since changed my mind. My intent in 2014, as I read from Ezra through Malachi is to complete this project and give evidence and support for the Gospel in every book of the Bible. So, let’s get started with Ezra.
Where is the Gospel in Ezra? Continue reading “The Gospel of Ezra” →