
Introduction to the Bible
Many people have difficulty studying their Bibles because they have trouble making sense out of what seems to be a jumbled collection of information. They do not know when or why God inspired men to pen the various books of the Bible. They do not understand who wrote what to whom. To many, the 66 books of the Bible are confusing.
As a whole, the Bible may be boiled down to two bottom-line themes: grace and obedience. “Grace” refers to the incredible things that God has done to make it possible for human beings to be forgiven of sin and permitted to live eternally with Him. God so loved the world that He gave His only Son to save humanity from sin. This is the most important thing in the entire world. God’s plan for saving man is the central theme of the Bible.
The second key point of the Bible is the need for human obedience—our correct response to God. Most of the information in the Bible details how human beings have responded to the instructions of God. Sadly, the Bible reports to us that most people have chosen not to obey God’s will.
As you study through the Bible you will notice that God’s communication to the human race has been carefully orchestrated. Ultimately, everything in the Bible is designed to teach people about the one true God of the Universe (and His gracious activity) and the obedience God rightly expects from mankind.
One purpose of this issue of Discovery is to pinpoint the essence and thrust of the first two books of the Bible so that you can get a better handle on God’s Word as a whole. Central themes of Genesis and Exodus are identified in hopes that you will learn the main purpose of these two important books of the Bible. Brief outlines are also provided to help you grasp the overall layout of the books.
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