Wherever we live in the World, we live in countries that face great problems – terrorism, famine, drought, the tragedy of AIDS. These are just some of the problems we face and mankind is incapable of solving them.

However, we do not live in a hopeless world but in a world that has been given a great hope for a wonderful future. It will be a world full of peace and plenty, a world in which disease is conquered and a world ruled over by a good and right ruler who will ensure justice for everybody.

This is the most important message in the world; it is the message of the Bible about the coming Kingdom of God on earth and God has sent it to you.

This leaflet will tell you about this message and how you can learn more about it.

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What the Bible Teaches

·     God is the eternal Creator of the universe. He created life on earth, and made man in His own image (Genesis 1:1, 27; Acts 17:24-28).

·     The Bible is the wholly inspired Word of God (2 Peter 1:20, 21; 2 Timothy 3:14-17).

·     Angels are immortal beings who carry out God’s will (Hebrews 1:13, 14).

·     God’s plan is to fill the whole earth with His glory in the Kingdom of God on earth (Numbers 14:21; Habakkuk 2:14).

·     Man (Adam) was given a choice by God. He could obey God, and live, or disobey Him and die. Adam sinned by disobeying God. He was sentenced to death (Genesis 3:17-19).

·     We are all descended from Adam. Because he sinned, and died, all men and women have been born mortal. However, we have all sinned, and we deserve to die on our own account (Romans 3:23; 5:12; 6:23).

·     Like Adam, we are all responsible for our own actions. If we were not, a fair-minded God could not call our wrong actions ‘sin’. We cannot blame a supernatural devil. “Each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed” (James 1:14-16). Jesus said, “Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, fornications…” (Matthew 15:19).

·     God is the Father of Jesus Christ. God used His Holy Spirit so that Mary “conceived in her womb”. Jesus therefore is descended both from God (his father) and a woman (his mother) and so the Bible calls him both Son of God, and Son of man (Luke 1:30-35).

·     The Bible describes Jesus as the Son of God. It never calls him God the Son. He is not equal with God. He said, “My Father is greater than I” (John 14:28), and “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, and to my God and your God” (John 20:17).

·     The Holy Spirit is God’s power, to use as He chooses (Genesis 1:2; Isaiah 61:1). It is not a separate person.

·     Jesus could have sinned, but he did not. He “put away sin by the sacrifice of himself so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for him, he will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation” (Hebrews 9:26-28).

·     Because of his perfect obedience to the will of God, Jesus was raised from the dead. He was given everlasting life. He said, “Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into his glory?” (Luke 24:26).

·     Jesus, after his resurrection, still had a physical body. He said to Thomas, one of the 12 apostles, “Reach your hand here, and put it into my side” (John 20:27).

·     After his resurrection, Jesus ascended to heaven (Acts 1:11). He now acts as our Lord and mediator (1 Timothy 2:5).

·     Jesus was victorious over sin and death. By God’s grace, all who believe and faithfully follow him will receive the blessing of everlasting life (John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 15:22; 1 Peter 5:4).

·     If we are found faithful, and granted immortality, Jesus will “transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to his glorious body” (Philippians 3:21).

·     The blessing of everlasting life will be given at the judgement. This will take place after Jesus returns to the earth and raises the dead. Jesus said, “All who are in the graves will hear his voice and come forth - those who have done good to the resurrection of life” (John 5:28, 29).

·     Jesus tells us many times that he will return to the earth. “The Son of man will come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he will reward each according to his works” (Matthew 16:27). Note the order of events:

a)    Jesus returns.

b)    He raises the dead.

c)    The judgement takes place.

d)    He gives everlasting life to his faithful followers.

·     When Jesus comes, he will be “Lord of lords and King of kings” (Revelation 17:14). Kings will bow before him (Psalm 72:11). The Bible calls this time ‘The Kingdom of God’. The faithful believers will be made immortal saints and will help Jesus to rule in his kingdom. He promised that his twelve apostles would “sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Matthew 19:28).

·     Men and women must acknowledge that they are sinners. They must believe the Gospel, repent and be baptized. Jesus said, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16).

·     Jesus told his disciples, “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). We must follow his example of obedience to God and practical service, and remember him by breaking bread and drinking wine regularly, “till he comes” (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). 

·     Finally, we must remember that God chose to reveal His character to the Jewish nation. He made promises to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and David and to the nation of Israel. Many of these promises will be fulfilled when Jesus returns to the earth.

·       Watch Israel! Consider these passages in the Bible. (Genesis 12:2,3; 13:14-17; 2 Samuel 7:12-16; Jeremiah 23:5-8; Ezekiel 36: 22-24; 37:21,22)

 

How can I learn more about the message of the Bible?

There are two ways in which you can do this.

The most important one is to read the Bible every day for yourself. Pray to God for understanding before you read and He will answer your prayer. He wants you to be in His wonderful kingdom when Christ returns.

The Christadelphians can help you to understand the Bible for yourself by sending you a Bible Correspondence course. This is a free course and it will help you to learn about God’s great message for you.

Remember – learning the Bible message and choosing to follow the Lord Jesus Christ leads to eternal life. It is God’s greatest gift to mankind and He wants you to accept it.