Do you understand God’s big picture of salvation



• Do you understand God’s big picture of salvation?

• Do you understand how sin got into the world?

• Do you understand how God is going to take care of sin?

• Do you understand what the process is so that you don’t stand there and ask:

o “God, if You’re God, why don’t You do something?”

o “Why don’t You get us out of this mess?”

o “Why don’t You intervene in history?”

o “Why do You allow mankind to continually turn their back on you and people to suffer as a consequence of sin?”

o “If You’re God, why don’t You do something about it?”

Well, God is going to do something about it and that’s what the Bible is about.

Kay wants to go through the Bible from Genesis 3 all the way through Revelation to give you God’s big picture on salvation. What happened that day when Adam and Eve took and ate the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil? What were the ramifications of that sin?

Sin Enters the World

(Draw a horizontal line on a piece of paper turned lengthwise. On the left side draw a tree. That is the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Draw the tree of life next to it. Put red spots on the tree of knowledge—that’s the no-no tree. That’s the tree that they were forbidden to eat. On the other tree put blue fruit. That’s the tree of life.

These are the two trees that God names for us in Genesis 2. He tells us that there are two trees in the middle of the Garden, even though there are many other trees. One is the tree of the knowledge of good and evil—the no-no tree—and the other is the tree of life. You remember that Eve ate of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and gave some to Adam and he ate. As a consequence their relationship with God was hindered. They went and hid from God but God pursued them. That’s what happened in the Garden but what ramification does this have for the rest of mankind?

Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned.

(On the line, draw Adam and Eve next to the trees; draw a red spot in Adam’s mouth.

What happened on that day when they both ate the fruit of that tree? By one man sin entered the world. Not just man but the world. By one man sin entered into the world and as a result of sin, death came. Kay believes it wasn’t just death to mankind but death to all creation. We don’t know when this happened in the Garden of Eden, but that’s when sin entered into the world. Kay personally believes, because by one man sin entered the world, that from that point on we have animals in conflict with one another; disease; other things that come into nature as a result of that one act. This introduced death into the world.

Romans 8 talks about how the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus sets us free from the law of the principle of sin and death. Paul makes a contrast between those in the Spirit and those in the flesh. Those in the flesh have their minds set on the flesh, resulting in death.

Romans 8:6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.

Romans 8:15-18 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

Whatever trials we go through now, glory is coming. And the trials here are not worthy of being compared to the glory that is coming.

Romans 8:19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.

He’s talking about our glorification. He’s talking about when we have brand new bodies. What’s going to happen when we are glorified? All creation is waiting for it.

Romans 8:19-21 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but because of Him who subjected it, (Who subjected it to futility? God, because man sinned so sin entered the world.) …in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

When Adam and Eve took the fruit of that tree and ate, not only did they become sinners but death entered the world. It not only affected Adam and Eve but all of creation.

Romans 8:21-23 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. How is this possible?

(Draw a cross along the timeline a distance to the right of Adam and Eve. See the promise in Genesis 3:15. Draw the crucified Christ on the cross.

God tells the serpent that he will have a seed which is going to bruise the heel of the woman’s seed. Not only will the serpent have a seed but the woman will too. The woman’s seed is Christ. It’s Messiah. About 29 A.D. we have the beginning of the fulfillment of a promise that was given about 4000 B.C. because we see the serpent’s seed bruising the heel of the woman’s seed: the crucifixion.

To summarize, sin entered: Romans 5:12, Romans 8:18-23.

Sin and Death Are Conquered

The following verses explain how sin entered into the world and how it not only affected man by bringing death but it affected all creation. This creation is now awaiting the revelation, the glorification, the redemption of the sons of God, the children of God. How are those children going to be redeemed? It can only come through Jesus Christ. This is where salvation is. This is the good message. Why is that needed? See two other verses: In Colossians, Paul is presenting to us Jesus Christ and telling us wonderful truths.

Colossians 1:13 For He (Christ) delivered us from the domain of darkness. (“Domain” is “exousias” (εξουσιας) and can mean “authority”. He delivered us from the domain or authority of darkness.) …and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son.

So you know that all mankind, because mankind is in sin, is under a new rulership. Before they listened to the serpent and ate of the fruit of the tree, under whose domain were they? God’s. But the minute that they sinned they moved under Satan’s domain.

Hebrews 2:14 Since then the children share in flesh and blood (Since we are made of flesh and blood), He Himself (Jesus) likewise also partook of the same (Jesus became a man. He became flesh and blood—a human being), that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil;

From the point when Adam and Eve ate of the fruit in the Garden, Satan has had the power of death.

(Draw a triangle for God above the cross, ruling over all. Underneath God draw a devil.

So God rules, but then there’s a whole angelic host that rule underneath Him over the world. They have a kingdom of darkness. The reason Satan got the right to rule was because man sinned. Man chose to believe the liar rather than God who is the truth. When man believes the liar he comes into Satan’s kingdom. When Adam and Eve reproduce (as we see in Genesis 5) they bring into the world little sinners. We have a whole kingdom of sinners. They have a king, a ruler. The way he rules is:

Hebrews 2:14b-15 …that through death He might render powerless him (Satan) who had the power of death, that is, the devil; and might deliver those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.

What gave Satan his power? Sin. When is sin taken care of? When God made Jesus, who knew no sin, to be sin for us. God took all the sins of all mankind and put them on Jesus so that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. The minute that you come to know Jesus Christ, you move from darkness to light. You change kingdoms and have a new king. You now belong to the kingdom of God where Jesus is your king.

Colossians 1:13-14 For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Ephesians 2:1-2 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, (Sin and death go together.) …in which you formerly walked (Paul is talking to believers here) according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.

He worked in all of us because we were sons of disobedience.

Ephesians 2:3-5 Among them (the sons of disobedience) we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, (She saw, she desired, she took, she ate.) …indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).

How did people get saved in the Old Testament? By looking forward to the fulfillment of the promise in Genesis 3:15. The promise of when the seed of the woman would bruise the head of the serpent and the seed of the serpent would bruise the heel of the seed of the woman. They looked forward in faith. But they were living under the domain of Satan.

1 John 5:19 We know that we are of God and (contrast) the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

(Beside Satan on the drawing write “1 John 5:19”.

In John 12, Jesus is saying that His hour has come. He was the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world. His hour of His death had come when His blood would be shed for our sins.

John 12:31 “Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world shall be cast out.”

This refers to the hour of Christ’s death on the cross when the ruler of this world, the headship of this world, has been kicked out. Why? Because you have believed in Jesus. You have moved from darkness to light as Paul says in Acts 20. You have moved from the power of Satan into the kingdom of God. Your sins have been forgiven therefore Satan has no authority over you. He has no place. He has been kicked out. You are no longer under him but, in the economy of God, you are with Jesus Christ who is at the right hand of God. You are part of His body. All authority, power, and dominion are under His feet and because you are part of His body they are under you. You are no longer under the authority of the evil one. You have passed from death unto life, from the power of Satan to the kingdom of God. You have received forgiveness of sins so Satan no longer has the power of death because it is sin that gives him his power. These are the ramifications. What happened in Genesis 3 colors the whole rest of the Bible.

Here is even more: Not only does Jesus die and is raised from the dead and ascends to the Father, but He is coming back to set up His kingdom on this earth.

(Draw a cloud coming down to earth on the right side of the timeline. Under this write “1000 years” as Revelation 20:1-7 says.

Jesus will reign on this earth for one thousand years. When He comes back He will bring the believers back to rule and reign with Him. Just before He comes back the seal of the scroll of the title deed to the earth is broken. There’s a scroll in God’s hands which you can read about in Revelation 5. You may not understand it now but as you study the word of God precept upon precept you will. The scroll is broken. It’s the title deed to the earth. Why? When Adam and Eve sinned, they lost dominion over the earth. When God created them in Genesis 1:26-27, God said, “Let them rule over the face of this earth.” But when they sinned they lost their rulership and Satan took their place.

Now the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. We want that dominion, that rulership, back. All of creation is groaning and travailing, waiting for that day it comes back. When will it come back? From Revelation 6-20 there are seven seals, seven trumpets and seven bowls. These are God’s judgments on the earth. This is the big picture. John has already told us in Revelation 8:13 that three more woes will come to the earth. They are the last three trumpets to be blown of the seven. The fifth trumpet blown is the first woe; the sixth trumpet to be blown is the second woe.

Revelation 11:14-15 The second woe is past; behold, the third woe is coming quickly. Then the seventh angel sounded; (This is the third woe.) …and there arose loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.”

Up until this time the kingdom of this world is under the power of the evil one. God has been drawing out believers, those who look to Him. All who look to Jesus get saved. They become believers in Messiah. But all creation still groans and travails because Satan rules over this world. He’s not ruling over Christians because he has been cast out. Christians have been transferred to God’s kingdom but Satan still rules over this world.

It comes to an end when this seventh trumpet is blown. Then the kingdom of our God becomes the kingdom of our Christ. Is He there on earth? No, there are still seven bowls to be poured out. But He moves from heaven directly against the kingdom.

In the first bowl, He brings His wrath upon those who have the mark of the beast. He comes against the throne of the beast in the seven bowls. When the final (seventh) bowl is poured out, heaven breaks open. There is lightning from the east to the west. There’s an earthquake. The Son of Man comes in all His power and all His glory accompanied by those on white horses. Who are they? You and all the believers, because sometime before this time in 1 Corinthians 15 and:

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.

Then when they look up and see Jesus coming on His white horse toward the earth, He is coming to rule and to reign with an army. These are people clothed in linen bright and clean—that’s us—on white horses following Him because the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdom of our God. He will rule for 1000 years on this earth. Some say that’s not literal, but it is. Who are we to say that it’s not literal?

Go back to the end of the third chapter of Genesis. Think upon these things: The woman’s name is Eve. She’s the mother of all living. God makes garments of skin for Adam and his wife. If you’re going to take the skin of an animal you have to kill it. You have to shed blood. Back there in the Garden of Eden, God showed them that without the shedding of blood there’s no remission or covering for sin. He covers their sin until the Lamb of God comes to take away the sins of the world. You’ll study all that in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy.

When you get to the cross, you see Jesus bringing us redemption. Back in the Garden is the animal skin that points to the covering for our nakedness and our sin.

Genesis 3:22 Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, lest he stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”—

(Mark “forever” as a time phrase.

If Adam and Eve, in that sinful state (although they had a covering by God), had eaten the fruit of that tree, they would have lived forever—in sin. Lived forever in sin unredeemed because it would have locked them into that state. This is what Kay believes. Where do you see the tree of life? In the Garden of Eden. You also see it in Revelation 22, where it’s mentioned three times.

Revelation 22:1-2 And he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street.

John is looking at the New Jerusalem. When does this happen? After the thousand years are up, this present earth will be destroyed by fire. There will be a battle then the great white throne judgment. Every person living in Old Testament times who refused to believe Messiah goes to a place called Sheol (hell, Hades) when he dies.

We know from the New Testament that it’s a divided chamber—one side has flames and torment. It’s where wicked unbelieving people go. It’s where the rich man from Luke 16 went. When the great white throne judgment happens they are taken out of this place to stand before the great white throne judgment. They are judged. Their names are not in the book of life.

In the Garden was a tree of life; the Cross is a tree of life. You believe in Jesus; you eat His flesh and drink His blood; you have eternal life which is speaking of believing. But those people always refused. They stand at the great white throne judgment and then they are cast into the lake of fire. They are judged according to their deeds; their punishment is eternal fire. But it is in degrees also.

What follows is the new heaven and the new earth. Revelation 22 is in the new heaven and earth time period.

Revelation 22:2-3 …in the middle of its street. And on either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall no longer be any curse;…

What is not here in the new heaven and new earth? There’s no sin. So sin enters in the Garden of Eden but has exited by the new heaven and earth. There’s no more sin; no more tears; no more sorrow, pain, death. These former things have passed away. God has taken care of it all. When Kay, believing in Jesus Christ, is redeemed and caught up to heaven, she gets a brand new body.

1 Corinthians 15:52-55 …in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we wil be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O Death, where is your sting?”

When Kay comes back she is in a body like Christ’s.

1 John 3:2-3 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

We will have brand new bodies but the people living who survive these judgments when Christ returns with us go right into the millennium without new bodies because they don’t die. They’re still in a body. How are they sustained in that body? In Isaiah 65 there is an account of this final period:

Isaiah 65:17-18 “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem for rejoicing, and her people for gladness.”

You have to watch prophecy. This is about the new heaven and new earth: “I create the new heavens and the new earth for rejoicing.” But then it moves back to the thousand year period of the millennial reign. We’ll be on earth in our resurrected bodies but there are also people living on earth in their natural bodies.

Isaiah 65:19-20 “I will also rejoice in Jerusalem, and be glad in My people; and there will no longer be heard in her the voice of weeping and the sound of crying. (This is in Jerusalem.) No longer will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his days; for the youth will die at the age of one hundred and the one who does not reach the age of one hundred shall be thought accursed.”

Therefore if you die at 100 you’re just a youth. If you don’t reach that age you’re thought accursed.

Isaiah 65:21-22 “And they shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall also plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They shall not build, and another inhabit, they shall not plant, and another eat; for as the lifetime of a tree, so shall be the days of My people,…

He’s talking about the Jews living when Messiah comes who believe and receive Him. They are the third who survive the fire and will go into the thousand years. As they live in that millennium and children are born:

Isaiah 65:22-25 “…for as the lifetime of a tree, so shall be the days of My people, and My chosen ones shall wear out the work of their hands. They shall not labor in vain, or bear children for calamity; for they are the offspring of those blessed by the LORD, and their descendants with them. It will also come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear: ‘The wolf and the lamb shall graze together, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox; and dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall do no evil or harm in all My holy mountain,’ says the LORD.”

The holy mountain here is Jerusalem. In this time of the millennium, because Christ is back, you see the revelation of the sons of God as Romans 8 says. Now all creation no longer groans and travails because God has taken care of sin. A lion will lay down with the lamb, a wolf will be with the sheep, a child will be able to play at the hole of an asp and will not be hurt, because what started with the trees in the Garden of Eden and got messed up by man will be corrected by God. All because of a promise:

Genesis 3:15 “I will put enmity between you and the woman, serpent. Between her seed and your seed.”

What is the Holocaust? It’s the enmity between the woman and the serpent. That “woman” goes on, if you follow the genealogy through Genesis, to become Israel. Her seed comes through Israel. God’s promise of redemption comes through Israel. But until the 1000 years there is enmity between the serpent and the woman; between the serpent’s seed—the followers of Satan—and the woman’s seed. But that enmity will be lifted.

Ezekiel 47:12 By the river on its bank, on one side and on the other, will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither and their fruit will not fail. They will bear every month because their water flows from the sanctuary, and their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing.

A temple is built and when the Lord comes rivers of living water flow out from under the temple. There are also trees. When they eat from the fruit of those trees they are healed and sustained. What Kay believes is this: Those trees sustained the lives of those who don’t have resurrected bodies like we will have.

This is a lot to think about, but Kay wants you to see the big picture:

In the book of Genesis, in these origins, these beginnings, it is the beginning of sin. But there is coming an end to sin and Jesus Christ will bring that end to sin when the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our God and the kingdoms of His Christ. When He rules, what you and I lost in Adam, which was the right to rule and reign on this earth, we gain through Christ. The Bible tells us in Revelation that He has made us who believe in Jesus a kingdom of priests unto our God. We shall rule forever and ever because we are the church—the bride of Christ, His body. We will rule and reign with Him forever on the face of this earth.

What you lost in Adam you can gain again by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ. You can pass from death to life, from the power of Satan to the kingdom of God, from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light. You can have forgiveness of sins. You can have an inheritance among those who are sanctified and you can know that you will live forever and ever.

Someday God Himself will wipe away every tear. There will be no more tears, no more sorrow, pain or death because the former things will have passed away. So stand up straight. Put your shoulders back. If you know Christ, you’re a child of the coming King and you’re going to live and rule and reign with Him forever and ever.

If you’re bent over with sin and you’re absolutely, totally, completely done in then don’t stand up straight but bow the knee. Get on your knees and tell God, “This is where I am. I’ve run from You; I’ve hid from You; I’ve gotten dirty in the muck of this world. I confess that I’m a sinner and I’m in desperate need of a Savior. Will You save me, God?”

He says, “Yes.” That’s what it’s all about. That’s why He did everything necessary to bring you to your knees so you would know where you are and what you’ve done. The only way out of it all is for you to take God’s hand and let Him lift you up and give you life. That’s what the Bible is all about and why you need to know it, because these are the words of life.

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