‘God So Loved The World’ Bible Study
By E.H. “Jack” Sequeira
Before creation, this world was “without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep” (Genesis 1:26-28). Then, in six days, God created a perfect world and placed Adam and Eve to rule over it (see Genesis 1:26-28). Unfortunately, the entrance of sin marred the bliss of this perfect and finished creation. At the fall, this world was handed over to Satan and he became its ruler (see Luke 4:5-6). Thus began the downward trend.
Unlike the theory of evolution, the Bible teaches “devolution.” That is, in the beginning, God created a perfect and finished world to which nothing could be added for improvement. But, when sin entered this world, things began to go from bad to worse. Ultimately, sin will destroy our world until one day this earth will be reduced to what was before creation, “without form and void.” The book of Revelation describes this destroyed world as the “bottomless pit” (see Revelation 20:1-3). This is where Satan, the originator of sin, and his angels will be bound during the Millennium (Revelation 20:1-3) They will have one thousand years to contemplate what sin has done to God’s perfect creation. After the thousand years are ended and God has judged and executed Satan and all who have joined him, thus eradicating sin from the universe, He will create a new heaven and a new earth wherein will dwell righteousness. At that time God will move His throne from heaven to this earth made new and the saints will rule with Him forever and ever. This wonderful truth, which culminates the plan of redemption, will be the concluding lesson of these Bible studies.Genesis 1:2 __________________________________________________
Note: Before creation, this earth was just a lump of formless and shapeless rock most of which was covered by water.
Exodus 20:11 __________________________________________________
Note: Please read Genesis 1:3-31 to get a complete description of creation week. Note that all that God created was “very good.” At the end of the sixth day, this world was perfect and finished so that God rested on the seventh day from all His work and sanctified the seventh day (see Genesis 2:1-3).
Hebrews 11:3 __________________________________________________
John 1:1-3 __________________________________________________
Note: According to verse 14, the “Word” is Jesus Christ who “was made flesh and dwelt among us.” Jesus who created us is also the One who redeemed us.
John 14:2 __________________________________________________
Note: What Christ was implying is that in heaven there is room for everybody. No one will be lost who accepts by faith the gift of salvation offered in Christ. This is the good news of the gospel.
John 14:3 __________________________________________________
Note: Heaven is God’s dwelling place and that is where Christ will take the saints when He comes the second time.
2 Peter 3:10 __________________________________________________
Note: Because “God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:29), nothing that has been tainted by sin will be able to withstand Christ’s full glory at His coming.
2 Peter 3:13 __________________________________________________
Note: Heaven will not be the permanent home of the saints. The earth made new will be the final home of the saved, a world in which dwells righteousness.
Jeremiah 4:23 __________________________________________________
Jeremiah 4:25-26 __________________________________________________
Note: Sin will ultimately destroy this earth and all life in it. Once again, this world of ours will be reduced to what it was before creation, “without form and void.” It is to this destroyed earth Satan will be bound for a thousand years.
Jeremiah 4:27 __________________________________________________
Note: God’s plan is to eventually restore this earth to its original perfection.
Matthew 5:5 __________________________________________________
Note: The meek are all those who have lost all confidence in self and are depending entirely on the righteousness of Christ for their salvation.
Revelation 20:6 __________________________________________________
Revelation 21:3 __________________________________________________
Note: After the thousand years, the saints, along with the Holy City they have been dwelling in, the New Jerusalem, will descend to this earth and become the capital of the earth made new (see verse 2).
Revelation 22:1-2 __________________________________________________
Revelation 22:3 __________________________________________________
Note: How wonderful it will be to live in such a city. But the greatest joy the saints will experience is to serve their God and their Savior, Jesus Christ.
Revelation 21:4 __________________________________________________
Note: Just think of it, no more death or pain or heartaches in the earth made new! According to verse 5, God is going to make “everything new.”
Revelation 21:7 __________________________________________________
Note: All those who have overcome unbelief and received by faith God’s gift of salvation will inherit the earth made new. Only those who have deliberately and ultimately refused Christ as their Savior will be destroyed forever (verse 8).
Isaiah 65:21-22 __________________________________________________
Isaiah 65:25 __________________________________________________
Isaiah 33:24 __________________________________________________
Note: What a future! Surely the new earth will be paradise restored. Therefore, anyone who refuses such an offer, which God makes us through the gospel of Jesus Christ, needs to think twice what he or she is rejecting.
Nahum 1:9 __________________________________________________
Note: Sin will not rise up a second time to plague the new earth. That is not because God will take away our freedom of choice but because the saints will know first-hand what sin is. They will hate sin for what it did to Christ on the cross and the thought of rebellion against God will never enter their minds.
| Hebrews 10:35-36 | (i) ________________________________________________ |
| (ii) ________________________________________________ |
Note: Nowhere in the Bible does it teach that once saved means always saved. As Jesus stated in Matthew 10:22, only those whose faith has endured to the end will be saved. Hebrews 10:38 says the same thing. This is what it means to have the perseverance of the saints. Even if it costs us our lives, if we are to make it to heaven and the earth made new, our faith in Christ must be unshakable. Jesus does not want believers to lose their confidence in Him and, therefore, He wants our faith to endure unto the end. His final words in the Bible are, “Surely I come quickly.” May your response to this promise be, “Amen. Even so come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20). The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you now and forever more. Amen.