The Bible is a big book with many stories. Many people struggle to understand how they all fit together. Have you found this to be true?

Before someone builds a house all of the materials look like an unorganized heap: bricks, wood, trusses, windows, doors, etc.
Once the main structure is erected you can begin to understand where all the smaller materials go (windows, lights, etc).

This is a brief overview that puts up the basic structure of the Bible. It doesn't get into details, but it will help you understand the big story.

Even though the Bible has many stories - they all form one BIG STORY - God's story of hope for all peoples. 
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The Eternal God

The Bible declares that there is a God and that He has always existed.

"Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God."
​Psalm 90:2

Creation of the Earth

Next, the Bible says that God created the universe, including our earth and its heavens. 

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth."
Genesis 1:1

Creation of Mankind

Then God created a man and a woman, Adam and Eve. 

"then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature." 
​Genesis 2:7

Fall of Lucifer

At some earlier time Lucifer, who was originally a beautiful angel of God, led other angels in an unsuccessful rebellion against God. Then Lucifer became known as Satan, the Devil. 

“How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn!...You said in your heart, I will ascend to heaven...I will make myself like the Most High. But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit."
Isaiah 14:12-15

Beginning of Human Sin

In continued defiance against God, Satan tempted Eve to eat of the forbidden tree. Eve then caused Adam to eat of the tree, even though God gave a clear and loving warning. 

"the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes...she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths."
Genesis 3:6-7

Origin of Death

Because God is a holy and just judge, Adam and Eve suffered the consequences of their disobedience. They immediately died spiritually and later died physically. 

"And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden."
Genesis 3:8

Promise of a Satan Conqueror 

God then promised that someday a special descendant (offspring) of Eve would defeat Satan. God promised this because of Satan tempted Adam and Eve to disobey. 

"I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
Genesis 3:15

Provision of Coverings 

Adam and Eve attempted to cover their guilt and shame with fig leaves. Then God graciously replaced the leaves with clothing He made from animal skins. 

"And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them."
Genesis 3:21

Tabernacle in the Wilderness 

Humans continued to grow in their sin against God and deserved punishment. But God set up an animal sacrifical system to temporarily cover man's sin. 

"When any one of you brings an offering to the Lord... he shall offer a male without blemish... He shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him."
Leviticus 1:2-4

Prophecies of a Coming Messiah 

Throughout the history of the Israelites, God inspired His prophets to foretell many details concerning a special Israelite. This Israelite would be born at some future time and would be a King and Savior. 

"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."
Isaiah 7:14

Birth of Jesus of Nazareth 

At God’s chosen time, He sent His son to Earth. God’s son was born of a virgin named Mary. This special child would become the special King and Savior that God had promised for centuries. 

"This took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us)
Matthew 1:22-23

John the Baptist’s Proclamation 

God’s prophet, John the Baptist, announced that Jesus of Nazareth was the special King and Savior. He was God’s Lamb who would take away the sin of the world. 

"The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"
John 1:29

Meeting with a Religious Leader 

On one occasion, Jesus told an important religious leader that he must experience a spiritual birth in order to enter God’s kingdom. 

"Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God... For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
John 3:3, 16

Equal with God

Jesus declared that He was equal to God and one with Him. This statement greatly offended some people, so they attempted to kill Jesus. 

"But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.” This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God."
John 5:17-18

Crucifixion of Jesus 

Jesus died on a cross, as the perfect sacrificial Lamb for our sins. Jesus’ death crushed Satan’s head, as God had promised to Adam and Eve. 

"And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him... Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last."
Luke 23:33, 46

A Repentant, Dying Thief 

As Jesus was dying, one guilty man who was crucified beside Him placed his faith in Jesus. Because of his faith in Jesus, this man received the gift of life in a place of paradise after he died. 

"And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Luke 23:42-43

Resurrection of Jesus 

On the third day after Jesus died and was buried, God raised Him from the dead by using supernatural power. God did this to demonstrate His power over sin, death, and Hell. 

"But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb... And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus."
Luke 24:1-3 (see also vs 4-6)

Ascension of Jesus 

After His resurrection, Jesus appeared many times to His disciples on earth. Then He ascended to Heaven to be with His Father. 

And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.”
​Acts 1:9

Horrible Destiny for Unbelievers 

Then at the end of earthly time, unbelievers will stand in front of God to be sentenced to eternal punishment for their sins. 

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away... And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened... And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.
Revelation 20:11-12

Joyful Destiny for Believers 

But God’s story ends with wonderful news. At the end, everyone who has trusted Jesus as his or her Savior will enter a beautiful paradise where there is no sin. These believers will live there eternally with God. 

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband."
Revelation 21:1-2

The Bible says: ​"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Hebrews 11:6


Our Faith Response: From the Bible we learn that one, and only one, true eternal and holy God exists. We also learn that He is our all-powerful Creator and Just Judge, and that we are accountable to Him. Do you believe this? 

The Bible says: "The LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being." Genesis 2:7


Our Faith Response: From the Bible we learn that we are made by God and loved by God, and we learn that God deserves our full obedience. Do you believe this? 

The Bible says: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23


Our Faith Response: From the Bible we learn that we have sinned against God and that we deserve His righteous punishment. Do you believe this? 

The Bible says: "Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment." Hebrews 9:27

Our Faith Response: From the Bible we learn that we are facing God’s judgment and that we cannot escape it by ourselves. Do you believe this? 

The Bible says: "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'” John 14:6

Our Faith Response: From the Bible we learn that Jesus Christ is the perfect Son of God and the perfect Son of Man, and that He is the only way to eternal life. Do you believe this? 

The Bible says: "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed." 1 Peter 2:24


Our Faith Response: From the Bible we learn that Jesus Christ, God’s Son, died for our sins. We also learn that Jesus rose from the dead to rescue us from death and to give us eternal life. Do you believe this? 

The Bible says: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9


Our Faith Response: From the Bible we learn that we must trust in Jesus’ death on the cross as the only satisfactory payment for our sins. We must abandon our trust in other things that we formerly relied upon to save us. Do you believe this? 

The Bible says: "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?'” John 11:25-26
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Our Faith Response: From the Bible we learn that only Jesus has power over death and that He gives eternal life to those who trust solely in Him for the forgiveness of sins. Do you believe this? 

A Personal Faith Response

Personalize the following words of Jesus. In place of the word “whoever,” insert your name as the object of Jesus’ promises. 

John 3:16-18
"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son." 

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I now understand that the God of the Bible is the one True God. He is perfect and holy.

Through the teaching of the Bible I now see myself in a different way than I did before. I now realize that I was born with a sinful nature, and that I have disobeyed God continually. I realize that my sin deeply grieves God, who made me and who loves me. I know that my sin separated me from God, and that the just punishment for my sin is eternal separation from Him. The punishment is in a place of torment that the Bible calls “Hell.”

I understand that the death of God’s Son Jesus Christ is the only hope for me to be forgiven, and to escape the eternal punishment for my sins. Jesus’ death is the only hope for me to receive God’s gift of eternal life.
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I am trusting Jesus Christ and His death on the cross as the only sufficient remedy for my sin problem and its dreadful consequences. 

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This is an abriged version of "The Story of Hope". You can purchase full copies HERE