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Bible Study: Sept. 6, 2015


NASHVILLE (BP) — This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, LifeWay publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups.

This week’s Bible study is adapted from The Gospel Project curriculum.

Bible Passages: Genesis 1:1-25; 1 Corinthians 8:5-6

Discussion Questions: In what ways should knowing that God created everything through His Son affect our thoughts and our emotions regarding Jesus? What are some ways we can be the light of the world and point people to the Light of the world — Jesus?

Food for Thought:

In light of 1 Corinthians 8:5-6, you might reread the creation account in Genesis and say, “I see the Holy Spirit hovering and God the Father speaking, but where is the Son?” Every time we see God speak things into existence, the Son is there (John 1:1-3). All things are because of Him.

Why is it so important that God created everything through the Son? Because through the Son, God gives us special revelation. Special revelation is specific in content and scope. In content, it reveals not just general things about God’s power and nature — like with general revelation — but specifically reveals the God of the Gospel with words. It reveals the redemption plan of God to save people through the cross and resurrection of His Son. In scope, it is given to specific people at specific times in specific places.

You see, the light of God’s general revelation — beginning in Genesis 1:3 — as good as it is, it is suppressible (Romans 1:18). We need a display of God’s light that is insuppressible — the light of God’s special revelation. And this insuppressible light isn’t merely electromagnetic radiation; this light is a person and His name is Jesus. “For God Who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6).

There is a place in which these two revelations, these two lights, collide and converge, a place God can reveal Himself not only generally but also specially — within the believer.

First, as a human being, a believer represents humanity, the apex of all of God’s creation (day six holds one more creation of God). We carry the greatest light of God’s general revelation; but even greater than that, we as believers also bear the light of God’s special revelation — the light of Jesus Christ. This is why the Bible not only says that Jesus is the Light but that we are light (Matthew 5:14-16).

If we have been created by God and He has commanded the light of Jesus to shine in our hearts, then we are doubly His. Therefore, we must now seek to discover our role in the overarching plan and purpose of God to manifest His glory and love to the world. We have to be a light to this world, and by nature, we are a light to this world. But we can’t just shine with our actions; we have to shine the light of God’s special revelation with words. No matter how much “good” we do in this world, people will never come to a saving knowledge of God simply by observing our actions.

This is what God is telling us from the beginning. God created everything, so don’t worry about anything. It’s in His hands. God also created everything good. Everything surrounding you — the sun, moon, stars, and everything else in creation — is God saying He wants to know you and be known by you. And God created everything through His Son. Because God has revealed all that He is to us through His Son, we now live to reveal Jesus to the world.

The Gospel Project

The Gospel Project is a Christ-centered curriculum that examines the grand narrative of Scripture and how the Gospel transforms the lives of those it touches. Through a three-year study plan, participants are immersed in the Gospel through stories, theological concepts, and calls to missions from Genesis to Revelation. Separate study plans for kids and students/adults ensure the proper focus and depth. The Gospel Project is designed to unify an entire church under a single Christ-centered curriculum. More information, free samples, and The Gospel Project blog can be found at gospelproject.com.

Other ongoing Bible study options for all ages offered by LifeWay can be found at LifeWay.com/SundaySchool.