When the Bible uses the term “son”metaphorically to refer to someone other thana biological son, the range of its usage is ratherlarge. The high point is Jesus the Son of God.Why does the Bible refer to Jesus, for the mostpart, as the Son of God and not God?Christians, too, both men and women, arecalled sons (NIV “children”) of God.

In this lesson, we will explore the range ofmeanings on sonship and its significance inbiblical theology.

The Bible from beginning to end portrays God as the sovereign Lord over all things. He reigns as both
creator and sustainer of all that exists, especially over human affairs.

Unfortunately, Adam and Eve rebelled against God’s authority as king with severe consequences for the history of humanity. From this catastrophic beginning in Gen 3, the Bible reveals how God gradually re-establishes his rule over the whole earth by redeeming humanity and his creation.

When Jesus arrived, he inaugurated a spiritual kingdom (Mk 1:15), yet he taught us to pray for a time
(Matt 6:10), when he will return in glory as universal king to restore his kingdom on earth (Rev 20-22). It is, therefore, very important for Christians to understand God’s plan of salvation and see how we
can be part of the grand narrative of God’s kingdom rule on earth.

The terms “exodus” and “exile” refer specifically to two historical events in the life of the nation of Israel. The former indicates Israel’s release from bondage in Egypt. The latter refers to Israel being carried off in the Assyrian and Babylonian deportations. However, these themes are also used in the broader theological context of the Bible’s storyline.Exile, more broadly, signals a broken relationship between God and his people. Exodus, on the other hand, promises to restore Israel’s relationship with Yahweh and to return her to the land of their forefathers. In this lesson, we will examine how these themes relate to the gospel message of Jesus Christ.

Sacrifices were a regular part of life in ancient Israel. People offered them not only at regular annual festivals (Lev 16; 23), but also throughout the year in response to sin (Lev 4-5) or for answered prayer (Ps 66:13-16). As a result, almost every OT book mentions sacrifice.

In this lesson, we will be introduced to the main types of animal sacrifices and their functions. In particular, the concepts of atonement and blood will be highlighted, which ultimately point to the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ onthe cross.

When people think about the term “law” today, we normally understand it as a system of rules that regulate human behaviour within a country or community. While this understanding of law occurs in the Bible, the word “law” is also used in other ways. The term “law” translates the Greek and Hebrew words nomos or torah, respectively. However, these terms mean different things in different OT and NT contexts. That’s why it is important to understand the law or instruction of God within the overall context of the Bible. For example, what did Jesus mean when he said, “Do not think that | have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; | have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them” (Matt 5:17)?

The idea of “covenant is a very important concept in biblical theology. The concept exists at significant turning points in the Bible’s storyline and is the theological glue that binds God’s promise to fulfilment.

Although the Bible does not explicitly mention a covenant until Gen 6:18, when God announces that he intends to establish a covenant with Noah, many believe that God made a covenant with Adam (cf. Hos 6:7).

In this lesson, we will discuss the major divine-human covenants, including Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, and the New covenant, in terms of how they support and advance God’s redemptive plan.