What The Bible Says.

Fortnightly bible study.

Episode 5 - 18/03/22

This week we look at how God has planned a for salvation from the beginning.

God’s Holiness and Man’s Sinfulness

God is perfectly holy, and no sin can exist in His presence (1 John 1:5). Man was created in God’s image to have fellowship with Him, but because of Adam’s sin, humanity became polluted with sin (Romans 3:23), creating a separation from God (Isaiah 59:2).

The Consequence of Sin

Sin resulted in death and separation from God (Romans 6:23). Humans cannot cleanse themselves or pay the price for their own sin because they are inherently sinful by nature, not merely by actions (Ephesians 2:1).

God’s Eternal Plan for Salvation

God’s plan to save humanity was established before the foundation of the world (1 Peter 1:19-20, Revelation 13:8). Salvation was not a reaction to human sin but part of His eternal purpose to reconcile sinful man to Himself through the blood of Jesus (Hebrews 13:20).

The Necessity of Blood for Atonement

The Bible teaches that “the life of the flesh is in the blood” and that atonement for sin requires the shedding of blood (Leviticus 17:11, Hebrews 9:22). Animal sacrifices in the Old Testament were a temporary covering, foreshadowing the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, whose blood would fully atone for humanity’s sin (Hebrews 10:1-4).

Jesus as the Substitutionary Sacrifice

Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin on our behalf so that we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). His death on the cross was the ultimate substitutionary atonement, paying the debt for human sin (Romans 3:24-25). Jesus' sinless life made Him the perfect and only acceptable sacrifice.

The Wrath of God and Propitiation

Without accepting Jesus, the wrath of God remains upon sinful humanity (John 3:36). Jesus’ death was an act of propitiation, satisfying God's righteous judgment against sin (1 John 4:10). His sacrifice removed the penalty of sin for those who believe, granting forgiveness and reconciliation with God.

The Resurrection and Victory Over Sin and Death

The resurrection of Jesus is essential to the salvation plan (1 Corinthians 15:17-22). It confirms the defeat of sin and death, offering believers the hope of eternal life. Without the resurrection, faith would be futile, and humanity would still be under the penalty of sin. Jesus’ victory over death assures us of our future resurrection and eternal life with God.

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What The Bible Says.

Fortnightly bible study.

Episode 61 - 04/03/22

This week we look at what the bible says about sin itself.

What is Sin?

Sin is defined as lawlessness (1 John 3:4-5). It is the breaking of God's law, not human or societal standards. Sin is falling short of the glory and standards of God (Romans 3:23). Human beings cannot determine sin; only God’s principles can.

Origin of Sin

Sin entered the world through Adam’s disobedience (Genesis 3, Romans 5:12). The inherent sinful nature was passed on to all humanity. We are born with a sinful nature, which is why we need to be born again.

The Pathway of Sin

Sin begins with temptation and desire (James 1:13-15). Just like Eve was enticed by the forbidden fruit, sin follows a pattern of being tempted, indulging in the temptation, and leading to death. Sin starts with doubting God's word and seeking satisfaction outside of His will.

The Consequences of Sin

Sin has serious consequences, both spiritually and practically. It leads to separation from God, death, and affects others in the world (Romans 6:23). Sinful actions can cause pain and suffering not only to the sinner but also to those around them (like the Fall in Genesis 3).

Human Sinfulness

All people have sinned (Romans 3:23). Sin is inherent in all humans due to Adam's transgression, making everyone guilty before God and in need of salvation. Even cultural norms that differ from God's law do not exempt anyone from sin.

Remedy for Sin

Jesus Christ is the only remedy for sin (Romans 5:8-10). He died to take away the sins of the world (John 1:29) and provide atonement. Through His blood, believers are justified, forgiven, and reconciled to God (1 John 1:5, 2 Corinthians 5:21).

Victory Over Sin

Although Christians continue to battle the corruption of sin, they are no longer condemned by it. Jesus’ death and resurrection provide believers the power to overcome sin daily through the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:1, 1 John 4:4). Daily, Christians must rely on God’s grace and walk in the freedom Christ provides.

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What The Bible Says.

Fortnightly bible study.

Episode 3 - 18/02/22

Led by Graeme McPherson

This week we investigate the ideas of creation from a biblical perspective.

God is the Creator of all things, bringing order from nothing: Genesis 1:1–2:3 reveals that by His Word and Spirit, God created the heavens and the earth, shaping chaos into beauty and declaring it all “very good,” with no resistance to His will.

Creation displays divine wisdom, structure, and purpose: Each act of creation unfolds in deliberate sequence—light, sky, land, life, and humanity—showing God’s power, intentionality, and delight in what He made.

Humanity is the pinnacle of creation, made in God’s image: Male and female were created to reflect God’s nature, to be relational, creative, moral, and to rule as His representatives over the earth. (Gen 1:26–28)

The creation account affirms both God’s sovereignty and man’s dependence: The world and its rhythms—day and night, seasons, creatures, and rest—exist by divine command, teaching that all life flows from God and is sustained by Him.

Genesis 2 expands the story with intimacy and relationship: God personally forms Adam from dust, breathes life into him, provides Eden for fellowship, and fashions Eve from his side, showing divine design for companionship, equality, and unity.

Creation points forward to redemption and new creation: The first garden, with its rivers and tree of life, foreshadows the restored creation in Revelation where God dwells again with His people, completing His purpose through Christ.

The purpose of creation is God’s glory and our joy in Him: Humanity was made to enjoy God and praise Him; all creation testifies to His wisdom and beauty, and though marred by sin, His plan remains to renew it for His eternal praise. (Ps 19:1; Prov 8:22–31; Rev 21:1–5)

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What The Bible Says.

Fortnightly bible study.

Episode 2 - 05/02/22

Led by Graeme McPherson

This week we begin to tackle the subject of what the bible says about God.

God reveals Himself through creation and Scripture: Psalm 19 teaches that the heavens proclaim God’s glory, yet truly knowing His character comes from His perfect, soul-reviving Word. (Ps 19:1–11)

God is the eternal Creator outside of time: “In the beginning” God created all things by His Word and Spirit—He precedes and authors time, brings order out of chaos, and declares light. (Gen 1:1–4; John 1:1–3)

God is one and triune: The LORD is “one” (a unity of oneness), yet the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit share the one Name into which disciples are baptized. (Deut 6:4; Matt 28:19; hints in Gen 1:2–3; John 1:1)

God is sovereign over history and nations: He changes times and seasons, raises up and removes kings, and sets the boundaries and periods of peoples—therefore we pray for rulers and trust His providence. (Dan 2:20–22; Acts 17:24–26; 1 Tim 2:1–2)

God is omnipresent and omniscient, near and personal: There is no place His presence does not reach; He searches and knows us, even forming us in the womb. (Ps 139:1–16, 7–12; Matt 10:29–31)

God is perfectly just and perfectly loving, fulfilled in Christ: His works and ways are flawless and upright, and His love is revealed as He sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins—justice satisfied, mercy extended. (Deut 32:3–4; 1 John 4:7–10; Rom 3:24–26)

Our fitting response is faith, humility, and obedient love: Some things remain mysterious, yet God has made Himself known supremely in Jesus; therefore we believe, worship, seek wisdom, love one another, and bear witness in the Spirit’s power. (Heb 11:6; John 3:12–15; John 14:9; 1 John 4:11–12; Acts 1:8)

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What The Bible Says.

Fortnightly bible study.

Episode 1 - 21/01/22

Our opening bible study in our new series - To kick things off we take a look at what the bible says about the bible itself.

The Bible’s Composition: The Bible is a diverse library of 66 books written by around 40 authors over 1,600 years in three languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek). It includes various types of writing, such as history, poetry, prophecy, and law.

Divine Inspiration: All scripture is "God-breathed" (2 Timothy 3:16-17), meaning it was written by human authors under the guidance of the Holy Spirit to record God’s truth without error.

Revelation, Inspiration, and Illumination: The Bible is a result of divine revelation (God revealing truth), inspiration (humans recording it), and illumination (understanding the truth). All three work together to communicate God’s message.

Trustworthiness of the Bible: The Bible is validated by fulfilled prophecy, historical accuracy, and archaeological evidence. Its unity—despite being written by different authors—also confirms its divine origin.

Miraculous Preservation: The Bible has been preserved through history, as demonstrated by discoveries like the Dead Sea Scrolls, which match modern biblical texts, confirming its accuracy and reliability over centuries.

Jesus as the Living Word: The Bible identifies Jesus as the Word of God (John 1:1-3, 1:14). This underscores the unity between scripture and Christ, and how the Bible points to Him throughout.

Eternal and Unchanging Truth: God's word is eternal, enduring beyond time and space (Psalm 119:160). It is not just inspired in parts but fully true and authoritative in its entirety.

DOWNLOAD STUDY NOTES: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ed6ESyGqcAF5_7Ck0VGXFzvCxhXq2cYd/view?usp=drive_link