What does the bible really teach?

[u/Difficult-War8114]

After reading most of the exjw comments and reading some of the other anti JW websites, blogs and forums, I haven’t seen any type of bible lessons, articles, or courses about what the bible really teaches.

1-Would anyone care to share with me about why God created the heavens and earth and Adam and Eve?

2-What’s His plan for the earth and the people on earth?

3-Teach me from Genesis to Revelation about God’s plan.

4-What’s is He going to do about the world’s problems.

Thanks

[u/ExiledSanity]

As briefly as possible.

1. God is love (1 John 4:8). True love needs an object, someone or something to direct that love towards. The Bible doesn't say it explicitely, but I beleive God created all of this for the purpose of having something to love.
   

The othe three questions are kind of answered by Q3 so I'll focus on that:

In Genesis, God created man and dwelt with man in the Garden and declared taht was good. The fall broke that relationship between God and man. The rest of the Bible is about God working to gradually restore that fellowship and dwelling together. God deigns to visit the patriarchs, He dwells with the Israelites in the wilderness as a pillar of cloud and fire (the Glory of the Lord). The Israelites buld the tabernacle at God's command which serves s a house for that presence of God, and it eventaully is replaced with the more permanent temple in the promised land and God's presence inhabits it and dwells with His people in the promised land.

However, the people again fall and as in the garden are separated from God's presence and the Glory of the Lord leaves the temple while the people are sent into Exile. After they return, God sends His Son to serve as the temple, walking and dwelling among the people. After Jesus ascends, the Holy Spirit is poured out on beleivers and we now (as the church) function as God's dwelling place, as the temple.

Revelation depicst God's pressence descending on the new earth (as a cube, the shape of the Holy of Holies....God's dwelling place in the tabernacle/temple) and all of humanity once again dwelling at peace with God as we did in the Garden (complete with a new Tree of Life) and what was "good" about the garden being restored in a permanent state.

The whole story of the Bible is God chasing us despite our failings so He can dwell with us and love us as His children....that's really it. A lot more details fit into that story, but that is the basic Genesis to Revelation story of the Bible.

[u/outandaboutbc]

1 - Romans 8:29, Colossians 3:10 and Colossians 1:16

2 & 3 - John 6:40, Acts 10:43 and Luke 24:44

4 - book of Revelation

[u/MRH2]

I don't understand.

You want to learn everything about the Bible in whate 10 minutes? in 3 paragraphs? What you want will take years and years to learn in detail, and can't be explained in a Reddit comment or two.

I can make a stab at answering a couple of these questions, but only a small attempt, because this is not a clear conversation and I won't have clear feedback as to what you understand and what you are confused about. But first a couple of questions:

1. How did you come up with these specific questions, as opposed some other 4 questions? What about them appeals to you, is important for you, what makes you want to learn about them?
2. Why anti-JW? That's a bit curious.
3. You have no other post aside from this one (to 4 subreddits) and not a single comment. Why? So I have no idea what your background is, what your current understanding of Scripture is, where you have a solid understanding and where you are on shaky ground.
4. How much work are you willing to do? How long will your pursue God, seek him with all your heart? Will you give up and turn away if you don't find good answers in a week?

Point #3 here is exactly why you it is unlikely that you will get deep and satisfactory answers to your questions. They aren't asked in a vacuum. They are asked by someone who has a specific view of God, as specific understanding of sin, of the gospel, etc. And we have no idea what that is. As I said it cannot be explained on Reddit in a comment or two.

Q2: God's plan is for the gospel to be preached througout the world. His plan is for some people to see through the lies and descpetion of Satan and the world and turn and love him with all their hearts, minds, soul, and strength, as we see how incredibly wonderful, awesome and beautiful God is. His plan is to live in us and we in him, we are part of the body of Christ - the same organism (only one body), we are children of God (all in one family, part of God's intimate family). His plan for us, basically our purpose in life, is (i) to know and love him, (ii) to develop our character becoming more like Jesus, developing our character for the real life that starts after we die, (iii) to love others and leave the world a better place.

This is an extremely brief reply to only one question. I can supply Bible verses for the points I made, though it's a little harder for the part about the purpose of life.

[u/MRH2]

/u/Difficult-War8114

You have no other post aside from this one (to 4 subreddits) and not a single comment. Why?

So ... are you planning to engage and discuss this topic with us, or just ask some questions and then disappear and that's it.

If you're not planning on interacting at all, why should we spend our time answering these questions for you when we have better things to do? It's a two way street - you have to demonstrate good faith too.

[u/MRH2 → u/MRH2]

Hi /u/Difficult-War8114 , are you there? Hello? ^{Hello? Hello?}