To understand the Bible, it is essential to grasp the sweep of that history from creation to consummation. It is also crucial to keep in focus the unifying theme of Scripture. The one constant theme unfolding throughout the whole Bible is this: God for His own glory has chosen to create and gather to Himself a group of people to be the subjects of His eternal kingdom, to praise, honour and serve Him forever and through whom He will display His wisdom, power, mercy, grace and glory. To gather His chosen ones, God must redeem them from sin. The Bible reveals God's plan for this redemption from its inception in eternity past to its completion in eternity future. Covenants, promises, and epochs are all secondary to the one continuous plan of redemption.
There is one God. The Bible has one Creator. It is one book. It has one plan of grace, recorded from initiation, through execution, to consummation. From predestination to glorification, the Bible is the story of God redeeming His chosen people for the praise of His glory.
As God's redemptive purposes and plan unfold in Scripture, five recurring motifs are constantly emphasized:
- the character of God
- the judgement for sin and disobedience
- the blessing for faith and obedience
- the Lord Saviour and sacrifice for sin
- the coming kingdom and glory
