Progressive Revelation: Knowing the Main Characters
Salvation is one of the main threads woven throughout Scripture. As Christians we can become
so enthralled by the gracious gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord that we meditate more
on the gift than the Giver. But it may surprise most Christians to learn that the primary thread
which holds all of Scripture together, including salvation, is the revelation GOD progressively
makes known to man about Himself. Therefore, progressive revelation (the Bible) is first and
foremost about GOD. The triune God is the main character of the Bible.
Question: Does the content of the Bible prove that it is focused around one main character?
If so, where does it say it?
Activity: Turn to Genesis 1 and read the entire chapter. Answer the questions below.
1. Who was the first person to perform an action in chapter one (v. 1)?
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2. What was the action performed (v.1)?
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3. Could anything have come into existence a part from the action performed by the Actor?
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4. How many times was God mentioned in the first chapter?
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5. How many times was man mentioned in the first chapter?
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6. Who created man?
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Note: Stating what has been learned in your own words is clear evidence that you have
grasped the information that was read and examined. Therefore, it is good to exercise
yourself intellectually by stating what you have learned in your own words. The best way to
state things in your own words is by bringing all of your thoughts on the passage together
from the questions that you have answered through reading and examining the text.
Activity: Gather all of your answers from the first six questions and form them into a
sentence that fulfills the requirement of the activity below.
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Activity: In one sentence state the main character in the book of Genesis and what that
character had done.
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Conclusion: The Bible clearly states in the first chapter of the first book that there is a main
character that performs actions which results in the creation of all things.
Prove it: Since the Bible is a work of God that progressively reveals Himself and His salvific
plan performed throughout human history, we should also be able to trace in Scripture
reminders that point us back to the One whom the book is about.
Activity: Turn to Genesis 6:1-8 and answer the following questions.
1. Who was the one speaking (vv. 3, 7)?
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2. Who was the one observing (v. 5)?
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3. What was the main actor doing in verse 6 (v. 6)?
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4. What kind of power does the main actor possess (v. 7)?
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5. What is it that main actor will do to man (vv. 7, 8)?
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Activity: In one sentence state who is speaking and describe the type of power he possesses
and how he will use it.
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Activity: Turn to Genesis 9:1-17 and answer the following questions.
1. Who has the power to bless (v.1)?
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2. Who has the power to change up the way things work on earth or in the universe (v. 2)
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3. What changes occurred in creation (vv. 2-4)?
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4. What new law(s) was instituted (vv. 4-6)?
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5. What guarantee was given that God would never flood the earth again (vv.8-17)?
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6. How many times did the term covenant show up (vv. 8-17)?
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7. Who created the covenant and promised to uphold it (vv. 8-17)?
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8. What was the covenant based upon? Was it based upon man’s faithfulness? Was it based
upon God’s own character (vv. 8-17)?
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Activity: In no more than four sentences, state the blessing God upheld and reinstated that
was originally found in the first chapter of Genesis. Additionally, state what God instituted to
show mankind He would never destroy the earth through flood again (HINT: the rainbow is not
the main idea in the passage. Look at the questions and your answers for the information
needed to write your paragraph).
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Conclusion: It is obvious from the beginning chapters of the first book in the Bible that one of
the main characters is God. But is God the only main character or are there others? In the
next segment we will examine Genesis further to see if there are additional main characters
that may be involved in the creative process and in the progression of revelation as well.