The Lamb

Copyright © 2013 by GoodSeed® International

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the copyright holder. GoodSeed, www.goodseed.com, The Emmaus Road Message and silhouette logo design marks, are trademarks of GoodSeed International.

Published by GoodSeed® International

P.O. Box 3704, Olds, Alberta T4H 1P5 Canada

Email: info@goodseed.com

National Library of Canada Cataloguing in Publication

Cross, John R

The lamb / by John R. Cross ; illustrated by Ian Mastin.

For children.

Print ISBN: 978-1-890082-49-9

kindle ISBN: 978-1-890082-79-6

1. Bible--Juvenile literature. I. Mastin, Ian II. Title.

BS539.C76 2004 j220.6’1 C2004-902868-5

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. Unless otherwise noted, all scripture references are from the NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.

Scripture quotations taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Hodder & Stoughton Limited. All rights reserved. "NIV" is a registered trademark of International Bible Society. UK trademark number 1448790

Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE UPDATE, Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Quotations are marked NASB.

Scripture quotations marked "NKJV" are taken from the NEW KING JAMES VERSION. Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Quotations marked KJV are from the Authorized King James Version.

201405-238-0000

Acknowledgements

I am deeply indebted to the many volunteers who invested time and talent in this book and CD. Mentioning your names on a list seems a feeble way to express my sincere appreciation. Please accept my heartfelt thanks.

Rachel Bader, Stephanie Brook-Smith, Debbie Cordell, Stephanie Cordell, Andrew Cross, Janice Cross, Ken & Judy Creger, Aaron DeRidder, Pete Doerksen, Carlos Fast, Chris & Janice Gaspar & family, Trevor Gould, Adrian Holdsworth, DJ Humphreys, Paul & Kathleen Humphreys, Naomi Johnstone, Doris Kary, Esther Kary, Joshua Kary, Mandy Kary, Mitchell Kary, Rosemary Kary, Ryan Kary, Sarah Kary, Timmy Kary, Andrew Krajec, John Krajec, Tom & Lorie Leger & family, Brian Martin, Caleb Nicholson, Liam Packwood, Nathan Pickard, Ruth Preheim, Shawn & Janeen Rafferty, Sharon Rafferty, Rachel Renwick, Steve & Alison Renwick & family, Barry Richards, Diego & Jo Santana-Hernandez, Judith Scott, Russ & Karyn Smyth & Family, Tim Studer, Sarah Sutton, Michael ThorpBeth Topic, Joshua Topic, Peter VanderHeide, Art & Joan Wanuch, Alex Wanuch

Of all those who were so helpful, several deserve special mention.

Ian Mastin was tenacious, applying his significant talent over a period of five years to paint the illustrations. He, along with his wife, Eleanor, gave heart and soul to the project. Not only were they easy to work with, they were good friends. Thanks for sticking with it, and thanks for being such good co-workers.

Heather Holdsworth also deserves special mention. Heather is not only a multi-talented individual, she is unusually gifted in her ability to communicate to young folk. She freely gave of her time, working long hours as a wordsmith, beating the original manuscript on the creative anvil of our collective minds, labouring with me to put biblical concepts into words that children could grasp. Heather, to you, my many thanks.

I would also like to express appreciation to composer and producer, Craig Learmont, for his masterful work on the music, and to our vocalists, Carla Newsham and her three wonderful young daughters, Toni-Marie, Joyelle and Brooklyn. You did a great job and were a delight to work with. Thanks so much.

Finally, I wish to thank the GoodSeed staff who made such a project possible.

CD Contents

The Lamb text narrated by John R. Cross and Heather Holdsworth

The Lamb song, recorded at The White House Recording Company, Three Hills, Alberta, Canada

Music composed by Craig Learmont; Lyrics written by John R. Cross

Vocals performed by Carla Newsham and her children, Toni-Marie, Joyelle, and Brooklyn

Music produced by Craig Learmont; Text narration produced by John Krajec

Samples courtesy of IK Multimedia Sampletank; Piano samples courtesy of East West Bosendorfer 290

Index

How to get the best from this book

Chapter 1 — God Made It All

Chapter 2 — What God is Like

Chapter 3 — The Bad Angels

Chapter 4 — A Wrong Choice

Chapter 5 — Who to Trust

Chapter 6 — The Rescue Plan

Chapter 7 — Right and Wrong

Chapter 8 — The Promised Saviour

Chapter 9 — Our Perfect Lamb

Chapter 10 — Alive Forever

Do you understand God's letter?

Do you believe God's letter?

Bible Verses

Questions and Answers

Endnotes

How to get the best from this book

Fitting it together

The Bible’s most important message is understandable at a very young age. In some ways, it’s like a puzzle. If the pieces are fitted together properly, piece by piece, it makes sense.

To learn any new concept, the most effective way is to build from the foundation up—to move from the known to the unknown. In mathematics, you don’t start children in school by teaching them:

Rather, you begin with: 1 apple + 1 apple = 2 apples and move from the simple to the complex. If you skip fundamentals, even simple arithmetic will be confusing.

It’s the same with the Bible. Careful attention needs to be given to laying solid foundations for every new concept taught. Don’t rush. Strive for clarity of understanding and everything else will fall in place.

Planning your time

This book is designed for ten sittings. I suggest that you cover one chapter per sitting, and teach three chapters a week. Any less could reduce the importance of the material in the child’s mind and break up the continuity of the message.

No advance preparation is required—a review of prior material is built in at the beginning of each lesson and questions are included at the end. Total time per chapter for reading and quizzing is ten to fifteen minutes.

Keeping it simple

To keep the narrative simple, the central teachings found in the Old Testament are clustered around two people, Adam and Eve. It was felt that to introduce many individuals could unnecessarily complicate the message for little children.

Using the CD

The accompanying CD follows the book word for word, narrated by John Cross and Heather Holdsworth. After each chapter is a song that reinforces the lesson. The quiz should be used once the song is completed. The answers to the questions are found on pages 176 to 180.

Handling questions

Children like quizzes. Though some will be happy to simply answer the questions at the end of each chapter, others may ask more. The endnote section gives background information to help in such cases. The progression used in this book links very naturally to The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus, By This Name and All that the Prophets have Spoken, books which cover the Bible in greater detail.

If a child consistently answers the questions correctly, there may be a temptation to skip them. However, they are an important review, and when answered correctly, simply mean the child has understood the content.

The message

This book presents the Bible’s core message without watering it down or avoiding issues. Even subjects such as sin and death are taught in an honest, head-on manner. At the same time, the child is not left hanging. Even the lesson dealing with death ends with hope.

The Bible is quite direct about what it has to say, so every effort has been made to avoid vagueness. Where the Bible demands a choice, that choice is clearly stated. In keeping with this, political correctness at the expense of the message has been avoided. Traditional use of the word man for collective humanity, has been used as a simple step to clarity.

Chapter 1 — God Made It All

The Bible is a very important letter[1] from God and is written directly to each one of us. That's right. The Bible says that God sent a very special message just to you.

Although the letter was written many years ago, what it has to say is just as important today as when it was first written.

Every boy and girl needs to know what the Bible says to them.

Link to verses for pages 10-11

The first pages in the Bible tell us that God was never born and he will never die.[2] His life had no beginning and it will never end. God has always been and will always be.

The Bible says that, in the beginning, there was only God. There were no plants, animals or people. There was no earth, moon or sun. There were no other gods. Nothing!

Only God was alive in the beginning.

Link to verses for pages 12-13

The Bible says that God made all the things we can see and all the things we cannot see.

One of the first things God did was to make angels. We cannot see angels, just like we cannot see God. Both angels and God are what we call spirits. They're like people,[3] but they don't have bodies of muscle and bone.

The angels were made to be God's special messengers. They were to do what God asked.

All the angels watched and sang as God made the world.

Link to verses for pages 14-15

The Bible tells us that when God made the world, he did it in a very special way. When we make things, we need pencils, paper and scissors. Sometimes we make things using wood, nails and glue. At other times, we use a needle and thread.

But the Bible says that when God made the world, he didn't use any tools at all. God just spoke—and there it was!

Link to verses for pages 16-17

God said, "Let there be light!" And do you know what? Just like that, light appeared in the darkness.

The Bible says that God made everything we see simply by speaking words out of his mouth. God has so much power—he can do anything!

Link to verses for pages 18-19

The Bible tells us that God made the sun, moon and stars. He placed them in the sky exactly where he wanted them. God could do that because he is everywhere.

We should be happy to know that God is everywhere. This means he can be with you, and at the same time he can be with your family and friends no matter how far away they go or where they live.

That is just how big and great God is.

Link to verses for pages 20-21

The Bible says that God made the world in six days. Only God could do that.

He made the food we eat, the air we breathe and the water we drink. He made the rivers, oceans and mountains. God made all the trees and flowers.

Link to verses for pages 22-23

God made the fish that swim in the sea.

He made minnows and whales, crabs and seahorses.

Link to verses for pages 24-25

God made the birds that fly in the sky.

Whether big or small, he made them all.

Link to verses for pages 26-27

God made the animals that slither and crawl, walk and hop.

Tiny or tall, fast or slow, the Bible tells us that God created them all.

Link to verses for pages 28-29

Last of all, God made people, both man and woman. Their names were Adam and Eve. God loved them and cared for them. He made a perfect garden full of all sorts of trees, flowers and tame animals—just for them—so that they could enjoy all that he had made.

God would come and visit Adam and Eve. They would walk together in the garden. They were very close friends. Can you imagine that? Walking and talking with the Creator.

What do you think they talked about?

Link to verses for pages 30-31

Questions on Chapter One

Link to Questions and Answers

1. The Bible is a very important letter sent to us. Who is it from?

2. The Bible says God was never born. Will he ever die?

3. Was there anyone else living with God in the beginning?

4. Are there many gods or just one God?

5. Who created the angels?

6. What does the word create mean?

7. You cannot see God. You cannot see angels. They do not have bodies of muscle and bone. What are they called?

8. What special job were the angels given?

9. We need a hammer and nails to make something, but when God made the world, how did he do it?

10. God made everything simply by speaking. Does this mean God is lazy and weak or very strong and powerful?

11. God made the world in how many days?

12. Who made Adam and Eve?

13. If God can be with you, your family and your friends all at the same time, what does that mean?

Chapter 2 — What God is Like

When we look at the wonderful world God made, we can see that God is very powerful and knows how to do everything. Only such a God could make the amazing world we live in.

The Bible says that God is everywhere at the same time.

God knows and understands all things—God even knows the thoughts we think.

Link to verses for pages 34-35

Because God made everything, he owns everything.

When you draw a picture, it belongs to you. Whether you make something out of wood, paper or cloth—you own it because you made it. It’s the same way with God. Because God made everything, it all belongs to him. This is why God is also called Lord. It means that he is the King or Owner of all that he has made.

God created it, so he owns it.

Link to verses for pages 36-37

The Bible tells us that God is good and very kind.

Just look at all the beautiful things that the Lord created. God could have made all flowers to be black and white, but instead he made them in pretty colours. God could have made all food taste horrible, but instead he made it good to eat and it smells wonderful. He made all sorts of fruits and flowers, bugs and butterflies, colours and sounds—just so that we could enjoy them.

God did this because he cares for us.

God loves us.

Link to verses for pages 38-39

The Bible also tells us that the Lord likes things done in a right way.

Wouldn’t it be confusing if one day the sun set in the middle of the morning and didn’t rise again for three days? Think how long you’d have to stay in bed! That’s why God made rules. He made a rule for the sun—it was to rise in the morning and go down in the evening. It was to do that every day without changing.

God made rules or laws so that everything would fit together and the world would work in the right way.

Link to verses for pages 40-41

God made rules for people too, so that we could live happy lives.

Sometimes we don’t like rules, but just stop and think for a moment what the world would be like without them. If there were no traffic lights, no stop signs and no speed limits, you wouldn’t know when it was safe to cross the street. Everyone would be confused and upset. Without rules or laws, life would be difficult and dangerous.

God made rules because he knows what is best for us. He knows that when things are done in a right way, we are happy.

God cares for us.

Link to verses for pages 42-43

Everything God made was perfect.[4] When we say something is perfect, we mean that there is nothing wrong with it. It is good in every way. God created a perfect world because that’s the way he is. He is perfect.

God never does anything wrong.

Link to verses for pages 44-45

God’s home is perfect. It’s called Heaven.The Bible tells us that Heaven is very beautiful. It’s like a huge park with trees and a river. Right in the middle of this park is a wonderful, clean, safe city where nothing is broken or ever wears out. This city is so amazing, even the streets are paved with gold.

In Heaven, there is no sickness, sadness or death. There are no weeds, thorns or thistles. No bad or unkind people live there. Everyone is always very, very happy. Heaven is full of beautiful music. The animals are tame and friendly. You never have to sleep in Heaven. There’s no darkness or night—it is always day.

Heaven is a perfect place, where perfect people and perfect angels live with a perfect God. It is so wonderful, it’s hard to describe.

Imagine being able to take a peek into Heaven. What do you think it would be like to live there?

Link to verses for pages 46-47

Questions on Chapter Two

Link to Questions and Answers

1. When you look around the world and see all that was made, you can see that God is very powerful. How much does God know?

2. Who does the world belong to?

3. Why does the world belong to God?

4. God could have made the world very ugly, but he made it beautiful. Why did God make such a beautiful world?

5. God made rules so that the world would work in the right way. What sort of place would the world be without any rules?

6. What do we call something that has nothing wrong with it and is good in every way?

7. Why was God only able to create a perfect world?

8. God lives in a perfect home. What is it called?

9. Name three things the Bible tells us about Heaven?

Chapter 3 — The Bad Angels

The Bible says that God is very powerful. He knows everything. Just by speaking, he created the whole world and everything in it. God made it perfect.

God gave rules so that everything would know how to work in the right way. The sun knew when to get up and when to go to bed. Even the angels and the people were given rules so that they would know how to live and what to do. God gave rules so that everyone could be happy.

God likes everything to be pure, clean and safe because he is perfect. Heaven is a perfect place because God lives there. That is how God wants everything to be.

Link to verses for pages 50-51

After God had finished making his perfect earth, something terrible happened.

God's most important angel became unhappy. This angel's name was Lucifer. God had created him to do a very special job, but Lucifer began to think that he deserved something better.

Lucifer decided that he didn't want to be an angel anymore. He wouldn't follow God's rules. He'd make his own rules. He'd be in charge. He'd be the boss. Lucifer decided that he deserved to be God!

He talked many other angels into fighting against the Lord. Lucifer and his disobedient angels hated God and wanted to ruin everything.

They made Heaven a very unhappy place.

Link to verses for pages 52-53

The Bible uses a special word to describe Lucifer's choice to disobey God and be a bad angel. It is called sin.

To sin means to decide not to live God's perfect way.

Bad thoughts and doing wrong things are ways of telling the Lord that you think you know better than him—that you're smarter than God. That is sin.

Sin always spoils things.

Link to verses for pages 54-55

When a person does something wrong, he shouldn't get away with it. He should expect to be punished. That is the way life should be—it's only fair.

It's not fair when someone is cruel and is never punished. It's not right that people get away with being mean or nasty. God doesn't like that. He punishes all wrong with just the right amount of punishment. It's never too little and never too much.

He is always fair.

Link to verses for pages 56-57

Because God is perfect, he could not have these bad angels living with him in his perfect home. They were spoiling Heaven. So God threw them out and told them never to come back.[5] God changed Lucifer's name to Satan, which means "enemy."

Satan was now an enemy of God.

Link to verses for pages 58-59

God made a new home for these bad angels. This home was created just for them and it fitted them perfectly. Because these angels were being terrible and bad, this new home was terrible and bad. Because these angels were being hurtful and unhappy, this new home was a place of hurt and unhappiness. This new home was an awful place called the Lake of Fire.

Those who live in this home live there forever and ever. It is a place of punishment for Satan and his very bad angels.[6]

Link to verses for pages 60-61

Many angels followed Satan in disobeying God, but a lot more angels kept on obeying God and being his special messengers. These good angels live and serve God in Heaven.

What sort of jobs do you think God asks these good angels to do?

Link to verses for pages 62-63

Questions on Chapter Three

Link to Questions and Answers

1. Was Lucifer God or was he an angel?

2 Lucifer had a special job. Was Lucifer happy with the job God gave him?

3. Whose job did Lucifer want?

4. The Bible uses a special word to describe Lucifer's choice to disobey God. What is that word?

5. Why did Lucifer want to be God?

6. What are bad thoughts and doing wrong things called?

7. When someone does something bad and gets away with it, is it right?

8. Why isn't it right for someone to get away with doing bad things?

9. Is God fair all the time or just some of the time?

10. Because God is perfect, he could not have the bad angels living in his perfect home. What did he do with them?

11. God changed Lucifer's name to Satan. What does the name Satan mean?

12. What is the name of the home that God made for Satan and the bad angels?

13. Is Satan's new home a happy place to live?

14. Many angels still obeyed God. Where do these good angels live?

Chapter 4 — A Wrong Choice

When God first made the world, it was just like Heaven. There was no crying, hurting or being afraid. There were no bad or unkind people. No one stole, lied or killed. There was no sin of any kind. Above all, nothing ever died.

The world God made was a wonderful place to live. It was the way God wanted things to be.

It was perfect.

Link to verses for pages 66-67

The people God created were also perfect. Only perfect people can live with a perfect God.

The first man was named Adam, and his wife was called Eve. The Lord loved them and made a beautiful garden for them to enjoy. It was full of animals and birds, rivers and streams, flowers and trees. Many of the trees were loaded with tasty fruit.

God allowed Adam and Eve to go anywhere they wanted, and eat anything they liked, except for one thing.

Link to verses for pages 68-69

God told them not to eat the fruit from one special tree. If Adam and Eve disobeyed that one rule, and ate fruit from that one tree, then they would die.

Not being allowed to eat from that special tree wasn't hard for Adam and Eve. There were lots and lots of fruit trees in the garden. But by obeying God, Adam and Eve showed the Lord that they believed him. They were trusting that he knew what was best.

That's all God wanted them to do—just believe what he said. It was like God was saying, "Trust me."

So that's the way it was in the beginning—perfect people trusting a perfect God and enjoying a perfect world.

Link to verses for pages 70-71

But then Satan, that very bad and cruel angel, visited Adam and Eve in the beautiful garden. He told Adam and Eve that God was hiding something good from them. Satan said that if they ate the fruit from the special tree, then they would be just like God.[7]

What should Adam and Eve do? Was Satan telling the truth or was he lying to them?

If they believed Satan, they'd eat the fruit. But if they believed God, they wouldn't.

Who should they believe—God or Satan?

Who should they trust?

Link to verses for pages 72-73

Do you know what? Adam and Eve began to think that being perfect people in God's perfect garden wasn't such a great thing after all. They wanted more. They wanted to be like God. So they did the one thing that God told them not to do—they ate the fruit.

Adam and Eve believed Satan's lie. They felt that Satan knew better than God what was good for them. They broke God's one simple rule. They took sides with Satan against God.

Isn't that sad? When people don't do what God asks them to do, it always brings sadness.

Link to verses for pages 74-75

When Adam and Eve disobeyed God's one rule, the whole world changed. It was no longer safe and perfect. Weeds and thorns grew out of the ground. The animals started to kill each other. The world became a scary place, full of selfishness, sickness and sadness—a place of death.

Sin always spoils things—it ruined God's perfect world. It destroyed the special friendship God had with Adam and Eve.

Adam and Eve thought that they were choosing what was best, but their choice to disobey God ruined everything.

Link to verses for pages 76-77

God told Adam and Eve that because they had sinned, their bodies would someday stop working. They would die.

Have you ever wondered why people die? The Bible says that death came into the world because of Adam and Eve's sin.

Death is a horrible thing. When someone dies, it means that the real them no longer lives on earth. They have gone, never to return. That's why when you go to a funeral, people are sad. Their friend has gone. They feel all alone. They cry and really hurt inside. That is what the Bible means when it talks about death. It means you are separated from a friend.

Link to verses for pages 78-79

When Adam and Eve joined Satan's side, they were separated from their friend. They were separated from God. The friendship was over. It was gone. They felt all alone. They must have cried and hurt inside. It was very, very sad. Adam and Eve were separated from their best friend.

But as if that wasn't bad enough, because they had joined Satan, when their bodies died, they would have to go and live in his terrible home. Adam and Eve would be separated from God forever! This was such sad news; it was like a second death.

Adam and Eve must have felt terrible.

Link to verses for pages 80-81

But then God told Adam and Eve some really good news.

The Bible says that God loved them so much that he made a way for them to be perfect again. If they came to God his way, God would allow them to live in Heaven.

So Adam and Eve had a choice. They could come God's way and live forever in God's perfect home in Heaven, or they could ignore God's way and live forever in Satan's terrible home. There were no other choices—only perfect people can live with a perfect God.

Which home do you think Adam and Eve wanted to live in?

Link to verses for pages 82-83

Questions on Chapter Four

Link to Questions and Answers

1. Because God loved and cared for Adam and Eve, what special place on earth did he make for them to live in?

2. How many rules did God give Adam and Eve?

3. What rule did God give Adam and Eve?

4. What did God say would happen to Adam and Eve if they disobeyed this one rule?

5. If they ate the fruit from that one tree, Satan told Adam and Eve they would be like whom?

6. Was Satan telling Adam and Eve the truth or a lie?

7. Did Adam and Eve obey God's one rule?

8. The Bible uses a word to describe Adam and Eve's disobedience. What is that word?

9. What came into the world because of sin?

10. When the Bible talks about death, does it mean that you've become a star in the sky or that you are separated from a friend forever?

11. God didn't want Adam and Eve to live with Satan. God said he would make a way for Adam and Eve to be perfect again. Why?

Chapter 5 — Who to Trust

When God first made the world, it was a perfect place, just like Heaven.

The people God made were also perfect because only perfect people can live with a perfect God. God loved Adam and Eve. He was their closest friend.

Link to verses for pages 86-87

But then Satan visited Adam and Eve in the garden. He told them a lie. He said they could be just like God. Adam and Eve believed Satan—they joined his side against God. They sinned.

The Bible says that sin brings death. Adam and Eve's bodies would grow old and die. After they died, they would go and live with Satan and his angels in their terrible home. This is so awful, it's like another death. The Bible calls it the Second Death.

Sin always brings lots of sadness.

Link to verses for pages 88-89

God didn't want Adam and Eve to go and live with Satan. He loved Adam and Eve. But they couldn't live in Heaven; they weren't perfect anymore. They had chosen to be sinners by believing Satan. What could God do?

God wasn't stuck! He had a plan. He told Adam and Eve just a little of his plan—and what they heard was very good news.

God promised to send a special man to earth. This man would be able to save Adam and Eve from being punished for their sin—he could save them from the Second Death. He'd be called a Saviour.

How the Saviour would rescue Adam and Eve and make them perfect again, God didn't say. But he had promised.

Would Adam and Eve believe God this time?

Would they trust him?

Link to verses for pages 90-91

Do you know what the word trust means? Let me tell you a story.

One day John was walking beside the river with his Grandpa. He got a little too close to the riverbank. All of a sudden, his feet slipped out from underneath him and—SPLASH!—into the water he went. He spluttered to the surface and struggled as the water swept him downstream. He was really scared. The water was freezing cold. Because his clothes were wet, they were heavy—he felt himself sinking.

But then John's Grandpa waded into the water. He was a strong man and his feet were firmly planted on the bottom of the river. With his long arms reaching out to John, his Grandpa called out, "Here! Grab my hand. I'll save you. Just trust me."

Link to verses for pages 92-93

What should John do?

If he believed his Grandpa, then he would grab his hand. If he didn't believe his Grandpa, then he would have to struggle on his own. It was Grandpa or himself.

Whom should he trust?

Link to verses for pages 94-95

John reached out and took his Grandpa's hand. He believed that his Grandpa would save him from drowning. John trusted him. He made the right choice.

This is the sort of choice God wanted Adam and Eve to make. He wanted them to trust him, believing that he would rescue them from Satan's terrible home. Yes, God had a rescue plan. Would Adam and Eve trust him?

The Lord hadn't told them everything about his plan or everything about the Saviour—but he had made a promise. If people trusted God, believing his promise, when they died he would make them perfect again.[8] Perfect people can live with God. All they needed to do was to trust him.[9] It was that simple.

This was such good news that people began to look forward to the day when the Saviour would come.

Who do you think that Saviour would be?

Questions on Chapter Five

Link to Questions and Answers

1. Because Adam and Eve joined Satan, when they died they would be separated from God forever in Satan's terrible home. What sort of death does the Bible call this?

2. God wanted them to live with him in his perfect home. Why wasn't God stuck?

3. Did God tell Adam and Eve all of his plan?

4. God promised that he would send a special man to save them from the Second Death. What would this man be called?

5. Should Adam and Eve believe what God promised?

6. Did John trust Grandpa because he believed Grandpa could help him or because Grandpa was wearing waterproof boots?

7. Did John trust Grandpa because he believed Grandpa cared for him or because Grandpa had nothing else to do?

8. When John was struggling in the water, did he have to promise to be a good boy before Grandpa would save him?

9. Did Adam and Eve have to promise that they would never do one bad thing again before God told them he would save them?

10. Did John's Grandpa mean it when he said, "Just trust me"?

11. Did God mean it when he told people, "Trust me, and I will make you perfect when you die"?

12. Why do people need to be made perfect to live in Heaven?

Chapter 6 — The Rescue Plan

God created the world to be a perfect place, but when Adam and Eve decided that they didn't want to trust God anymore, the perfect world was spoiled. It became a place of sin.

The Bible tells us that sin is what causes death. Sin always brings a lot of sadness.

But then God told Adam and Eve some really good news. He had a rescue plan. One day, he would send a Saviour to save people from all the bad things that happened because of sin. He would free people from being on Satan's side—people could be on God's side again. God said that the Saviour would even save people from the Second Death.

If people believed God, trusting what he said was true, then he would make them perfect.

Only perfect people can live in a perfect Heaven.

But there was still one big problem.

God couldn't make Adam and Eve perfect and let them go to Heaven without doing something about their sin. God cannot leave sin unpunished.

Adam and Eve had disobeyed God. They had joined Satan's side. Adam and Eve had sinned. God couldn't pretend that this had never happened. He couldn't ignore it. That would not be right or fair. All wrong must be punished.

But how could God punish Adam and Eve's sin and not punish them?

That's a very important question. You see, just as Adam and Eve had sin that needed to be punished, so we all do. All boys and girls, all moms and dads—everyone who's born into this world does wrong things. We all sin. We're just like Adam and Eve.

Everyone needs to know how God can punish sin without punishing people.

So God explained a little bit more of his plan.

Because people didn't understand just how bad sin was, God asked them to do something that would help them understand. This would show them how sin could be punished without punishing people.

God told them to find an animal—a lamb. The lamb had to be a male lamb, which is a boy lamb. It could have nothing wrong with it. It could not be sick or crippled—its wool could not be falling out. It had to be perfect.

They were to bring the lamb to an altar, a special place of death. The one bringing the lamb was to put his hand on its head. God said that if he did this, God would look at it as if all the man's sin was being placed on the lamb.

Link to verses for pages 104-105

But now something very sad had to happen.

Remember how death came into the world because of sin? Well, because the lamb now had the man's sin, it had to die. The man who brought the lamb had to kill it. This helped people to see that it was the man's sin which put the lamb to death.

God asked people to do this so that they could understand his plan—how he would punish sin without punishing people. The lamb was punished instead of the man.[10]

The man did what God said because he trusted God. He believed that the lamb was punished in his place. When the man died, God would make him perfect and he could live in Heaven.

Aren't you glad that God had a plan? It's just one way of showing us that he loves us.

Link to verses for pages 106-107

Questions on Chapter Six

Link to Questions and Answers

1. Why didn't God want to punish Adam and Eve?

2. Could God pretend Adam and Eve had never sinned?

3. God showed people how he would punish sin without punishing them. What sort of animal were they told to bring?

4. Did the lamb have to be a boy or girl lamb?

5. Could the lamb have a broken leg, be sick or have wool falling out? What sort of lamb did it have to be?

6. To what special place of death were they to bring the lamb?

7. Where on the lamb was the man to place his hand?

8. What happened to the man's sin when he put his hand on the head of the lamb?

9. What had to happen to the lamb because it carried the man's sin?

10. The lamb didn't do anything wrong. Did it deserve to be punished?

11. The Bible says that death is the punishment for sin. In whose place did the lamb die?

12. Why was the lamb punished if it hadn't done anything wrong?

13. The man did what God told him to do—he brought a lamb. Did he do this because he thought God didn't like lambs or because he trusted what God had said?

14. If people trust God, they go to Heaven when they die. How does God change them, so they can live there?

Chapter 7 — Right and Wrong

When God first made the world, it was a perfect place.

But then Adam and Eve disobeyed God. They joined Satan's side. The world changed and became a place of sin and death. The Bible says that death happened because of sin.

But God loved Adam and Eve—he loves all people. He didn't want people to be punished for their sin. So God promised that one day he would send a Saviour. Anyone who wanted to be saved from the sadness that sin brings could be rescued. The Saviour could even save them from the Second Death. All they needed to do was trust God. Then he would make them perfect so that they could live forever in Heaven.

This was very good news.

Link to verses for pages 110-111

But God couldn't ignore people's sin and pretend it had never happened. All wrong still had to be punished. So God asked them to do something that would help them understand his plan—how he would punish sin without punishing people.

God asked people to bring a perfect male lamb to an altar. The one bringing the lamb put his hand on its head, showing that his sin was being placed on the lamb. It was as if all the sin was being moved from the man—onto the lamb. Because the lamb now carried all the man's sin, the man had no sin left.[10] It was as if he was perfect. And do you know what? Perfect people can live with a perfect God in his perfect home.

Link to verses for pages 112-113

But remember how all sin must be punished?

Well, because the lamb now had the man's sin, it had to die. That's because death is the punishment for sin. The lamb died in the man's place. The lamb was punished instead of the man.

Link to verses for pages 114-115

But some people didn't believe God's plan. They even told others that God's plan could not be right. The idea of trusting God to be made perfect—that was just too simple. They felt they needed to do something more. So they came up with their own plan—they made their own rules.

They said that if they did more good things than bad things, then God would be happy. If they were kind and did right, then they'd be good enough to live in Heaven.

But do you know what? These people didn't understand how good they would have to be to live with God in his perfect Heaven.

Link to verses for pages 116-117

So God explained some things.

He said that if they stole something, no matter how little, they weren't good enough for Heaven.

God told them that if they loved stuff like money or things more than him, then they weren't perfect.

He said that if they ever lost their temper—that was sin.

If they ever told a lie, even just a little lie, then they weren't perfect. It was a sin to tell lies.

God said that if they talked back to their mother or father, even just once, they were no longer perfect.

Only perfect people can live with a perfect God.

Link to verses for pages 118-119

Altogether God gave the people ten rules. They were called the Ten Commandments. To make sure that no one would forget his commands, the Lord wrote the rules on two flat stones called tablets. Because they were written on stone, no one could add their own rules or rub one out. God's rules never change.

The Lord gave the stone tablets to a man by the name of Moses. Moses was to show all the people what God had written.

Everyone needed to understand that no matter how hard they tried, they could never obey God’s ten rules perfectly. They could never be good enough to live with God. They were sinners. They couldn’t save themselves from the punishment their sin deserved.

They needed a Saviour—they needed a lamb.

Link to verses for pages 120-121

Questions on Chapter Seven

Link to Questions and Answers

1. When people sin, can God pretend that it never happened?

2. God asked people to do something that would help them understand how sin would be punished without punishing people. What did he ask them to bring?

3. The man bringing the lamb put his hand on its head. What did this show?

4. Because the lamb now carried the man's sin, what had to happen to it?

5. The Bible says that death is the punishment for sin. In whose place did the lamb die?

6. Some people didn't believe God's plan. They made their own rules. What did they think they could do to make God happy?

7. How many things could a person steal and still be perfect?

8. If people love money more than God, what does the Bible call it?

9. Is it okay to tell a lie, as long as it is a little lie?

10. Does just telling one little lie make a person a sinner?

11. If people lose their temper, what does the Bible call it?

12. What does the Bible say children are doing when they talk back to their mother or father?

13. Other people don't know what we are thinking inside our heads, but how much does God know?

14. If we try to be very good, and never do or think bad things, will we be perfect enough to live in Heaven?

Chapter 8 — The Promised Saviour

The Bible says that only perfect people can live with a perfect God. But people aren't perfect. Whether boy or girl, mom or dad, we all do wrong. Since it is only right that all sin is punished, it means that we have a problem. Because we sin, we too must be punished. This is terrible news.

But remember how God had some good news? Remember his plan? The Bible says that God would provide a Saviour who would one day come to earth.

This Saviour would rescue anyone who wanted to be saved from the punishment for their sin.

Link to verses for pages 124-125

For years, the people looked forward to the day when the Saviour would arrive. While they waited, God told them to do something that would help them to see how sin could be punished without punishing them.

God asked them to bring a perfect lamb to an altar. The one bringing the lamb put his hand on its head—showing that his sin was being moved onto the lamb. The lamb then had to die—as death is the punishment for sin.[10]

The lamb died in the man's place. This showed people how God could punish sin without punishing them.

So that's the way it was. For many long years, people looked forward to the coming Saviour. They wondered who he might be. What was his name? How would he come? How would he save them?

Link to verses for pages 126-127

Finally, the day arrived. The Saviour came to earth! And do you know what? It turned out that the Saviour was God himself. That's right, God came to earth. Isn't that amazing?

To be the Saviour, God became a man. This doesn't mean that he stopped being God, but the Lord knew that the only way to save us was to become like us. So he came as a little baby, just like any other boy or girl arrives on earth.

He was born into a very ordinary family. His mother was called Mary and her husband's name was Joseph. Though the family was ordinary, the baby was not.

The baby was God himself.

Link to verses for pages 128-129

The Lord was not born as a baby in a hospital. He was born in a stable—a place where sheep and little lambs are sheltered.

His first visitors were shepherds—men who care for lambs and make sure that they come to no harm.

When God came to earth, he was called Jesus. The name Jesus means God is the one who saves.

Jesus was the Saviour that God had promised to Adam and Eve long ago. He came to save us from the punishment our sin deserves.

Link to verses for pages 130-131

Jesus did many wonderful things while he was on earth—amazing things that don't normally happen.

He made blind men see, so that they wouldn't stumble and fall. He healed those who could not walk, so that they could run and play. Jesus brought a little girl back to life, so that all her friends would be happy again. He fed a huge crowd with a small boy's lunch, so that no one would be hungry.

Jesus did all these things so that people would know that he was God.

He loved people.

Link to verses for pages 132-133

One night when some of Jesus' friends were traveling by boat across a big lake, they were caught in an awful storm. The wind was fierce and huge waves crashed against the side of the boat.

All night long the men tried to row the boat to shore, but the wind was too strong. It was almost morning when the men saw someone walking on top of the water. They thought it was a ghost! They were very scared.

Then a voice called out to them, "It's me, don't be afraid." It was Jesus!

Peter, one of the men in the boat, shouted to Jesus, "If it's you, tell me to come to you on top of the water."

Jesus said, "Come."

Peter got out of the boat and began to walk to Jesus.

Link to verses for pages 134-135

But when Peter saw the wind and waves, he became afraid and began to sink. What should he do? He could struggle on his own or he could call out to Jesus to save him.

Whom should he trust?

Peter saw that he couldn't save himself—Jesus was the only one who could rescue him. He cried out, "Lord, save me!" Jesus reached out his hand and caught Peter. Peter made the right choice.

Just as Peter could not save himself from drowning, so we can't save ourselves from being punished for our sin. We need a saviour.

Jesus is our Saviour. We need to trust him.

Link to verses for pages 136-137

Questions on Chapter Eight

Link to Questions and Answers

1. Who left Heaven to become the Saviour?

2. To be the Saviour, God became a man. Did this mean he stopped being God?

3. The Lord knew that the only way to save us was to become like us. How did he come to earth?

4. The Lord was born as a baby in a stable—a place where sheep and little lambs are sheltered. Who were his first visitors?

5. What name was God given when he came to earth?

6. The name Jesus means "God is the one who saves." What else was Jesus called?

7. Why did Jesus make blind men see, heal those who could not walk and bring dead people back to life?

8. Whom did Peter and his friends see walking on the water?

9. When Peter began to look around at the wind and waves, what happened?

10. Peter could struggle on his own or he could call out to Jesus to save him. What did he do?

Chapter 9 — Our Perfect Lamb

Back at the beginning of time when Adam and Eve first sinned, God promised that one day he would send a special man, called a Saviour. The Saviour would save people from the Second Death and the sadness that sin brings.

When the time came for the Saviour to arrive, God himself left Heaven to come to earth. The Creator God was the Saviour. His name was Jesus, which means "God is the one who saves."

Link to verses for pages 140-141

Jesus lived on the earth—visiting friends, working, eating food, sleeping, travelling to many places—just like any other man. But Jesus was also very different from you and me. Jesus never did anything wrong.

All the time he lived on earth, even as a little boy, he never did one bad thing, not even the smallest thing. Jesus was the only man who ever lived a perfect life—who never sinned.

Because Jesus lived a perfect life, he had no sin to be punished. He did not need to die. People only die because of sin, and Jesus never sinned.

Link to verses for pages 142-143

Although Jesus didn't have to die, he told people that one day men would take him, beat him and nail him to a wooden cross to kill him. Jesus would die. After being dead for three days, he would come back to life.

Those who heard him say this didn't believe it. They told him not to talk that way.

But what Jesus was saying was true. He was telling his friends the rest of God's plan—he was telling them good news.

Link to verses for pages 144-145

It was all about God's promise—it was all about the lamb.

Do you remember the lamb? How people had to bring one?

Now, Jesus was being called the Lamb of God.

Remember how the lamb had to be a male lamb?

Well, Jesus was a man.

Do you remember how the lamb had to be perfect?

Well, Jesus was perfect. He never sinned.

Link to verses for pages 146-147

Remember how the lamb was to be brought to an altar, a special place of death?

Well, after Jesus had been on earth for a while, he allowed men to bring him to a cross, a special place of death.

And do you remember how the one bringing the lamb put his hand on its head, showing that his sin was being placed on the lamb?

The Bible says that when Jesus was nailed to the cross, all our sin was taken off us and placed on him. He took everybody's sin—from the best people to the very worst men and women—the sin of every boy, girl, mom and dad was moved onto Jesus.

All the nasty things that had ever been said, he heard. All the terrible things that had ever been done, he knew. All the anger that had ever been shown, he saw. All the hurt that had ever been caused, he felt. All of sin's horrible dirtiness was placed on the perfect Jesus. He felt it all, he knew it all, he took it all. It must have been terrible.

Yes, it all had to do with a lamb.

Jesus was the Lamb—our Lamb.

But think back to the rest of the story. Do you remember what happened to the lamb? Because sin must be punished and death is the punishment for sin, the lamb had to die.

It was the same way with Jesus.

Because all our sin had been moved onto him, he had to be punished—Jesus had to die.

The Bible says that Jesus died in our place. He took all the punishment our sin deserved, so that we would never need to suffer the Second Death.

Jesus was the final lamb—no more lambs needed to be brought to an altar. Jesus had done it all.

God had kept his promise.

Link to verses for pages 150-151

Questions on Chapter Nine

Link to Questions and Answers

1. Jesus lived on the earth just like any other man. But Jesus was also very different. What did Jesus never do?

2. Death only came into the world because of sin. Because Jesus never sinned, did Jesus have to die?

3. Jesus said that men would beat him and nail him to a wooden cross to kill him. After being dead for three days, he would come back to life. How could Jesus know these things before they happened?

4. The Bible says that Jesus was like the lambs that were brought to the altar. What was Jesus called that reminded people of those lambs?

5. The lambs had to be perfect. How was Jesus perfect?

6. The lambs were brought to an altar, a special place of death. What special place of death was Jesus taken to?

7. Because all our sin had been moved onto Jesus, what had to happen to him?

8. The Bible says Jesus took all the punishment our sin deserved. How much sin is left that still has to be punished?

9. Why don't we bring lambs to an altar?

Chapter 10 — Alive Forever

Many, many years ago, God promised a Saviour who would come to save people from the punishment that sin brings. He would save people from the Second Death.

God told people to bring a lamb, so that he could show them how sin could be punished without punishing them.

Link to verses for pages 154-155

Now let's think. The people back then had to have a lamb. Do we have a lamb?

Yes, we do. Our lamb was Jesus. He was called "the Lamb of God."

The lamb the people brought was perfect. Okay, listen. Who was the only person that ever lived a perfect life—that never sinned once?

That's right. It was Jesus. He's our perfect Lamb.

The people were to bring their lamb to an altar, a special place of death. What special place of death was Jesus taken to? Do you remember?

It was a wooden cross.

Now this is very important. Do you remember how all the sin of the people was placed on the lamb? Think carefully. Whose sin was placed on Jesus?

You're right. It was our sin.

Because the lamb now carried the people's sin, it had to die. Who died in our place?

Yes, it was Jesus. He died for us.

When Jesus was nailed to the cross, all the sin of every boy, girl, mom and dad was moved from them onto him. Because Jesus had no sin of his own to die for, he could die for someone else—he could die for us.

Our sin put Jesus to death.

He chose to be punished in our place, so that he could save us from the punishment our sin deserved.

Jesus is our Saviour.

Link to verses for pages 158-159

Now, if the story ended with Jesus dead on the cross, it would be terribly sad.

But the Bible tells us more. It says that after Jesus died, his friends carefully took his body down from the cross. They must have been broken-hearted. They put him in a special grave called a tomb. Slowly, they rolled a big stone across the door. Then sadly they turned and went home.

The next day, the men who had killed Jesus told soldiers to guard the tomb. They had heard that Jesus had said that he would come back to life after three days. They didn't want anyone coming and taking Jesus' body away and pretending he was alive. They wanted to make sure Jesus stayed dead in the tomb.

Link to verses for pages 160-161

But the soldiers couldn't stop God, the big stone couldn't stop God—nothing could stop God's plan. Just as he had said, after three days, Jesus came back to life! He was alive!

The guards fell down in fear, an angel rolled back the stone—everyone could see that Jesus was no longer in the grave. For forty days, he met with his friends and large groups of people. Everyone was excited. He was with them again—talking, eating and travelling. It was wonderful!

Jesus was alive!

Link to verses for pages 162-163

People could hardly believe it. No one had ever done this before. No one had died and brought himself back to life. What amazing power!

Jesus was showing them that because he was stronger than death, people didn't need to be afraid of dying and going to be with Satan in his horrible home. They didn't need to be afraid of the Second Death.

Jesus was strong enough to bring them back to life.

But he wouldn't bring them back to life on earth—a place that has been spoiled by sin. He would bring them back to life in Heaven—a place that is perfect and full of happiness.

Jesus was promising to do this for anyone who believed that he was their Lamb.

Link to verses for pages 164-165

Now this is very important. Did you hear what Jesus was saying? Do you understand?

He was saying that if a boy, girl, mom or dad, if anyone believed that Jesus died in their place, then they could go and live with him in Heaven.

It was just that simple.

All they needed to do was believe that Jesus was their Lamb—that he had been punished for their sin. If they trusted him, believing that what he said was true, then when that boy, girl, mom or dad—when they finished living here on earth—Jesus would make them perfect so that they could live with him in Heaven.

Link to verses for pages 166-167

The people listened excitedly. This was news everyone needed to hear. They talked for long hours with Jesus about the plan. And then, at the end of forty days, Jesus said goodbye and returned to Heaven. That is where he lives now, in his perfect home.

And that's what the Bible is all about.

It's a letter from God—full of love—and it's all about the Lamb.

Link to verses for pages 168-169

Questions on Chapter Ten

Link to Questions and Answers

1. Many, many years ago, people had to have a lamb. Who is our lamb?

2. The lamb the people brought was perfect. Who was the only person who ever lived a perfect life—who never sinned once?

3. The people were to bring their lamb to an altar, a special place of death. What special place of death was Jesus taken to?

4. Remember how all the sin of the people was placed on the lamb? Whose sin was placed on Jesus?

5. Because the lamb now carried the people's sin, it had to die. Who died in our place?

6. The lamb died in the place of the man. In whose place did Jesus die?

7. After Jesus died, his body was put in a special grave. They rolled a big stone across the door. What was this type of grave called?

8. What happened after Jesus had been dead three days?

9. When Jesus came back to life, he showed people that he could bring them back to life too. Where would he bring them back to life?

10. When Jesus said that he would bring people back to life in Heaven, what did they need to do so that they could live in his perfect home?

11. Did they have to promise never to do wrong again?

Did they have to trust Jesus as the one who would save them?

Did they have to promise to do more good things than bad things?

Did they have to believe that Jesus died in their place?

12. God said that if anyone believed that Jesus died like a Lamb in their place, then they could go to Heaven. Did God really mean this?

Do you understand God's letter?

God's letter is so important you need to make sure you understand it clearly. Here are a few questions. You will be able to tell for yourself just how well you know God's rescue plan. If you get some of them wrong, keep reading this book until you have them straight in your mind.

Link to Questions and Answers

1. God made everything simply by speaking. What does this tell us about God?

2. Why was God only able to create a perfect world?

3. The Bible uses a special word to describe Lucifer's choice to disobey God. What is that word?

4. Why isn't it right for someone to get away with doing bad things?

5. What is the name of the home that God made for Satan and the bad angels?

6. The Bible uses a word to describe Adam and Eve's disobedience. What is that word?

7. What came into the world because of sin?

8. Because Adam and Eve were no longer perfect, when they died they would go and live with Satan in his terrible home. What does the Bible call this sort of death?

9. God promised that he would send a special man to rescue all people from the Second Death. What would this man be called?

10. Why do people need to be made perfect to live in Heaven?

11. Could God pretend that Adam and Eve had never sinned?

12. God showed people how he would punish sin without punishing them. What sort of animal were they told to bring?

13. What happened to the man's sin when he put his hand on the head of the lamb?

14. In whose place did the lamb die?

15. Why was the lamb punished if it hadn't done anything wrong?

16. If people trust God, when they die—they go to Heaven. How does God change them so that they are able to live in his perfect home?

17. If we try to be very good and never do or think bad things, will we be perfect enough to live in Heaven?

18. Who left Heaven to become the Saviour?

19. Who is Jesus? Is he God, Satan or an angel?

20. Because Jesus never sinned, did Jesus have to die?

21. The Bible says that Jesus was like the lambs that were brought to the altar. What was Jesus called that reminded people of those lambs?

22. Remember how all the sin of the people was placed on the lamb? Whose sin was placed on Jesus?

23. The lamb died in the place of the man. In whose place did Jesus die?

24. When Jesus said that he would bring people back to life in Heaven, what did they need to do so that they could live in his perfect home?

Do you believe God's letter?

If you have answered all the questions right, it means you understand God's plan. It means you know what God's letter is saying. That is very important. Many people live until they are very old and still do not understand what the Bible is all about.

To understand God's letter is a very good thing, but there is one big question you need to answer. Do you believe what God said is true?

You see, it's one thing to understand the Bible, it's another thing to believe it.

Try answering these questions. They will help you to know if you believe God's letter.

Link to Questions and Answers

• Who do you believe Jesus is? Is he just a nice man or is he more than that?

• What about you? Do you believe you're good enough for Heaven or do you believe that you are a sinner?

• Do you believe that God will ignore your sin or that your sin needs to be punished?

• Who was punished in your place?

• Who do you believe is your Lamb?

• Do you believe that Jesus loved you enough to carry your sin?

• After Jesus died, he came back to life and now he lives forever. Do you believe that?

If you have answered these questions correctly and believe them to be true, the punishment for your sin is all gone. It is just that simple. You will never have to be afraid of the Second Death or the Lake of Fire.

Because you have believed that what God said is true, you are trusting him—you are now on God's side. He promises never to leave you. He will always be with you, no matter where you go or what you do.

When you finish living here on earth, God says he will make you perfect for Heaven—you will live forever with Him. Does God really mean that?

This is something you can be very happy about right now. It is something you can know for sure because God said it, and God does not tell lies.

Perhaps this book has answered questions you've wondered about. God has written lots of things to help us. You can discover more in his letter to us. The Bible is full of answers.

When someone does something special for you, you thank him. The Bible says that we can talk to the Lord any time just like one friend talks to another.

Here are some words to say “thank you” to Jesus for what he did for you. Listen to them a couple of times and then in your own words, you thank him. Remember God is everywhere—he is listening.

Dear Jesus, I know you are God and you created all things. I trust you. I am a sinner.You are the only one who can save me. I believe you took my punishment. You died in my place. Thank you for loving me so much. I know you will keep your promise to take me to Heaven to be with you.

Jesus is a wonderful Saviour.

The end

Bible Verses

Chapter 1

Pages 10-11

All Scripture is God-breathed. 2 Timothy 3:16

You must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God. 2 Peter 1:20,21

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Pages 12-13

Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth… from everlasting to everlasting you are God. Psalm 90:2

I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. Isaiah 45:5

Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. Isaiah 43:10

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Pages 14-15

God is spirit. John 4:24

Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve? Hebrews 1:14

Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word. Psalm 103:20

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Pages 16-17

The universe was formed at God’s command. Hebrews 11:3

By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth… Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere him. For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. Psalm 33:6,8,9

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Pages 18-19

And God said, “Let there be light.” Genesis 1:3

No one is like you, O Lord; you are great, and your name is mighty in power. Jeremiah 10:6

Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. Jeremiah 32:17

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Pages 20-21

God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. Genesis 1:16

“Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?” declares the Lord. “Do not I fill heaven and earth?” declares the Lord. Jeremiah 23:24

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Pages 22-23

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis  1:1

For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them. Exodus 20:11

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Pages 24-25

God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds… And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:21

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Pages 26-27

God created… every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:21

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Pages 28-29

God made the wild animals… the livestock… and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. Genesis 1:25

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Pages 30-31

The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Genesis 2:7

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Chapter 2

Pages 34-35

Great is our Lord… his understanding has no limit. Psalm 147:5

He made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding. Jeremiah 51:15

“Am I only a God nearby,” declares the Lord, “and not a God far away? Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?” declares the Lord. “Do not I fill heaven and earth?” declares the Lord. Jeremiah 23:23,24

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Pages 36-37

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. Psalm 24:1

Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people. Psalm 100:3

The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. Genesis 2:15

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Pages 38-39

I am the Lord, who has made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens. Isaiah 44:24

[He] richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 1 Timothy 6:17

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Pages 40-41

The moon marks off the seasons, and the sun knows when to go down. Psalm 104:19

The day is yours, and yours also the night; you established the sun and moon. It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth. Psalm 74:16-17

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Pages 42-43

He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. Colossians 1:17 NASB

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Pages 44-45

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. Genesis 1:31

Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable. Psalm 145:3 NASB

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Pages 46-47

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain. Revelation 21:4

No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared. 1 Corinthians 2:9

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Chapter 3

Pages 50-51

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day. Genesis 1:31

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Pages 52-53

O Lucifer, son of the morning!… you have said in your heart: “I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.” Isaiah 14:12-14 NKJV

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Pages 54-55

Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. Ezekiel 28:17

These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: a proud look. Proverbs 6:16-17

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Pages 56-57

He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he. Deuteronomy 32:4

For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil. Ecclesiastes 12:14

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne. Psalm 89:14 NASB

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Pages 58-59

“You sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, O guardian cherub… I threw you to the earth.” Ezekiel 28:16-17

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Pages 60-61

The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire… And they will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. Revelation 20:10 NKJV

The eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. Matthew 25:41

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Pages 62-63

Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve? Hebrews 1:14

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Chapter 4

Pages 66-67

Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing… The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. Isaiah 40:26,28

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Pages 68-69

The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. Genesis 2:15

In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Genesis 2:9

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Pages 70-71

And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.” Genesis 2:16-17

The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. Genesis 2:9

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Pages 72-73

He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’… “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:1,4-5

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Pages 74-75

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Genesis 3:6

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Pages 76-77

By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground. Genesis 3:19

The whole creation groans and labors. Romans 8:22 NKJV

Therefore God gave them… the sinful desires of their heart… They exchanged the truth of God for a lie,… and served created things [Satan] rather than the Creator. Romans 1:24-25

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Pages 78-79

The wages of sin is death. Romans 6:23

[Man is] dead in your transgressions and sins. Ephesians 2:1

You were alienated from God. Colossians 1:21

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Pages 80-81

But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you. Isaiah 59:2

The unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral… and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death. Revelation 21:8

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Pages 82-83

And there is no other God besides Me, A righteous God and a Savior… “Turn to Me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other.” Isaiah 45:21-22 NASB

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Chapter 5

Pages 86-87

The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. Genesis 2:15

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. Genesis 1:31

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Pages 88-89

The lake of fire is the second death. Revelation 20:14

The soul who sins shall die. Ezekiel 18:20 NKJV

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Pages 90-91

“I hid my face from you… but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you,” says the Lord your Redeemer. Isaiah 54:8

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Pages 92-93

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5

The Lord is… my salvation—whom shall I fear? Psalm 27:1

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Pages 94-95

I… am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior. Isaiah 43:11

It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man… The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. Psalm 118:8,14

Trust in the Lord—he is their help. Psalm 115:11

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Chapter 6

Pages 104-105

He is to offer a male without defect.… He is to lay his hand on the head of the… offering, and it will be accepted on his behalf. Leviticus 1:3-4

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Pages 106-107

God… devises ways so that a banished person may not remain estranged from him. 2 Samuel 14:14

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Chapter 7

Pages 110-111

O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you. Psalm 84:12

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Pages 112-113

He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on his behalf. Leviticus 1:4

[Man should] offer right sacrifices and trust in the Lord. Psalm 4:5

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Pages 114-115

When a person commits a violation and sins… he is to bring to the Lord as a penalty a ram from the flock, one without defect.… It is a guilt offering. Leviticus 5:15

Your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for. Isaiah 6:7

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Pages 116-117

If a person sins and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands, even though he does not know it, he is guilty and will be held responsible. Leviticus 5:17

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Pages 118-119

“Honor your father and your mother.… You shall not murder.… You shall not steal. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.” Exodus 20:12-16

God… judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing… is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is… laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:12-13

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Pages 120-121

Whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. James 2:10

Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. Romans 3:20

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Chapter 8

Pages 124-125

I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior. Isaiah 43:11

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Pages 126-127

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,… put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins. Psalm 130:5,7-8

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Pages 128-129

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given… And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

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Pages 130-131

She gave birth to… a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger. Luke 2:7

There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and… said to them, “…I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today… a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.… You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:8-12

And he gave him the name Jesus. Matthew 1:25

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Pages 132-133

Jesus went throughout Galilee,… preaching the good news,… and healing every disease and sickness among the people… people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain,… having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them. Matthew 4:23-24

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Pages 134-135

During the… night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.… “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. Matthew 14:25, 28-29

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Pages 136-137

But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” Mathew 14:30-31

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Chapter 9

Pages 140-141

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12

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Pages 142-143

Therefore he [Jesus] is able to save completely those who come to God through him,… who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens… he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day,… for his own sins. Hebrews 7:25-27

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Pages 144-145

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things … and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Matthew 16:21

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Pages 146-147

John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29

Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 1 Peter 1:19

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Pages 150-151

Christ, our… lamb, has been sacrificed. 1 Corinthians 5:7

God made him who had no sin to be [a] sin [offering] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness [perfection] of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21

God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. Romans 3:25

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Chapter 10

Pages 154-155

If he offers a lamb, he is to present it before the Lord. He is to lay his hand on the head of his offering and slaughter it in front of the Tent of Meeting. Leviticus 3:7-8

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Pages 158-159

He did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter. Isaiah 53:7

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus. Romans 6:23

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

You were dead in your sins… God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins. Colossians 2:13

We have been made holy [perfect] through the sacrifice… of Jesus Christ once for all. Hebrews 10:10

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Pages 160-161

At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb… they laid Jesus there. John 19:41-42

The next day,… the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. “Sir,” they said, “…give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead…”

“Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard. Matthew 27:62-66

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Pages 162-163

There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it… The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. Matthew 28:2,4

“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here.” Mark 16:6

Showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. Acts 1:3

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Pages 164-165

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms [or mansions];… I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” John 14:1-4

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Pages 166-167

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

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Pages 168-169

And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 1 John 5:11-13

Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written. John 21:25

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Questions and Answers

Chapter 1 Questions and Answers

1. The Bible is a very important letter sent to us. Who is it from? God

2. The Bible says God was never born. Will he ever die? No

3. Was there anyone else living with God in the beginning? No

4. Are there many gods or just one God? Just one

5. Who created the angels? God

6. What does the word create mean? To make something

7. You cannot see God. You cannot see angels. They do not have bodies of muscle and bone. What are they called? Spirits

8. What special job were the angels given? God's messengers

9. We need a hammer and nails to make something, but when God made the world, how did he do it? He just spoke.

10. God made everything simply by speaking. Does this mean God is lazy and weak or very strong and powerful? He is very, very powerful.

11. God made the world in how many days? Six

12. Who made Adam and Eve? God

13. If God can be with you, your family and your friends all at the same time, what does that mean? God is everywhere at the same time.

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Chapter 2 Questions and Answers

1. When you look around the world and see all that was made, you can see that God is very powerful. How much does God know? Everything

2. Who does the world belong to? God

3. Why does the world belong to God? He made it.

4. God could have made the world very ugly, but he made it beautiful. Why did God make such a beautiful world? He loves us. He wanted us to enjoy it.

5. God made rules so that the world would work in the right way. What sort of place would the world be without any rules? Unhappy, confused, upset, unsafe

6. What do we call something that has nothing wrong with it and is good in every way? Perfect

7. Why was God only able to create a perfect world? He is perfect.

8. God lives in a perfect home. What is it called? Heaven

9. Name three things the Bible tells us about Heaven? See page 46.

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Chapter 3 Questions and Answers

1. Was Lucifer God or was he an angel? He was an angel.

2. Lucifer had a special job. Was Lucifer happy with the job God gave him? No

3. Whose job did Lucifer want? He wanted God's job.

4. The Bible uses a special word to describe Lucifer's choice to disobey God. What is that word? Sin

5. Why did Lucifer want to be God? He thought he was smarter than God; that he knew better than God.

6. What are bad thoughts and doing wrong things called? Sin

7. When someone does something bad and gets away with it, is it right? No

8. Why isn't it right for someone to get away with doing bad things? It's not fair. All wrong should be punished.

9. Is God fair all the time or just some of the time? All the time

10. Because God is perfect, he could not have the bad angels living in his perfect home. What did he do with them? He threw them out of Heaven.

11. God changed Lucifer's name to Satan. What does the name Satan mean? Enemy

12. What is the name of the home that God made for Satan and the bad angels? The Lake of Fire

13. Is Satan's new home a happy place to live? No

14. Many angels still obeyed God. Where do these good angels live? Heaven

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Chapter 4 Questions and Answers

1. Because God loved and cared for Adam and Eve, what special place on earth did he make for them to live in? A garden

2. How many rules did God give Adam and Eve? One

3. What rule did God give Adam and Eve? He told them not to eat the fruit from one tree.

4. What did God say would happen to Adam and Eve if they disobeyed this one rule? They would die.

5. If they ate the fruit from that one tree, Satan told Adam and Eve they would be like whom? They would be like God.

6. Was Satan telling Adam and Eve the truth or a lie? A lie

7. Did Adam and Eve obey God's one rule? No

8. The Bible uses a word to describe Adam and Eve's disobedience. What is that word? Sin

9. What came into the world because of sin? Death

10. When the Bible talks about death, does it mean you've become a star in the sky or that you are separated from a friend forever? You are separated from a friend forever.

11. God didn't want Adam and Eve to live with Satan. God said he would make a way for them to be perfect again. Why? He loved them.

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Chapter 5 Questions and Answers

1. Because Adam and Eve joined Satan, when they died they would be separated from God forever in Satan's terrible home. What sort of death does the Bible call this? The Second Death

2. God wanted them to live with him in his perfect home. Why wasn't God stuck? God had a plan.

3. Did God tell Adam and Eve all of his plan? No

4. God promised that he would send a special man to save them from the Second Death. What would this man be called? A Saviour

5. Should Adam and Eve believe what God promised? Yes

6. Did John trust Grandpa because he believed Grandpa could help him or because Grandpa was wearing waterproof boots? He believed Grandpa could help him.

7. Did John trust Grandpa because he believed Grandpa cared for him or because Grandpa had nothing else to do? He believed Grandpa cared for him.

8. When John was struggling in the water, did he have to promise to be a good boy before Grandpa would save him? No

9. Did Adam and Eve have to promise that they would never do one bad thing again before God told them he would save them? No

10. Did John's Grandpa mean it when he said, "Just trust me"? Yes

11. Did God mean it when he told people, "Trust me, and I will make you perfect when you die"? Yes

12. Why do people need to be made perfect to live in Heaven? Only perfect people can live with a perfect God.

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Chapter 6 Questions and Answers

1. Why didn't God want to punish Adam and Eve? He loved them.

2. Could God pretend Adam and Eve had never sinned? No

3. God showed people how he would punish sin without punishing them. What sort of animal were they told to bring? A lamb

4. Did the lamb have to be a boy or girl lamb? A boy lamb

5. Could the lamb have a broken leg, be sick or have wool falling out? No What sort of lamb did it have to be? Perfect

6. To what special place of death were they to bring the lamb? An altar

7. Where on the lamb was the man to place his hand? On the head

8. What happened to the man's sin when he put his hand on the head of the lamb? The man's sin was moved on to the lamb.

9. What had to happen to the lamb because it carried the man's sin? It had to die.

10. The lamb didn't do anything wrong. Did it deserve to be punished? No

11. The Bible says that death is the punishment for sin. In whose place did the lamb die? The man's place

12. Why was the lamb punished if it hadn't done anything wrong? It carried the man's sin.

13. The man did what God told him to do—he brought a lamb. Did he do this because he thought God didn't like lambs or because he trusted what God had said? He trusted God.

14. If people trust God, they go to Heaven when they die. How does God change them so they can live there? He makes them perfect.

Return to Chapter 7

Chapter 7 Questions and Answers

1. When people sin, can God pretend that it never happened? No

2. God asked people to do something that would help them understand how sin would be punished without punishing people. What did he ask them to bring? A lamb

3. The man bringing the lamb put his hand on its head. What did this show? His sin was being placed on the lamb.

4. Because the lamb now carried the man's sin, what had to happen to it? It had to die.

5. The Bible says that death is the punishment for sin. In whose place did the lamb die? The man's place

6. Some people didn't believe God's plan. They made their own rules. What did they think they could do to make God happy? Do more good things than bad things.

7. How many things could a person steal and still be perfect? None

8. If people love money more than God, what does the Bible call it? Sin

9. Is it okay to tell a lie, as long as it is a little lie? No

10. Does just telling one little lie make a person a sinner? Yes

11. If people lose their temper, what does the Bible call it? Sin

12. What does the Bible say children are doing when they talk back to their mother or father? They are sinning.

13. Other people don't know what we are thinking inside our heads, but how much does God know? Everything

14. If we try to be very good and never do or think bad things, will we be perfect enough to live in Heaven? No

Return to Chapter 8

Chapter 8 Questions and Answers

1. Who left Heaven to become the Saviour? God

2. To be the Saviour, God became a man. Did this mean he stopped being God? No

3. The Lord knew that the only way to save us was to become like us. How did he come to earth? He came as a baby.

4. The Lord was born as a baby in a stable—a place where sheep and little lambs are sheltered. Who were his first visitors? Shepherds

5. What name was God given when he came to earth? Jesus

6. The name Jesus means “God is the one who saves.” What else was Jesus called? A Saviour

7. Why did Jesus make blind men see, heal those who could not walk and bring dead people back to life? So people would know that he was God.

8. Whom did Peter and his friends see walking on the water? Jesus

9. When Peter began to look around at the wind and waves, what happened? He began to sink.

10. Peter could struggle on his own or he could call out to Jesus to save him. What did he do? He called out to Jesus to save him.

Return to Chapter 9

Chapter 9 Questions and Answers

1. Jesus lived on the earth just like any other man. But Jesus was also very different. What did Jesus never do? He never sinned.

2. Death only came into the world because of sin. Because Jesus never sinned, did Jesus have to die? No

3. Jesus said that men would beat him and nail him to a wooden cross to kill him. After being dead for three days, he would come back to life. How could Jesus know these things before they happened? He was God. God knows everything.

4. The Bible says that Jesus was like the lambs that were brought to the altar. What was Jesus called that reminded people of those lambs? He was called the Lamb of God.

5. The lambs had to be perfect. How was Jesus perfect? He never sinned.

6. The lambs were brought to an altar, a special place of death. What special place of death was Jesus taken to? A wooden cross

7. Because all our sin had been moved onto Jesus, what had to happen to him? He had to die.

8. The Bible says Jesus took all the punishment our sin deserved. How much sin is left that still has to be punished? None

9. Why don't we bring lambs to an altar? Jesus was the final lamb.

Return to Chapter 10

Chapter 10 Questions and Answers

1. Many, many years ago, people had to have a lamb. Who is our lamb? Jesus

2. The lamb the people brought was perfect. Who was the only person who ever lived a perfect life—who never sinned once? Jesus

3. The people were to bring their lamb to an altar, a special place of death. What special place of death was Jesus taken to? A cross

4. Remember how all the sin of the people was placed on the lamb? Whose sin was placed on Jesus? Our sin

5. Because the lamb now carried the people's sin, it had to die. Who died in our place? Jesus

6. The lamb died in the place of the man. In whose place did Jesus die? Our place

7. After Jesus died, his body was put in a special grave. They rolled a big stone across the door. What was this type of grave called? A tomb

8. What happened after Jesus had been dead three days? Jesus came back to life.

9. When Jesus came back to life, he showed people that he could bring them back to life too. Where would he bring them back to life? In Heaven

10. When Jesus said that he would bring people back to life in Heaven, what did they need to do so that they could live in his perfect home? Trust him or believe him.

11. Did they have to promise never to do wrong again? No

Did they have to trust Jesus as the one who would save them? Yes

Did they have to promise to do more good things than bad things? No

Did they have to believe that Jesus died in their place? Yes

12. God said that if anyone believed that Jesus died like a Lamb in their place, then they could go to Heaven. Did God really mean this? Yes

Return to text

Do you understand God’s letter? Answers

1. God made everything simply by speaking. What does this tell us about God? He is very, very powerful.

2. Why was God only able to create a perfect world? He is perfect.

3. The Bible uses a special word to describe Lucifer’s choice to disobey God. What is that word? Sin

4. Why isn’t it right for someone to get away with doing bad things? It’s not fair. All wrong should be punished.

5. What is the name of the home that God made for Satan and the bad angels? The Lake of Fire

6. The Bible uses a word to describe Adam and Eve’s disobedience. What is that word? Sin

7. What came into the world because of sin? Death

8. Because Adam and Eve were no longer perfect, when they died they would go and live with Satan in his terrible home. What does the Bible call this sort of death? The Second Death

9. God promised that he would send a special man to rescue all people from the Second Death. What would this man be called? A Saviour

10. Why do people need to be made perfect to live in Heaven? Only perfect people can live with a perfect God.

11. Could God pretend that Adam and Eve had never sinned? No

12. God showed people how he would punish sin without punishing them. What sort of animal were they told to bring? A lamb

13. What happened to the man’s sin when he put his hand on the head of the lamb? The man’s sin was moved onto the lamb.

14. In whose place did the lamb die? The man’s place

15. Why was the lamb punished if it hadn’t done anything wrong? It carried the man’s sin.

16. If people trust God—when they die, they go to Heaven. How does God change them so that they are able to live in his perfect home? He makes them perfect.

17. If we try to be very good, and never do or think bad things, will we be perfect enough to live in Heaven? No

18. Who left Heaven to become the Saviour? God, Jesus

19. Who is Jesus? Is he God, Satan or an angel? He is God.

20. Because Jesus never sinned, did Jesus have to die? No

21. The Bible says that Jesus was like the lambs that were brought to the altar. What was Jesus called that reminded people of those lambs? He was called the Lamb of God.

22. Remember how all the sin of the people was placed on the lamb? Whose sin was placed on Jesus? Our sin

23. The lamb died in the place of the man. In whose place did Jesus die? Our place

24. When Jesus said that he would bring people back to life in Heaven, what did they need to do so that they could live in his perfect home? Trust him or believe him.

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Do you believe God’s letter? Answers

• Who do you believe Jesus is? Is he just a nice man or is he more than that? He is God

• What about you? Do you believe you’re good enough for Heaven or do you believe that you are a sinner? I am a sinner

• Do you believe that God will ignore your sin or that your sin needs to be punished? It needs to be punished

• Who was punished in your place? Jesus

• Who do you believe is your Lamb? Jesus

• Do you believe that Jesus loved you enough to carry your sin? Yes

• After Jesus died, he came back to life and now he lives forever. Do you believe that? Yes

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Endnotes

1. For the sake of simplicity we used the word letter in the sense of “communication from” rather than trying to define how God made the written Scripture available to us. Return

2. As in the sense of “God is eternal.” Return

3. In the sense that they are “beings,” as opposed to being a “force.” Return

4. “Perfect” is being used both in its normal sense, and in the fuller sense of God being holy and righteous, without sin. Return

5. “Never come back” in the sense of “for eternity.” Satan has access to Heaven to accuse believers before God, however without success. Return

6. The Bible is clear that Satan and his angels are not presently in this new home, but at a future date they will be confined there (Revelation 20:10). This book is not comprehensive enough to explain these facts. We felt more detail would open the door to questions that could sidetrack one from the purpose of this book. Return

7. This could be understood as being “like God” in the sense of possessing all His attributes, or being “like God” but limited to only “knowing good and evil.” The Scriptures do not explain whether Satan was offering specific information about a general temptation “to be like God” or if his lie was limited to being like God in just one area (“be like God knowing good and evil”). Since to try and explain the concept of being “like God knowing good and evil” would involve a lot of explanation not pertinent to the story we left the option open as to what Satan was implying. Whatever the case, it was a lie. Return

8. “When they died” only states the conditional side of the biblical teaching known as justification. The full teaching of justification involves much more. When we put our trust in the Lord to be our Saviour, God credits righteousness to our account immediately, and looks upon us as being perfect even in the here and now. Because it is hard for children to understand how we can be considered perfect by God when they know they are still being “bad,” we have only endeavoured to communicate the “conditional” side of the teaching. Return

9. In most cases, the conversations occurring between God and Adam and Eve are found in the biblical text. However, in certain situations we have “read back” into the story certain truths that we find in Scripture, which are clearly articulated as applying to humanity in general. For example, the Bible says in reference to another Old Testament figure, that “Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:6). Since Scripture is amply clear that “faith” or “trust” was the only way one could ever be “righteous” before God, we have felt free to state those truths in the context of Adam and Eve without the complicating factor of introducing other biblical figures. Return

10. Since this book was written for children, necessity required ideas to be stated in concrete terms. I was often perplexed about how to communicate the symbolic nature of the sacrifice without losing my young audience. It may be helpful to those schooled in the Scriptures to know that this book was built on an approach to teaching that attempts to create a sense of what people knew and felt at the time it was written. If you put yourself in the shoes of the Old Testament believer, you would not know that God would remove all sin on the cross. You probably would think of it as happening bit by bit at the altar. However, we know the Bible clearly teaches that “it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4). Since we now know that the animal sacrifice was only a symbol of what was to come, I used the qualifying phrase as if to create the sense that sin was not removed by the animal sacrifice. It was only “as if” it had been removed. The actual removal occurred on the cross. Since I could not say “as if” in every sentence, one has to read the entire paragraph to get an accurate feel of what really was occurring. Return

How well do you understand the Bible?

When you read The Lamb, do you find yourself thinking, “I am learning as much as the children!” At times do you feel you are barely keeping ahead of them? Then we recommend a book similar to The Lamb, but written for adults who have little or no previous Bible background. Written as a narrative, the Bible is explained chronologically from the beginning to the end, using Scripture itself to explain the story. The goal of this more detailed book is to make the Bible’s message clear and logical. Men and women from many diverse backgrounds have appreciated its objective explanation of the Bible’s core message.

“A clear and concise explanation of the Bible message…” Australia

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The Stranger is also available as a DVD video series.

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