The Greatest Story Ever Told

The historical narratives of the Old and New Testaments are an amazing unfolding of God's redemptive purposes. Each one of God's past redemptive acts is part of the development of His plan to restore lost sinners into communion and relationship with Him. Immediately after man sinned and became subject to all misery and condemnation, God began to reveal to man His thoughts of peace and reconciliation. The first promise made with Adam and Eve contained the essence and substance of the entire plan of salvation, even though it was only in its elementary form. God's gracious redemptive plan was increasingly revealed with the progression of time. The Old Testament promises, types, and messianic prophecies all pointed forward to the coming of the Messiah in whom God's purposes of redemption would be ultimately fulfilled. These means shadowed forth, to the Old Testament saints, the one and only way of salvation through the substitutionary death of the Lamb of God. With the eyes of faith they rejoiced to see the promised Messiah, and in Him they obtained the blessings of justification and the forgiveness of sins. Redemptive history climaxes with the shedding of the blood of the Son of God on the cross. His precious blood was the necessary price for redeeming sinners from the state of condemnation and death. The Christological focus of redemptive history does not end with Christ's first coming, however, but it also includes the manifestations of His grace and mercy in this present age, and it anticipates His second advent when He will make a final restoration of all things unto Himself. -redemptivehistory.org  This all culminates into, as Shai Linne puts it, "The Greatest Story Ever Told."

Lyrics

Alright check it: lets go back in time, brethren. Divine lessons always keep your mind guessing. The glory of the Triune God is what Im stressing. The origin of humankind was fine. Blessings were plenteous. God is amazingly generous. Crazy benefits in a state of innocence. God told the man what he could taste was limited. Not long after came our nemesis in Genesis. He scammed well, man fell, damned to hell. The whole human race—he represented it. Fooled by the serpent, man through his work, woman through birth—even the earth ruled by the curses. But instead of a wake immediately. God said her Seed would be the One to crush the head of the snake. Yo, wait what is this? Whoa, a gracious gift! In Jehovahs faithfulness He clothed their nakedness. This was so they would know their Saviors kiss and bliss. But first, many growing pains exist suffering in the worst form, ugly deeds. Eves firstborn seed made his brother bleed. Indeed things got progressively worse. Every section of the earth is been affected by the curse. And though Gods judgments against sin were gory, praise the Lord! Its not the end of the story.

Next scene: mans sin was extreme. God gets steamed, man gets creamed. The Lord is so Holy that He drowned them in the water. Fire in the valley of slaughter Sodom and Gomorrah. But at the same time, Hes so gracious and patient that from one man He created a whole nation. Eventually enslaved by the mentally depraved, they cried out to the only One with the strength that He could save. He brought them out with signs and wonders satisfied their hunger. Then He appeared on Mount Sinai in thunder. Where He laid down the law for God-ruled government. Commonly referred to as the Mosaic covenant. Sin was imputed. So for man to know hes unrighteous, God instituted animal sacrifices. This was to show our constant need for atonement. And when it came to sin, the Lord would never condone it. And when His people disobeyed and went astray, He raised up prophets and kings to lead them in the way. But they would get foul with their idolatry—wet and wild prophecy—send them into exile. To take their punishment like a grown man. Then with His own hand He placed them back in their homeland. And while in their forefathers land they dwelt, they awaited the arrival of Emmanuel.

After 400 silent years filled with sighs and tears. In Bethlehem the Messiah appears. God in the flesh—Second Person of the Trinity. At thirty begins His earthly ministry. Baffling cats with accurate, exact facts and back-to-back miraculous acts. A stumbling block to the self righteous. But the humbled—His flock, said Theres no one else like this. He came from heaven to awake the numb. Demonstrated His power over nature, son. A foretaste of the Kingdom and the age to come. But the reason He came was to pay the sum for the depths of our wickedness, our wretched sinfulness. Bless His magnificence! He is perfect and innocent. Yet He was wrecked and His death. He predicted it. Next He was stretched, paid a debt that was infinite. He said that He finished it. Resurrected so the elect would be the recipients of its benefits. Through faith and penitence we get to be intimate. His grace is heaven sent, it never diminishes. Now the Holy Spirit indwelling is the evidence for heavens future residents who truly represent Jesus, the Author, Producer, Director, and Star of a story that will never, ever end!

Its the greatest story ever told.
A God pursues foes whose hearts turned cold.
The greatest story ever told.
Restoring all that the enemy stole.
The greatest story ever told.
The glory of Christ is the goal, behold.
The greatest story ever told.
Its the greatest.

Artist: Shai Linne
Album: Storiez
Song: Greatest Story Ever Told Feat. Flame

Year: 2008