The Bible Storyline – Lesson 3 – May 3, 2026 (Download Notes)

Storyline Review

This is the third sermon in our series “The Bible Storyline,” which draws heavily from the book by Dr. Michael J. Vlach. The goal of this series is to teach us to read the Bible the way God originally intended — as one unified storyline, with God at the center, actively advancing His unstoppable plan to defeat evil, restore creation, and establish His Kingdom on earth.

 

Review: Introduction — Every story and every verse in the Bible connects to one main storyline: God keeping His promise to send a Redeemer, redeem mankind, and restore creation. We must read Scripture through that lens. Lesson 1 — Before the Beginning: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit existed together in perfect love and unity. God created us — not out of need, but out of love — to adopt us into His family and share that fellowship with us. Lesson 2 — War in Heaven: Lucifer rebelled through the Five “I Wills” of pride and was cast out with a third of the angels. He brought his war to earth and targets mankind because we bear God’s image. But believers have real power against him through God. The storyline so far: A loving Triune God purposed to share His life with us. An enemy rose up to stop it. God has an unstoppable plan in place to defeat him.

 

The Jesus Question

Christians are familiar with the “Jesus Question” — or at least they think they are. When you hear that phrase, what comes to mind? For many, it is the question Jesus asked His disciples in Luke 9:18-20.

• Luke 9:18–20 “And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am? They answering said, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again. He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of God.”

This is the most familiar way we think of the Jesus Question. But for this sermon we are going to come at the Jesus Question from a different angle. As we study the Bible Storyline, what role does Jesus have in the story?

You may think this is the same question — but it is not. Here is why…

When Jesus asked His disciples “Whom say ye that I am?” He was asking about His identity. Peter answered correctly: “The Christ of God.” He is the Messiah. He is the Son of God. He is the Savior who died for our sins. Every Christian knows that answer.

The question we are asking in this sermon reaches further. We are asking what role Jesus plays in the entire Bible storyline from Genesis to Revelation. And the answer is much bigger than the single role of Savior! And not knowing Jesus beyond Savior limits our worship of Him.

 

Key to the Sermon We cannot worship Jesus the way He deserves until we know Him beyond Savior — as the One who dominates the entire Bible storyline.

Jesus Our Savior

• Luke 2:11 “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”
• John 4:42 “And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.”
• Acts 5:31 “Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.”
• Acts 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
• 1 Timothy 1:15 “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”
• Each of these verses declares Jesus is our Savior. He has saved us from sin, death, Hell, and the wrath to come.
• This truth is enough to praise and worship Him for eternity. The Bible says in Revelation that we will sing songs of praise to Jesus specifically about His role in Salvation:
• Revelation 5:9 “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.”

We currently sing songs of praise and worship about Jesus being our Savior:

•     Jesus Saves •     Mighty to Save •     Jesus Paid it All •     At the Cross •     There is a Fountain

It is not uncommon to find a sign in public that says “Jesus Saves”.

This theme of Jesus our Saviour is one of the most recognized and familiar themes in the Bible.

While we must continue confessing and proclaiming Jesus as our Savior we must also be careful not to ignore, or neglect the other roles Jesus fills in the Bible Storyline. Jesus is active throughout the Bible Storyline, and not just in the four Gospels. And each of His roles deserves our praise and worship. Our goal in this sermon is to elevate our praise of Jesus beyond Savior and worship Him more.

 

He Is Preeminent Over Creation

Before we can appreciate that Jesus is preeminent over creation we must define the term:

Preeminent means He is first, highest, above all in every way. He holds the supreme place with no equal and no rival.

This is seen in Philippians 2:9-11

• Philippians 2:9–11 “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

We also see His preeminence in Colossians 1:18

• Colossians 1:18 “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”

He is first in Rank Jesus is above every person, power, and authority.

He is first in Authority Everyone and everything answers to Him. Matthew 28:18 “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”

When we worship Jesus as Savior, we are worshiping Him for what He has done for us in salvation; but when we worship Him as the Preeminent God that all creation answers to, we worship Him for who He is!

When we respond to Jesus as Savior we thank Him for salvation. We love Him for what He has done. But when we recognize Jesus as preeminent over creation, we make Him the priority of our life.

 

Transforming Truth: It is possible to be grateful to Jesus for saving us, and fail to acknowledge Him as the sole AUTHORITY of our life.

Moment of Truth: Does Jesus have the preeminent place in your life? How does this truth affect your worship of Jesus?

 

He Is Creator

Jesus is more than our Savior, He is our Creator.

• Colossians 1:16–17 “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”

And also in John 1:1-3

• John 1:1–3 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”

In the big storyline of the Bible, Jesus was active from the very beginning. He was creating all things. Our existence is the result of His choice and action.

 

Transformation Moment:

Before He saved us, He created us! The storyline of the Bible does not exist without Jesus filling this role.

Our worship falls short if we only focus on Jesus as Savior and neglect to worship Him as Creator.

Jesus Sustains Creation

Another role Jesus fills in the Storyline is Sustainer of all things. The world holds together because Jesus is actively holding all things together.

• Colossians 1:17 “And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”
• Hebrews 1:3 “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.”
• Acts 17:28 “For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.”

Jesus created all things, including you and me. And He sustains all things. The very breath you breathe at this moment is because Jesus is giving it to you. He sustains your life. He sustains the world.

This means the world will not come apart because Jesus sustains it. We can rest each day in this truth.

Jesus deserves worship for being Savior, Preeminent over creation, Creator, and Sustainer of all things. This is so much more than reducing Jesus to the single role of Savior! BUT there is more!

All History Comes Together In Him

• Ephesians 1:10 “That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him.”

God is working all of history toward the moment when every person, power, and dominion come together under His authority.

His role is far more than saving us from sin — all events past, present, and future are centered on Him.

But there is more…

He Is Heir of All Things

Jesus is also Heir of all things.

• Hebrews 1:2 “Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.”

What does it mean that Jesus is heir of all things? It means He is the rightful owner of all things and He has authority over all things.

• Matthew 28:18 “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”

Jesus not only created all things, is preeminent over all things, sustains all things, all things will come together under Him, and He is Heir (owner of all things). This truth demands us to worship Him as so much more than Savior. This means we elevate our worship of Jesus to receive more praise, honor, and glory and not limit our worship to a single role. And there is more!

 

Jesus Is Defender of His Creation

We learned in the previous sermon that Satan was an angel created by Jesus who desired to replace Jesus.

• Isaiah 14:14 “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.”

In the five “I will” statements Satan determined to replace Jesus as heir of all things. He aspired to seize ownership of creation and rule over all things and receive the worship only God and Jesus deserve.

As a result Satan was kicked out of Heaven, but he has continued his attack and pursuit of taking Jesus’ kingdom away. He has led many humans to reject Jesus’ rule and authority over them. He is currently deceiving nations and leading people to reject God’s laws.

But Jesus is currently defending His Kingdom from Satan. And we have no reason to fear. Jesus is much more than our Savior — He is defending us and creation from the evil one. And there is more!

Jesus Is Restoring All Things

Sin has damaged creation. We were created to image God, but sin has distorted God’s image in us. Jesus did more than save us from eternal damnation and suffering in Hell. He is restoring all things to their original purpose and role.

• Acts 3:21 “Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.”
• Romans 8:20–21 “For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.”
• Colossians 1:20 “And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.”

Jesus is restoring us into image bearers of God. He will restore earth to be free from the curse and function as God intended at creation. He is restoring our relationship with God, and placing us into His family where we will share in the love and fellowship of God as it was meant to be. Jesus’ role is much more than coming to die on the cross. He is restoring all things. And there is more!

Jesus Is King

Jesus will rule as conquering King.

• Revelation 19:16 “And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
• Isaiah 9:6–7 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”
• Philippians 2:10–11 “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Jesus is King of Kings! And He must be worshiped and served as King.

This is the full circle of Jesus in Heaven — heir of all things, and fully worshipped and obeyed. Then Satan rebelled and has waged a cosmic war to dethrone and replace God/Jesus as heir and to be worshiped as king. But the storyline of the Bible is saturated with Jesus fulfilling many roles.

Elevate Your Worship

One of those roles is Savior. We praise Him for this role. We love and worship Him for this role. We honor Him in this role. BUT, there is so much more to Jesus. He is Creator, Sustainer, Preeminent over creation, all history is coming together in Him, He is Heir of all things, Defender of His kingdom, and returning as victorious King over all things.

It is obvious that we must elevate our worship of Jesus, and adjust our lives to submit to Him in these great roles. Worship is more than saying thank you, or singing a song about the cross. True worship is a surrendered life that is awed and humbled by who Jesus is.

How can your worship reflect who Jesus is?