THE BIBLE
The book which has on its spine the
word “Bible”, is a collection of
divine revelation. It is identified as the word of God. In the Lord’s prayer Jesus, praying,
certifies it as truth, saying to the Father “your word is truth” (John
17:17). Paul wrote Timothy that it was “Scripture breathed
out by God” (II Timothy 3:16, 17). This
Book is thus a word breathed out (“inspired”) by God; it is the word of God,
the truth. To the Corinthians Paul wrote
that this material was in fact the mind of God, revealed to man by the Holy
Spirit (I Corinthians 2:10b-13).
As to arrangement, it is composed
of two major parts, the “Old” testament, in thirty-nine books, and the “New”
testament in twenty-seven books.
Considering the source of the
Bible, we are not surprised that it is powerful. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it
is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16). James wrote that we should “receive with
meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your soul” (James
1:21). It is wonderful that we have
access to such power; but our access depends on our receiving, believing and
obeying, that word for salvation.
And, salvation is what this is all
about. The Bible is not a book of
history, nor of geography, nor of science – though where it has occasion to
deal with any part of any of them it is accurate. Rather than a book dealing with such secular
things, it is the book revealing God’s will for man; man’s rebellion against
and separation from God; and God’s loving provision for man’s redemption (John
3:16).
The Bible is understandable. It was written to be understood by all ---
not just by seminarians, or clergymen of whatever stripe they may be. In this connection Paul told the Ephesians, I
write so you can understand; and further, “do not be foolish, but understand
what the will of the Lord is”, Ephesians 5:17.
The primary requirement of
understanding the word of God is, attitude. Jesus said, “If anyone’s will is to do God’s
will, he will know whether the teaching in from God or whether I am speaking on
my own authority” (John 7:17). The
requirement Jesus announces is NOT, “be determined to know the truth”. In such
a determination there is no commitment to serve the Lord. So, what Jesus said is, if you make up your
mind to DO the word, beforehand, when perhaps you do not know what He may
expect of you, you may “know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am
speaking on my own authority”. Resolve,
that where he leads I will follow: whatever His demand, that I will do.
The apostle Paul echoed this, by warning
the Thessalonians that people would be lost because they did not love the
truth, II Thessalonians 2:10.
The Bible is the mind of God,
revealed for men to know God’s will and do it.
There is no better use of one’s time than to spend it in reading the
Bible. By so doing you can learn what
God would have you do, and what He has done for you. By such reading and determination to apply
what you read, you can be sanctified, drawn away from the world to Christ and
God.
“I have stored up your word in my
heart, that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11)
Pat Farish
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