Posted inForthright Magazine

Restoring a proper view of the Bible

The Bible has become a source for trivia lovers. Some part of it often serves as a category for game shows. Christians need to do all within their power to restore a proper view of the Bible. We would do well to heed the advice of the Lord. “Thus says the Lord: ‘Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls’” (Jeremiah 6:16).

There are several reasons to restore a proper view of the Bible.

The Bible is the producer of faith. Paul said faith comes by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17). The Sadducees did not understand important doctrines regarding resurrection and the spirit world. Jesus told them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God” (Matthew 22:29). Only the truth can make us free (John 3:31-32). God’s word is the source of truth (John 17:17).

The Bible is the source of spiritual life. It is the seed that produces children of God (Luke 8:11). Peter urged Christians to be hungry for the pure milk of the word (1 Peter 2:2). Paul explained, “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made us free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2).

We must restore a proper view of the Bible because it will be the standard in the day of judgment. “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day” (John 12:48). The apostle to the Gentiles echoed the Lord’s words when he said, “in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel” (Romans 2:16). The curious philosophers on Mars Hill heard him explain that ignorance of the truth had once been overlooked by God, but times had changed.

“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead” (Acts 17:30-31).

The Bible can only be restored to a proper view through a right division of it. That was part of Paul’s purpose in his instructions to Timothy (2 Timothy 2:15). The writer to the Hebrews noted that God spoke in the past by prophets but now speaks through his Son (Hebrews 1:1-2). The Old Testament record is there for us to study God’s dealings with man and how he reacts when we obey or disobey (1 Corinthians 10:11). Christ’s coming ushered in a new covenant, so that all people could be reconciled to God (Colossians 2:11-14; Ephesians 2:14-16).

God lovers who have restored a right view of the Bible will search out God’s pattern for his church. They will see the head of the church is Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23). They will likewise note the work the Lord planned for his people. They will be involved in benevolence (2 Corinthians 9:13). There will be an intense desire to edify, or build up, all the other members of the kingdom (Ephesians 4:16). Every God fearing member of the church will follow the Savior’s command to carry the good news to all the world, knowing that those who believe and are baptized will be saved (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16).


 

Gary C. Hampton
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