January 20, 2003

LifeWay Family Bible Series for Feb. 2

The Bible is God's loving revelation of himself
___ Hebrews 1:1­2; 2 Peter 1:12­21
___By Rick Willis
___First Baptist Church, Roscoe
___The Bible is special. A book reviewer on a morning news program recently commented about new books published in 2002. She judged that far too many books are being published. Her weary tone had a familiar ring: "Of making many books there is no end" (Ecclesiastes 12:12). Over against the weariness of many books is the vigor of the one book.
___A prime affirmation of Christian faith is that God inspired the Scriptures. Christians throughout history have found the greatest satisfaction in placing their beliefs and behavior under the Bible as God's very own guidance. In a world grown oppressive with the heavy air of vanity, there is one place to go for the fresh, resuscitating breath of God--the Bible.
___Two New Testament passages offer an account of what makes the Bible unique.
___God speaks: A summary
___According to Hebrews 1:1­2, the Bible is a multifaceted, multiauthored book with one Voice. These verses sum up beautifully the nature and source of the Christian Scriptures.
___In its form, the Bible is a two-sided book. Anyone can pick up a Bible and see this for themselves. It has an Old Testament and a New Testament. Both sides are discussed in the first two verses of the book of Hebrews.
___Long before Hebrews was written, verse 1 says, God spoke to the forefathers "through the prophets at many times and in various ways." Those words call to mind Abraham's three visitors, Joseph's dreams, Moses and the burning bush, Daniel and the writing on the wall. Over many centuries into the Old Testament came histories, poems, genealogies, laws, visions, predictions and proverbs.
___Contrasted with the times and means of the Old Testament message is the heart of the New Testament message. Verse 2 declares the prophets have been superceded by the Son, Jesus Christ. His coming inaugurated "these last days."
___That is, what was partial in the former days is complete in these last days. What was still promised before Jesus has been fulfilled in Jesus. The New Testament concentrates all of its angelic announcements, miraculous signs and visions into the decades of Jesus' life and teaching, death and resurrection, and the initial spread of his followers across the Roman Empire. Jesus is final.
___In its substance, the Bible is a unified book. As Hebrews states in these two verses, the source of both sides of the Bible is this: God spoke. Although many epochs and human authors are embraced by the Bible, they all were employed by God to communicate his message. Unlike any other book in the world, the Bible conveys God's story exactly the way he wants to tell it. Its origin is God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit revealing himself through Israel, culminating in Jesus Christ.
___God speaks: A case study
___2 Peter 1:12­18 provides a glimpse into one particular case of God's inspiration of the Bible. It says Peter wanted to keep his readers continually reminded of the gospel and the Lord's claim on their lives. Jesus had given him a special insight into the imminence of his own death (John 21:18­19?). Therefore, he wanted to "see that after (his) departure (his readers) will always be able to remember these things" (1:15). What better way to do that than by having them written down?
___Then Peter speaks for the apostles (notice the "we" in 1:16­19), the eyewitnesses of what God revealed "by his Son" (Hebrews 1:2). He gives assurance the message of Jesus is no fiction. It is the truth witnessed by the apostles' direct experience and confirmed according to the prophecies of Christ in the Old Testament (2 Peter 1:16­18; compare Luke 24:27; Acts 3:21).
___Peter was one of the apostles who saw the glory of Christ at the Transfiguration (2 Peter 1:17­18; Mark 9:1­9). But what about his readers? What about those who didn't witness the Transfiguration? In 2 Peter 1:19­21, the apostle commends his readers to the study of the Scriptures. There, they will find the same light of revelation that authenticated the apostles' understanding of all they saw and heard.
___As one who had seen God at work in the world and been gifted to interpret God's manifestation truly (Matthew 16:17), Peter vouched for the inspiration of the "prophetic word." God inspired the writers of Scripture to get his story straight (2 Peter 1:19­21).
___The Bible presents itself as the faithful account of all God said and did to make his love, judgment and salvation known. It is God's gift to all who put their faith in Christ.
___For those who believe it by faith, the Bible will remain the brightest lamp burning in a dark place, "until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts" (2 Peter 1:19)--"on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed" (2 Thessalonians 1:10).
___Questions for discussion
___ Where does Hebrews 1:1­2 say the Bible came from?
___ What does 2 Peter 1:21 mean by "carried along by the Holy Spirit"? How was Peter carried along by the Holy Spirit, according to 2 Peter 1?
___ Have you had any experiences that strengthened your confidence in the Bible?

Get printer-friendly version of this story


Send this story to a friend



News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.

---

Contents/ Masthead / Why We're Here / Links / Archive / E-mail us/ SUBSCRIBE!/ Signup for FirstLook