The Bible - Part V

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus

I have been really busy for the past one month and hence was not able to complete the full series. We have been learning about the Bible and why God chose to speak though us through the various books of the Bible. In the last session, Part IV, we understood the qualifications on how God spoke through us. Firstly, we understood that God's Word was closely related to His activity, meaning He spoke to His people by deeds as well as by His Words. Secondly, His Word has come to us through human speech. In the Old Testament, He spoke through His prophets and in the New Testament, He spoke through the apostles. We understood the double authorship of the Bible namely, that it is the Word of God and the word of men, or more strictly the Word of God through the words of men, is the Bible's own account of itself. 

Now let us understand the Purpose of Revelation...

In the previous sessions, we understood on how God spoke to us; now let us consider, WHY did He speak? The answer is not just to teach us, but to save us; not just to instruct us, but specifically to instruct us 'for salvation' (2 Tim. 3:15). The Bible has this severely practical purpose.

Returning to Isaiah 55, we see this emphasis in verses 10 and 11.

As the rain and the snow

    come down from heaven,

and do not return to it

    without watering the earth

and making it bud and flourish,

    so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

11 

so is my word that goes out from my mouth:

    It will not return to me empty,

but will accomplish what I desire

    and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

The rain and snow come down to us from heaven and do not return. They accomplish a purpose on earth. They water it. They cause it to bring forth and sprout. They make it fruitful. Just so, God's Word, issuing from His mouth and disclosing His mind, does not return to Him empty. It accomplishes a purpose. Moreover, God's purpose in speaking His Word to human beings are similar. In both cases it is fruitfulness.His rain makes the earth fruitful; His Word makes human lives fruitful. It saves them, changing them into the likeness of Jesus Christ. Salvation is certainly the context. In verses 6 and 7 the prophet has spoken of God's mercy and pardon, and in verse 12 he will go on to speak of the joy and peace of God's redeemed people. 

In fact, here lies the chief difference between God's revelation in creation (natural because given in nature, and general because given to all mankind) and His revelation in the Bible (supernatural because given by inspiration, and special because given to and through particular people). Through the created universe, God reveals His glory, power, and faithfulness, but not the way of salvation. If we want to learn His gracious plan to save sinners, it is to the Bible that we must turn. For it is there that He speaks to us of Christ.

Conclusion

From our text in Isaiah 55 we have learned three truths. First, divine revelation is not only reasonable but indispensable. Without it we could never know God. Second, divine revelation is through words. God spoke through human words and in doing so explained His deeds. Third divine revelation is for salvation. It points us to Christ as Savior.

My conclusion is very simple. It is a call to humility. Nothing is more hostile to spiritual growth than arrogance, and nothing is more conducive to spiritual growth than humility. We need to humble ourselves before the infinite God, acknowledging the limitations of our human mind (that we could never find Him ourselves), and acknowledging our own sinfulness (that we could never reach Him by ourselves).

Jesus called this the humility of a little child. God hides Himself from the wise and clever, He said, but reveals Himself to "babes" (Mt. 11:25). He was not denigrating our minds, for God has given them to us. Rather He was indicating how we are to use them. The true function of the mind is not to stand in judgement on God's Word but to sit in humility under it, eager to hear it, grasp it, apply it and obey it in the practicalities of daily living.

The humility of children is seen not only in the way they learn but also in the way they receive. Children are dependents. None of their possessions has been earned. All they have has been given to them freely. Like children, then, we are to "receive the kingdom of God" (Mk. 10:15). Sinners do not deserve and cannot earn eternal life, which is the life of God's kingdom; we have to humble ourselves to receive it as the free gift of God.

The above extract has been taken from the book "The Bible - Book for Today" by John R. W. Stott.

Dear brethren in Christ Jesus, I hope you have enjoyed reading these series as much as I have enjoyed sharing them to you. In the next session, I will be taking up with the topic "Chrsit & the Bible". Hoping to read your comments.

Your Brother in Christ Jesus

Jobin