"Why the Bible's Hope Is a Lasting One!" -- The Origin & Nature of the Bible

"Why the Bible's Hope Is a Lasting One!"
The Origin & Nature of the Bible

March 11, 2020

Sabbath School Bible Study
Larry R Evans

Introduction

Our study this quarter is a critical one.  It’s all about why we can trust the Bible. Step by step, week by week, we are learning just how trustworthy the Bible really is. As pointed out in the teacher’s edition,
Our understanding of the origin and nature of Scripture significantly influences the way we read and treat the Bible.
The study guide authors’ ultimate goal for this study is for us to spend more time reading the Bible and to allow its themes to so penetrate our lives that we trust God more and relate to others as He would have us to.

Paraphrasing another author that I reviewed this week,
The Bible paints a big picture of the new creation God is creating which is made possible through the life and resurrection of Jesus.  We are part of God’s movement.  We become models that demonstrate God’s workmanship as He builds His new creation.  How we respond to Him and to others is critical which is why our behavior actually matters.  When we accept Jesus, we become His illustrations of His life-giving power, not the ultimate illustration of course, because that was found in Jesus. (N.T. Wright)
In our first week’s presentation, we quoted an author who wrote, “Scripture is not just for learning; Scripture is for living.”  Over the years, that idea has had a lot of influence on me and the way I study.  Indeed, as Christians, we are part of God’s movement. As a result, we want to allow Him to mold us into the new creations that reflect His original plan. We can’t and shouldn’t live in isolation.  With this in mind, I’ve slightly changed the title of the study for today to read, Why Trust the Bible? The Origin & Nature of the Bible

To get where we are going, I’ve reversed the conventional order of approaching the authenticity of the Bible. I’m suggesting for this week that we develop a strategy that leads us to first read the Bible and then discover why it is so authoritative.

1.   We will first suggest a simple way of “how” to begin reading the Bible.
2.   Then we will look at “why” we can have confidence in the Bible that we’ve been reading.
3.   Finally, we will be challenged to “live” what we have learned.

Does that backwards thinking make any sense to you?  All three steps are essential.  Reading the Bible will hopefully lead us: to seeing the world through the eyes of Jesus and will lead to live in such a way that resembles the way He would.

I.             One Way to Begin Reading the Bible

Here is a simple way to get started studying the Bible.  It’s just a simple outline.  With time a lot more can be added.

1.   “Choose” a book of the Bible. Choose a small one. (Examples: Titus, 1 Peter, 1 John)
2.   “Pray.” Begin with prayer, humbly asking for guidance.
3.   “Read.” Read the entire book.
4.   “Listen.”  As you read, ask
a.   “What God is wanting you to learn about Him?”
b.    “What is this book telling you about yourself and the kind of actions needed to be taken?”
5.   “Reflect.” Think and respond to your Bible reading by writing down your responses to the two questions.
6.   “Live.” Be a doer of the Word.

II.         Building Confidence in the Word

1.   How was God involved in the development of the Bible? (2 Peter 1:19-21)
a.   Is the Bible “holy?” What makes it holy—the reader or the Author? (Rom. 1:2; 2 Tim. 3:15,16)
b.   How do we relate to that which is holy?
c.    Why do you think God chose certain ones to convey His messages? (Amos 3:7 – what does the word “reveals” mean?”)
d.   True or False.  The Bible is an incarnation of God.  [What are the dangers with that statement?]

2.   How would you explain the difference between a history book and the Bible? Is there a difference in purpose?  What?
a.   The Bible’s developmental process. (2 Peter 1:21; Deut. 18:18)
b.   Is there an advantage of having God’s instruction in writing? (Deut. 5:22)
c.    What if it seems God has left out some important points? Should we fill in the blanks? (Deut. 18:20; Matt. 24:24)
d.   Is seeing believing? (Rev. 1:11, Jer. 30:2)
e.   Is there a danger of tradition becoming authoritative teaching? (Mark 7:13, Matt. 22:29)

3.   What does the coming of the Messiah and His presence among us teach about how we are to see the world?  (The Parallel Between & Scripture).
a.   Does looking through the eyes of Jesus change the way we see God? (2 Cor. 5:16)
                                              i.     The way we see ourselves? (Romans 7 and 8, Galatians 2:20)
                                            ii.     The way we see the rebellious teenager? (Luke 15 – the coin, the lamb, the son)
                                           iii.     The way we see our mission? (2 Cor. 5:19, 20)
III.      The Living “Bible”
Therefore, be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. (Eph.5:1,2, NKJV)
1.   “Be imitators” (Follow God’s example in the NIV)—The verb “be” (or “follow”) strictly means “become” – It is a growth experience to become like God.  How was that shown?  By Christ loving us as seen in sacrificing for us.  If we are to become more and more like God what kind of sacrifice will be evident?

2.   “Sweet-smelling aroma” (“fragrant” --NIV).  The Old Testament sacrifices were spoken of in this way to express their acceptability before God. Earlier we said that Christians as children of God, “are part of God’s movement.  We become models that demonstrate God’s workmanship as He builds His new creation.”

Concluding Reflections
He who beholds the Saviour's matchless love will be elevated in thought, purified in heart, transformed in character. He will go forth to be a light to the world, to reflect in some degree this mysterious love. The more we contemplate the cross of Christ, the more fully shall we adopt the language of the apostle when he said, “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Galatians 6:14. DA 661.3
“As essential as the Bible is to our faith, it alone would be of no real spiritual value to us were it not for the influence of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and minds as we read and study it.” (Friday, April 10, Study Guide)


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