THE MAIN POINTS OF THE BIBLE ARE NOT WHAT MANY PEOPLE WOULD THINK.
IT'S NOT ABOUT BEING KIND.
IT'S NOT ABOUT SELF-HELP.
IT'S NOT ABOUT FOLLOWING RULES.
The Bible pointedly teaches us that forgiveness of sins is found in only in Jesus:
"And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved,” (Acts 4:12)
IT'S NOT ABOUT BEING KIND.
IT'S NOT ABOUT SELF-HELP.
IT'S NOT ABOUT FOLLOWING RULES.
The Bible pointedly teaches us that forgiveness of sins is found in only in Jesus:
"And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved,” (Acts 4:12)
FIRST OF ALL, READ THIS INSTALLMENT OF THE 13TH DISCIPLE
The 13th Disciple
"I'll give you just until I finish my meal, old man," said the Roman guard. "Your prisoner friend hasn't given us any problem, but I'm not going against anything Nero said." Two other guards set me on the rope seat and lowered me down into the hole, the entrance into the below-ground dungeon.
After my feet touched the floor of the prison, the guard leaned over the hole. "Try anything smart, and you're stay will be more than a visit," he warned. "Welcome to Mamartine."
I squinted as I looked about in the gloom of the prison area. The room was about what you might say in your measurements to be ten meters in diameter; the room was circular. Men were squatting and lying about the floor. Some were groaning. Some looked at me and swore deep profanities - not at me, I don't think, but because of their condition. I believe there were thirty or so.
I saw him at the moment he saw me. He was older than I, probably about 67 year of age or so.
It was Paul.
He looked worn and haggard, yet his eyes were alert. He was seated on a rude, rough-hewn wooden stool, and he started to get up but I waved for him to stay seated.
"I don't have much time, according to the guard," I said, gesturing toward the hole above us. "But I wanted to come and deliver any writings you need sent out and, well, see if you needed anything."
"So," Paul said, smiling gently. "You're the one they used to call the Thirteenth Disciple?" I nodded as he handed me a scroll. He tapped it with his finger. "It's most important that this gets to Timothy."
"Yes," I answered. "I will move quickly."
A filthy, ragged haired man growled deeply and jumped up angrily. He glowered at me, clenched his fists and leaped towards me in a threatening manner. I stepped back. Paul leaned forward and raised his hand just as the man lifted his fists. He touched the man's chest lightly.
"No, son," he said simply. "No."
The man paused and looked down at Paul.
"No," said Paul simply.
The man stood and looked at Paul's eyes. He turned without looking at me, walked over to the wall and sat down. He continued to look at Paul.
I stifled a gag. "You don't like the smell down here, do you?" asked Paul. "The bucket for waste is over there. We share it." He nodded toward a large door at the farthest side of the room. "What you're smelling is the city sewage system, right behind that door, flowing freely and heavily." He swept his hands widely. "On occasion if they get overcrowded and have more prisoners on the way, they simply open that door and let the sewage come in and drown the prisoners in here, then let them float away in the raw sewage to who knows where. They rinse the room and then re-stock the room with new prisoners. You see? No overcrowding."
I shivered.
He laughed lightly. "Don't worry about me. Nero has bigger plans for me. My fate will be in open display. As a Roman citizen, they cannot crucify me. No, I believe my fate will be the chopping block. it's the usual end for a Roman citizen who is to be punished with death, you know." He looked away. I could tell he was .. well, he wasn't afraid, but there was something else...
"Paul, are you... are you lonely?"
He nodded. "Yes," he said. "They've all forgotten me."
"I haven't forgotten you."
"You know what I mean. The ones who used to be my assistants. The ones whom I led to the Truth, and now they are Believers." He looked up at me. "I didn't think it would end like this. I was sure that death would come violently, yes, but the solitude! The ones I trusted have left me alone." He paused. "This is the end for me. Nero wouldn't take any chances on me leaving here alive."
I tried bravely not to weep. "Paul, you've done so much for everyone. You've brought Christ - "
"And that's the important thing," he interrupted. "You must realize that the Scriptures are everything you can trust and everything you need for a guide to Heaven. They teach of Christ Jesus and the way to God the Father. They are totally blessed and breathed by God." He leaned forward and touched my arm.
"I'm willing to die for them. You must be willing to live for them."
I couldn't say anything else. I shook his hand and tapped my finger on the scroll. It would be delivered to Timothy. The guard lowered the rope and I was hauled up.
I never saw Paul again.
After my feet touched the floor of the prison, the guard leaned over the hole. "Try anything smart, and you're stay will be more than a visit," he warned. "Welcome to Mamartine."
I squinted as I looked about in the gloom of the prison area. The room was about what you might say in your measurements to be ten meters in diameter; the room was circular. Men were squatting and lying about the floor. Some were groaning. Some looked at me and swore deep profanities - not at me, I don't think, but because of their condition. I believe there were thirty or so.
I saw him at the moment he saw me. He was older than I, probably about 67 year of age or so.
It was Paul.
He looked worn and haggard, yet his eyes were alert. He was seated on a rude, rough-hewn wooden stool, and he started to get up but I waved for him to stay seated.
"I don't have much time, according to the guard," I said, gesturing toward the hole above us. "But I wanted to come and deliver any writings you need sent out and, well, see if you needed anything."
"So," Paul said, smiling gently. "You're the one they used to call the Thirteenth Disciple?" I nodded as he handed me a scroll. He tapped it with his finger. "It's most important that this gets to Timothy."
"Yes," I answered. "I will move quickly."
A filthy, ragged haired man growled deeply and jumped up angrily. He glowered at me, clenched his fists and leaped towards me in a threatening manner. I stepped back. Paul leaned forward and raised his hand just as the man lifted his fists. He touched the man's chest lightly.
"No, son," he said simply. "No."
The man paused and looked down at Paul.
"No," said Paul simply.
The man stood and looked at Paul's eyes. He turned without looking at me, walked over to the wall and sat down. He continued to look at Paul.
I stifled a gag. "You don't like the smell down here, do you?" asked Paul. "The bucket for waste is over there. We share it." He nodded toward a large door at the farthest side of the room. "What you're smelling is the city sewage system, right behind that door, flowing freely and heavily." He swept his hands widely. "On occasion if they get overcrowded and have more prisoners on the way, they simply open that door and let the sewage come in and drown the prisoners in here, then let them float away in the raw sewage to who knows where. They rinse the room and then re-stock the room with new prisoners. You see? No overcrowding."
I shivered.
He laughed lightly. "Don't worry about me. Nero has bigger plans for me. My fate will be in open display. As a Roman citizen, they cannot crucify me. No, I believe my fate will be the chopping block. it's the usual end for a Roman citizen who is to be punished with death, you know." He looked away. I could tell he was .. well, he wasn't afraid, but there was something else...
"Paul, are you... are you lonely?"
He nodded. "Yes," he said. "They've all forgotten me."
"I haven't forgotten you."
"You know what I mean. The ones who used to be my assistants. The ones whom I led to the Truth, and now they are Believers." He looked up at me. "I didn't think it would end like this. I was sure that death would come violently, yes, but the solitude! The ones I trusted have left me alone." He paused. "This is the end for me. Nero wouldn't take any chances on me leaving here alive."
I tried bravely not to weep. "Paul, you've done so much for everyone. You've brought Christ - "
"And that's the important thing," he interrupted. "You must realize that the Scriptures are everything you can trust and everything you need for a guide to Heaven. They teach of Christ Jesus and the way to God the Father. They are totally blessed and breathed by God." He leaned forward and touched my arm.
"I'm willing to die for them. You must be willing to live for them."
I couldn't say anything else. I shook his hand and tapped my finger on the scroll. It would be delivered to Timothy. The guard lowered the rope and I was hauled up.
I never saw Paul again.
Paul knew the Scriptures were more than precious; they were essential to the communication to mankind about the power and wishes of God Himself.
Here's an overview of the Bible:
Written by approximately 40 others in either Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek, the Scriptures are a collection of 66 books collected over the course of about 1600 years. It is said to be inspired and without error ("inerrant" is the word used by scholars).
In the style of poetry, history, law, and even prophecy the Bible tells the origin of man starting out in the Garden of Eden and his intimate friendship with His Creator, God. It continues, though, with man's fall into sin and the break in his closeness to God; in fact, it is a massive and horrible break in his fellowship with his Heavenly Father who wanted man to share in His Home.
God then chose the Israelites to carry out His plan to get man back to Him. (Note: He was allowing man a free will to make a choice to come back to Him; that is a testimony to true true, because you cannot force true love.) He showed the Israelites the commitment of a special deliverer (an "anointed one" known in the Hebrew as a Messiah) who would restore man's incredible one-to-one friendship with God.
The Bible then set down in its first division (First Testament) certain qualifications of this Messiah to come so people would know who the genuine deliverer would be, and the qualifications exceeded 300 in number. Jesus of Nazareth left no doubt that He was the One: He was born of the Virgin, He was betrayed for 30 pieces of silver, He died on a cross while people gambled for His clothes, He paid for sins - all fulfilling the Bible prophesies from the First Testament.
You could really says it comes down to this, found int he twentieth chapter of the Gospel of John:
"...these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name."
Here's an overview of the Bible:
Written by approximately 40 others in either Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek, the Scriptures are a collection of 66 books collected over the course of about 1600 years. It is said to be inspired and without error ("inerrant" is the word used by scholars).
In the style of poetry, history, law, and even prophecy the Bible tells the origin of man starting out in the Garden of Eden and his intimate friendship with His Creator, God. It continues, though, with man's fall into sin and the break in his closeness to God; in fact, it is a massive and horrible break in his fellowship with his Heavenly Father who wanted man to share in His Home.
God then chose the Israelites to carry out His plan to get man back to Him. (Note: He was allowing man a free will to make a choice to come back to Him; that is a testimony to true true, because you cannot force true love.) He showed the Israelites the commitment of a special deliverer (an "anointed one" known in the Hebrew as a Messiah) who would restore man's incredible one-to-one friendship with God.
The Bible then set down in its first division (First Testament) certain qualifications of this Messiah to come so people would know who the genuine deliverer would be, and the qualifications exceeded 300 in number. Jesus of Nazareth left no doubt that He was the One: He was born of the Virgin, He was betrayed for 30 pieces of silver, He died on a cross while people gambled for His clothes, He paid for sins - all fulfilling the Bible prophesies from the First Testament.
You could really says it comes down to this, found int he twentieth chapter of the Gospel of John:
"...these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name."
WHAT IS THE POINT OF THE WHOLE BIBLE?
It really comes down to this simple but powerful passage in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8:
1. "Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures..."
In other words, Christ died for us according to God's plan
2. "...that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures..."
In other words, Christ not only was buried according to prophecy and plan, but He also raised on the exact time, according to God's plan
3. "...and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me (Paul) also..."
In other words, this was not done in secret. There were witnesses - plenty of 'em - and some were even available for interview as this document was being written. Since virtually every court of law needs only three witnesses to verify something as fact, what does it say when over 510 people witnessed the risen Christ?
Yes. You see the whole point of the Bible in this passage.
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2 Timothy 3:16 - All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness. (NASB)
Psalm 19 tell us that God's law is all we need:
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. |
The Bible is communication from God for our guidance and our good.
The Scriptures from God “are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:15–17).
The words of the Bible are not from the creativity and inventiveness of humans, although humans did indeed put the words to paper. The Bible explains that those “men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:21). It wasn't "automatic writing" - a term meaning that a spirit literally moved the pen across the parchment. Rather, the Holy Spirit guided the intents and thoughts so that there was personality of the writer in the script.
The words of the Bible are not from the creativity and inventiveness of humans, although humans did indeed put the words to paper. The Bible explains that those “men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:21). It wasn't "automatic writing" - a term meaning that a spirit literally moved the pen across the parchment. Rather, the Holy Spirit guided the intents and thoughts so that there was personality of the writer in the script.
The Bible is God's Words coming from Him to here - on Earth, on paper
If you read the Bible it won't be long before you realize Who is in charge; more than 3,800 times the Scriptures say “God said,” or “This is the Lord speaking”. It is emphasizing His authority. The message is the same, even though the Bible has 40 authors writing over a span of more than 1500 years in three different languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek). It is a collection of 66 books into one volume.
THE BIBLE EMPHASIZES THAT LIFE WITH GOD IS A LIFE OF HIGH MORAL ETHICS
Here's an example in Matthew 22;36-40
“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” Jesus said to him, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”
THE BIBLE PRESENTS GOD AS MORE THAN JUST AND POWERFUL; IT PRESENTS HIM FIRST AS HOLY
A good way to present the word "holy" is to say "a sacred separateness." God is above and beyond mankind in His holiness. Look at Isaiah 6:3:
And they (the angels) were calling to one another:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory.”
GOD MAKING HIMSELF KNOW THROUGH NATURE IS GENERAL REVELATION;
GOD MAKING HIMSELF KNOWN THROUGH THE SCRIPTURE IS SPECIAL REVELATION
In Hebrews 1:1-2 we see that God used various types of special revelations to communicate with man: After God spoke long ago in various portions and in various ways to our ancestors through the prophets, in these last days he has spoken to us in a son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he created the world.
He used different ways to specifically talk to man: visions, prophets, dreams. angels, events, and even casting of lots! The Bible is the special revelation of today.
Here's an example in Matthew 22;36-40
“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” Jesus said to him, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”
THE BIBLE PRESENTS GOD AS MORE THAN JUST AND POWERFUL; IT PRESENTS HIM FIRST AS HOLY
A good way to present the word "holy" is to say "a sacred separateness." God is above and beyond mankind in His holiness. Look at Isaiah 6:3:
And they (the angels) were calling to one another:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory.”
GOD MAKING HIMSELF KNOW THROUGH NATURE IS GENERAL REVELATION;
GOD MAKING HIMSELF KNOWN THROUGH THE SCRIPTURE IS SPECIAL REVELATION
In Hebrews 1:1-2 we see that God used various types of special revelations to communicate with man: After God spoke long ago in various portions and in various ways to our ancestors through the prophets, in these last days he has spoken to us in a son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he created the world.
He used different ways to specifically talk to man: visions, prophets, dreams. angels, events, and even casting of lots! The Bible is the special revelation of today.
It is important to know its reliability as God's Word, because that's what we stake our eternal future on.
If we can't rely on the Bible, then where are we going to get communication from God? How will we know how to get to Heaven?
The words in the Scriptures are God's words. These words come from God Himself.
One adult sat with me at a coffee shop and argued that the Bible was "just written by men." Is this true?
1. It wasn't made by creative men or gifted writers; it was presented through men by God. "...for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God." 2 Peter 1:21
2. In the First Testament, God chose the men to speak. They were called prophets. And they had better speak exactly what God said, no more or no less. "I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. It shall come about that whoever will not listen to My words which he shall speak in My name, I Myself will require it of him. But the prophet who speaks a word presumptuously in My name which I have not commanded him to speak, or which he speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.’" Deuteronomy 18:18
3. God's Words weren't meant to be nice poetry or human philosophical meanderings. They are presented as God's pure, truthful communication to us. "The words of the LORD are pure words; As silver tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times." Psalm 12:6
4. The Scripture comes from the mouth of God Himself ("in-breathed"), and has a definite purpose in its delivery to man. "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness ." 2 Tim 3:16.
5. The Scripture is sufficient. The "Sufficiency of Scripture" means that we don't need to add rules or squeeze in legalism to benefit mankind over God. The Bible gave - and still gives- the exact words of God that He wanted His people to learn at each part of history. We don't need other books to "improve" the Bible - it fills the needs of mankind. - 2 Tim 3:16
6. In fact, there is a danger to trying to "improve" or edit the Scriptures. "I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book." Revelation 22:18-19
One adult sat with me at a coffee shop and argued that the Bible was "just written by men." Is this true?
1. It wasn't made by creative men or gifted writers; it was presented through men by God. "...for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God." 2 Peter 1:21
2. In the First Testament, God chose the men to speak. They were called prophets. And they had better speak exactly what God said, no more or no less. "I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. It shall come about that whoever will not listen to My words which he shall speak in My name, I Myself will require it of him. But the prophet who speaks a word presumptuously in My name which I have not commanded him to speak, or which he speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.’" Deuteronomy 18:18
3. God's Words weren't meant to be nice poetry or human philosophical meanderings. They are presented as God's pure, truthful communication to us. "The words of the LORD are pure words; As silver tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times." Psalm 12:6
4. The Scripture comes from the mouth of God Himself ("in-breathed"), and has a definite purpose in its delivery to man. "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness ." 2 Tim 3:16.
5. The Scripture is sufficient. The "Sufficiency of Scripture" means that we don't need to add rules or squeeze in legalism to benefit mankind over God. The Bible gave - and still gives- the exact words of God that He wanted His people to learn at each part of history. We don't need other books to "improve" the Bible - it fills the needs of mankind. - 2 Tim 3:16
6. In fact, there is a danger to trying to "improve" or edit the Scriptures. "I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book." Revelation 22:18-19
Source: Rose Publishing and Zazzle
Please observe the relationship of the First Testament books on the above chart, that they are not placed in chronological order. They have been assembled in this manner according to literature type. Genesis through Esther are mainly historical, while Job through Song of Songs are poetry, with Isaiah through Malachi being prophetic.
WAIT. What if another writing of an apostle was to be found.
Should we make that a 67th book of the Bible? In other words:
"Can Anything Be Added to the Bible Today?"
This is an important subject. Click here to read Bible scholar Don Stewart's article on this subject: Can Anything Be Added to the Bible Today?
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