Precept upon precept, line upon line . . .

 

Most writers of nonfiction order their material in logical outline, stating a truth and then giving more information about that truth. The idea is to make it clear, easy to understand, and easy to read and apply. The more complex the topic, the more this manner of writing is used.

The Bible is not written like that. My first reaction is that God did not want mere intellectual understanding without faith. Instead, He wanted to reveal truth in a way that faith is required to receive it. Not only that, faith is not complete in its onset. It is more like a child taking his father’s hand without a clue where he will be led, then discovering in the journey how much his father can be trusted.

As for the writing of this enduring Bible of nonfiction, it has one main purpose: God wants to reveal Himself to us:

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. (Hebrews 1:1–2)

The OT is like peeking at the future. Its readers did not get a full picture of the Son that was to come, but they were given glimpses of Him and His purpose for revealing God to us in a human body. One of the reasons is that we needed to see God’s Laws lived out in this perfect, sinless One. Jesus said:

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. (Matthew 5:17)

By doing this, Jesus showed that God’s revelation of truth, His nonfiction story, progressed from promise to fulfillment, from partial to complete. This is called progressive revelation in that the OT anticipated Christ’s coming; the New Testament records His coming.

Just like a new Christian cannot immediately grasp the meaning of the entire Bible, The OT writers didn’t understand everything they wrote. For one thing, it didn’t always apply to their day. That’s why Peter said,

Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look. (1 Peter 1:10–12)

This does not imply that the OT is inaccurate, nor that its readers were without full faith in God. Those who read it in its entirety along with the NT begin to realize that any distinction isn’t in the rightness or wrongness of the revelation but in its completeness. Just as a child progresses from letters to words to sentences, so God’s revelation progressed from types, ceremonies, and prophecies to final completion in Jesus Christ and the NT.

Some do think the OT is incomplete by New Testament standards or that it is totally unnecessary reading now that we have the NT and the covenant of grace. However, the OT is also fully inspired by God and that truth is affirmed often in the NT:

For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:21)

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, (2 Timothy 3:16)

We need to remember that these NT writers did not have the full NT when they wrote the above affirmations. Also, while the OT isn’t all of God’s truth, all of it is true. As it is read, God reveals His character and His plan for redemption. It is like a vista unfolding before us while we walk along a path, even though that vision and those truths are not put in a logical, easy-to-understand order like editors insist upon today. The only way to see the wonder of what God reveals is by reading it, applying what is seen, and continuing to read, trusting God to make Himself known in the marvel of what He has breathed into the hearts and pens of His human servants.

PRAY: Jesus, Your Word is like You reciting into my heart what You want me to know. At times, some of it seems garbled or vague, but when Your Spirit gives clarity, it always gives me truth that I need for the things that are happening in my life or in the world around me. Some might critique the writing style, but the endurance of Your Book proves that You are the greatest author and You know exactly how to use words to change lives.

PONDER: how can my faith respond to 2 Timothy 3:16–17 and 2 Peter 3:16?

 

 

When God speaks . . . things happen!

When the Bible speaks of the “word” of God, it uses at least two terms. One is logos which is a bit hard to define. Generally, it refers to a message from God using Scripture (the written word) and Jesus (the living Word)

The other word is rhema or variations of it. It means a specific word that addresses the need of the hearer. It is about those times when God speaks directly to the heart. Christians know how this works. We hear a sermon (logos) but there is part of it that is ‘just for me’ as if the speaker and I are the only ones in the room. This is rhema. It also happens when reading the Bible and thoughts jump off the page that answer my questions, confirm my faith, rebuke my sin, encourage me to trust Jesus, or simply bless me in the situation I am in.

Both are powerful. Paul was in prison when he wrote some of his epistles, but prison did not keep the Word of God from his lips. In several places he assured his readers that even though he was bound in chains, the Word of God was not hindered.

Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. (2 Timothy 2:8–10)

But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. (2 Timothy 4:17)

I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. (Philippians 1:12–14)

There is another sense that the Word of God is not mere words sitting in a page. When God speaks, He is not talking idly; His words have purpose. In the beginning, He spoke the world into existence. He spoke to Abraham and this man believed Him and became known as the father of faith. Others also heard God before him and believed, like Enoch and Noah as did millions since then.

The Word of God is powerful, not because it is a great work of literature or because it is beloved by God’s people, but because He wrote it and uses it to talk to us. The New Testament says, “For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:21)

Because this ‘word’ is from God, it will do what God says. Again, He does not speak without purpose:

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:10–11)

As the NT says, this Word, specifically rhema, changes lives. “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word (rhema) of Christ” (Romans 10:17) and through faith, people are changed: “You have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God.” (1 Peter 1:23)

It also continually changes the lives of those who believe it and continue to read it:

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

For all this, I must keep on reading it, studying it, just never assuming I know it all, for even if I could memorize Genesis to Revelation, it is that rhema reality that makes it a conversation, not an academic exercise or a theological project. God talks to me. I hear Him in my heart and in His book (these two always agree) and He hears me whenever I speak to Him.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Lord Jesus, You are the voice of God who came here in human form to reach into my silence and make all things new. What a blessing to know You and to know that what You say is vital and life changing. My heart is filled with joy because You speak.

Today’s thankful list . . .

God speaks!

A very long conversation with Him each day.

Today having a long conversation with our granddaughter who lives in another country.

Chocolate fudge, yum.

My hubby’s scars are healing wonderfully.