The Message of the Bible

Some notes from the Bible Overview from the last two Sundays :

The Message of the Bible

Why Bible overview.

Bible is not like other holy books. Khoran – suras arranged in order of longest to shortest. No narrative between them. Principle of abrogation. Where they contradict, the later abrogates (replaces) the earlier.
But Bible is a single story, told over multiple books, different types of literature, with different authors. But like any good story, it reveals more and more of the “mystery” as Paul calls it on Colossians – the mystery of Christ. So as we read we need to think “where are we” in the overall story the “meta narrative” (biblical theology) of the Bible.

Who is Jesus?

We’re going to start off this Bible overview by looking at the Resurrection.

Now, that might be a strange place to start, but as God says through Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:17-18 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.

If Christ was not raised, then the whole pack of cards falls down, and we might as well go home right now.

Of course, if you DO investigate the resurrection, you will discover a wealth of evidence, beyond reasonable doubt, that Christ was raised from the dead. Eyewitness accounts, from hundreds of people, testify to this. And no other theory is plausible. No other theory fits the facts. If Christ was not raised, how did a frightened little band of disciples suddenly stand against the might of the Roman empire, in the midst of persecution and death, and begin a world-wide religion? If he was not raised, why did they die for a lie, when they could have saved themselves? If he was not raised, why was his body not produced by the authorities, or – if stolen by the disciples, another betrayer like Judas?

And how do you explain the mass sightings of Jesus – hallucination?

No, to continue the passage we started:

20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.

Jesus rose from the dead, as he said he would.

Therefore, he is who he said he is: the Messiah, the King, the Christ, the Holy One of Israel – God incarnate.

Therefore, his words are God’s words, and his actions are God’s actions.

So, what did Jesus have to say about the Bible?

What did Jesus say about the New Testament?

New Testament: Gospels, & letters

John 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

The disciples were empowered to remember the words of Jesus and to teach others those words (the Gospels). They were also empowered to interpret the work of Jesus on the Cross, and the work of the Spirit in the early church, to complete the theological framework which Jesus had outlined (the Epistles).

The Apostles (including Paul, the Apostle “born abnormally” themselves regarded their letters to the churches as inspired by the Spirit).

What they wrote was what the Spirit inspired them to write, which was to glorify Jesus.

The New Testament is about JESUS – his person, his work, his return.

Therefore we ask of the New Testament – what does this teach me about Jesus?

But is the Old Testament different?

What did Jesus say about the Old Testament?

John 5:39 Jesus says to Pharisees: “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.”

Matt 5:17 “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.

Luke 24:25 And <Jesus> said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

Therefore it is clear that the Scriptures (Old Testament – the New wasn’t written yet!) are, like the New, ALL ABOUT JESUS! They bear witness about him, he fulfils them, and they are about him.

What does this then mean for the way we read the Old Testament?

What questions do we need to ask?

- What is does this reveal to me about Jesus?

- How does he fulfil this passage?

- How is this passage about Jesus?

But let’s not forget that the Old Testament was written to people before Christ as well, and had meaning and application to them (and not just wait for Christ – although it often was!).

Both the Old and New Testaments are about Jesus - – his person, his work, his return.

Therefore we ask the SAME questions of the Old and New Testaments – what does this teach me about Jesus…..

CASE STUDY: David and Goliath

Let’s apply these questions to the well-known story of David and Goliath (1 Sam 7), and see if it helps us.

Let’s first start with the application to the original hearers:

God always has a rescue plan, often from the most unlikely place imaginable! David is the unknown king, who saves the Israelites, God’s people.

Respond in faith to God’s promises no matter what’s happening!

Apply the other questions:

What does this reveal to me about Jesus?

How does he fulfil this passage?

How is this passage about Jesus?

So the application to us on this side of the Cross is:

David is a type of Christ – he is the unknown King who rescues his people from certain defeat.

God’s unlikely rescue plan is to send his son, the Lord Jesus, to die, and thus defeat the Goliath of death. Jesus is the rejected, unknown King, who saves Christians, God’s people.

Respond in faith to God’s promises in Christ no matter what’s happening!

Bible History

The Bible can basically be divided into the following different types of books:

­ Historical: 5 books of Moses (Genesis to Deuteronomy); Joshua; Judges; Kings; Samuel; in fact, the first 17 books of the Bible from Genesis to Esther, document the history of the Tribe of Israel. [Isaiah and Daniel also have some historical portions]

­ Prophetic: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, and all the other smaller books near the back of the OT that we forget about.... (Hosea to Malachi)

­ Poetic: Psalms and Song of Songs (but also have moments of prophecy)

­ Wisdom literature: Ecclesiastes, Proverbs and Job

­ New Testament Historical: Gospels + Acts. Also contain much directly applicable stuff, like the Epistles (such as the words of Jesus - but again we have to look at the context: who was He talking to, why, etc.)

­ Epistles: Letters to Christians written by the apostles. Contains much that is directly applicable. Explains the Gospel more clearly. (Context.... who’s it written to....)

­ Apocalyptic: Revelation, Daniel, Mark 13, Isaiah... (Message: God wins)

He’s not talking to you….!

Q1. How would you summarise the whole Bible story in a sentence?

The unfolding revelation of God’s promise to restore creation through Jesus, the Christ.

Q2. What is the main theme of the Bible?

Salvation from judgement through Jesus, foreshadowed, promised, fulfilled.

Timeline – helpful to summarise using framework of promise to Abraham: people land blessing

Creation: God’s people (Adam & Eve) in God’s place (Eden) under God’s rule (God walked with them and spoke with them).

Fall: God’s people out of God’s place under judgement

Abraham: God’s person, chosen to be under God’s rule, going where God tells him.

From him will come a people (Israelites), land (Canaan), blessing (they will be God’s people)

Moses: God’s chosen people (descendants of Abraham – Israelites), redeemed from slavery in Egypt (Exodus), and then taught how to live under His rule (the Law), and brought to God’s place (Canaan).

David: God’s king foreshadowed (in David) and promised (to David) – this future king will rule as God’s ruler, over all the nations, bringing God’s blessing.

Jesus: Fulfilment: God’s chosen King revealed, who calls out a new people from all nations, saving them and ruling over them by his word and Spirit.

Heaven: Final fulfilment: The King revealed, come to judge, and restore all creation: God’s people (Christians) to live in God’s place (Heaven) in God’s blessing (with God)

CASE STUDY 2

In one sentence: What would have been the application to the original hearers of the passage?

In one sentence: How does this passage relate to Jesus?

• Noah – Genesis 6:17-22.

Original: God does not let sin go unpunished, but he will always provide a rescue from judgement.

Jesus: The Ark is foreshadow of Jesus’ rescue from judgement

• Abraham – Genesis 17:1-22

Original: A promise that they (Israelites) were God’s people, in God’s place (Canaan), under God’s rule (the Law, by faith)

Jesus: It applies to Christians today as well, having been fulfilled by Christ: God’s people (the descendants, now Christians), in God’s place (the land, once Canaan, but actually Heaven), under God’s rule (circumcision of the heart - which is a heart devoted to God and His purposes).

• The Law – Ex 23:16-19 cf Gal 3:24,25,28.

Original: Obey God from a grateful heart because he is merciful to save us and be in a relationship with us, and it is the right expression of our status as His people.

Jesus: The fulfilment of the Law is found in Christ, and now written in our hearts – we are to obey the Law out of gratitude to Christ, and because it is the right expression of our new nature.

• Sacrifice – Lev 5:14-19

Original: Have faith in God’s method of forgiveness.

Jesus: Jesus is perfect sacrifice who empowers all the other sacrifices – have faith in him, who is God’s revealed method of forgiveness

• Hosea – Hosea 2:9-20

Original: Repent and accept the mercy offered.

Jesus: Respond in repentance and rejoicing that God can offer mercy yet still be just because my sins have been paid for on the Cross.

• Temple – 1 Kings 8:3-11

Original: Rejoice that God has chosen to dwell amongst us, and provide a way for us to meet with him in the Temple

Jesus: Rejoice that Jesus came to dwell amongst us, that we can meet with God through Jesus, the True Temple, and rejoice that he, even more amazingly, has made us the Temple by dwelling in us in the person of his Holy Spirit.

Why should we bother to understand the Bible?

Because it is the word of God, our Father, our First Love.

Because it is the words of Christ, about Christ, that will save people from the wrath to come.

Because Jesus is Lord of all of life, and only by submitting to him in all areas of life (money, job, friends, marriage, sex, time, etc.) will we experience true life and ultimate happiness.

Because if we understand the beginning and the middle, we will understand the certainty of the end: the Return of the King.