A Spiritual Book, the Bible
In our last post, we mentioned that the work of God’s Holy Spirit is from the inside out. You are being transformed and, in the process, trusting more and more in Jesus. Trusting in Jesus is what faith is all about!
It is important to know God, what He expects of us as well as what we can expect from Him. What we need is an owner’s manual written by our creator. God did not leave anything to chance, He provided us with the His owner’s manual the Bible. Show More
When I was a young man in college I read the Bible as part of my course work. I wasn’t a believer at the time. My conclusion after reading the Bible for a semester was that it, the Bible, made no sense whatsoever! It was sheer foolishness!
Then some years later, after accepting Christ, I started to read the Bible again. I must admit that I didn’t understand it all, but something about it compelled me, or drew me, to read and re-read the Bible. Over time I discovered timeless truths that changed my world-view and changed my life.
Looking back, I now understand that when l was in college I was trying to comprehend the Bible with my mind or my intellect alone and this caused me to miss the spiritual significance of the Word of God.
The Bible must be spiritually discerned. Listen to what the Apostle Paul says in 1 Cor 2:13-14, “These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man (non-believer) does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned”. We need to learn how to rely on our Holy Spirit to discern the truth.
Isaiah says in chapter 55:8-9, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts”. In a nutshell God is saying we cannot fully understand his thoughts and ways because they are much higher than ours. After all He is the creator of the Universe, what have you created lately?
Because God is higher than our minds can fully comprehend He provided us His Holy Spirit to communicate with out spirit everything we need for this life and living in godly ways (2 Peter 1:3).
The Bible is not just a book written by the imaginations of men, but it is a God inspired book, God breathed as it were. All that is in the Bible was imparted to a group of people by God and what God wanted us to know can be found in the Bible or Scriptures. 2 Tim 3:16-17, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine (truths), for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness (right living), that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work”.
The Bible is broken up into two major parts. The Old Testament followed by the New Testament. While it is important to understand that the entire bible is inspired by God it is also important to recognize that the Old Testament was written for the Jews who lived under the Law of Moses. The New Testament was written for those who put their trust in Jesus Christ.
As Christians the New Testament was written for us who live under Grace (God’s gift). Now most people who try to read the bible begin at the beginning in Genesis, that makes human sense, but I would suggest you begin in the New Testament since what is found in it applies to Christians. Later you can tackle the Old Testament from the perspective of the New Testament.
If you have not read the Bible or read the Bible lately I would urge you to try again. This time before you begin, ask God to reveal Himself to you in His Word. I would also suggest you start in the Gospel of John and then read, meditate, ponder, think about what you have read throughout the day. Try to read one chapter a day. After completing the book of John continue on to the book of Acts, Romans and etc. to the end of the Bible which is the book of Revelation.
If you are sincere I can promise you that God will truly amaze you.
In our next post we will be discussing How God reveals things to you in His Word, the Bible.
