APPROACHING THE BIBLE

John 17:17   Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

It was in the wee hours of the morning when he approached 1703 E. 12th Street in Chattanooga, Tn. with robbery on his mind. He and his partners had already hit several houses in the neighborhood and had quite a haul piled up on the street waiting to be loaded into their car. This house had a five foot fence around it but no big deal, they were young, stealthy, and cocky with the thrill of the successes of the night. May as well hit these last two houses on this side of the street.

Inside the house I awoke when I heard the unmistakable sound of someone slowly scaling a chain link fence. Shadow, our 80 lb. Weimaraner, had heard it too and waited as I slowly unlocked the back door and let him slide into the yard. He must have been quite a sight in the full moon as he ran down the driveway because the burglar's approach to the fence had changed drastically. Very noisy and very, very quick.

Our approach to things can change depending on our circumstances. I used to read the Gainesville Sun but approached it with some skepticism. When I read an article in the Biblical Evangelist by Robert L. Sumner there was a lot more trust in what I was reading. I remained fully aware that Doc was human, but I also knew where he stood in matters of faith. When I read the Bible, I know that the author is none other than God Himself and I need not judge the Book, the Book judges me!

What then should be our approach to the Bible? To hear some tell it you should approach the Bible as you would a book of myths and legends. Others say, "Nay, nay. Come seeking to understand what God is saying through parable-like stories that are intended to display deeper applications than appear on the surface." The simple truth is you should approach the Bible... as the verbally inspired, inerrant and authoritative Word of God!

Approach the Bible with reverence for its Author, respect for its message, and realization for its intent.

 

I. APPROACH THE BIBLE WITH REVERENCE FOR ITS AUTHOR--- GOD!

 

"A light view of God produces a light view of sin." If you reverence His Person, you will reverence His Word.

1. CONSIDER HIS KNOWLEDGE [Acts 15:18] Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

God is omniscient. He knows everything there is to know.

 

2. CONSIDER HIS CHARACTER [Numbers 23:19]

God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

Someone said, "God said it, I believe it, that settles it!" My friend, God said it and that settles it whether I believe it or not! When it comes to Genesis, God revealed it as fact and Moses recorded it as history.

Psalm 119:160Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

 

3. CONSIDER HIS ABILITY [Is. 46:9-11] God is omnipotent.

Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.

If He said it, He did it!

If He said He will do it, He will do it!

 

II. APPROACH THE BIBLE WITH RESPECT FOR ITS MESSAGE [2 Timothy 3:16]

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

 

1. THE BIBLE IS HEAVENLY REVELATION [2 Peter 1:21]

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

 

2. THE BIBLE IS HISTORICALLY CORRECT

 

Mt. 19:3-6 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

 

3. THE BIBLE IS SCIENTIFICALLY ACCURATE

 

"But the Bible's not a science textbook!" Good, then it doesn't have to be revised every few years like the so-called “science books.”. The Gainesville Sun isn't a science textbook either but it's generally accurate when it gives the times for sunrise and sunset. The Bible is even more scientifically accurate than any document ever written or printed.

 

III. APPROACH THE BIBLE WITH REALIZATION FOR IT'S INTENT

 

Take Genesis for example. Someone foolishly says "The book of Genesis... is not very much concerned with how things happened. But it is very concerned with who made them happen."

Balderdash and poppycock! That's just nonsensical gibber-jabber! The Bible clearly tells us Who created, how He created and how long He took to do it!

"But isn't Genesis 1 and 2 Hebrew poetry?", someone says.

Dr. Fred Afman told us preacher boys at Temple Baptist Theological Seminary, "Anyone who says Genesis 1 and 2 are Hebrew poetry doesn't know Hebrew and doesn't know poetry!"

 

God created for His glory!

Isaiah 43:7 Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.

God created for His pleasure!

Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

All the Scriptures treat the Genesis creation account as pure history. When you read it the clear intent is to give a pure history. When you realize the intent of the Bible, recognizing its truth and reverencing its Author it does several things:

 

1. IT ALLOWS THE WORLD TO MAKE SENSE (Ps. 73:1-3, 17, 24-28)

-Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

-Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.

- Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee. But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works.

 

2. IT ALLOWS THE WORD TO MAKE SALVATION KNOWN [Mark 16:15]

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature

 

3. IT ALLOWS THE WILL TO BE SURRENDERED [Luke 5:1-5]

AND it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

 

Have you surrendered your will to Him? Come to Him for salvation. Come to Him for guidance. Come to Him for strength. Come to serve Him!