What God wants.

Listen here:  https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/45ec3349/what-a-woman-w...

For decades now, I have taught the Bible—to men, women, and children—young and old, high school athletes and homeless folks…on the beaches of Southern California, along the Sea of Galilee, in Ephesus, on the streets of Long Beach, in the gymnasium, the boardroom and from the pulpit.  Not an expert by any means, but I am certainly a firm believer that the Bible is what it purports to be--the Word of God.  And so, I have talked about ways to study, reasons to memorize, methods of praying Scripture, too… but one thing I have not really considered is this:  the why. 

“Why, God, did you give us the Bible?”  I asked this morning, just home from the gym, as I watered my front garden, somewhat shocked myself by the simplicity of my query.  I looked up at puffy clouds set on a pallet of azure blue and asked again, "Why did you give us the Bible in the first place?"  I mean, seriously, God knew some would burn it, others rip it apart; he knew all the things skeptics would say: it isn’t reliable, the copyists made mistakes, science is not compatible with the Bible, on and on.  And yet, there is no question that God gave us the scriptures.

Endeavoring to supply the answer to the question “Why Am I a Christian?” I posited that 1) Christianity is the best explanation for reality—how we got here and why.  And 2) Since Jesus miraculously rose from the grave, it can only mean that Christianity is true …  the Scriptural accounts record the historical events, though sources outside the Bible certainly corroborate the evidence for Jesus as well—his life, death and resurrection.  

But today, as I look to the reliability of the vast collection of writings that comprise the Bible, for the first time, I want to answer the ‘why’ of the Bible.  The answer goes to the heart of a loving Heavenly Father.

God wanted to reveal himself to us—he did that through Creation. Paul wrote, “For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.”1  

God revealed himself to us through the life of Jesus Christ.  Again, Paul writes: But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,  to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.2 

And then God revealed himself to us through the Holy Scriptures, so that we would know Him and desire relationship with him. 

Step a little closer.  Peter gives us a personal glimpse of being with Jesus on the Mt. of Transfiguration, saying: For we were not making up clever stories when we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We saw his majestic splendor with our own eyes  when he received honor and glory from God the Father. The voice from the majestic glory of God said to him, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” We ourselves heard that voice from heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain..."3  

Just as I indicated in the last Morning Briefing, the disciples were eyewitnesses of Jesus Christ; Peter described this several decades later as he wrote,  “Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts. Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God."4

And that is why the Bible holds together.  Old Testament and New.  It is the God-inspired words written during a 1500-year span through more than 40 generations by 40 different authors from every walk of life-shepherds, soldiers, prophets, poets, monarchs, scholars, statesmen, masters, servants, tax collectors, fishermen and tentmakers.5  Yes, the words were written down by men, but divinely inspired by God.  

Remember when I described the time years ago when a litigating attorney called me out, because ‘Christians are so arrogant saying Jesus is the only way to God’?  In an instant I breathed out a prayer for wisdom and a smile, then calmly replied, ‘You know, Joe, we play a lot of Scrabble in my house, and as you know, the dictionary has the final say on a word… in my life, the Bible has that place.  We all live our lives according to some standard, and that is mine.  That part about Jesus being the only way to God?  I did not say it… he did.  Yes, Jesus said it …’    Joe and I would meet again – funny how life goes.

Why Am I A Christian?  

3) The one true God came and revealed himself so that I might know him and be known by him and become his child.

Oh, and what God wants? He wants you to know that he knew you before time began and He loves you. That is why he gave us the Bible.

Such love! listen: Love of God, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LapBD802O0

Grateful I am.

Christine

PastorWoman.net

1 - Romans 1.19-20

2 - Galatians 4.4-5

3 - 2 Peter 1.16-18

4 - 2 Peter 1.19-21

5 - The Unshakable TRUTH Josh McDowell; Sean McDowell