|
The Word of God has come to us as the scriptures
or prophetic writings, which is known today as the Bible.
As it is written in Romans
16:25-26:
"Now to Him who is able to establish
you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ,
according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since
the world began BUT
NOW MADE MANIFEST, AND BY THE PROPHETIC SCRIPTURES MADE
KNOWN TO ALL NATIONS, according
to the commandment of the everlasting God, FOR
OBEDIENCE TO THE FAITH…"
Also it is written in 2
Timothy 3: 16, 17: "All scripture is given by INSPIRATION
OF GOD, and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped
for every good work"
THE Bible is a collection of ageless books. The oldest preserved scriptures, passed on to generations after generations. Its validity and credibility was established since time begun as being God's Word. Some of its writings dates back five thousand years ago and speaks of how God created the world. How men can live for more than nine hundred years and populated the land. How God loves His children. How men broke the heart of the Father. How the Father punished men for every disobedience and stiffed-neckedness. How men strive to follow the path the Father had given. Many catastrophic events, the great flood that destroyed the whole earth except for 1 family and pairs of animals, dividing seas, bizarre happenings, superhuman abilities, supernatural occurrences defying the bounds of our scientific knowledge… THOUGH proven to have occurred through recent archaeological finds. Signs and wonders, miracles performed by men, raising of the dead, A CALL for an endless devotion and service to a carpenter who calls Himself God's Son.
Impossible most great
minds proclaim. Fables or myths most scholars
explain. Extreme ideals most mediocre men
may claim. Foolishness most philosophers
maintain. Old-fashioned most liberals sustain.
Non-ecclesiastic most ceremonialists remain.
The Bible was banned, burned, mocked and ridiculed by kings, queens, authorities, philosophers and religious leaders especially those who are traditional keepers of the faith.
Logic says that this book should not have survived for all these years. The life of this book was drained off to its very physical form but still had thrived through centuries of traditional revisions and alterations nevertheless the original ancient text remains pure and unblemished in its form. No human can stop the spreading of God's Word. It was the first book produced through mass printing publication. It is the most popular book in all of history. It has been the best-selling book in the world for years.
How can this be? Impossible for such ancient book to survive time and remain pure and holy. Nothing in this world could explain its permanence. For the Bible's durability is not found on earth but in heaven. This is the only explanation to everything happening in and to the Bible.
WE WERE ALL CALLED by the Father
to believe this impossible, incredible, extreme, old fashioned
and never seen occurrences, ideas, doctrines, teachings
and PATTERN OF FAITH.
As it is written in Hebrews
11:1 "FAITH IS THE SUBSTANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR, THE
EVIDENCE OF THINGS NOT SEEN"
And as spoken by Jesus Himself:
"…blessed are those who have not
seen and yet have believed" (John 20:29).
We are all called to believe to the evidence of these things not seen.
To believe that the Bible is God’s inspired Word… the MIND of GOD.
To believe that the Bible is without error.
To believe that the Bible is sufficient and complete in God’s instructions and the knowledge of our Savior Jesus Christ.
To believe that the Bible is the ONLY AUTHORITY in matters of faith and religion and to NO other creeds, doctrines, traditions and teachings made by the wisdom of man.
To believe that it’s recorded signs and wonders occurred literally.
To believe that the book of Genesis tells us how the world was created.
To believe that the miracles found in the Bible really took place.
To believe that God abhors any idols and religious representations of any form or images as a medium of worship or adorations.
To believe that Jesus is the only way to the Father and no other name or intermediary in heaven not even angels or man made holies or apparitions can lead us to salvation.
To believe that Jesus was truly born of a virgin and proclaimed as God’s Son and Messiah according to the scriptures.
To believe that Jesus literally died and was literally raised from the dead and He sits at the right hand of the Father.
To believe that the faithful followers of Jesus will be saved eternally by the grace of God and that the disobedient and unbelieving will experience eternity in a very real hell.
To believe that the Bible contains all of God’s revealed will for mankind, with no additional revelations having ever taken place or to any one proclaiming prophecies but only within the last written book of the Bible.
This is FAITH; the substance of things HOPED FOR and as christians, we are hoping for our SALVATION… the salvation through Jesus Christ only found in the Bible. This is where we must get our faith in God our Father and in our Lord Jesus Christ. Only in the Bible, we can find God’s will and purpose for our lives… GOD’S DESIRED PATTERN OF LIFE IN THE PUREST AND HOLIEST OF ALL TEACHINGS.
For it is written in Hebrews 4:12-13
“For the WORD of GOD is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there isno creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”
You may ask, what then is the purpose of the Bible?
As it is written in 2 Timothy 3:15:
“since you were a child you have known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise. And that WISDOM leads to SALVATION through faith in Christ Jesus”.
The purpose of the Bible? SALVATION. God’s desire is to get His children home. His book, His Word, His Bible describes His plan of salvation… A PATTERN WITHIN THE BOOK. The purpose of the Bible is to proclaim God’s plan, His love, His grace, His mercy and His desire to save His children. This is why the Bible endured time and reached every christian homes and families. The Bible dares to tackle the toughest questions about life and God. The Bible offers answers to these important questions that leads to salvation. The Bible is the treasure map that leads us to God’s highest treasure… ETERNAL LIFE.
Let us then be careful for Jesus warned us in John 12:48:
“…he who rejects Me and does not receive MY WORDS, has that which judges him---the WORD THAT I HAVE SPOKEN WILL JUDGE HIM IN THE LAST DAYS”.
Let us therefore be obedient to His Word… the Bible. We must OBEY and do God’s commands even when submission is hard. We must respond to the PATTERN revealed by our Father through the Bible with complete submission and a willing trust that we may establish this GREAT FAITH to save us in the end of age.
As we all wait for the second coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to judge all men according to His Word.
Please join us in studying God’s Word and understanding His heavenly calling (2 Timothy 1: 8-10) before it’s too late...
...Praise Be To God
Jonathan “JoJo” Ramos
Midtown church of Christ
Baguio City
|
