The Greatest Book
By Patricia Newman
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.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Psalm 119:105
And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John 8:32
As part of a written interview, my son was recently asked to state his favourite book and summarise its key messages. Below is his answer.
For my favourite
book, I would put forward the Holy Bible, the Scriptures of the ancient Jewish
and the Christian faith. The reason is that I believe that the Bible authentically documents the highest
form of truth. All reality is centred around, and is under subjection
to, a single Being who reveals Himself as “I AM” (Exodus 3:14).
The Bible does not merely consist of stories having no
logical grounds or reason to believe them. Its stories are set within a real
historical and geographical framework, and there is much evidence in support of
its historical veracity. Tours of the British Museum, for example, are conducted, in which participants view discovered artefacts which vindicate
historical claims found within the Bible. There is also overwhelming evidence for Jesus’ historical existence and His resurrection from the dead
(see e.g. Lee Strobel: "The case for Christ").
Some of the key messages of the Bible I believe are:
·
There is a God
who created and sustains the Universe.
·
He is deeply
involved with the people of His creation, being a God both of love and of
judgement.
·
God initially
created the world to be perfect. In His own words, it was “very good” (Genesis
1:31). However, the first parents of mankind, namely Adam and Eve, sinned
against God. As a result of the event of their sin, the whole creation became
corrupted.
·
Since the event
of Adam’s sin, all humankind has become sinful against God by nature, and no
person is without sin. Nevertheless, God is a merciful God who is willing to
forgive people of their sins.
·
God, even from
before the creation of the Universe, has had a Son who is one with Him in
divinity (that is, Godhood). Furthermore, emanating from God is His Spirit, who
is also of that one divinity (Godhood) which is of God and of His Son. Thus
these three distinct persons – God the Father, His Son and His Holy Spirit –
are yet one God. This mystery has been termed by early Christians, “the
Trinity” (though this term is not itself found in the Bible).
·
The divine Son,
in obedience to His Father God and in love for humankind, took on human flesh,
being supernaturally conceived in the womb of the virgin Mary, in order to be
the formerly-prophesied Messiah/Christ (which means “Anointed One”). He was
given the name, “Jesus”/“Yeshua”. He lived a perfect sinless life, He taught,
He performed miracles, He was crucified, died and was buried. On the third day
He rose from the dead, and later ascended into Heaven.
·
On the cross,
Jesus though inherently innocent, bore people’s sins and suffered the resulting
curse, in order to enable people to be forgiven of their sins without leaving
the due justice for sin unsatisfied.
·
All people are
commanded to repent, and with full embrace, believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ.
In Him is eternal life, which begins in this life and continues beyond physical
death, and outside of Him is condemnation, which will be eternal for those who
reject the call up until death.
·
Those who receive
Christ are then accepted by God to be His children, they are sealed with the
Holy Spirit, and they are called to live in obedience to God and in love
towards God and towards other people.
·
Jesus will one
day descend again from Heaven to earth in great power.
·
There is coming a
Day of Judgement, followed by a New Heavens and New Earth for the dwelling of
those whom God has justified. Those whom God does not justify will be cast into
the Lake of Fire.
In
reading the Bible, my heart is captivated for the pleasure of relationship with
God through Christ, and my mind is captivated to consider the high mysteries of
God.
If you were asked the same question, what would be your favourite book and why?
If you were asked the same question, what would be your favourite book and why?
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