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What Is The Purpose of The Bible? The Bible contains that which God wishes to reveal to mankind. It does not answer every question or reveal every fact, but it reveals enough. There are some questions that will never be answered, for those things do not pertain to us. "The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law," Deuteronomy 29.29. All that pertains to life and godliness has been disclosed to us through the inspired word, 2 Peter 1.3. The Bible reveals to us the beginning of mankind in Genesis and the history of the lineage of Christ. In the Gospel of Matthew we have the lineage of Christ from Abraham to Joseph. In the Gospel of Luke we read the lineage of Christ from Joseph and then to Mary's lineage with heli (literally Eli) being the father of Mary and then back to Adam the son of God, Luke 3.23-38. In the New Testament the four Gospels reveal to us the earthly ministry of the Messiah. This included His teachings, miracles, prophecies of the kingdom, death, burial, and resurrection. As John wrote, "And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name," John 20.30-31. In Acts we have the establishment of the church on the Day of Pentecost and subsequent spread of the church from Jerusalem to Judea, to Samaria, and then to the remotest places of the earth, Acts 1.8. In the letters we have the Apostles teaching the church. Various issues faced Christians concerning the work, organization, and fellowship of the church. Some issues were individual in nature and were written with individual application in mind. Finally, the Book of Revelation addressed the persecution Christians were facing with words of encouragement and victory to those who were faithful. Backing up a little bit we can say, Christ sent the Holy Spirit to bring to the Apostles remembrance of all things that He had taught and done, John 14.26. Later on Jesus said the Holy Spirit would convict the world of sin, righteousness, and the judgment to come, John 16.8. How would the Holy Spirit do those things? By using the Apostles to preach the Gospel of Christ. That Gospel was written for us to study and learn. It is what we call the New Testament. It is the Gospel which contains the power of God to salvation, Romans 1.16. It is the word of God that will judge us on the last day. "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 day," John 12.48. What does this mean for us? The Bible is more than just a rule book or an outdated work of literature. It discloses to anyone who will read it, the way to heaven. It defines for us sin, grace, faith, and works of righteousness. It shows us God's love for man and His hatred of sin. It reveals glimpses of heaven and hell to its readers with the hope that we will strive for our heavenly home. Those who neglect it do so to the determent of their soul and eternal destiny. --Dennis Tucker |