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What Is The Purpose of The Bible? Introduction: Last week we noticed what is and is not found in the Bible. We said that the Bible was not written to reveal everything to mankind because we do not need to know everything that God knows. It is on a "need to know basis." We said that it does reveal to us the beginning of man, the first sin, the penalty for sin, the promise of a Savior to come, the history of Israel, lineage of Jesus, His life, death, burial, and resurrection. We also pointed out that it reveals to us the function of the church. We now come to the "so what" point of our study. Does the Bible provide us with a bunch of useless information? Some trivia that does not matter to us? The Bible is given for a purpose or purposes. I) To Reveal A) Any time a book, letter, or anything else is written it must have a purpose. 1. In this case it is to reveal to mankind what mankind cannot know by himself. Thus it was necessary for God to tell man certain things. a. The will of God. This is expressed numerous times in the Bible. b. Paul received revelation, Galatians 1.12 c. The mystery of Christ was revealed to Paul, Ephesians 3.3a 2. The Power of God and of His word a. The power of God to created everything by speaking it, Genesis 1. This is connected to the word revealed in John 1.1ff. b. The Power of God's word to save, Romans 1.16 c. The Power of God's word to judge (discern), Hebrews 4.12 3. Sin and its punishment a. Sin is transgression of God's law, 1 John 3.4 b. The law defines and reveals what sin is, Romans 7.7b c. The consequences of sin, Romans 6.23a. 4. The righteousness of God, Psalm 119.160 a. In Revelation a point emphasized over and over again is the justice and righteousness of God's judgment in punishing evil doers. b. Also God's righteousness in forgiving those who come to His Son for salvation. 5. How to live godly lives, Psalm 119.9. By taking God's word to heart, practicing what it teaches we will become holy. B) God's warnings and encouragement 1. How would we know about hell if not for the Bible? 2. The Bible tells us about hell a. Hell is a place of eternal fire, Mark 9.43ff b. Reserved for the devil and his angels, Matthew 25.41, and the lawless, Matthew7.21ff. c. The unrighteous, 1 Corinthians 6.9 d. Those who do not know or obey Jesus, 2 Thess. 1.8-9 3. The Bible tells us about heaven. a. The place where God abides, Revelation 4.1ff. b. Place of rest for the righteous, Revelation 14.13. c. Reserved for those who love Christ, 2 Thess. 1.10; John14.1ff. d. Those who received the forgiveness of their sins, became righteous, 1 Corinthians 6.10-11. 4. The Bible encourages by saying God will provide a. The sacrifice we all need, Genesis 22.14 b. A way of escape, 1 Corinthians 10.12-13 c. Comfort and strength to those who need it, Romans 8.31ff. II) On The Day of Judgment A) The Bible (Word of God) will 1. Judge us, John 12.48ff. The standard of judgment has been given to us. We will not go to heaven despite what the Bible teaches but because of it. 2. To those who are saved it will show we have lived according to God's will. 3. To those who are lost it will show out guilt before God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. B) Therefore the Bible was given to mankind 1. For our benefit, so we can know. 2. For us to study, 2 Timothy 2.15 Conclusion: Dusty Bibles makes dirty lives; the Bible will either keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Bible. |