In one sense, the Bible is 66 books written by about 40 different authors over a thousand year plus period of time. Yet, in another sense, it is one book with one author and one overarching story.
“What’s The Bible About?
Sermon Series: “The Bible Questions”
Introduction: In one sense, the Bible is 66 books written by about 40 different authors over a thousand year plus period of time. Yet, in another sense, it is one book with one author and one overarching story. That story is what we are going to focus on today. It is important for us to understand the overarching story and interpret the varying parts in light of the whole. However, I think it is very common for Christians to focus more on the individual stories of the Bible instead of seeing the whole story. We tend to know stories, promises, principles, and commands in kind of a piecemeal fashion instead of having a cohesive and comprehensive understanding of the main story and then seeing the individual sections and components in light of the overarching story. Here is a framework for understanding the main story.
1. The Bible is God’s autobiography. In other words, it reveals to us who God is. Scripture shows us several attributes of God’s nature. Here are a few of the key ones for us to understand:
A. God is creator (Genesis 1:1).
B. God is the sovereign ruler (Psalm 135:5-6).
C. God is holy (Isaiah 6:3).
D. God is love (1 John 4:8).
E. God is glorious (Exodus 40:34). We exist to glorify God in all things (1 Corinthians 10:31, Psalm 29:2). What does this mean to us practically? Matt Chandler says, “The Bible is for us, but it’s not about us.” Rick Warren has written, “It’s not about you. The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness. It’s far greater than your family, your career, or even your wildest dreams and ambitions. If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God. You were born by his purpose and for his purpose.” This defines the purpose of life for us, and it helps us to understand why sin is so serious. Sin is acting like we are God instead of a created being, it is rebelling against the true ruler, it is being impure instead of holy, it is rejecting God’s love, and it is seeking our own glory instead of His glory.
2. The Bible is God’s love letter to us. Jesus Christ is the main character, the hero of Script
“What’s The Bible About?
Sermon Series: “The Bible Questions”
Introduction: In one sense, the Bible is 66 books written by about 40 different authors over a thousand year plus period of time. Yet, in another sense, it is one book with one author and one overarching story. That story is what we are going to focus on today. It is important for us to understand the overarching story and interpret the varying parts in light of the whole. However, I think it is very common for Christians to focus more on the individual stories of the Bible instead of seeing the whole story. We tend to know stories, promises, principles, and commands in kind of a piecemeal fashion instead of having a cohesive and comprehensive understanding of the main story and then seeing the individual sections and components in light of the overarching story. Here is a framework for understanding the main story.
1. The Bible is God’s autobiography. In other words, it reveals to us who God is. Scripture shows us several attributes of God’s nature. Here are a few of the key ones for us to understand:
A. God is creator (Genesis 1:1).
B. God is the sovereign ruler (Psalm 135:5-6).
C. God is holy (Isaiah 6:3).
D. God is love (1 John 4:8).
E. God is glorious (Exodus 40:34). We exist to glorify God in all things (1 Corinthians 10:31, Psalm 29:2). What does this mean to us practically? Matt Chandler says, “The Bible is for us, but it’s not about us.” Rick Warren has written, “It’s not about you. The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness. It’s far greater than your family, your career, or even your wildest dreams and ambitions. If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God. You were born by his purpose and for his purpose.” This defines the purpose of life for us, and it helps us to understand why sin is so serious. Sin is acting like we are God instead of a created being, it is rebelling against the true ruler, it is being impure instead of holy, it is rejecting God’s love, and it is seeking our own glory instead of His glory.
2. The Bible is God’s love letter to us. Jesus Christ is the main character, the hero of Scripture (Luke 24:13-49). From beginning to end, the Bible is about what W.A. Criswell famously called the “scarlet thread of redemption through the Bible.”
3. The Bible is God’s history book. It contains His plan for how He is accomplishing His purpose in the world. Here are some keys to understanding God’s plan for the world:
A. The Bible contains many fulfilled prophecies.
B. God makes covenants with His people, and He is always faithful to keep His promises.
C. God chose Israel to be His people by His grace through the covenant He made with Abraham.
D. The Gentiles have been grafted into the family of God through faith in Jesus and are a part of the church of the living God. Israel and the Church are distinct in the plan of God.
E. The Church is God’s vehicle for advancing His Kingdom in this age (Psalm 22:28).
F. The consummation of history and God’s plan is people from every tribe, people, tongue, and nation worshipping around the throne of Jesus (Revelation 7:9-10).
4. The Bible is God’s blueprint for how we live our lives. Life works right when we live according to the principles of Scripture (Psalm 1). However, we need to go deeper so we are not guilty of moralism and realize that none of us obey the Law of God and the Law was actually given to show us our need for a Savior (Galatians 3:19-25) so the point is to look to Jesus to make us right with God and to empower us to live a righteous life (Galatians 2:20).