The Holy Bible
Notes
Transcript
What differentiates the Bible from any other spiritual book?
Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
What differentiates the Bible from any other spiritual book is that it is a living 2 way dynamic action. When you read a spiritual book, it is one way in the sense where you are gaining information to help you in your spiritual life, however, when you interact with Scripture it is alive and it is not necessarily only reading - more importantly it is a living prayer.
The Bible is different from all other books; other books are written by man, but the Bible not only contains the sayings and commandments of God, but was also written entirely under divine inspiration. So we might say that it is God's book, which He gave to man to lead him into everlasting life.
What was the secret behind the lives of the saints?
Saint Antony for example - Heard the verse from the Bible “If you want to be perfect…”
I do not pray that you would take them from the world, but that you would protect them from the evil one.They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.Sanctify them in your truth; your word is truth!
Christ in His prayer to the Father, illuminated the entire way for those who know His secret.
The “Word” became the means of sanctification used by the Holy Spirit in every soul trained for everlasting discipleship to the Lord.
All who have discovered and walked in the way of the Holy Bible, the holiness of Christ has gently been poured on them.
John 6:63 (EOB: NT)
The words that I speak to you are spirit, and [they] are life.
So then what does the Bible achieve in our lives?
Therefore, the Bible is a medium of Sanctification
Every Bible reading is a source of sanctification. Day after day, it penetrates mind, conscience, feelings, will and behavior. It constructs the soul as a new building, little by little the reader is joined to Christ in an unperceivable mystical fellowship with God.
Psalm 119:105 (ESV)
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
How does the Word light our path?
In other words - How can we unlock the power of the Word in our lives?
At that time, Jesus exclaimed, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the learned and intelligent, and revealed them to infants!
Two methodologies of reading :
Studying purely for knowledge - which usually leads to questioning and skepticism
Reading as a personal message with a contrite heart
Going back to the Bible as being a two-edged sword - Stabbing the Pharisees (Hypocrites) by the Word being a stumbling bock to them and Stabbing the sincere reader with everlasting life.
Use the sermon on the mount as an example of the Inverted Perspective of the Gospel - We cannot use logic to comprehend it
Reading the Bible as a manifestation of His Will in our lives and as a personal message to us is a search light which exposes the deepest, hidden parts of the soul.
Now, brethren, I entrust you to God, and to the word of his grace which is able to build [you] up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
2 Timothy 3:15–17 (EOB: NT)
From infancy, you have known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus. Every Scripture is God-breathed, and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, so that the man of God may be fully qualified, completely equipped for every good work.
The Bible as a Personal Message
The Bible is a direct, personal message from God to man aiming at his salvation and lifting his spirit to prepare him for the better life, eternal life.
Reading the Bible is not meant to gain Knowledge but is meant to open an inheritance and a treasure of spiritual gifts. He will give you life as He transforms you more and more into God’s image.
To the degree that we strive after the “Word”, to that degree shall we receive
Search the Scriptures, for you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness to me.
The Gospel transforms within us from a message into a treasury
We notice in the lives of the saints as well as people all around us that have been touched by the Bible, that their condition is altered, their appearance changes, their minds are renewed and they no longer think or act how they used to.
Jeremiah 15:16 (ESV)
Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.