How Do We Know the Bible is True? - Illustration

We usually judge things when we choose to buy or buy again. We look at reviews of products before we buy and have an opinion about products after we have used them. Suppose someone asked me the question, "How do you know that this dictionary is better than the other?" I would not reply that I don't consider any dictionary authoritative or true because it is compiled by humans; I would not question, "Why should any human tell me what is the meaning of a word?" I know the quality and the veracity of a dictionary by using it. If a dictionary is a standard and reliable one, i.e. it is authoritative, then it will help me to make sense of language every time I come across a word that I cannot make sense of. Similarly, a scripture that deals with spiritual reality can only be authoritative and genuine when it helps me make a meaningful and right sense of the universe and my experiences in the world. Suppose, it is filled with unintelligible words or with stuff that cannot be verified, then it is a closed and mystic book, not a useful reference book or manual of living. However, if it helps us to live sensible and better lives, it is authoritative. The Bible helps us to see the world better and to live in the world better; therefore, it is true and reliable. Now, the standard of measurement that the church fathers used was called the Canon: It asked questions like, "Is this book authentic in its content?" (which implied that its authenticity could be verified), "Is this book authored by an apostle or one close to the apostle?", "Is this book acceptable by the local churches?" (like asking whether the meaning of the word in the dictionary was the same that is intended when the word is used  in general), whether the book was recognized and quoted as Scripture by the early church fathers, and whether its subject matter was edifying spiritually. It was not a random and careless compilation. The book had to address reality. It had to be true, be verifiable as true, and function as true. And, the Bible does. It helps us understand the world better and live lives better than any other book in the world. It is a complete book.

Why Believe God? - Illustration

There are many reasons that a man may give for believing in God. But, I think one of the most personal is the rationale of meaningfulness. Belief in God helps us to make a right sense of the world and helps us to live life better. Now, this may not appeal to all; but, it is true. Somebody said that God is like the sun; you cannot look at it, but without it you cannot look at anything else. We may take the example of a man who has sight problems and tries different lenses before he finally understands which lens helps him to read the letters properly. He may use the lens of deism and it fails short of divine involvement in the universe; he may use the lens of polytheism and it fails short of divine infinitude and sovereignty; he may use the lens of atheism and it fails short of meaningfulness and moral value; but, only in the Trinitarian view of belief in God does one find an answer to the meaning of life; for it talks of divine infinitude, divine unity, divine relation in community, divine love, justice, and purity.

Patience

A young man wanted to do some farming in his farm. So, he went and obtained some wheat seeds, had his farmland plowed and sown, and watered the field daily. He waited for 10 days. When he didn't see any sign of wheat, he got frustrated. He thought "It's not going to work!" However, he decided to wait for another 10 days. On the 8th day, however, when he saw no wheat, he said to himself "Either the seed was bad or this land is not suited for wheat." So, he replowed the land, destroying the tiny wheatblades that had already sprouted. He thought, "Let me try soyabean, this time." So, he sowed soyabean, but when he didn't see any beans after 10 days, he became frustrated again. He tried a few other crops this way, and finally surmised that farming was no longer his kind of job. So, he gave up.

Lesson:

1. Know well what you're doing and the principles of the work before you undertake it.

Luk 14:28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it--
Luk 14:29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him,
Luk 14:30 saying, "This man began to build and was not able to finish.'

2. Understand the importance of Timing.

Ecc 3:1 To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:
Ecc 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time.

3. Do not lose heart midway. Remember that patience has a great reward. If you give in to your own doubts and suspicions, you will end up destroying things.

Heb 10:35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.
Heb 10:36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:

Psalm 40:1 I waited patiently for the LORD;
And He inclined to me,
And heard my cry.

Prayer: Lord, we pray that Your will will be revealed to Your servants, and that we with patience and obedience of faith will obtain the promises that You have made. Blessed be Your Name!

Conformity Appeal

Modernization, contextualization, and indigenization are all good words with proper intention of appeal through being relevant.

However, when this is stretched to the point of conformity to the other group's ideals, one lands into danger.

1. It is easy to pull someone down than to pull someone up.

2. It may be necessary for you to bend as far as possible in order to reach out and grasp the one in need of help. But, don't bend so far that you lose your balance and fall into the pit yourself.

3. If one conforms to another's ideals, the point of difference is lost and the appeal fully nullified.

Getting off balance while attempting to relate and reach can lead to dilemmas, confusions, skepticisms, and finally fall. So, one needs to be very cautious.

How Could An Innocent Man Die for the Sins of the World?

The Scandal of Particularity questions how one Man could be God and also be the Savior of the whole world. There are two pictures in the Bible that answer this:

1. Surety. Jesus Christ is made the surety of the New Covenant by which participants in the Covenant share in the blessings of the Covenant (Hebrews 7:22). Now, a surety is someone who provides a warrant or guarantee for an other. If I wish to borrow Rs.5000/- from a creditor, and he doesn't trust me, he would ask for a guarantor or surety, who answers to him and is willing to pay in case I am not able to pay the amount back. Similarly, when we were weak and without strength, and in a state when we could not repay our debts, Christ paid the penalty of our sins.

2. Priest. A Priest is a legally appointed Mediator who represents man before God; as such, Christ, appointed after the order of Melchizedek as a Priest forever, provides a better sacrifice than the blood of animals that the priests after the Aaronic order presented for centuries before Him. Their sacrifices couldn't have efficacy since they had to make atonement for their own sins first, then for the sins of the people. In addition, the blood of animals cannot adequately atone for the sins of mankind. Through the offering of His Body, the High Priest Jesus Christ, opens up a way for us before God. We now have access to the Father. His appointment was official and His sacrifice without blemish; therefore, it was fully acceptable and satisfactory in the sight of God, and we also in Him.

© Domenic Marbaniang, Lectures in Soteriology, February 2011.

For further reading:The Humanity and Divinity of Christ
C. S. Lewis on Theories of Atonement
Estrangement and Belongedness in the Ultimate Sacrifice of God

God's Signature on His Check

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Got this illustration when trying to explain God’s promises at Church this morning.

When someone issues a check, he puts his signature on it. Otherwise, that check would not work. Similarly, God has given us a check of His promises, and has put the Name of Jesus Christ as the signature on it. In Christ’s Name we have received all the promises in truth. Therefore, the Bible says:

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God. (2Cor. 1:20)

Have you got the signature of Christ on your check?