Scripture

                                My understanding of Scripture

Paul wrote to Timothy saying " All scripture is God -breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in right living" so that a man of God is equipped for all good work. Paul, at this time had only the Jewish scriptures, The Law of Moses, Psalms and the Prophets. In the book of Hebrews it says, 'God spoke through prophets at many times in various ways". Peter says that, "Prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, ( no prophecy of scripture is a matter of private opinion), but men spoke from God as they were carried along or prompted, by the Holy Spirit". When God made man out of dust, He breathed in to him and man became a living soul. When God breathed on the written word of men and women who were inspired or moved by God's Spirit, it became alive having the power to speak, challenge and transform those who believed in it and it also brought condemnation to the disobedient. "The word of God is living and active, sharper than any double edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joint and marrow, it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart," The scripture became animated with God's authority. It can scan and apply its lazer power to burn the dross. It reflected God's character and His desires partially. Revelation, history, experience all found their places in the scripture. The power of the choices made by people and the consequences that those choices brought  are recorded for our benefit. Public reading of the scripture awakened people to follow God's ways and it instructed them about how to conduct their lives in this world. Paul says that "everything that was written in the past was written to teach us and to give us hope." The scripture can be used to teach truths about God and man. There are stories that can show us the effect of human sin and the reality of God's mercy. It has warnings about the consequences of breaking the built -in life principles in humans. The scripture has enough instruction about living a life of wisdom. Correct and diligent application of the word is needed for it to be effective in people's lives. God's common grace to all is displayed in the scripture and there is more than enough for any one for wise living in this world. But it is incomplete to bridge the gap between fallen man and God. Hidden away in this scripture was the promise of the coming Messiah. Prophets could see this hope dimly. In the fullness of time Jesus of Nazareth was born in an insignificant village. Being a Jew, he too studied this scripture. Slowly and steadily, the picture of the Messiah began to emerge, not as a powerful warrior as others expected but as a suffering servant. The Messiah's words, actions and life style were all portrayed in scripture in bits and pieces like a puzzle. Jesus began to embody this picture of the Messiah and lived out his story in the scripture and began to fulfill the role that was given to him. Jesus saw himself as the one crushing the serpent's head, as Moses rescuing people from slavery, as a priest interceding for all, as a prophet expounding the kingdom of God, as a teacher instructing the way of life, as a sacrificial lamb becoming a ransom and a sin offering as the Son of Man triumphing over death.So the fulfillment of Jewish scriptures was all concluded and maximized in Jesus Christ. What ever else is still left to be fulfilled will be accomplished as history comes to a close. History is His story indeed!

After His resurrection, Jesus met with two of his disciples and  explained to them what was said in all the scriptures concerning Him. He opened the scriptures and opened their eyes to see Him as the fulfillment of all the Desires of ages and what prophets had longed to see. As followers of this Jesus, we need to see Jesus in the scripture and proclaim this Man-God who is The WORD. Everything needs to be examined through this Living Word. The Living Word can be experienced through the written word. His words and His life rise above all that was and is and is to come. Every interpretation of the scripture ought to be done from His revelation and His perspective.  Yes, there are events, stories,  predictions, actions and reactions, which can all be used to draw lessons for living in this world. The human 'sin experience' (missing the mark or falling short of the standard) is universal and we can be equipped to act and react in a right way if we apply the truth of the scripture and its instructions in our lives. Yet all the Old Testament revelations culminate in Jesus Christ and He became the salvation for all. Jesus said,"you diligently study the scripture because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the scriptures that testify about me." So anyone who 'has the Son' has life. The Scripture cannot reduce or replace THE SON. He alone is above all. The word became flesh and this Living Word alone needs our full attention, adoration and obedience. "Listen to Him" is what The voice said. 'Do what ever He tells you' is what Mary said to the disciples. We are admonished to let the Word of Christ dwell richly in us. Jesus said that "His words are Spirit and Life." Anything that does not incorporate the mind of Christ needs to be discarded, discredited or displaced to make room for His words. He is the Pearl of Great Price. He has supremacy over everything. Jesus revealed the truth about the unseen God as a Loving Father. Once some thing is fulfilled it has only academic interest and we ought to hold on to the fulfilled reality. The fulfillment of any pregnancy is the birth of a healthy child. After the child is born, it is not so vital to continue to talk about and focus on all that happened during pregnancy. The Baby is the focus. Jesus came to give rest to our souls from all religious struggles. When religion becomes a burden and an end in itself, Jesus offers rest. He is the focus. Coming to Jesus and having faith in what He has done on our behalf and being united with Him on a daily basis is the Gospel that frees us. It is all about Mercy, Mercy and more Mercy!!

The biggest Mercy of all is the Gift from the Father of 'the comforter', the blessed Holy Spirit. Even His job is to reveal the greatness of The Son and empower us to live out the Kingdom Life which is The GOOD LIFE. It is impossible to live out the Christian life with out the Triune God. At every moment we need This God. The purpose of reading and studying the scripture is to appreciate and acknowledge what the Triune God has done and enter into a loving relationship with God and with one another for ever. The devil's strategy is to blind people from seeing this miracle of Grace and miss out life in its fullness. Our prayers ought to focus on opening the eyes of all and the removal of the veil that blocks the truth, to behold the Glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.