Willmington, Harold

English

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Liberty UniversityDigitalCommons@LibertyUniversityThe Owner's Manual File Theological Studies1-2018The Purpose of the BibleHarold WillmingtonLiberty University, hwillmington@liberty.eduFollow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/owners_manualPart of the Biblical Studies Commons, Christianity Commons, Practical Theology Commons,and the Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion CommonsThis Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Theological Studies at DigitalCommons@Liberty University. It has been accepted forinclusion in The Owner's Manual File by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@Liberty University. For more information, please contactscholarlycommunication@liberty.edu.Recommended CitationWillmington, Harold, "The Purpose of the Bible" (2018). The Owner's Manual File. 67.http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/owners_manual/671  ARTICLE TEN THE PURPOSE OF THE BIBLE  THE PURPOSE OF THE BIBLE I. The Bible and the Sovereign God A. It was written to give us the twofold account of God’s labor. 1. As defined – Everything that God has done, is doing, or shall do can be placed under one of two categories, his work in creation and his work in redemption. 2. As described – There are two special days, four special chapters, and nine special feasts that remind us of God’s great labor in creation and redemption. a. Two special days (1) Saturday, reminding us of his work in creation (Exod. 20:8-11) (2) Sunday, reminding us of his work in redemption (Matt. 28:1-6) b. Four special chapters (1) Genesis 1 – The account of man being made in the image of God. This speaks of Creation. (Gen. 1:26) (2) Luke 2 – The account of God being made in the image of man. This speaks of redemption. (Luke 2:7) (3) Revelation 4 – The account of heaven thanking God for his first great work “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created” (Rev. 4:11). (4) Revelation 5 – The account of heaven thanking God for his final great work “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation” (Rev. 5:9). c. Nine special feasts – His creative work, as seen by: (1) The weekly Sabbath (Exod. 20:8-11; Lev. 23:1-3) (2) The seven-year Sabbath feast (Exod. 23:10-11; Lev. 25:2-7) (3) The fiftieth year Sabbath feast (Lev. 25:8-16) His redemptive work, as seen by: (4) The Passover feast (Lev. 23:4-8) – This speaks of Calvary (1 Cor. 5:7). (5) The Feast of Firstfruits (Lev. 23:9-14) – This speaks of the Resurrection (1 Cor. 15:23). (6) The Feast of Pentecost (Lev. 23:15-25) – This speaks of the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1). (7) The Feast of Trumpets (Lev. 23:23-25) – This speaks of the Rapture and Second Coming (1 Thess. 4:13-18; Rev. 11:15). 2  (8) The Day of Atonement feast (Lev. 23:26-32) – This speaks of the Tribulation (Rev. 6-19). (9) The Feast of Tabernacles (Lev. 23:33-44) – This speaks of the Millennium (Rev. 20:1-6). B. It was written to give us the fivefold account of God’s Lamb. 1. The Old Testament records the preparation for the life of Jesus. a. That we might be aware of his coming (Luke 24:27) b. That we might be assured by his coming (Rom. 15:4; 1 Cor. 10:11) 2. The Gospels record the manifestation of the life of Jesus. a. The fact of his birth (Luke 2:1-20) b. The fact of his death (Matt. 27; Mark 15; Luke 23; John 19) c. The fact of his resurrection (Matt. 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20) d. The fact of his ascension (Mark 16:19; Luke 24:51) 3. The book of Acts records the propagation of the life of Jesus. a. The origin of the church (Acts 2:1-13) b. The obedience of the (early) church (1) Its message (Acts 5:42) (2) Its ministers (Acts 1-12) (3) Its missionaries (Acts 13-28) 4. The Epistles record the interpretation of the life of Jesus. a. The reason for his birth (1 Tim. 1:15; Heb. 10:4-7) b. The reason for his death (Rom. 4:25a; Rom. 5:8-9; Heb. 2:14-15) c. The reason for his resurrection (Rom. 4:25b; 1 Cor. 15:20) d. The reason for his ascension (Rom. 8:34; Heb. 4:14-16; Heb. 9:24) 5. The book of Revelation records the coronation of the eternal Jesus (Rev. 11:15; Rev. 19:11, 16) a. Revelation 1-3: The witnesses of the Lamb (Rev. 1:20) b. Revelation 4-5: The worship of the Lamb (Rev. 4:8; 5:11-14) c. Revelation 6-19: The wrath of the Lamb (Rev. 6:13-17) d. Revelation 20: The wonder of the Lamb’s reign (Rev. 20:4) e. Revelation 21-22: The wife of the Lamb (Rev. 21:9-11) II. The Bible and the Saints of God A. What the Bible does for the believer 1. It upholds (Psa. 119:116). 2. It orders steps (Psa. 119:133). 3. It produces joy (Psa. 119:162). 4. It strengthens (Psa. 119:28; 1 John 2:14). 5. It gives hope (Psa. 119:74, 81). 3  6. It gives light (Psa. 119:105, 130). 7. It gives understanding (Psa. 119:169). 8. It shows God’s will (Isa. 55:11). 9. It builds up (Acts 20:32). 10. It produces fruit (John 15:7). 11.  It convicts of sin (Heb. 4:12). 12. It converts the soul (James 1:18; 1 Pet. 1:23). 13. It cleanses the conscience (John 15:3). 14. It consecrates life (John 17:17). 15. It corrects the wrong (2 Tim. 3:16). 16. It confirms the right (John 8:31). 17. It comforts the heart (Psa. 119:50, 54). B. What the Bible demands from the believer – Because of the above, the Christian is exhorted to: 1. Read it (Col. 3:16; Deut. 31:11; Rev. 1:3; Isa. 34:16; Luke 4:16; Eph. 3:4; 1 Thess. 5:27; 2 Tim. 4:13; Col. 4:1). 2. Heed it (Psa. 119:9; 1 Tim. 4:16). 3. Seed it (Matt. 28:19-20). 4. Desire it (1 Pet. 2:2). 5. Preach it (2 Tim. 4:2). 6. Rightly divide it (2 Tim. 2:15). 7. Live by it (Matt. 4:4). 8. Use it (Eph. 6:17). 9. Suffer for it, and if need be, die for it (Rev. 1:9; 6:9; 20:4). Thus the authority of God’s Word is as a stethoscope, for it probes within, as a microscope, for it looks upon, and as a telescope, for it sees beyond.  

The Purpose of the Bible

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