Faith and the Bible, part 1
Well, it's reflection time again, folks. I really liked posting my personal thoughts on the human nature and feelings of Jesus Christ last month in The Compassion of the Christ. So I decided to give it another try. Looking back into my saved files, I came across a term paper I also put together for Religion class during my freshman year. It's a very introspective look into how I define faith and how it pertains to my daily reading of the Bible, God's Word. I feel that, in light of my New Year's resolution to read the Bible in its entirety by the end of this year, it's vitally important to look back at why God wants us to study His Holy Word, and to understand His teachings.
So, as per the norm with me, part 1 of this feature will serve as the introductory chapter. It will delve into some of the concepts that go hand in hand with Christianity, such as justification and righteousness, and the method in which these correlate with the idea of faith. It'll drop a few basic pointers to start things off, such as the debate between faith and works, the old covenant and the new covenant, and things like that. Then it'll leave off with the question that sets the tone for this paper's general direction - "What does it mean to read the Bible faithfully?"
Now, far be it for me to set the universal standard for a perfectly faithful reading of the Bible. God knows I don't always keep up my dedication to a daily reading, and quite often I enter into it with a half-hearted, nonchalant attitude. So please don't interpret my ideas like that - this is just how I personally view faith as it pertains to the Bible. Others who read this may have their own ideas about how their faith works, and that's perfectly fine. I'm not out to challenge them. What I do hope will happen is that reading this will stimulate others to look toward the Bible as the one, true authority in this matter, and then generate their own thesis for faith based on God's Word.
So, onward with part 1 of "Faith and the Bible" ...
I feel it’s important to note that none of this is possible through any of man’s efforts. God set into motion the redemption of man back unto Himself through Christ’s sacrifice of atonement (Rom. 3:25), which served to pay man’s price of sin in death. Paul stated that because man is justified by faith, then he has access to the glory of the Lord (Rom. 5:2). I’m in full agreement. If I believe by faith that Jesus was crucified to pay the penalty of my sin and was resurrected to life, then according to Paul I have the promise of God’s salvation. It is not because I’ve earned it; my pride is excluded (Rom. 3:27) from the matter, but because of my faith in what God’s saving grace has already accomplished.
That statement alone begs this question. If faith is so vital to understanding Christianity, where does the Biblical context fit into the picture? In other words, if an attitude of faith is important in life, what does it mean to read the Bible faithfully?
God decreed that a daily reading and meditation on the Book of the Law is important to having a prosperous and successful lifestyle (Joshua 1:8). This command fell in line with the Abrahamic covenant God established with the people of Israel. People of faith in the Old Testament were generally those who obeyed God’s commands, maintained God-like lifestyles, and were usually capable, influential leaders in their own right. Men like Abraham, Moses, Joshua, David and Samuel quickly spring to my mind. Sure, they made mistakes. Their lives were just as full of sin as mine, yet they remained faithful to God in the roles He called them to play. They lived under the “old covenant” that was made available to them at that time.
With Jesus’ death and resurrection, a “new covenant” was born. People no longer had to embrace faith by means of the high priests and church scribes, or through ancient traditions like circumcision. The way to God became available to all who believed in His promise of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ. Faith became the first stepping-stone to the development of a personal relationship with God. Paul went on to elaborate that hope and love also make up the heart of a devoted Christian (1 Corinthians 13:13). William Stacy Johnson said that a traditional reading of Scripture requires a rule of faith, a rule of hope, and a rule of love (TARS, 122). Faith represents our foundation, hope is the attitude and focus, and love, “the greatest of these,” is the application, putting everything into action. As I see it, the idea of faith expands to a wider dimension in the New Testament. Does that mean the concept of faith in the Old Testament is no longer valid? To paraphrase Paul, "Certainly not!" For the sake of Christianity’s survival, the entire Biblical canon must be preserved and validated as truth. Each has to support the other (TARS, 2). So what does it mean to read the Bible faithfully? It involves treating the New Testament as a perfect fulfillment of the Old Testament, thereby preserving the Scripture’s unity, an understanding of faith in relation to grace and works, and an application of Biblical faith to our own lives.
So, as per the norm with me, part 1 of this feature will serve as the introductory chapter. It will delve into some of the concepts that go hand in hand with Christianity, such as justification and righteousness, and the method in which these correlate with the idea of faith. It'll drop a few basic pointers to start things off, such as the debate between faith and works, the old covenant and the new covenant, and things like that. Then it'll leave off with the question that sets the tone for this paper's general direction - "What does it mean to read the Bible faithfully?"
Now, far be it for me to set the universal standard for a perfectly faithful reading of the Bible. God knows I don't always keep up my dedication to a daily reading, and quite often I enter into it with a half-hearted, nonchalant attitude. So please don't interpret my ideas like that - this is just how I personally view faith as it pertains to the Bible. Others who read this may have their own ideas about how their faith works, and that's perfectly fine. I'm not out to challenge them. What I do hope will happen is that reading this will stimulate others to look toward the Bible as the one, true authority in this matter, and then generate their own thesis for faith based on God's Word.
So, onward with part 1 of "Faith and the Bible" ...
There is no doubt in my mind that the concept of faith is integral to the study of Christianity and God’s Word, the Bible. To me, it contains life-altering applications and it can mean the difference between those who accept the truth of God’s mercy and salvation and those who don’t. The apostle Paul says that a man is justified by faith apart from the law, and that faith in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior is credited to him as righteousness, as with Abraham. (Genesis 15:6, Romans 3:22,28). Justification then is God’s declaration that man is “not guilty” for the sin that separates him from His glory (Elwell 238). Thus, an attitude of faith is how I check myself daily to make certain that I’m right with God.
I feel it’s important to note that none of this is possible through any of man’s efforts. God set into motion the redemption of man back unto Himself through Christ’s sacrifice of atonement (Rom. 3:25), which served to pay man’s price of sin in death. Paul stated that because man is justified by faith, then he has access to the glory of the Lord (Rom. 5:2). I’m in full agreement. If I believe by faith that Jesus was crucified to pay the penalty of my sin and was resurrected to life, then according to Paul I have the promise of God’s salvation. It is not because I’ve earned it; my pride is excluded (Rom. 3:27) from the matter, but because of my faith in what God’s saving grace has already accomplished.
That statement alone begs this question. If faith is so vital to understanding Christianity, where does the Biblical context fit into the picture? In other words, if an attitude of faith is important in life, what does it mean to read the Bible faithfully?
God decreed that a daily reading and meditation on the Book of the Law is important to having a prosperous and successful lifestyle (Joshua 1:8). This command fell in line with the Abrahamic covenant God established with the people of Israel. People of faith in the Old Testament were generally those who obeyed God’s commands, maintained God-like lifestyles, and were usually capable, influential leaders in their own right. Men like Abraham, Moses, Joshua, David and Samuel quickly spring to my mind. Sure, they made mistakes. Their lives were just as full of sin as mine, yet they remained faithful to God in the roles He called them to play. They lived under the “old covenant” that was made available to them at that time.
With Jesus’ death and resurrection, a “new covenant” was born. People no longer had to embrace faith by means of the high priests and church scribes, or through ancient traditions like circumcision. The way to God became available to all who believed in His promise of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ. Faith became the first stepping-stone to the development of a personal relationship with God. Paul went on to elaborate that hope and love also make up the heart of a devoted Christian (1 Corinthians 13:13). William Stacy Johnson said that a traditional reading of Scripture requires a rule of faith, a rule of hope, and a rule of love (TARS, 122). Faith represents our foundation, hope is the attitude and focus, and love, “the greatest of these,” is the application, putting everything into action. As I see it, the idea of faith expands to a wider dimension in the New Testament. Does that mean the concept of faith in the Old Testament is no longer valid? To paraphrase Paul, "Certainly not!" For the sake of Christianity’s survival, the entire Biblical canon must be preserved and validated as truth. Each has to support the other (TARS, 2). So what does it mean to read the Bible faithfully? It involves treating the New Testament as a perfect fulfillment of the Old Testament, thereby preserving the Scripture’s unity, an understanding of faith in relation to grace and works, and an application of Biblical faith to our own lives.
To Be Continued...
Song of the Day: Chris Tomlin - "Indescribable"
Verse of the Day: "Consider how the lillies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!" - Luke 12:27-28
posted by david @ 5:55 PM
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