Freedom is Good News Part 127

I have heard some people say the Old Testament has been done away with.  Making a statement like that, puts an individual on very shaky ground!!  Last week we took a look at a couple of statements Paul wrote to his young assistant, Timothy.  Let’s take a closer look at them.

In his first letter we find this admonition, “Devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.” (1 Tim. 4:13)  What scripture did Timothy have to read and teach from?  At the time of this letter, the only scripture available to Timothy was the manuscript (or series of scrolls) we call the Old Testament – the New Testament had not yet been penned.  Timothy was to read, preach and teach the Old Testament, or as Jesus called it, “the law and the prophets”.

Are you familiar with the books from Genesis through Malachi?  Jesus certainly was; and so was Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, Peter and James.  Over and over, these men quoted from them; they understood them; they taught from them – Jesus said, at one point, that they were the words of life (Matt. 4:4) and when He said this He was quoting from the book of Deuteronomy 8:3, “(God) humbled you (Israel) causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.”

Jesus used these words when Satan was tempting Him to turn some stones into bread.  In Matthew 4:4-10 Jesus quoted words from “the Law” each time Satan posed a temptation, “Jesus answered him, ‘it is also written: You shall not put the LORD your God to the test’” (Deut. 6:16); and finally, “Away from me Satan!  For it is written: Worship the LORD your God and serve Him only.’” (Deut. 6:13)

I believe I have indicated in the past that the bible may be compared to a jig-saw puzzle.  God wants us to read, to think, to meditate and so to put together an understanding of His true plan for mankind.  But if we toss out three quarters of the puzzle, we have a very skewed; yes a very incomplete picture.  The Old Testament is an integral part of the picture God wants us to see.  And now we come to the second quote mentioned in last week’s article, “But as for you, Timothy, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim. 3:14-17)  

Here, Paul calls the Old Testament “the sacred writings” and also tells us that they are able to make one wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.  Let me end here by stating that salvation is significant to the good news we seek!!

Freedom is Good News Part 126

The bible, from Genesis through Revelation, is a unified piece of literature consisting of 66 books with approximately 40 authors.  That statement, in itself, is astounding.  I do not believe that there is anything like it in all of the world’s literature.  The one thing that makes it a unified text is that its editor is God. 

Yes, God used humans to pen this tome in order that we might have an instruction manual for life itself!

Paul put it this way, “But as for you, Timothy, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim. 3:14-17)

Paul, here, is urging his young assistant to continue to teach the scriptures.  These scriptures with which Timothy was acquainted, consisted of the Old Testament; Genesis through Malachi.  In his first letter to Timothy, Paul tells him to, “Devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.” (1 Tim. 4:13)

The only Scriptures extant at that time were the Old Testament.  These scriptures, Paul tells him, were “able to make you wise for salvation through Jesus Christ”.  Consider that for the time being – we’ll talk some more about it next time (God willing).

Freedom is Good News Part 85

In the previous article I wrote about how effective it can be to quote a scripture when confronted with some dilemma.  I am sure you know that in Jesus day one could not run down to the local bookstore and purchase a set of the scriptures?  Jesus quoted the scriptures when confronting Satan’s temptation because He had them memorized!  In Jesus day they did not have books (as we know them).  All the scriptures were written on scrolls usually made of animal skins and hand written – in other words, they were expensive!  The scrolls were rolled up and had to be unrolled in order to read them. Only the local synagogue would own them and even then many would have just a portion of the scriptures. 

Ancient languages – Hebrew included – did not use punctuation as we have it today.  They did not even have spaces between the words (yes, that is hard to believe but it is true!).  Today we have it easy in that we do have punctuation, we can know when a word begins and ends and we can easily communicate with each other concerning the scripture because they have been codified with chapters and verses. 

Today we can go to a book store or get on line and purchase the word of God for very little money.  And not only that; if we think the King James Version is too difficult to read, we can purchase the New International Version.  Do you think the NIV is too loose with the translation?  Then go and buy the New American Standard or the English Standard Version or one of several dozen other translations.

“To whom much has been given, much will be required.” (Luke 12:48)  When we stand before the judgement seat, will we be able to claim ignorance?  “I just didn’t know!”  Many today claim that God is not interested in our hurts, our failures, our sicknesses, our financial situations, or our ……. You fill in the blank.  But the truth is that He is interested and He did not leave us without help.  He gave us everything we need for life and godliness. (2 Peter 1:3)  The one who created us made sure that we have the things needed for physical life: He gave us water, air, food and a brain.  That brain of ours is the most advanced computer on the planet.  Some might say that they do not have enough of these things but they do not understand that God promises to bless us abundantly if we would only follow His ways!  And beyond the physical, He has given us so much more by making sure that we have His “manual for life and godliness” – the bible!  But that’s not all (I’m starting to sound like one of those infomercials on TV) He sent His Son, His only Son whom He loves, to be a propitiation for us to bring us a righteousness that we cannot work to earn.  But wait folks, there’s more; if we accept His Son and His shed blood for our sins and turn from our fleshly ways, then we can repent and be baptized and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, who will bring us into all truth. 

Yes Jesus did have the scriptures memorized.  They were quite precious to Him.  Here is one scripture for us to memorize: “I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.”  Now that is Good News.