FROM THE PASTOR
Christians believe the Bible is God’s Word
Dear friends, a couple of thoughts continuing from last newsletter article... In our constitution, and at this year’s Synod Convention at Rosehill Gardens, we will affirm the following:
“The church accepts without reservation the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, as a whole and in all their parts, as the divinely inspired, written and inerrant word of God, and as the only infallible source and norm for all matters of faith, doctrine and life”. (LCA Constitution II1)
Last month’s article finished off this way:
We depend on the bible to know about God. The Bible is God’s communication tool that he uses to tell us how he feels about us, his plan to save people, and how he wants us to live... God does not leave us to work out for ourselves who God is, what kind of God he is, and what he wants from us, and what he does for us. God graciously communicates with us. The Bible (the word of God / Holy Scripture) is God’s “self-revelation”; it makes God known to us, so that we can honour, love and trust him as our God.
Now when we say, or hear it being said, “Word of God”, what are some thoughts that come to mind? Is there a problem with the phrase, “Word of God”? Does this mean the written word? Or the spoken word? There are different views, as some Christians see the written word purely as a historical document and nothing much more. The writer in the book of Hebrews 1:1 says that God has spoken “in many and various ways”, and God’s final way of showing, is Jesus Christ. In other words – God has made known his will, purpose, nature and character in Jesus Christ who is the living and incarnate word of God (read the whole chapter of John 1). “Word of God” means the written word of the Old and New Testament, and the written word testifies to Jesus Christ (read the whole of John chapter 5). The word of “word of God” also means the gospel of Jesus Christ, i.e., the message of WHAT GOD HAS DONE in and through the LIFE, DEATH and RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST FOR OUR SALVATION.
The next article will be on The Written Word of God – both human and Divine; Christ is the centre of the Bible; the Bible inspiration and authority and its purpose. To finish, a couple of practical things, and some things to remember:
Firstly, remember, the bible is God’s word; more than words on a page or a message in a book. His written word is “alive” and God works through the writers to speak directly and powerfully to us; it’s relevant in our lives, so take up God’s word with enthusiasm, joy and a ready heart.
Secondly, as you read, ask yourself reflective and prayerful questions of God, e.g.:
What is God like?
What is God saying to me?
What is God doing in this world?
And when it comes to reading my favourite stories of Jesus, ask yourself:
Who am I in this story?
Where is Jesus personally speaking to me?
What are some words, verses or phrases of Jesus I trust in, cling on to, and put into practice?
Is there something going on in my life that Jesus is asking me to change?
Are there some words, verses or phrases of Jesus that strengthen, encourage me in faith?
In asking questions such as these, you’ll discover God’s word in a new light and in a new way. Most precious of all, the very heart and soul of God’s message is that Jesus Christ is God’s Son who has come into the world and dealt with sin for us. The Bible is the word of Christ, and it will live in you richly as you live in it.
We Pray:
† For a spirit of joyful neighbourliness, especially towards those with whom we differ significantly or have disagreements.
† For real and lasting change in places and countries in which Christians
experience persecution at the hands of the authorities or their fellow citizens.
† For people who have been abused while in the care of the church and that God will help us to do better so that our church will be a safe place for all.
Dear friends, a couple of thoughts continuing from last newsletter article... In our constitution, and at this year’s Synod Convention at Rosehill Gardens, we will affirm the following:
“The church accepts without reservation the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, as a whole and in all their parts, as the divinely inspired, written and inerrant word of God, and as the only infallible source and norm for all matters of faith, doctrine and life”. (LCA Constitution II1)
Last month’s article finished off this way:
We depend on the bible to know about God. The Bible is God’s communication tool that he uses to tell us how he feels about us, his plan to save people, and how he wants us to live... God does not leave us to work out for ourselves who God is, what kind of God he is, and what he wants from us, and what he does for us. God graciously communicates with us. The Bible (the word of God / Holy Scripture) is God’s “self-revelation”; it makes God known to us, so that we can honour, love and trust him as our God.
Now when we say, or hear it being said, “Word of God”, what are some thoughts that come to mind? Is there a problem with the phrase, “Word of God”? Does this mean the written word? Or the spoken word? There are different views, as some Christians see the written word purely as a historical document and nothing much more. The writer in the book of Hebrews 1:1 says that God has spoken “in many and various ways”, and God’s final way of showing, is Jesus Christ. In other words – God has made known his will, purpose, nature and character in Jesus Christ who is the living and incarnate word of God (read the whole chapter of John 1). “Word of God” means the written word of the Old and New Testament, and the written word testifies to Jesus Christ (read the whole of John chapter 5). The word of “word of God” also means the gospel of Jesus Christ, i.e., the message of WHAT GOD HAS DONE in and through the LIFE, DEATH and RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST FOR OUR SALVATION.
The next article will be on The Written Word of God – both human and Divine; Christ is the centre of the Bible; the Bible inspiration and authority and its purpose. To finish, a couple of practical things, and some things to remember:
Firstly, remember, the bible is God’s word; more than words on a page or a message in a book. His written word is “alive” and God works through the writers to speak directly and powerfully to us; it’s relevant in our lives, so take up God’s word with enthusiasm, joy and a ready heart.
Secondly, as you read, ask yourself reflective and prayerful questions of God, e.g.:
What is God like?
What is God saying to me?
What is God doing in this world?
And when it comes to reading my favourite stories of Jesus, ask yourself:
Who am I in this story?
Where is Jesus personally speaking to me?
What are some words, verses or phrases of Jesus I trust in, cling on to, and put into practice?
Is there something going on in my life that Jesus is asking me to change?
Are there some words, verses or phrases of Jesus that strengthen, encourage me in faith?
In asking questions such as these, you’ll discover God’s word in a new light and in a new way. Most precious of all, the very heart and soul of God’s message is that Jesus Christ is God’s Son who has come into the world and dealt with sin for us. The Bible is the word of Christ, and it will live in you richly as you live in it.
We Pray:
† For a spirit of joyful neighbourliness, especially towards those with whom we differ significantly or have disagreements.
† For real and lasting change in places and countries in which Christians
experience persecution at the hands of the authorities or their fellow citizens.
† For people who have been abused while in the care of the church and that God will help us to do better so that our church will be a safe place for all.