What is bible?

[PotLuck]

Many christians I've talked with have differing opinions/views/ideas of what the bible really is. There are several major or common beliefs on this subject however the one that I'm not very comfortable with is the view that the bible is a set of rules by which to live or laws that govern our lives and how we should live as christians.

For me the bible is the story of the one-sided love affair that God has man or more to the point, His pursuit of a rebellious part of His creation. In the Old Testament we see man telling God to give us His laws so we may please him. That didn't work out so well and neither did any other solution from judges to kings.

The New Testament teaches of Christ, our Lord and Saviour, not man's solution for redemption but God's.

If we hold fast to the belief that the bible is a rule book or a set of laws then aren't we simply trading one set of rules/regulations/ordinances for another? The danger is falling into the trap of works, doing something to earn our way to God's presence or attempting to pay Him back for his forgiveness in effect nullifying grace. For what can we do that He can't or what can we give Him that isn't already His?

Sometimes I think some professing christians miss the point of Christ's love or having known His love in the beginning have gone astray trying to "live like a christian".

 

[reformedfan]

In the OT we don't have man telling God to give us His laws. God's status as the sovereign creator of the heavens and earth gives Him the right to give us any kind of law He feels like. This has been true from before creation, the garden of Eden, in fact, was the only time that the promises of the covenant were based on works- perfect obedience to the law- rather than grace. That didn't come till after the fall.
What a blessing that He, therefore His laws, are just & good, huh? The laws He gave us benefit society, as well as show us our need for a Savior, our helplessness to keep the law, etc. Galatians 3:24.
There is no OT/NT dichotomy, that's a dispensationalist myth. The entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation is a pointing to Christ & our helpless need for Him, complete with promises & curses.
Never does being under grace mean we are no longer to obey the law, Ro 6, just that those who have experienced God's grace are no longer under the curse the law- or disobedience to it, brings. Christ took the wrath of God on behalf of the elect, the ones under grace future, present & past, OT included. We sin, but Christ took the punishment our sin deserves, therefore try hard to not sin. That's impossible, so repent & seek forgiveness & try hard to not sin...etc.
The Bible is so much more than a set of rules! Anyone who thinks that is robbing himself of the greatest book there is or will be.

 

[Boanerge]

Sometimes I think some professing christians miss the point of Christ's love or having known His love in the beginning have gone astray trying to "live like a christian".

It's true that the Bible does seem like a Rule book. However it is a Rule book of certain things we do not consider to be rules. In other words, If i told you that to be a Christian you have to smile at everyone you see and shake the hand of your elders, will you get mad and say that this rule is too hard to follow? On the other hand, someone who has never heard me tell them this rule already follow it.

What I'm trying to say is that living like a Christian is common sense, plus a little more. Not only are we following the rules engraved in our hearts since before being born, we know where these actions come from. Now that we know the Author of the Good, we then become aquainted with the author of the Bad. Now the Right things seem too difficult to do because the Wrong things seem easier. This is where we slip.

If we only knew that the Law of our Lord was simple, we wouldn't be slipping half the time. This understanding lowers that chances of falling all the time, and gets us alot closer to God. It wasn't enough to set a Law for all to know, but to also seperate Righteous and Unrighteous when followed. Followed with the understanding that this is of God, and God is cleaning us off so that we can be with Him. Therefore its best that we live for Him, and follow his Law which is to Love the Lord with all our heart mind and soul, and to love our neighbors as yourself. There is nothing we can give to God that will please Him, but to give Him our all. His Will is so that we can inherit Eternal Life.

So don't "Try" to live like a christian, just live for God, unselfishly. we can please God by not living in a way that does not please Him. He already showed us what doesn't please Him. And it's simple, because hurting others, and hurting yourself doesn't please anyone.

If God saved you, then its only logical to live like a Saved person, and not like a sinner. You can not put on your sandles (rituals, ordinances, sacraments) to stand before the Presence of the Lord. You have to take off your sandles (repent, change your ways) to stand before the Presence of the Lord.

The Bible is then the Basis for understanding what God doesn't want from us, by understanding what God does want from us, to live Holy, for He is Holy. Living Holy is not complicated, just don't do what you know is wrong.

 

[Oblio]

The Bible is the written Tradition of the Holy Apostolic Church.

 

[Dad Ernie]

Greetings all,

The Bible is God's "revelation" of Himself AND "the life of man". Consider a new born baby. The first words a parent want to hear from a baby is "mama, or papa". They often speak these words because mama or papa is their "source" of existence. As a baby grows, they begin receiving instruction on how to live. As you know there are many do's and don'ts that a child must learn if s/he is going to survive in this world. Most parents want only what is best for the child. They teach them things not to hurt them, but to prepare them for the day when the child themselves are ready to be out on their own and become parents.

Isn't this what God's plan for man is?

Blessings,

Dad Ernie

 

[thereselittleflower]

The Bible is the written Tradition of the Holy Apostolic Church.

And Is part of and comes from the Sacred Tradition of the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.

The Bible is the Bible because the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church dtermined and declared it to be so as part of Sacred Tradition . .

Peace in Him!