The Word

16

Intended Message

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) The Scriptures reveal an essential story in which its most crucial events happened out in the open. It is preserved in history, law, poetry, letters and prophecy. Together the sixty-six books of the Bible hold two main stories that are about covenants: agreements or conditional promises between man and God. The first was the covenant of Moses (Old Testament) and the other of Jesus (New Testament). The majority of Scripture build on these covenants. Prophecy connects the covenants where the first foreshadows the second. The covenant of Moses deals with a small race of people and their troubles in captivity. Israels exodus from Egypt and the Law given at Mt. Sinai continues to serve as an object lesson that reveals many things about God. The covenant of Jesus is within reach of all people and races. While it is best understood with the backdrop of Israels plight, their need of redemption, their law and their promised land, the new promise of Jesus is proposed for all mankind, regardless of heritage. The new covenant of Jesus does not depend on our rigorous and detailed obedience in the way of human legal contracts but is based first on Gods faithfulness and then on our perseverance. Likewise, Scripture places greater emphasis on crux beliefs about God, salvation and love of one another that it does matters of structure, roles, and other areas in which culture play a role. Scripture itself delineates core belief by reinforcing them with miracles, signs and wonders. Even though modern readers were not the original audience intended for these writings, all of Scripture can still be properly used for teaching, training, rebuking and correcting others, and making personal judgments, meditating and reflection.

The Word INTRODUCTION: The Scriptures developed center around two major covenants. These writings are Gods Word where its parts should first be understood for its original context and then applied to ours in a relevant manner. The general breakdown is: OLD Historical (seventeen) Poetic (five) Prophetic (seventeen) Accepted, before 1st century, B.C. Canonized in 1st century A.D. Exodus from Egypt to Sinai crucial stories The Word of God: 1. Provides Divine Guidance (Deuteronomy 4:32-40, 2 Timothy 3:16-17) NEW Historical (five) Letters (twenty-one) Prophetic (one) Roughly in 2nd century A.D. Canonized in 4th century A.D. Christs Death-Pentecost

a. THE God: Remember the only God who does great and awesome deeds (vs. 3234). b. The Story: The people of God were taught to remember the pinnacle story of their existence the Exodus (vs. 35-38). c. The Promise: Israel would receive instructions about their next place, the Promised Land (vs. 39-40). d. The Old Testament is largely formed around the history, meaning and implications of this epic event on a race of chosen people. e. The Bible is God-breathed and every book is useful for our lives (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Even though we do not follow every law associated with Moses/Sinai, as a rule, these teachings are useful to discern things of God and it is immensely helpful illuminating the New Testament. 2. Gives Us Prophecy of Hope (Isaiah 9:6-7, 53:3-7)

a. There is continuity in Scripture between predicted & fulfilled events. b. The Scriptures have a Christ-centric aspect to them. c. This amazing credential not found elsewhere in religion (Ref. 2 Peter 1:20-21) 3. Reveals Our True Self (James 1:21-25)

a. The Word saves and exposes truth about ourselves like a mirror. b. The proper way to respond to the Word is to immediately act upon what is revealed. 4. Helps Us Makes Daily Decisions (Acts 17:10-12)

a. Before making decisions based on what religious leaders say, compare their teachings and the things emphasized with that which Scripture emphasizes. b. Discern between right/wrong choices in your daily life.

5. Directs Us to Full Access to God

(Hebrews 10:1-10, 19-25)

a. A covenant is an agreement between parties involving promises. Covenants are very different from modern legal contracts. Read Meaning of Covenant. b. The two chief covenants in Scripture under Moses (vs. 1-4) and Jesus (vs. 5-10). c. The first covenant was a shadow of the second. While highly respected and useful its burdens were set aside once the covenant of Moses was fulfilled (vs. 9). d. The intention of law & covenant is unhindered access to God (vs. 19-23). e. Christian meetings such as worship, singing and teaching times are not about ritual but about relationships / community (vs. 24-25). 6. Contains Warning Indicators (1 Corinthians 10:1-13)

a. The Israelites had a similar voyage with same God (vs. 1-5). b. Some of the same sins plague professing Christians today (vs. 6-10). c. The entire word of God gives us case studies to learn from (vs. 11-13). 7. Contains the Path to Rebirth (1 Peter 1:22-25)

a. Once obeying the truth (vs. 22). b. Sincere love, deeply from the heart. c. Born of imperishable seed, through the word of God (vs. 23). CONCLUSION: The Word of God reveals God, describes his covenants, exposes us and leads to everlasting life. Are you interested in learning more about God. Illustration: Meaning of a Covenant A contract is a protective agreement that assumes suspicion. Limits and responsibilities are set up because of mistrust on the part of one or both parties. A covenant is an agreement based on trust and love. It holds regardless of numerous failings and will not be broken or dissolved unless the original persevering commitment ceases. An employer/employee relationship is contractual. A husband/wife or parent/child relationship is a covenant. The covenant of Moses was emphasized obeying THE LORD fully with some provisions of failure (Exodus 19:3-6, Numbers 15:22-30). The new covenant under Jesus emphasizes living in the light (1 Peter 2:9-10, 1 John 1:6)