Question:  Dear Greg,

            I believe the Bible is an inspired tool from God.  I believe our greatest gift from God is life.  There’s a question coming.  I believe that the entire Bible is relevant.  Being hung up on prophecy can be dangerous, but leaving out or excluding portions of it can be far worse.  There were prophets (Jesus was one) and there were inspired events laid out for the sake of humanity so that we can be prepared.

            If we fear and trust God then it drives us to seek him out and we do this through his inspired word and the teachings of his son, Christ.  So after rambling on, my question is whether God’s word is relevant at all?

            Ken

Answer:  Dear Ken,

            Well, yes, I would agree that your question rambles a bit!  But let’s consider a few of the points you made, allow me to respond and get to where it seems you are going.  I’ll respond to issues in the order you make them:

1.      The Bible is the inspired word of God.  Absolutely.  It is the final authority, the source of our belief and faith, the way that God directs us and corrects us and the written word that enables us to come to know the one true God.

2.      Our greatest gift from God is life, but not this physical life, but life eternal-- salvation which he gives us by his grace.  A gift.  The greatest gift.

3.      The entire Bible is relevant.  Of course.  It’s more than relevant—it’s authoritative.

4.      You are correct—being “hung up” on one portion of the Bible is dangerous, and so is leaving out, excluding or overlooking any of the Bible.

5.      Jesus was more than a prophet.  He was and is the Eternal Son of God, God in the flesh, Emmanuel (God with us).  He was a prophet, a teacher, a carpenter, a man from Nazareth —but he was (and is) God.  God is the core of the Bible.  The entire Bible hinges on the revelation of God, and it is the event when God comes to save us that is the fulcrum of the Bible.  The birth, life, death on the cross and resurrection from the tomb of Jesus Christ is the central focus of all of Scripture (see John 5:39 -40 for example).  The entire Bible is about Jesus Christ.  Thus we study the Bible in the light of Jesus, a Christo-centric approach to the Bible.  As Christians the entire Bible is meaningful and authoritative for us, but we understand and apply the entire Bible in the light of our Lord and Savior.  Thus, for example, Christians interpret and understand the Old Testament in the light of the New Testament—not the other way around.

            In Christ,

            Greg Albrecht