Reading the Bible

We live in a dangerous age because people aren’t interested in the truth.

In generations past people sought to understand the world and the way we should live in it. This shaped my identity, my worldview and my virtues. This is why the Bible played a major role in the shaping people’s lives. Not anymore.

Today people decide the values they’ll live by without reference to the outside world. There is a celebration of freedom to do what you feel is right (which is also matched by litigation when your freedom impacts on me).

In this age the Bible seems irrelevant, archaic. Why read it? The are two answers given by preachers (which I don’t like):

1) Pragmatism

If you follow the advice from the Bible and it works then maybe it does have value.

2) Therapy

In our individualistic, ant-establishment age, we can feel alone. We look for comfort. If the Bible can provide this, then it does have value.

So my aim in reading the Bible is to see if it says something about the narrative of my life. To do this we’ll probably use either an allegorical or moral method. Let give an example. If you’re reading about rebuilding Jerusalem (like in Nehemiah), what does that say about your life? It could refer to your ministry at church (allegorical) or picking up the broken pieces of your soul (moral). If you can see your life in the text then you are filled with joy.

This is not how we are meant to read the Bible. The Bible is God explaining Himself, His creation and our place in it. Rather than the Bible being a narrative about MY life it is a narrative about GOD’S world. Instead of asking, “What does this say about my life?” the question is “Where do I fit in God’s plan?”

So how do you read the Bible? You read it in context, in history and as a whole. You read it to understand where we have come from and where we are going. You learn about where we have gone wrong and the new life we are meant to live. You’ll read sections that don’t directly relate to you because you need to see the bigger picture.

Life is not all about you. So if you want to understand how to live well, read your Bible thoughtfully.

Sanctification

How does someone live a holy life? That’s what sanctification is all about. To sanctify is to make holy. It sounds simple, but because of sin it’s complex. In fact, people have different thoughts on this.

1) John Wesley sees that a full and real conversion will express itself in love. This is the mark of holiness.

2) Charismatics look for the second blessing.  The Holy Spirit will bring about the sanctifying work we desire.
3) The Keswick movement looks for victory over sin by the Spirit and obedience

Now all agree that holiness should be taken seriously. However, they don’t agree about how holiness occurs. So let me outline my thoughts on the matter.

Holiness is about godliness

God is the Holy One (Job 6:10, Is 40:25, 43:15, 57:15, Hos 11:9). To be holy is to be like God or godly (Lev 11:44-45, 19:2, 20:7).

We are designed to reflect God as image bearers, but sin pollutes our lives.

 Jesus is sanctified

He is the sanctified one (John 10:36) who sanctifies himself for us (John 17:19). Here holiness is tied to Jesus’ mission on earth.

 God sanctifies us

God sanctifies Israel (Ex 19:22-24). We are described as sanctified (1 Cor 1:3, 6:9-10). This is what Jesus HAS DONE. In Christ we forgiven, cleansed and made holy (1 Peter 1:2). Hebrews 10 states this best- “And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

We live the sanctified life

Sanctification happens when we place our trust in Jesus (Acts 26:18). We are then called to pursue holiness (Hebrews 12:14). So what does this mean?
 
I think it means that we have an obligation to live according to the new identity given to us in Christ.

I get this idea from 1 Cor 6:9-11

Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

God’s will is for a holy people. He makes this a reality through Christ. Now we are called to live a totally different quality and character of life.

Can we achieve this? No, Christ has. And the Holy Spirit works in us to bring about the new risen life. The word of God challenges us to conform to our new life in Christ too. As we trust in Jesus, this also will lead to repentance and the pursuit of holiness.

In this life we will be plagued by the old man, so complete victory is unlikely. But we still work at placing our body at the disposal of God for righteousness (Rom 6:1-14).