“Evaluating the Evidence” — another look at understanding
the Bible — in the larger setting of the great controversy over God's character and
government.
The Bible is no mere collection of theological statements. Nor is it a code book of
deeds to be done and sins to be shunned. It is rather an inspired record of God's handling
of the crisis of distrust in His universe. To be confident that we see the real meaning,
we must view the Bible as a whole, relating all its parts to the one central theme —
the truth about God Himself. Of every story, teaching and event the same question must be
raised: What does this say about God? Another question naturally follows: Can we trust the
God that we see?
Bible passages included:
Habakkuk 2:7. "Thou shalt be for booties unto them." (KJV)
Job 41:18. "By his neesings a light doth shine." (KJV)
Exodus 28:11. "Ouches of gold." (KJV)
Luke 17:9. "I trow not." (KJV)
Romans 1: 13. "Oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was
let hitherto)." (KJV)
1 Thessalonians 4:15. "We which are alive and remain unto the
coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep." (KJV)
John 20:17. "Jesus saith unto her, 'Touch me not; for I am not
yet ascended to my Father.'" (KJV)
John 2:4. "Jesus saith unto her, 'Woman what have I to do with
thee?'" (KJV)
Matthew 11:4-6. "Jesus gave them this reply,'Go and tell John
what you hear and see — that blind men are recovering their sight, cripples are
walking, lepers being healed, the deaf hearing, the dead being raised to life and the good
news is being given to those in need. And happy is the man who never loses his faith in
me.'" (Phillips) (See Isaiah 35 and 61.)
Hebrews 1: 1-3. "In the past God spoke to our forefathers through
the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us
by his Son... The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his
being." (NIV)
John 5:39, 40. "You diligently study the Scriptures because you
think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about
me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life." (NIV)
Luke 24:27. "And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he
explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself" (NIV)
John 14:8, 9. "Philip said, 'Lord, show us the Father and that
will be enough for us.' Jesus answered: 'Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been
among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.'" (NIV)
John 16:26. "I do not promise to intercede with the Father for
you, for the Father loves you himself" (Goodspeed)
1 Corinthians 10:4. "They all drank from the supernatural Rock
that accompanied their travels — and the Rock was Christ." (NEB)
Matthew 19:7, 8. "The Pharisees asked him,'Why, then, did Moses
give the law for a man to hand his wife a divorce notice and send her away.?' Jesus
answered, 'Moses gave you permission to divorce your wives because you are so hard to
teach. But it was not like that at the time of creation."' (GNB)
A statement of the purpose and method of Bible study.
The great purpose of the Bible is to reveal the truth about our heavenly Father that we
may be won back to Him in love and trust. This truth, this everlasting good news, is to be
found in every one of the sixty-six books. But to discover this truth we must learn more
than just what happened to Samson and Delilah, to David and Bathsheba, to Gideon and his
fleece. The all-important question is, What do these stories tell us about God?
If one does not ask this question, much of the content of Scripture may seem unrelated
to the plan of salvation, even perplexing, sometimes even contradictory. But when one
learns to view the Bible as a whole, there emerges a consistent picture of an all-wise and
gracious God who seems willing to go to any length to keep in touch with His people, to
stoop and reach them where they are, to speak a language they can understand. And the
further one reads on, book by book, the more one is moved with love and admiration for a
God who would be willing to run such risk, to pay such a price, in order to keep open the
lines of communication between Himself and His wayward children.
God will save all who trust Him. But He has not asked us to trust Him as a stranger.
The Bible — all of it — is a record of God's revelation and demonstration of
infinite trustworthiness.
©1984 Graham Maxwell
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