Category Archives: Understanding the Bible

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The Bible Is Not Aladdin’s Lamp

The Bible is a unique book—but it is still a book. Yet, many think they have to read the Bible differently than any other book they read, like it is a book of magic. At the other end of the spectrum, some people read Scripture as an academic book of literature or history only—discounting the miraculous part of it—and miss the heart of its message. Biblical scholar Roy Zuck offers good advice:

The Bible then . . . is a human book and is also a divine book. Neither can be denied. If we look on the book as only human, then we approach the Bible rationally. If we look on the book as only divine while ignoring its human elements, we approach the Bible as a mystical book. Seeing that the Bible is both human and divine, we seek to interpret it as we would any other book while at the same time affirming its uniqueness as a book of divine truth from the hand of God.

God chose to reveal himself to prophets and apostles in time and space to a particular culture. That means language, grammar, syntax, historical setting, and literary devices matter. Recognizing these realties and growing in our skill as thoughtful readers will help us handle accurately the word of truth.

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” – 2 Tim. 2:15 (NASB)

So where should you start? I explain the basics concepts of how to read and understand the Bible for yourself here (chapter 9).

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Why Do We Call It Christmas?

So what is the real story of Christmas? What’s the truth behind all the traditions? Here is a GREAT resource for the whole family–Why Do We Call It Christmas? We loved What’s in the Bible with Buck Denver (9 DVD’s on the Old Testament) and this is great as well. As someone who has been to grad school and studied these issues, its refreshing to see a series that does not sacrifice either theological depth or creativity. Kids can handle a lot more than we usually give them! This series has wonderful characters and communicates a level of biblical understanding that many adults will benefit from as well (our 5 and 7 year olds really like it). Clive and Ian are our personal favorites…enjoy!

If you or your children have ever wondered how Christmas has become the holiday we celebrate today, our DVD Buck Denver asks…Why Do We Call It Christmas? is perfect for you! Join intrepid newsman Buck Denver and his friends as they ask and answer big questions about Christmas.

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The Most Important Thing People Need To Know About Hell (And Heaven Too…)

Because we have been so bombarded with images of flames and devils with pitchforks, we fail to see that the essence of hell is relational. The apostle Paul, who was well tutored in the Hebrew Scriptures and a careful student of Jesus’ teachings, taught that hell is a place where people:

“pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.” (2 Thess. 1:7)

Hell is the absence of relationship with our creator. It is utter darkness and where the silence of God will be absolute (a truly horrifying thought).

This brings us to a very common misconception about heaven in our culture. Leaving aside images of chubby cherubs, many have this idea that heaven is an eternal pleasure factory in the sky where people get everything they want. This is deeply flawed and incorrect. Heaven is where God is. So if we don’t like living in God’s limited presence now, then we really won’t like it later!

Think of it this way. Imagine that heaven were an eternal Opera. While I recognize the talent and skill of Opera singers, an eternal Opera would be hell for me if I really don’t like opera! In the same way, heaven would be hell for someone who does not want life with God. Moreover, the pleasure that we enjoy in heaven flows out of our relationship with God; enjoying his creative goodness and joy forever and ever without end.

Tim Keller observes that thinking of hell in relational terms is foreign to most people:

“Modern people inevitably think hell works like this: God gives us time, but if we haven’t made the right choices by the end of our lives, he casts our souls into hell for all eternity. As the poor souls fall through space, they cry out for mercy, but God says “Too late! You had your chance! Now you will suffer!” This caricature misunderstands the very nature of evil. The Biblical picture is that sin separates us from the presence of God, which is the source of all joy and indeed of all love, wisdom, or good things of any sort. Since we were originally created for God’s immediate presence, only before his face will we thrive, flourish, and achieve our highest potential….To lose his presence totally, that would be hell—the loss of our capability for giving or receiving love or joy.”

So the most important thing we need to know about heaven and hell is this: The essence of heaven and hell is relational because heaven (i.e., eternal life) is primarily defined as life with God and hell as life without God.

“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” – John 17:3

**If you are interested in exploring these questions further, I have written more here.

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How Were People Saved in the Old Testament?

First and foremost, the Bible teaches that salvation is always…

– Offered by the grace of God
– Based on the atoning death of Jesus Christ
– Received by the exercise of faith
– Applied by the work of the Holy Spirit

Until the time of Christ, the object of faith was God (cf. Gen 15:6 “And Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness”). Once Jesus Christ had been crucified and raised from the dead, Paul declared:

“Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”—Acts 17:30-31

This transition is consistent with the theological truth revealed in the book of Romans:

“But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”—Romans 3:21-26

God has progressively revealed his gracious rescue plan to the nations over several millennia. But the focal point of this plan has always been the person and work of Jesus Christ.

*In case you missed it, you might be interested in the related post – “What about those who have never heard about Jesus?”

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What About Those Who Have Never Heard About Jesus?

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The other night I had the opportunity to speak at MTSU to some great college students on the question Is Jesus the Only Way to God? In the Q & A time afterwards, this question came up and what follows is the biblical framework I shared with them. Any distinctively Christian answer to this challenging question must account for (at least) the following passages / revealed truths as we reason from the scriptures.

  1. God is compassionate and just (Gen. 18:25; Deut. 32:4; Pss. 7:9; 85:11; 89:14; 145:8–9; Rev. 16:7).
  2. All are sinners in need of a savior (Rom. 3:10–18, 23; 5:12–21; 6:23; Eph. 2:1–3).
  3. Jesus Christ is the only means of salvation (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 Tim. 2:5; 4:10; 1 John 2:2) and the only way to God.
  4. Since the time following the resurrection of Jesus, no one can be saved apart from the knowledge of Christ (Acts 16:31; Rom. 10:14; Acts 17:30-31).
  5. God genuinely desires all to be saved (Ezek. 18:23; John 3:16; 1 Tim. 2:3–6; 2 Peter 3:9).
  6. God has revealed Himself to the whole world both in creation (Ps. 19:1–2; Acts 14:15–17; Rom. 1:19–20) and human conscience (Eccl. 3:11; Rom. 2:14–16), so that people are without excuse.
  7. God’s Spirit is at work convicting the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8–11).
  8. Christians are commanded to take the gospel to the whole world (Matt. 28:19–20; Acts 1:8).
  9. God has providentially arranged the world so that people might seek Him and everyone who seeks Him will find Him (Acts 17:24–28 cf. Heb. 11:6; Jer. 29:13; Acts 10:35).
  10. There will be people from every tribe, tongue, and nation in heaven (Rev. 7:9).
  11. The awful reality of hell indicates that not everyone is saved in the end (Matt. 10:28; 25:31–46; 2 Thess. 1:7–9).
  12. There is not a second chance after death to accept the Gospel (Heb. 9:27).

It Is Crucial to Remember:

First, people are Judged for their sins—not what they don’t know. The Bible clearly teaches that people are judged for their willful sins (Rev. 20:12–15; cf. Isa. 64:6–7; Matt. 5:48; 12:36; 2 Tim. 4:14; James 2:10–11) according to the standard of revelation they have received (Rom. 2:4–16; James 4:17). They are not condemned because a missionary never made it to them and they never heard the name of Jesus.

Second, they are already condemned and actively choosing life away from God (though this will look differently for all of us). Humanity’s universal problem is that we suppress the truth available to everyone that God exists (cf. Rom. 1), mute our conscience and fail to live up to even our own standards (Rom. 2), and ultimately want to go our own way (Rom. 3).

Finally, God has many ways to get the message of the Gospel to those who seek him–(through missionaries, dreams, visions, radio, Bibles, internet, TV, tracts etc.).

At the end of the day, God doesn’t specifically answer this question to our (emotional) satisfaction in the Bible. We are left with some mystery when it comes to saying exactly how God will work out His plan of salvation among the nations. Therefore we trust ultimately in His goodness and justice. Will not the judge of the earth do right?

*Thoughtful, Bible believing Christians approach this question in different ways in light of the passages mentioned above, but I have found William Lane Craig’s approach to this question to be helpful (click here to listen)

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