How Is Your Approach?

How you approach any writing will reflect your understanding of it. Take for example the high school student and how he or she might approach a history textbook. If the student has been told history is boring or has experienced a poor teacher of history in their earlier years, then chances are he or she will view the current history textbook as boring before he or she reads the first page. The same is true when people approach the Bible; and perhaps, more so because when it comes to understanding the Bible, purpose matters.

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Some approach the Bible as a rule book; and, if they follow the rules, they might gain entry into heaven. Others see the Bible as a historical document or as an ancient work of literature. Although the Bible does give instructions on how to enter heaven and contains historical facts and is literature, it was not given to be a rulebook, nor a history book, nor is it to be studied as another piece of literature. None of these approaches consider the purpose of the Bible.

The Apostle John in his short epistle titled 1 John gives us the clear purpose of the Bible:

…that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:3 ESV)

The purpose of scripture is to restore a fellowship, a broken relationship between people and their creator that has been breached because of sin. The Bible is God reaching down to fallen man with love and hope. When approached with its right purpose in view, the Bible comes alive. Lives are changed. They are changed by the power of a personal relationship with God.

Check out these related articles: Why Believe the Bible and A Delight

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