Dover Baptist BCS Principles of Biblical Communication Lesson 5

Dover Baptist BCS Principles of Biblical Communication Lesson 5

BC-502

Dover Baptist B.C.S.

“The School for Scholars”

Principles of Biblical Communication

By Larry D. Williams, Th.M

Lesson 5

The Word of God – The Master Resource

So far, we have noticed the three categories for Bible reference material which are: Historical, Devotional, and Technical. Although commentaries, encyclopedias, and devotionals are beneficial as helps, the true source of all absolute truth and authority is the Word of God itself. The doctrinal statement of a Bible based local church usually includes a statement such as: “The Bible is the final authority in all faith and practice.” Therefore, the writings and comments of men are profitable only when they are in harmony with the Word of God. We can use the example of seasoning food to illustrate this. Commentaries and other resources may help season the food, but the Word of God is the food. Those who read only commentaries without actual study of the Bible are like a plate of salt without the meat. Even Sunday school teachers are so addicted to prepare material that they have long since ceased to actually study the Bible for themselves. Every time when someonedoes actually study the Bible spiritually, they will discover something new that they never saw before.

The Word of God demands personal study. Even David had more than a daily devotional guide and Sunday school book in mind when he wrote: “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Psalm 119:9-11). Many pastors rely totally upon sermon outline books for their material and spend less time in the Word of God seeking a message from God. They are constantly looking for something that speaks to their people without allowing the Bible to personally speak to them.

The Bible is a Personal Book

Paul told Timothy, “Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord, that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (II Tim. 2:14-15). The conclusion is simple and direct. Bible study should be nothing more or less than a personal communication from God to the student. Any secondary source or resource that aids in that communication is beneficial, but any source or resource that eclipses the Bible can be harmful. The entire message of the Bible is God’s desire to restore fellowship with mankind. This fellowship is personal. Therefore, God desires to communicate with each believer on a personal basis. It is far more blessed to say, “God led me through your Word” than to say, “Dr. So and So said that we ought to follow the Lord.” Personal Bible study helps the believer make the transition into spiritual maturity. Peter wrote: “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious” (I Pet. 2:2-3).

The darkest days though out the Church Age have come as the result of the discouragement of personal Bible Study. The idea that the Word of God is not to be read and understood by all believers places followers of various religions at the mercy of its leaders. It is a proven fact in leadership that immature people require and respond to authoritarian leadership. Immature believers must be constantly told, what the Bible says, while mature believers search the Scriptures to see what God has said. When personal Bible study is discouraged, people remain in a state of immaturity, which makes them more susceptible to authoritarian leadership. This has led to many religious cults deceiving people from the truth of God’s Word, because of their immaturity not truly knowing the Scriptures of the Bible.

The Bible formula is that through proper teaching, personal study, and faithful local church association, men can mature into faithful ministers of God’s Word, and believers can be equipped for service. Colleges, Bible institutes, and seminaries may aid in the process, but should never replace it. Again as stated before, Personal Bible study should continue so that the believer will mature and grow spiritually in the Lord. Life changing principles obtained through a personal study and practical application of God’s Word are far better than a mere body of information and knowledge acquired at a school. All Bible study programs should be directed toward encouraging personal study and individual application of the principles of the Word of God. The immature believer constantly needs to hear “whosoever means you,” while mature believers can say, “whosoever surely meaneth me.” The strong point of personal maturity is clearly presented in the Hebrew Epistle: “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat” (Heb. 5:12). The strong point of personal maturity is not that a person has passed beyond being taught. Actually, the mature believer realizes the blessing of being taught. The strong point of personal maturity is that a person, through a personal knowledge of the Word of God, can teach others.

The Bible is a Divine Book

The Bible defines Itself as both God’s (His, Thy, etc.) Word and the Word of God. These expressions refer to that which is spoken by God and that which belongs to God. Because it is spoken by God, it has power and authority. Because it belongs to God, it is totally under His responsibility. When we communicate the message of the Word of God, we are proclaiming Divine power. When we claim the promises of the Word of God, we are relying on Divine Responsibility. For example: when we direct a lost sinner toward Christ, we are relying on God to keep His promises concerning salvation. When we issue a warning from the Word of God, we are urging the listeners to heed God’s authority. Without a Divine Bible, we have no basis for evangelism or spiritual instruction. The Bible is the Word of God, and as we begin to communicate it, we realize that “the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Heb. 4:12). We must also remember that the Bible is God’s Word, and we are merely entrusted with it. Paul wrote, “But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts” (I Thess. 2:4). Possessing a copy of God’s Word and communicating it’s message are responsibilities that we will surely give an account for. The Bible gives the rules for the usage of itself. Therefore, we have no right to adjust or alter its meaning and message. The Bible is divine in authority and ownership.

The Three Dimensions of the Word of God

The Word of God has three dimensions as well, and these dimensions give the Christian life quality and influence. These three dimensions are set forth in Revelation Chapter One, verse number two: “Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Christ, and of all things that he saw.” As God was preparing to complete the Revelation of Christ (the Bible), He presents the three dimensions of the Word of God.

The Historical Dimension

The first dimension is “the Word of God.” That is the Historical Dimension. The Bible is God’s Word, and it is historically correct. Everything recorded in the Bible is absolutely and unquestionably accurate. This dimension has to do with the mind. A person must accept the fact that the Bible is absolutely correct and free of error. You cannot approach the Bible with a liberal attitude seeking to find out what parts of the Bible are true. The entire Bible is the Word of God and is completely free of any error.

The Dispensational Dimension

The second dimension is “the testimony of Christ.” That is the Dispensational Dimension. A dispensation is a period of time in which God deals with man in a particular way concerning sin and responsibility. For example: during the dispensation of law (from Moses to Calvary), man worshiped God through a human priesthood and ceremonial ordinance. During the dispensation of grace (Calvary to the Rapture of the church), true worshippers of God are the royal priesthood and temple of God through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

The dispensational dimension has to do with what the Bible says about Christ. After man sinned and was separated from God, God promised the woman that her seed would provide deliverance for mankind from the curse of sin. (See Gen. 3:15) That is a rather vague promise because all we comprehend is that the Savior would be a man. However, as the Bible story unfolds, we learn more about this man until finally thousands of years later, Christ was born at Bethlehem. The man promised to Eve is revealed to be Jesus, God in flesh. This dimension has to do with the heart. As we study the historical facts of the Word of God, we should open our hearts to what the Bible says about Christ.

When Christ came to earth to fulfill the law and bring in the dispensation of grace, the Jews had a one dimensional view of God. Their view was strictly historical; that is, they knew and believed the recorded facts of the history of their forefathers. Therefore, their idea of salvation and worship was also one dimensional. They believed that their historical and genealogical link to the men of the Bible (Abraham, particularly) assured them a place in God’s eternal kingdom. Jesus came to His own, but they received him not, because they did not recognize him as the Messiah (See John 1:10-11). Christ challenged these one dimensional Jews to consider this second dimension of “the testimony of Christ.” He emphasized their historical and genealogical link to fallen Adam and their need of redemption. He commanded them to “Search the scriptures (Old Testament); for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me” (John 5:39). After His resurrection, Christ walked with two of His followers on the Road to Emmaus. Luke’s Gospel reveals the subject of their conversation: “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures (Old Testament) the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:27). The Dispensational Dimension challenges us to ask ourselves a question as we study each passage of Scripture; “What does this passage teach about the coming, ministry or promises concerning Christ?”

There are four words that describe the various ways Christ through which is presented in Scripture.

1)First, Christ is presented through promises. From the promise of His “wounded heel” redemption of fallen man in Genesis Chapter 3, to the glorious detail of His power and majesty in Isaiah’s prophecy, to the precise location of His birth given in Micah, the Bible is replete with promises of the coming Christ. Seeking and becoming sensitive to promises given in Scripture about Christ is not only a blessing, it also strengthens our faith in Christ. The giving and precise fulfillment of promises proves that Christ is indeed the Son of God and Savior of the World.

2)The Second way Christ is presented in Scripture is through pictures. These pictures are often referred to as “Types.” What is a Type? A Type is defined as a “divinely appointed illustration of some scriptural truth,” and “pictures or object lessons by which God taught His people concerning His grace and saving power.” We know that God does this because Christ Himself used types in His teaching. In the Book of Numbers, Moses set a brass serpent upon a pole for the people of Israel to look upon for deliverance from the bites of the poisonous serpents (Num. 21:8-9). Over fourteen hundred years later, Christ said, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:14-15). The brass serpent raised up on the pole was a “type,” or picture, of Christ’s death on the Cross.

3)The third way Christ is presented is in person. The four Gospels of the New Testament and the Book of Acts record the life of Christ from birth to ascension.

4)The fourth way Christ is presented is in position. In the Epistles of the New Testament, we see His position of being the Savior and Head of the Church. The Book of Revelation shows His position of glory and majesty as He judges and rules with divine power.

The Practical Dimension

The third dimension is the Practical Dimension. The Word of God is not only an accurate historical account of the history of God’s people. Nor is it just an account of the development of the plan of redemption through Christ, It was written for us to apply to our every day lives. It shows us the only way of salvation and the only way to have a spiritually prosperous life. The accounts of the Bible also give us examples to live by, and are written for our admonition to live the Christian faith (See I Cor. 10:11). Within our prayer that God would show us something in the Bible, we should ask Him for the wisdom and strength to apply these new found principles in our lives.

The Three Dimensions in This Study

We need all three dimensions to gain the full potential of God’s Word. There is a deadly philosophy being taught in our society today called “secular humanism” which finds its foundation in the ungodly teaching of evolution. Its mastermind, Satan, realizes that the Word of God was written for men to believe and practice. Therefore, he attacks the foundation of the Word of God which is the Historical Dimension. After all, if the Bible is not historically correct, it cannot be dispensationally correct. If it is not dispensationally correct, it is not practical. Our pulpits and classrooms, as well as our personal Bible study, need a balance of all three dimensions. Our goal should be nothing less than that our lives and the lives of those to whom we minister be reflected in all three dimensions of the Word of God. These three dimensions present God as Creator; Christ as Savior; and the Bible as our Guide. The Christian life should be one of the Word of God, and the testimony of Christ, being accurately and truthfully applied to that which we see.

Summary Statement

The Bible is God’s Word given for us to study and personally understand, communicate, and practice. As we study the Bible, we must realize that the Bible is the Word of God and is (1) historically accurate, also, within the Bible’s historical account, there is a progressive message about the (2) redemptive work of Christ. As we observe the history of God’s dealings with man and the work of Christ, we understand God pleasing (3) principles which we can practice in our everyday lives.

Principles of Biblical Communication

Exam 5

Name: ______Grade: ______

1. Although commentaries, encyclopedias, and devotionals are beneficial as ______, the true source of all ______truth and authority is: ______.

1. The writings and comments of men are profitable only when they are in ______with the ______.

1. The Word of God ______personal study. Give Reference passage? ______.

1. Personal Bible study helps the believer make the transition into ______, Give Reference passage? ______.

1. Immature people require and respond to ______leadership.

1. The expressions “God’s Word” and “the Word of God” refer to that which is ______by God and that which ______to God.

7. Without a ______Bible, we have no basis for ______or ______. Give Reference passage? ______.

1. Give the three Dimensions that are mentioned in this lesson?
2. The ______Dimension.
3. The ______Dimension.
4. The ______Dimension.

9. What is the deadly philosophy that is being taught in our societytoday?

• ______.

NOTE: (Value 5 points per fill-in lines)

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