The Bible (from 100 Bible Lessons by Alban Douglas)
Introduction
Next to the gift of Christ and the Holy Spirit, the Bible is the third greatest gift. Sir Walter Scott, himself the author of many books and the possessor. of a great library, said, “There is but one book, the Bible.”
The Bible is the oldest book in existence. It required sixteen centuries to write it; the first writer died 1,450 years before the last writer was born. The Bible lends itself to translation and has been translated in whole or in part in more than a thousand languages and dialects.
I Seven Crowning Wonders of the Bible
(pamphlet, Rev. Dyson Hague)
1 The wonder of its formation; one book written in one place in one language, another book written in another country centuries later in another language.
2 The wonder of its unification; it is a library of 66 books, yet only one book, for it has but one author, the Holy Spirit. There are no contradictions.
3 The wonder of its age; it is the most ancient of all books.
4 The wonder of its sale; it is the best seller of all time.
5 The wonder of its interest; it is the only book that is read by all classes, and ages of mankind. It is read by sages and children; read by all nations.
6 The wonder of its language; it was written largely by uneducated men, yet it is considered a literary masterpiece.
7 The wonder of its preservation; it has been the most hated of all books. Time and again kings and governments have sought to burn and abolish it. Yet God has preserved it for us today and it can be found in almost every home.
II Seven Symbols used to Illustrate the Word of God
1 A Sword: The Bible is a pointed Word that convicts the hearer. “For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit” (Hebrews 4:12).
2 A Hammer: The Bible is powerful and breaks the resistance of the hearer. “Is not My Word . . . saith the LORD . . . like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?” (Jeremiah 23:29).
3 A Seed: The Bible is a living Word regenerating the hearer. “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible (seed), by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever” (1 Peter 1:23).
4 A Mirror: The Bible is a faithful Word, revealing the individual to himself. James 1:23-25 likens the Bible to a mirror, in which the sinner (or saint) looks and sees a true reflection of himself as portrayed by the Lord Himself.
5 A Fire: The Bible is a burning Word, consuming the dross in the hearer. “ls not My Word like as a fire? saith the LORD.” (Jeremiah 23:29) “But His Word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones” (Jeremiah 20:9).
6 A Lamp: The Bible is an illuminating Word guiding the believer day by day. “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feel, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105).
7 Food: The Bible is nourishing food, feeding the soul (providing meat and drink). “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2. See also Hebrews 5:12-14). “I have fed you with milk, and not with meat” (1 Corinthians 3:2 ). “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10: 17). The Word of God convicts, breaks, regenerates, reveals, consumes, illuminates and nourishes the individual.
III Seven Reasons for Preaching the Word of God
In Mark 2:2, Jesus faced the multitude and made a tremendous decision; it was to preach the Word of God. We are sent to preach not a new Church but Christ as He is revealed in the Bible. We insist on preaching the Bible because it endures for time and eternity. “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the Word of our God shall stand for ever” (Isaiah 40:8).
1 Conviction of sin comes through the preaching of the Word of God (Acts 2:14-37). In Peter’s Pentecost sermon nine verses out of 23 are quotations from the Old Testament.
2 Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17).
3 Cleansing comes from the Word of God. “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1). The promises are the words of God.
4 Assurance comes from the Word of God. “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life” (1 John 5:13).
5 Comfort comes from the Word of God. “Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:18). These words are the words recorded in the Bible.
6 Truth comes from the Word of God “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in thatthey received the Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11).
7 The new birth comes from the Word of God. “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God” (1 Peter 1:23).
IV Seven Reasons Why Some do not Read the Word of God
Jeremiah 15:16
1 Ignorant of its truths; ignorant of its formation and the information available.
2 Some have no hunger, they have eaten—feeding on ashes (Isaiah 44:20); feeding on politics, comics, etc.
3 Sickness; a sin-sick soul has no appetite for the Word of God.
4 Lunching between meals; living in the light, frivolous non-essentials of life.
5 The Book lacks flavor for some; business, sports, education have taken prime interest.
6 The Book is too sweet (Revelation 10:8-10); the Book was sweet as honey in the mouth. Some think the Bible is only for the sick, aged, and the dying; too sweet and sentimental for practical, healthy people.
7 The Book is too bitter (Revelation 10:8-10); as soon as he had eaten the Book it became bitter in his belly. The truths of judgment, hell and sin are too bitter and some are afraid to read the Bible.
Let us say with Jeremiah in 15:16, “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart.”
V Seven Points to Remember in Reading the Bible
1 Read it lovingly. The Bible is the Word of my Savior to me (Psalm 119:11).
2 Read it reverently. The Bible is the Word of God, the Almighty Savior and Judge.
3 Read it prayerfully. The Bible is God’s message to me, to my own heart and life.
4 Read it meditatively. Be like Isaac of old and meditate on the Word of God.
5 Read it systematically. Read right through the Bible, not just selected portions.
6 Read it resolutely. I will obey that which my Father teaches me from His Book.
7 Read it daily. Not just on Sundays but every day of your life read a portion.
This is an excerpt from 100 Bible Lessons by Alban Douglas. This book is available at OMF Lit Bookshops, shop.omflit.com, Shopee, and Lazada for P450.
One Hundred Bible Lessons, written by Dr. Alban Douglas and first published in 1966, has editions in at least sixteen different languages. More than 400,000 copies have been sold, and the book continues to be an OMF Lit Bestseller.
It features comprehensive outlines of major Christian doctrines and key themes relevant to Christian life today. One Hundred Bible Lessons is an excellent reference for group and personal Bible studies, sermon preparation, and Sunday school classes.