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THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SCRIPTURES

After his death and resurrection, and before he ascended back to his Father, Jesus spent time with his followers, helping them to understand everything the Old Testament Scriptures said about him and preparing them for the local and worldwide mission that would follow on from his having accomplished eternal redemption for all who believe.

Step by step, as the message of salvation was being spread and gatherings of believers established in many different places, the New Testament Scriptures came into existence. These were separate documents written for groups of people and individuals (that were later collected together) and many copies were made of the individual manuscripts.

For example, the apostle John was a close eyewitness of the ministry, death, resurrection and ascension of Christ and the Holy Spirit inspired him to provide a written account of conversations and events. And he states the objective: “... these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name (John 20:31 ESV).” It is clear that John was not only supplying an important historical record. He was also reaching out to those who did not yet believe in Christ, supplying them with a basis for faith. (See also 1 John 1:1-4.)

Luke was not an eyewitness, but he thoroughly researched the testimony of those who were, and he wrote an account for an individual named Theophilus, stating his purpose: “... so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught (Luke 1:4 NIV).”

Luke followed this up with a second researched account (Acts 1:1-2), covering what happened during the three decades after Jesus’ ascension. Before Jesus was lifted up, watched by his disciples, he told them that the Holy Spirit would enable them to spread the good news about him “... in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest parts of the earth (Acts 1:8 NET).” Luke covers the early years of that expansion in Acts. And he became a part of the history too, as a later companion of the apostle Paul, indicated by the change of vocabulary from “they” to “we”, commencing in Acts 16:10.

Acts provides the context to much of the rest of the New Testament correspondence. 

And the mission continues across the generations until Jesus returns.

It is clear that Jesus wants the proclamation of the gospel to be Holy Spirit-enabled and Bible-based (Luke 24:44-49). 

Notice how Philip the evangelist was able to share the gospel with an Ethiopian who was reading a passage from the Old Testament: “... beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him the Good News about Jesus (Acts 8:35 NLT).” 

Look at the apostle Paul’s practice too (Acts 17:1-17; Romans 1:1-6 & 16:25-27) and his instruction to Timothy (2 Timothy 3:10-4:5). The apostle Peter puts Paul’s correspondence on equal standing with the Old Testament Scriptures (2 Peter 3:13-18).

In fact, the whole Bible is uniquely God-breathed and essential for our instruction. From Genesis to Revelation, both the Old Testament and the New Testament Scriptures. And they point us to Christ and our need of him.

If our understanding of the Bible is not centred on Jesus and his gospel we will drift and become engrossed with side issues or even weird theories.

Among those communities of christian believers that were established as a result of spreading the gospel, God gifted some with the Holy Spirit-enabled ability to faithfully expound the Scriptures, God’s Word. So that christians were (a) strengthened in their faith and (b) encouraged to build each other up for their life together as a church, as well as (c) being equipped for their daily interaction with others too. This is not the only ability given to believers by the Holy Spirit, then and now, but it is foundational. (See Ephesians 4:11-16, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, Acts 20:17-32, 1 Timothy 4:12-16 & Acts 18:24-28.)

The New Testament includes four compatible accounts of the gospel, written by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. As already stated, these were initially separate documents. They are also available today in separate printed form (as well as in editions of the full Bible). Handy to give one to someone who is not yet a christian, so that they can read the gospel for themselves. 

For everyone wanting to read the whole Bible, John's account is a good place to start. Followed by the Luke-Acts combination. Providing a foundation for then starting to read the whole Bible, step by step. For example, systematically reading (or listening to) a passage in both the Old Testament and the New Testament each day. 

God bless you.