Back to basics: speaking on Scripture Part 2

Norm giving his reasons for why he believes the Bible and why it is true he was there when it was written.

Just a couple things that I, being a nerd, would like to tack onto it that I find incredible.

The Quran: One author, 23 years. (Doesn’t make it inherently untrue). The Lord of the Rings: One author, 16 years. Silmarillion: Over 40 years. The Bible: 40 Authors, Over 1600 years

Batman: Over 40 years, 17 authors- all change the character. In 80 years he has gone from this to this. In various iterations he either hates Superman, distrusts him, they’re best friends. He’s addicted to drugs, he claims never to have touched the stuff. He uses a gun, he vows never to kill anybody or use a gun to make sure nobody had to go through what he had to go through.

The Bible is truly an extraordinary book. It’s compiled by many different people, over thousands of years, yet it all points to one person who doesn’t change between the books: Jesus.

I recently saw a comparison of LotR and Narnia, because Tolkien (a Catholic) actively hated Narnia, he thought it was silly that Fauns and Santa should exist in the same world, especially a world created by his educated friend C.S. Lewis (A protestant). And in this article the author, who was Catholic, said that the difference between Protestants and Catholics is that the most important thing to the Catholics is Jesus and the most important thing to Protestants is Scripture. And I reject that notion, because Scripture is what reveals Jesus, it’s the thing that tells us about our saviour from start to finish. So let’s talk about this amazing book. Starting with the cross-references.

I like this graphic made by Cristoph Römhild and Chris Harrison about all of the cross-references in the Bible. Over 60,000 of them, all of which point to Jesus.

Ps 23:1-3 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

3He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness

for his name's sake.

For His Name’s Sake. Yes he does good to us, but he does it for the sake of His name.

Isaiah 43:21- the people whom I formed for myself

that they might declare my praise.

Isaiah 49:26- Then all flesh shall know

that I am the Lord your Savior,

Psalm 106:8- Yet he saved them for his name's sake,

that he might make known his mighty power.

Ezekiel 20:9- But I acted for the sake of my name

2 Samuel 7: 13- He shall build a house for my name

John 7:18- The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood

Matthew 5:16- In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that[b]they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Romans 9:17- For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”

Hopefully you have the idea by now, but I am going to tell you something that might be hard to hear, but trust me when I say it’s so freeing: The Bible is not about you.

Have you ever heard a sermon where whoever’s speaking says something like “You need a Saul in your life, because who does that make you? David”. I’m going to quote Matt Chandler when he discussed this issue, because I think it’s a great quote.

“If you read the Bible incorrectly You’ll keep infusing yourself into the story like you’re the hero. You’re not David, your trouble in life is not Goliath. And if it is you’re in a lot of trouble because you miss. Goliath is still there, now what. “Well I had 5” You’ll miss all 5. At that point you’ll wish you had the armour from Saul. Jesus is the greater David, the greater Moses, the greater Abrahamm he is the “Greater Than”.”

Story of David: An unkillable foe, a scared people, a shepherd who defeats that foe with an unexpected but logical weapon.

David- Jesus, sin and death- Goliath, Death and resurrection- the stone. Who does that make us? The Israelites in the corner going “He’s going to kill us all”.

He doesn’t want me to be gloried in- he wants that for himself. He saved me to make much of himself. Have you ever noticed how God tends to use people who it doesn’t make much sense for him to use? Let’s look at one example that I’ve already used- David. Weird question anybody committed adultery, like actual took somebody else’s wife adultery? Maybe a few people here, maybe nobody. Did anybody do

that and then murder her husband, who also happened to be one of your best friends?

David is a bum- a bum that God uses for his purposes and his glory.

Another good example is actually a Pharisee. Anybody imprisoned, beaten, and murdered people for proclaiming the word of the Lord? Well there’s a guy who did named Paul, and he wrote over 70% of the New Testament. He tells Timothy in 1 Timothy 1:15 that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.”

God does not love only some future version of you. You might think “oh I can never be saved by Jesus, you don’t know what I’ve done. He would’ve added an appendix to the Bible if you saw my life”. That is as selfish of a way of thinking as “Oh yeah, of course Jesus would save me, I can do so much for him”.

Both ways of thinking negate the power of the cross. There is no sin too great that Jesus can’t save you from it, and no sin too small that you don’t need saving from it. This is why there is no swaggering in God’s kingdom, and why there is no limping either. God gives salvation freely to those who ask for mercy and humble themselves in repentance. Steve is speaking more on Salvation next week so I don’t want to steal his thunder, but turn to the Lord and he will save you from yourself.

Almost all of our conflict in our lives come from an anthrocentric universe model, meaning that the conflict comes from us believing the world is about you and revolves around you. And you might not think you think this way, but we all do. You’re sitting in traffic and yelling at the guy to “get out of the left lane!” You’re in an argument with your

spouse because they were wrong, there’s tension at work because they’re picking on you, school isn’t going well because a teacher is out to get you. The more life is about you, the more angry and tired you will be. The more it’s not about you, the more free you will be.

Because you are not the main character in any story. If God is for God, then you are not the centre of the universe. And that’s such a relief, which I can explain. Can you imagine being the main character? The narrative burden of existence is on you. I’m going to tell you right now, you would be crushed by that weight. Look at Frodo, from LotR. He is the best example of the burden of being the main character in any media I can think of. He ends up so bogged down by carrying the responsibility of existence that he ends up leaving the world to go to an eternal one (sound familiar?). But not being the main character frees you up from all of that. Because the main character is Jesus, and he freed you from everything you suffer under.

A really good example of somebody who genuinely lived like this is Paul. We’ll kill you. To die is gain. We’ll leave you alone. To live is Christ. We’ll torture you. Well I do not compare the sufferings of this world to the future glory. We’ll put you in prison. I’ll convert all your guards and sing. Paul was untouchable because he knew he wasn’t the main character, he was given Jesus’ righteousness.

Since God is for God, God is not after my begrudging submission but after my joy. David delighted in God’s law, meditating on it day and night. All the commands of God are meant to lead you into greater life and greater joy and to line you up with how he designed things to work, rather than your way which doesn’t work. God knows how it works because he designed it, greater life is found in obedience to how He wired the universe, rather than how you think the universe works. The

law was given because you can’t earn righteousness, and in your “can’t” you will seek out a saviour.

Does anybody know how many Messianic Prophecies there are? 300? 320? Somewhere around there? ALL of the Bible is a Messianic prophecy, it all points to Jesus. Jesus himself explains to two of his disciples in Luke 24:25-27 how it all points to him.

And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning

with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

J.D. Grear has a really good quote about this, when he says “We don’t know exactly what Jesus said, but I have to imagine it would be something like this: In Genesis, I was the Word of God, creating the heavens and the earth.

In Exodus, I was the Passover Lamb, whose blood was sprinkled on the doorposts of your heart so that you could escape the bonds of slavery. In Leviticus, I was the temple, the holy place where you met with God. In Numbers, I was your ever-present guide, your pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night.

In Deuteronomy, I was the prophet coming who is greater than Moses.

In Joshua, I was the conquering warrior leading you into the Promised Land.

In Judges, I was the broken Savior rising up to rescue you. In Ruth, I was your kinsman-redeemer.

In 1&2 Samuel, I was the pure-hearted shepherd king, who rushed out to face your giants all alone.

In 1&2 Kings, I was the righteous ruler.

In 1&2 Chronicles, I was the restorer of the kingdom.

In Ezra, the faithful scribe.

In Nehemiah, the rebuilder of the walls.

In Esther, I was your advocate, risking my life to restore you to royalty.

In Job, I was your living Redeemer.

In the Psalms, I was the one who hears your cries.

In Proverbs, I am wisdom personified.

In Ecclesiastes, I am the meaning that lets you escape the madness. In the Song of Solomon, I am your lover and your bridegroom.

In Isaiah, I was the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, wounded for your transgressions and bruised for your iniquities.

In Jeremiah, I am the Spirit that writes God’s laws on your hearts. In Lamentations, I was the weeping prophet.

In Ezekiel, I was the river of life bringing healing to the nations. In Daniel, the fourth man in the fire.

In Hosea, I was the ever-faithful husband pursuing my unfaithful bride. In Joel, I was the restorer of all that the locusts have eaten.

In Amos, I was your burden bearer.

In Obadiah, the judge of all the earth.

In Jonah, the prophet cast out into the storm so that you could be brought in.

In Micah, the everlasting ruler born to us in Bethlehem.

In Nahum, the Avenger of God’s elect.

In Habakkuk, your reason to rejoice even when our fields are empty. In Zephaniah, I am the great Reformer.

In Haggai, the cleansing fountain.

In Zechariah, the pierced Son whom every eye on earth will one day behold.

And in Malachi, I am the Sun of Righteousness rising with healing in my wings.

But the Bible doesn’t end there. He wasn’t just promised. He came.

In Matthew, he’s the King of the Jews.

In Mark, he’s the Son of God.

In Luke, he’s the Savior born to us in the city of David, Christ the Lord. In John, he’s the Word become flesh, dwelling among us. In Acts, he is Christ the risen Lord, proclaiming salvation to the nations.

In Romans, he’s the Justifier.

In 1&2 Corinthians, the Spirit at work in the churches.

In Galatians, he is the righteousness imputed to us by faith. In Ephesians, our righteous armor.

In Philippians, the God who meets our every need.

In Colossians, the firstborn of all creation.

In 1&2 Thessalonians, he’s descending from heaving with a shout, coming to meet us together in the clouds.

In 1&2 Timothy, the one mediator between God and man. In Titus, our faithful pastor.

In Philemon, our Redeemer, restoring us to service.

In Hebrews, our great high priest.

In James, the life at work in our faith.

In 1&2 Peter, our living cornerstone.

In 1, 2, and 3 John, our advocate, pleading his righteousness in our place.

In Jude, he’s God our Savior, the one who keeps us from stumbling and presents us blameless in his presence with great joy.

And in Revelation, he’s the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world, the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

It’s always only ever been about him. He is the center of it all.

So take that focus off of yourself. It’s all about him. Where am I going to get a job? Wherever will bring him the most glory, and your job is to give him the glory wherever you are. Where should I go to school? You’ll be where he wants you, because he can use you anywhere. How many kids should I have? Doesn’t matter, raise them in Godliness. Should I retire? Whether in retirement or work, do all to the glory of God.

Paul tells Timothy that “God saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.”

You’re free from the burden of being the main character, Scripture is not about you, it’s about Him. This amazing book tells you everything you need to know about Jesus while you’re on earth. Embrace that, and run to the redeeming, loving arms of our Saviour, the Bible’s main character. Turn your eyes off of your own self-interest, Jesus wants your attention, that’s why he wrote the book.