Is The Bible Still Relevant? Tre Townsley MIDWEEK

 Is The Bible Still Relevant?

 Questions of the Bible's relevance typically come from those who read

without understanding, read with pre-existing bias against it, or don't read

it at all.

 What makes something relevant? Miriam-Webster: 1) Having significant

and demonstrable bearing on the matter at hand. 2) Affording evidence

tending to prove or disprove the matter at issue or under discussion.

 Does the subject matter of the Bible have significant bearing on the plight

of man 

The Bible is relevant because it deals with issues of man’s origin, purpose, justice

(this age & the age to come), and after-life. Even if one does not believe

redemption is necessary, he/she must acknowledge that these four issues weigh

heavily on the average person and their lifestyle & worldview.

1. Purpose (Why am I here?) In order to know purpose, we must connect with

the originator.

o Genesis 1:26-27 “ 26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our

likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl

of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping

thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image, in

the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”

o Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good

works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

o Ecclesiastes 12:13 “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God,

and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”

2. Justice (Does God care about injustice?)

o Proverbs 21:3 “To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than

sacrifice.” (tsed-aw-kaw):rightness or righteousness

o Micah 6:8 “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD

require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy

God?” (mish-pawt) to pronounce a just verdict

o Luke 18:1-8 “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought

always to pray, and not to faint; 2 Saying, there was in a city a judge, which feared

not God, neither regarded man: 3 And there was a widow in that city; and she

came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. 4 And he would not for a

while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard

man; 5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her

continual coming she weary me. 6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge

saith. 7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto

him, though he bear long with them? 8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily.

Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”

Avenge (ek-dik-eh) vindicate or mete out justice

3. After-Life (What happens next?) For many, the fear of death (or the unknown

after death) is the greatest fear of life. What does the Bible teach?

o 1 Corinthians 15: 1-4, 12-20, 51-57 “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the

gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye

stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto

you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that

which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the

scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day

according to the scriptures// 14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching

vain, and your faith is also vain. 15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God;

because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not

up, if so be that the dead rise not. 16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ

raised: 17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18

Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 19 If in this life only

we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 20 But now is Christ

risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.// 51 Behold, I

shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a

moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound,

and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this

corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So

when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have

put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death

is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy

victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks

be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

1 Peter 3:15 instructs us to always be ready to give an answer to every person

that asks for a reason we as believers are so hopeful. From scientific biological

agreement with eighth day circumcision (Genesis 17:12) to psychological

agreement that a joyful heart can promote physical healing (Proverbs 17:22) to

historical agreement of prophecy fulfilled down to small details (Ezekiel 26:1-14)

and so many more, the Bible has proven itself to be much more than an ancient

document to be cast aside. On the contrary, it continually proves itself to be

accurate and quite relevant even in today’s culture.