ChristAliveHere.com
The Word
"In the beginning was the Word
and the Word was with God and the word was God" John 1:1
"Reading is the first thing, just reading the Bible. As we read we enter a new world of words and find ourselves in on a conversation. We didn't expect this. But this is precisely what generation after generation of Bible readers do find: The Bible is not only written about us but to us. In these pages we become insiders to a conversation in which God uses words to form and bless us, to teach and guide us, to forgive and save us" The Message, p. 9
The Bible
Most people have at least heard of the Bible because it is the highest selling book of all times.
Most of us Christians believe and many would say they know that the Bible is the inspired word of God, penned by human persons (e.g. Moses, the prophets, New Testament saints like Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and Paul). For millions the Word of God has a profound influence on their lives and they cannot imagine living without it. This website and its owner are committed to the Bible as foundational in our spiritual lives and that is what is portrayed in this website and blog.
On the other hand, some people believe the Bible is just a wisdom book written solely by humans, and they have varying attitudes toward it from bemusement, interest, and commitment, to downright rejection as fiction.
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We believe that the Bible is necessary for many reasons, and for us at ChristAliveHere.com the main reason for Scripture is that it is crucial to maintain spiritual life. Jesus said it best: " Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God." - Matthew 4:4. Jesus is saying that we need regular nourishment with the Word of God, just as our bodies need vegetables, protein and water every day. We are at risk if we neglect our spiritual food and water. In addition to spiritual nourishment, the Bible reveals God's will for us. Anthropologists and others point to the universality of some kind of ethical system that is taught and learned by members of society. Therefore, they argue that all of us have consciences. However, they may lack detail and certainty. No matter how we gain confidence in our own morality and values, we, and everyone are fallible. We are all ignorant of many things and because our experience and reasoning distort our perception of right and wrong and of God's will for us, we need the Bible to give us correct knowledge of so many things human and earthly, especially of things spiritual and ethical. [4]
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The Word, The Word
The quote from John 1:1 above is a profound spiritual and theological statement. "The Word" not only refers to the Bible but also to God's son Jesus Christ. In Genesis God says that his creation was good. (Genesis 1:10, 12, 18, 25) "God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. ”Jesus came to restore the world to the way God intended it to be, not to lead an exodus out of the world." [4]
In his work, The Cost of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer uses the word: Word quite often to refer not only to the Bible but also to Jesus. Some think of the incarnation only as victory of the spirit over the flesh, but it is also the fulfilment of what the flesh was made for in the first place. The flesh is also where God abides, despite humans' eager abuse of their bodies and others through sin. The work done with the world (Earth) is of intense interest and commitment to God. Therefore Jesus death and resurrection as well as his promise to come back to the world in the end show God's immense love of humans and planet Earth. The Word was made flesh and The Word is remembered and written down in the Bible.
The Living Word
The Bible is called the living Word of God. Not only is it useful to peoples all over the world but for all times as well. It is living, not dead because those who read it are able to see how it applies to their real everyday lives, to their most serious dilemmas and problems, as well as to current affairs and history. It has endured for centuries and is edited, brought to our vision and verified by God's Holy Spirit through his faithful servants. Indeed it is a spiritual book and is spiritually backed up, edited, and brought into remembrance.
The Bible is True
The Bible is also true. It is said that the Bible does not affirm anything that is contrary to fact. One scholar points out that the Bible is without error in that the people who wrote it spoke of what they actually saw and experienced. For example they can speak of the sun rising and rain falling and in everyday language that is truthful Now, if someone were in outer space viewing rain, it might be moving horizontally or even up vertically, but the fact is that it will be pulled by gravity toward the surface of the earth. Another example: If I say that I don't live far from my office, that is true. On the other hand, I might live 1 mile or 1.26 miles away, my original statement is still true even though it speaks my approximation. To be true what I am saying "should conform to the degree of precision implied by the speaker and expected by the hearers in the original context." [2]
From our point of view the book is true. It is spiritually alive , and must be spiritually recognized and understood. And most important, it is the Living Bible because it is life-giving to us.
[2] Grudem, pp. 90-91
These words of the author of Hebrews show how the Word impacts the everyday lives of the people.
"Work at getting along with each other and with God. Otherwise you’ll never get so much as a glimpse of God. Make sure no one gets left out of God’s generosity. Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time. Watch out for the Esau syndrome: trading away God’s lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite. You well know how Esau later regretted that impulsive act and wanted God’s blessing—but by then it was too late, tears or no tears." - Hebrews 12:14-17 MSG
The Hebrew Testament
The Hebrew or Old Testament is God's story prior to the birth of Jesus Christ. It is part of the History of salvation over the centuries and is very much connected to the New Testament, the good news taught by Jesus and his followers.
Many scholars spend most of their lives in fascination and study of the Hebrew Testament. It is rich with stories o human beings that God
chose to use to demonstrate his presence and action on Earth. One of the most interesting things about the Bible is the way God uses ordinary men and women to do his work, to show his mercy, compassion and the overwhelming power of his love. And this, in spite of human weakness, failure, and rebellion against his will. The Bible over and over shows how God and his Son Jesus Christ can transform ordinary people into saints. See the book: Twelve Ordinary Men..
{4] Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, (Grand Rapids, Michigan, Zondervan Publishing House, 1994), pp. 116-117