The Word
Christian Faith
This You Can Believe
Faith Seeking Understanding
Object:
The Means Of Grace
In the Apostles' Creed we confess that we believe in the forgiveness of sins. Through the forgiveness of sins we gain a right relationship with God. Forgiveness comes to us by what the church calls "the means of grace," consisting of Word and Sacraments. "Grace" is the infinite undeserved love of God for lost sinners. "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me." "Means" is a way grace (forgiveness) comes to us as channels or conduits bringing grace from God to the repentant sinner. If you visit Alaska, you will most likely see the oil pipeline that brings oil from north Alaska to the south at Valdez, where oil is put on tankers to be shipped south to a refinery. The pipeline is the means of bringing oil from the north to the south over hundreds of miles, just as Word and Sacraments bring grace to repentant believers.
The grace of God is as vast as an ocean. How can grace come to me, a small, finite believer? Whenever we want to pour a liquid from a large container to a small one, we use a funnel. The Word and Sacraments serve as a funnel bringing grace to the individual. Consider the diagram below.
(The diagram is only available in the printed version of this book.)
How can the forgiveness of God become a personal experience? How can a sinner be sure of God's forgiveness? How can one's guilt be removed and peace come to the heart through forgiveness? Consider the possibilities:
1. We can read about forgiveness in the Bible. Psalm 130:4 assures us that "There is forgiveness with you." It is good to know that God forgives, but how can one be sure he forgives me?
2. We can pray for forgiveness. David prayed, "Have mercy on me, O God ... blot out my transgressions" (Psalm 51:1). But how do I know my prayer was answered?
3. We can hear about forgiveness when the Word is preached and/or taught. A paralytic heard Jesus say, "Son, your sins are forgiven" (Mark 2:5). But I may never hear Jesus say that to me personally.
4. We can experience forgiveness through the Sacraments. It is the best way to know one is forgiven. Sacraments make forgiveness a specific, personal, and concrete assurance of pardon. It is something you can see, feel, and taste. Forgiveness comes in baptism: "Repent and be baptized ... so that your sins may be forgiven" (Acts 2:38). In Holy Communion forgiveness is received. Jesus said, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins" (Matthew 26:28). The holy bread is the broken body and the cup is the shed blood of Christ. What more proof do we need that he died for the forgiveness of our sins?
The Word Of God
When we talk about the Word of God, what do we mean by "word"? What is the Word? The Word itself means communication, disclosure, and revelation. The Word is spoken and enacted. It is the way God reveals his nature and his will. He speaks only truth and his Word is grace. There is power in his Word, for it includes word and deed. God created the world by Word. " 'Let there be light' and it was so" (Genesis 1:14, 15). The word of the cross, according to Paul, is the power of salvation (1 Corinthians 1:18).
When we speak about "the Word of God," what do we mean? Just what is the Word of God? First, we mean that God's Word is God's total revelation of himself from Genesis to Revelation. It includes God's mighty acts in the history of the Hebrews culminating in the founding of the church. The revelation goes from Adam and Eve to Abraham to Moses to David to Jesus.
Second, the Word of God is the incarnate Word, Jesus Christ. The Word is personalized in Jesus. "The Word became flesh and lived among us" (John 1:14). The grace, love, and truth of God were personified in Jesus. He is the final, ultimate, and perfect revelation of God the Father. Christ is the heart and center of the Bible. Luther explained that the Bible is the cradle that holds the Christ-child.
Third, the Word of God is the Bible, both Old and New Testaments. The Bible is the record of God's revelation through history. The Word is enclosed in the words of the Bible. The scriptures do not only contain the Word but are the Word, for container and contents cannot be separated any more than perfume can exist apart from the perfume bottle. In light of this, the Protestant Church holds that the Bible is the sole authority in matters of faith and life. The only textbook of the church is the Bible, which the church is mandated to preach and teach. Therefore, tradition, reason, and experience are secondary in authority. Reading, teaching, and preaching the Bible are essential. The tragedy of our day is biblical illiteracy as shown by the answers of certain students:
* "Noah's wife was the Joan of Ark."
* "Lot's wife was a pillar of salt by day and a ball of fire by night."
* "The sixth commandment: Thou shalt not admit adultery."
* "Epistles were the wives of the apostles."
* "A Christian has only one wife. This is called monotony."
Forms Of The Word
The Word of God comes to us in three forms: oral, visible, and written. The oral form comes in preaching, teaching, and witnessing. This is the original form before the Bible was written. The visible form comes in the Sacraments, Baptism and Eucharist. The written form comes last in the scriptures. The oral form comes to us through the ear. The visible form comes through the body by water, bread, and wine. The written form comes through the eye as we read it. The written form is the latest of the three. Each form is equally valid and authoritative. At a worship service all three forms may be received: preaching, teaching, reading the Lessons, and the reception of a Sacrament. The end result of the three forms is the creation and preservation of a Christian and the church. We may put the above in a diagram:
(The diagram is only available in the printed version of this book.)
Interpreting The Word
When we read the Word (Bible), do we understand what we read? That was Philip's question to the Ethiopian eunuch while seated in his chariot: "Do you understand what you are reading?" (Acts 8:30). The Bible is not only to be read but to be properly interpreted. Faulty interpretation can lead to falsehood, dissension, and division among believers. The main problem is eisegesis, the reading of one's opinions into the text rather than getting the truth out of the text (exegesis). The average Bible reader needs to keep the following principles of interpretation in mind:
1. Interpret the Bible literally except when the Bible intends it to be taken figuratively. Example of figurative: Matthew 5:30 -- "If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away." Example of literal: John 3:16 -- "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son...."
2. Read the Bible in the light of the historical and cultural situation prevailing at the time of writing. For example: read Ruth in the light of the prejudice against Jews having foreign wives.
3. Read the Bible according to the type of literature you are reading. It may be poetry as the Psalms, history as in Samuel, a sermon as in Hebrews.
4. Read the Bible in the context of the whole Bible. It is wrong to take a verse or passage out of context. What does the rest of the Bible say about the subject you are reading? Check the parallel passages.
5. Read the Bible in the light of Christ. Not all things in the Bible are acceptable because they may not rise up to the teachings and spirit of Christ. He is the standard because he is the final and perfect revelation of God. The Old Testament promises the Messiah; the New Testament fulfills the promise in Jesus. Martin Luther said, "Remove Christ from the Scriptures and nothing is left."
Reading The Word Profitably
Why read the Bible if you get nothing out of it for your life and needs? To get the most out of Bible reading, consider the following suggestions:
1. Discipline yourself to a daily routine of Bible reading: same time, same place, apart from noise and interruptions.
2. Prepare for reading; be receptive by prayer before reading.
3. Relax in a comfortable chair and clear your mind of worldly concerns for the time being.
4. See the passage to be read in the context of the chapter or book.
5. Reflect and meditate on what you read. What is the Word in the words? A father once said to his son, "If you have only three minutes to read the Bible, spend one minute on reading and two minutes on reflection."
6. Apply the truth of the passage to your life. Ask the following questions of the passage:
* Any command for me to obey?
* Any promise for me to claim?
* Any sin for me to avoid?
* Any example for me to follow?
* Any prayer for me to echo?
Study Guide
The Word
What Are The Means?
1. Of getting water from the city reservoir to your house?
2. Of getting from Los Angeles to New York City?
3. Of getting an education?
4. Of getting the grace of God for your salvation?
Can You Find The Answers
See Matthew 17:1-8
1. Any command to obey?
2. Any promise to claim?
3. Any sin to avoid?
4. Any example to follow?
5. Any prayer to repeat?
What Is The Bible To You?
Check your answer(s):
1. ___ A human book designed to be read as literature.
2. ___ A paper pope that is errorless.
3. ___ A book of infallible truth.
4. ___ A cradle that holds Christ.
5. ___ The inspired Word of God.
6. ___ A Word of moral guidance.
7. ___ The final authority in matters of faith and life.
8. ___ The perfect and final revelation of God centered in Christ.
Where Would You Look --
1. To identify a person or event in the Bible?
2. To get the meaning of a word in the Bible?
3. To find a word or passage in the Bible?
4. To get the correct interpretation of a passage?
5. To get weights, dates, coins, and distances in the Bible?
6. To learn the customs and culture in the Bible?
To find the answers, go to your church library or Bible bookstore and examine a dictionary of the Bible, a word book, concordance, commentary, and a study Bible.
In the Apostles' Creed we confess that we believe in the forgiveness of sins. Through the forgiveness of sins we gain a right relationship with God. Forgiveness comes to us by what the church calls "the means of grace," consisting of Word and Sacraments. "Grace" is the infinite undeserved love of God for lost sinners. "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me." "Means" is a way grace (forgiveness) comes to us as channels or conduits bringing grace from God to the repentant sinner. If you visit Alaska, you will most likely see the oil pipeline that brings oil from north Alaska to the south at Valdez, where oil is put on tankers to be shipped south to a refinery. The pipeline is the means of bringing oil from the north to the south over hundreds of miles, just as Word and Sacraments bring grace to repentant believers.
The grace of God is as vast as an ocean. How can grace come to me, a small, finite believer? Whenever we want to pour a liquid from a large container to a small one, we use a funnel. The Word and Sacraments serve as a funnel bringing grace to the individual. Consider the diagram below.
(The diagram is only available in the printed version of this book.)
How can the forgiveness of God become a personal experience? How can a sinner be sure of God's forgiveness? How can one's guilt be removed and peace come to the heart through forgiveness? Consider the possibilities:
1. We can read about forgiveness in the Bible. Psalm 130:4 assures us that "There is forgiveness with you." It is good to know that God forgives, but how can one be sure he forgives me?
2. We can pray for forgiveness. David prayed, "Have mercy on me, O God ... blot out my transgressions" (Psalm 51:1). But how do I know my prayer was answered?
3. We can hear about forgiveness when the Word is preached and/or taught. A paralytic heard Jesus say, "Son, your sins are forgiven" (Mark 2:5). But I may never hear Jesus say that to me personally.
4. We can experience forgiveness through the Sacraments. It is the best way to know one is forgiven. Sacraments make forgiveness a specific, personal, and concrete assurance of pardon. It is something you can see, feel, and taste. Forgiveness comes in baptism: "Repent and be baptized ... so that your sins may be forgiven" (Acts 2:38). In Holy Communion forgiveness is received. Jesus said, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins" (Matthew 26:28). The holy bread is the broken body and the cup is the shed blood of Christ. What more proof do we need that he died for the forgiveness of our sins?
The Word Of God
When we talk about the Word of God, what do we mean by "word"? What is the Word? The Word itself means communication, disclosure, and revelation. The Word is spoken and enacted. It is the way God reveals his nature and his will. He speaks only truth and his Word is grace. There is power in his Word, for it includes word and deed. God created the world by Word. " 'Let there be light' and it was so" (Genesis 1:14, 15). The word of the cross, according to Paul, is the power of salvation (1 Corinthians 1:18).
When we speak about "the Word of God," what do we mean? Just what is the Word of God? First, we mean that God's Word is God's total revelation of himself from Genesis to Revelation. It includes God's mighty acts in the history of the Hebrews culminating in the founding of the church. The revelation goes from Adam and Eve to Abraham to Moses to David to Jesus.
Second, the Word of God is the incarnate Word, Jesus Christ. The Word is personalized in Jesus. "The Word became flesh and lived among us" (John 1:14). The grace, love, and truth of God were personified in Jesus. He is the final, ultimate, and perfect revelation of God the Father. Christ is the heart and center of the Bible. Luther explained that the Bible is the cradle that holds the Christ-child.
Third, the Word of God is the Bible, both Old and New Testaments. The Bible is the record of God's revelation through history. The Word is enclosed in the words of the Bible. The scriptures do not only contain the Word but are the Word, for container and contents cannot be separated any more than perfume can exist apart from the perfume bottle. In light of this, the Protestant Church holds that the Bible is the sole authority in matters of faith and life. The only textbook of the church is the Bible, which the church is mandated to preach and teach. Therefore, tradition, reason, and experience are secondary in authority. Reading, teaching, and preaching the Bible are essential. The tragedy of our day is biblical illiteracy as shown by the answers of certain students:
* "Noah's wife was the Joan of Ark."
* "Lot's wife was a pillar of salt by day and a ball of fire by night."
* "The sixth commandment: Thou shalt not admit adultery."
* "Epistles were the wives of the apostles."
* "A Christian has only one wife. This is called monotony."
Forms Of The Word
The Word of God comes to us in three forms: oral, visible, and written. The oral form comes in preaching, teaching, and witnessing. This is the original form before the Bible was written. The visible form comes in the Sacraments, Baptism and Eucharist. The written form comes last in the scriptures. The oral form comes to us through the ear. The visible form comes through the body by water, bread, and wine. The written form comes through the eye as we read it. The written form is the latest of the three. Each form is equally valid and authoritative. At a worship service all three forms may be received: preaching, teaching, reading the Lessons, and the reception of a Sacrament. The end result of the three forms is the creation and preservation of a Christian and the church. We may put the above in a diagram:
(The diagram is only available in the printed version of this book.)
Interpreting The Word
When we read the Word (Bible), do we understand what we read? That was Philip's question to the Ethiopian eunuch while seated in his chariot: "Do you understand what you are reading?" (Acts 8:30). The Bible is not only to be read but to be properly interpreted. Faulty interpretation can lead to falsehood, dissension, and division among believers. The main problem is eisegesis, the reading of one's opinions into the text rather than getting the truth out of the text (exegesis). The average Bible reader needs to keep the following principles of interpretation in mind:
1. Interpret the Bible literally except when the Bible intends it to be taken figuratively. Example of figurative: Matthew 5:30 -- "If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away." Example of literal: John 3:16 -- "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son...."
2. Read the Bible in the light of the historical and cultural situation prevailing at the time of writing. For example: read Ruth in the light of the prejudice against Jews having foreign wives.
3. Read the Bible according to the type of literature you are reading. It may be poetry as the Psalms, history as in Samuel, a sermon as in Hebrews.
4. Read the Bible in the context of the whole Bible. It is wrong to take a verse or passage out of context. What does the rest of the Bible say about the subject you are reading? Check the parallel passages.
5. Read the Bible in the light of Christ. Not all things in the Bible are acceptable because they may not rise up to the teachings and spirit of Christ. He is the standard because he is the final and perfect revelation of God. The Old Testament promises the Messiah; the New Testament fulfills the promise in Jesus. Martin Luther said, "Remove Christ from the Scriptures and nothing is left."
Reading The Word Profitably
Why read the Bible if you get nothing out of it for your life and needs? To get the most out of Bible reading, consider the following suggestions:
1. Discipline yourself to a daily routine of Bible reading: same time, same place, apart from noise and interruptions.
2. Prepare for reading; be receptive by prayer before reading.
3. Relax in a comfortable chair and clear your mind of worldly concerns for the time being.
4. See the passage to be read in the context of the chapter or book.
5. Reflect and meditate on what you read. What is the Word in the words? A father once said to his son, "If you have only three minutes to read the Bible, spend one minute on reading and two minutes on reflection."
6. Apply the truth of the passage to your life. Ask the following questions of the passage:
* Any command for me to obey?
* Any promise for me to claim?
* Any sin for me to avoid?
* Any example for me to follow?
* Any prayer for me to echo?
Study Guide
The Word
What Are The Means?
1. Of getting water from the city reservoir to your house?
2. Of getting from Los Angeles to New York City?
3. Of getting an education?
4. Of getting the grace of God for your salvation?
Can You Find The Answers
See Matthew 17:1-8
1. Any command to obey?
2. Any promise to claim?
3. Any sin to avoid?
4. Any example to follow?
5. Any prayer to repeat?
What Is The Bible To You?
Check your answer(s):
1. ___ A human book designed to be read as literature.
2. ___ A paper pope that is errorless.
3. ___ A book of infallible truth.
4. ___ A cradle that holds Christ.
5. ___ The inspired Word of God.
6. ___ A Word of moral guidance.
7. ___ The final authority in matters of faith and life.
8. ___ The perfect and final revelation of God centered in Christ.
Where Would You Look --
1. To identify a person or event in the Bible?
2. To get the meaning of a word in the Bible?
3. To find a word or passage in the Bible?
4. To get the correct interpretation of a passage?
5. To get weights, dates, coins, and distances in the Bible?
6. To learn the customs and culture in the Bible?
To find the answers, go to your church library or Bible bookstore and examine a dictionary of the Bible, a word book, concordance, commentary, and a study Bible.
