THE PURPOSE OF THE BIBLE

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 26, 31 May 1929, Page 2

THE PURPOSE OF THE BIBLE

'(By PASTOR L. R. HARVEY.) The Bible is composed of a number of, books, sixty-six in number, written by different men at various times. It treats of the very beginning of the world, the origin of human life, and of other early matters of which we have no other authentic history. What is the purchase of such a Book? Of what benefit is it to man? What is its meaning and its message? Is it to he viewed as a history, as a statement of ethics, as a system of teaching, or as a guide book to morals? A MESSAGE OF SALVATION. The Message of the Bible is a message of salvation from sin. It is a revelation of God’s mercy, disclosing to human beings the steps He has taken to provide a remedy for them from the ruin which sin nas caused. It’s two big words are sin and salvation. Sin brought death and sorrow and eternal loss. It brought an end to the fellowship between God and man. It broke the connection between eartn and heaven. It alienated man from God, a great gulf between them which man can never bridge. It placed man under the sentence of death. It ruined his nature, which fell under corruption and depravity. It placed the earth under a Sin, that ugly thing that raised itself against God, ruined the world, and brought death to the human race. And man, of himself, is. without hope. He cannot remove the guilt. He cannot change his corrupt, depraved nature. He cannot remove the death sentence. He is lost, irretrievably, helplessly lost.

THE OFFER OF GOD’S MERCY. And in that hopeless condition, shut up to certain and eternal death, with remorse for the past which he con hi not change', with defeat x<t the present which he could not face, and with despair for the future which he could only dread—in, that lost condition man was offered free pardon for the past, victory over all the power of sin for the present and eternal salvation and restored fellowship with God for the future; offered it without money and without price, as a free gift from God, without effort,, of, his own, on the simple and sole condition of faith and acceptance.

For God was not ’ satisfied that man should he lost. He hated sin, but loved the sinner. He was determined to destroy sin, but to save the sinner. And, seeing that man 1 can not save hiriiself, His own arm 'brought salvation. He provided His own remedy for man’s sin. The Bible sets forth God’s remedy for sin, the salvation which is in Jesus Christ, v The Bible is a history of sin and of God’s dealings with it, together with the certainty of His purpose to destroy it utterly.

The whole ancient system was an attempt to disclose God’s remedy for sin. What was the sanctuary for the priesthood, the sacrifices, and all the unvarying round of services day by day and year by year? Why were the people instructed to bring animals to the S a t e °t’ the sanctuary, slay them, have their blood taken in before the law of God and sprinkled there? ' , For this reason, and this alone: To get rid of sin. It was for this that sacrifices were brought, that the sanctuary was pitched, that the furniture was placed, that the priests ministered, that blood was shed, that incense was offered, that sin might be taken away, removed, destroyed, utterly consumed, and the sinner might be saved, it was all for the purpose of revealing God’s attitude toward, and God’s remedy provided for, sin. And in the New Testament-why did Jesus come into* the world and labour and teach, and preach the gospel, and die, and be buried, and be raised, and ascend to heaven? All to get rid of sin, to set forth God’s remedy for sin, to pay the penalty 0 f gin—and to save the sinner. That was the purpose of it all. Through all these years since He was here on earth. He has been ministering in the heavenly sanctuary as our High Priest, offering His blood on our behalf, interceding for His people, as the Mediator of, the new Covenant. What for? Again, to get rid of sin, to apply the great divine remedy for sin, and to save the sinner. And He is soon coming again. What for f To complete His destruction of sin, to cleanse the universe of its curse, and to establish renewed and eternal fellowship between the Father and the saved sinner. OLA I) TIDINGS. So the Bible was written to reveal to men, to sinners, not only their lost condition, but the only remedy for their sins. It Is the good news, glad tidings. The paramount purpose of the Bible is to make men “wise unto Sehation.” The Bible deals with interests so vast that it becomes of greater value than all other literature, and ought to command the

most reverent study and the most earnest obedience. It is nothing else than the voice of God calling ns away from our sin into paths of love and light and holiness and truth. No other writings in the world have such a lofty purpose as the Bible. No other writings have such power actually to accomplish their purpose.