Is the Bible Relevant?

MEMORY VERSE: “Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” —Romans 15:4

PSALM 19:7-11; MATTHEW 4:1-10

IN OUR last lesson we determined that the Bible was written primarily for the instruction of the church during the Gospel Age. To these, then, the Bible becomes the only authentic textbook, and in it they find what the Lord would have them do and how to do it.

Jesus said in Matthew 4:4, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” And in John 6:63, “It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”

We therefore look to the Word of God for a scripture to illustrate the point that has been made, and for this purpose we will consider Romans, the 12th chapter. In verse 1 the Apostle Paul states, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” As footstep followers of the Master, who offered up himself unto God (Heb. 7:27; 9:14), we are here reminded that we too are invited to offer ourselves with him as living sacrifices justified by the blood of Christ for this very purpose.—Rom. 6:1-10; II Tim. 2:11; Col. 3:1-4; Phil. 3:8-11; Rom. 5:9-11

Then in verse 2 the Apostle Paul states, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” The footstep follower of Jesus is in the world but is not to be a part of it. But having inherited the weakness of the flesh and having a mind that has been trained and conformed to the things of this world, the renewing of our worldly minds becomes the chief problem of the child of the Lord. The thought of renewing is probably better expressed as a renovation, a complete turning around. As children of the world our thoughts and actions are for the most part centered around self, but as footstep followers of Jesus our thoughts and actions must be trained to be selfless, and motivated by love for the Lord, the truth, and the brethren.

In verses 3 to 8 the Apostle Paul indicates the attitude and frame of mind necessary to be pleasing to the Heavenly Father. These verses also express how the Christian conforms his attitudes and service to the body of Christ. First, the child of the Lord must be humble, realizing that of himself he has nothing to boast of. The only reason that the Christian has a standing before the Lord is that he is covered by the robe of Christ’s righteousness, and it is incumbent upon him to realize that every other true Christian is covered by the same robe. Verse 5 states, “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.” The apostle then proceeds to discuss the gifts and abilities of each member of the body, pointing out that none has precedence over the other. Every member contributes equally to the body and its united service to the Lord.

In verses 9 to 21 the Apostle Paul is specific in his instructions as to how we as Christians are to go about the renewing of our minds. Verse 9, for example, states that our love for the brethren is not to be hypocritical; but we must learn to overlook the idiosyncrasies of the fellow members of the body and endeavor to see in them what God sees in them—their zeal and love for the Lord and his truth, etc. In addition, we must learn to love righteousness so much that we will abhor, or hate, that which is evil. And so each of the succeeding verses in this chapter gives specific instructions as to how the child of the Lord is to transform his mind.

Verse 21 of this chapter gives a summary in a few words of what the results will be of the renewing of our minds if we faithfully adhere to the principles set forth: “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”

The Bible is relevant, especially to the household of faith.

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