John 20:30
Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book.
John 20:31
But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
John 21:25
Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
The Bible is not a source of information. The Bible is a source of faith. The Bible was not written to satisfy a curious mind that just wants to know. The Bible was written as a basis for belief. Therefore the information may not have the accuracy of a history book or every detail like an Encyclopaedia. The Bible is not a source of information but a source of faith!
This understanding should inform the reader and interpreter. The writers were keen to inform us that God helped them win wars, they were not keen on giving precise numbers of soldiers or chariots used. Therefore when two writers writing the same story differ on certain facts, it is a none issue because their goal is to build faith and not providing data for analysis. The writers expected us to be mesmerized by the acts of God, they did not expect us to doubt their works and scrutinize it for errors in detail. The Bible is not a source of information but a source of faith!
The writers were so curious to persuade us of what God said or did. The writers did not sit in an editorial board to ensure the similarity of details of the stories. They just wrote what they heard or saw or experienced. Books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles have almost the same stories but some details vary. The books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John all tell the story of Jesus. The stories are the same but emphasis and details vary. The writers wrote long after the event and while the general story remained, the details were no longer remembered in precision. The desire of the writers was to build our faith in Jesus and not provide a text for study and unconverted scrutiny. The Bible is not a source of information but a source of faith!
God inspired Bible writers with a message and they wrote it in their own way. The language is human. The data used was collected by human beings. The accuracy of the details depended on the human agent. But the message being delivered and communicated through this human writer is divine. The writers are human, the message is God’s. God’s purpose is to win us to Himself. The Bible is not a source of information but a source of faith!
In our text today, we are told to note that not everything is recorded. What is recorded was selected for purposes of building our faith and not for satisfying skeptic or academic curiosity. We are also told that if everything was written there would be no space sufficient for the record. That also means we would never finish reading God’s word in our lifetime. Not everything about Israelites or about Jesus was written. A lot of details were deliberately cut off. What we have should facilitate faith. The Bible is not a source of information but a source of faith!
1 Corinthians 2:14
The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.
The Bible tells us that it requires spiritual guidance if we are to understand it. It is a spiritual book with a spiritual purpose. To approach the Bible without spiritual guidance would be an effort in futility. Anyone approaching the Bible with pure academic or skeptic goals will get frustrated and fail. Before appreciating the Bible, pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Bible is not a source of information but a source of faith!
Therefore when non-believers, non-Christians try to critique the Bible, they have failed before starting. When the Bible is treated like any other literature the mission fails. To even sit down and argue about the Bible with non-believers is not evangelism but a waste of time. In fact, we have articles against arguing, just search in our site reikesis.com The Bible is a spiritual book, and non-believers who do not subscribe to the Holy Spirit will never appreciate it. Non-believers will approach it as a source of information yet it is not, it is a source of faith for the believer. The Bible is not a source of information but a source of faith!
Therefore how do we evangelize others using the Bible yet they are unbelievers? The most effective evangelism is first a lifestyle that is completely influenced by Bible teachings. Secondly, it is telling testimonies of what God has done in our lives and in the past. These methods are more effective than lecturing people on what the Bible says. These methods will then lead people to study the Bible for the faith under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Bible is not a source of information but a source of faith!
May God bless our Bible study experience and guide us by His Spirit. May we seek faith and find it. May our faith in God grow stronger. May our lifestyle and testimonies be influenced by scriptures and attract others to our God, in Jesus’ name, Amen!
Wuoah!! Amen!🙏
Amen
This message has widened my eyes when dealing with non believers…..Amen and God bless you.
Hallelujah, Elicky! Be blessed too…
Amen
Amen
Very profound and timely guidance for us as we focus on evangelism as a church.
Yes, Justice!
Well said pastor. The bible is self contained. It has teachings and guidance of practically all life situations. It truly builds our faith. May God help me trust more in Gods word
Amen!
Amen, May God’s word increase my faith and trust in him
Amen!
A very nice article answering such a critical subject. Thanks Doctor Rei!
Hallelujah
Thanks, Nick!
Thank you brother for detailing the How to evangelize without necessarily teaching people what The Bible says. Let The Bible be seen in our lifestyle and testimonies. God bless thee.
Amen! Be blessed too…
I nearly missed this, but glad to catch up with it today!
Three wonderful discoveries I got:
1. The Bible is not a source of information but a source of faith!
2. The best way to reach unbelievers is by my lifestyle.
3. I can also reach them by telling them testimonies of what God has done in my life, and in the past.
Thank you pastor, and may God bless you.
Glory to God!
Source of faith indeed, thanks alot Doctor Rei!
Amen
Hits hard at the heart of theology as an academic enterprise but very true. The word of God, read or heard, if not received by faith profits us nothing. “For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.” Hebrew 4:2
My brother, you are now on its logical end. Be blessed for clarifying with that text!