Lesson 3 - The Subject and Purpose of the Bible

Jesus Christ as the Subject

1. Jesus Christ as the Creator (Gen. 1:1; John 1:3; Col. 1:16-17).
2. Jesus Christ as the supreme ruler of the world. It is the Father’s will that every knee shall bow in submission to Jesus (Phil. 2:9-11). Jesus Christ will establish His kingdom on earth (Dan. 7:13-14; Luke 1:31-33) when He returns at His second coming (Rev. 19:11-21; 20:1-6). Jesus is also the sovereign head of the church (Eph. 1:22-23). As supreme ruler, Jesus Christ is the judge of all men (John 5:22, 27; Acts 10:42; 17:30-31; 2 Cor. 5:10; 1 Pet. 4:5).
3. Jesus Christ as the Incarnate Word (John 1:1, 14; Heb. 1:3).
4. Jesus Christ as Savior (Gen. 3:15; John 3:16; 20:30-31; Acts 4:12).

The Purpose of the Bible

• "According to the written Word of God, one supreme purpose is revealed in all that God has done or will do, from the beginning of creation to the farthest reaches of eternity. This supreme purpose is the manifestation of the glory of God. For this one purpose angels were created, the material universe was designed to reflect that glory, and man was created in the image and likeness of God. In the inscrutable wisdom of God, even sin was permitted and redemption was provided with a view toward the realization of this supreme purpose."[1]

1. God’s creation glorifies Him (Ps. 19:1).
2. The nation of Israel is for the glory of God (Isa. 60:21; Jer. 13:11).
3. Salvation is unto the glory of God (Rom. 9:22-23).
4. All service should be unto the glory of God (Matt. 5:16; John 15:8; 17:1, 5). “The Bible itself is God’s instrument by which He prepares the man of God unto every good work (2 Tim. 3: 16-17).”[2]
5. The Christian’s new passion is that God may be glorified (Rom. 5:2).
6. Even the believer’s death glorifies God (John 21:19).
7. The saved one is appointed to share in the glory of Christ (John 17:22; Col. 3:4).

 

[1] Lewis Sperry Chafer; John F. Walvoord; Major Bible Themes (Grand Rapids, Mich. Zondervan Publishing, 2010), 28.

[2] Ibid., 29.