The Bible contains sixty-six books, and has been referred to as God’s Love Letter to us, and also as our Instruction Manual for Life. So, which is it? A letter, showcasing God’s great love for us and the gift of salvation through His son, or is it a manual full of to-do’s, without which we’ll make a mess of life?
The reality and importance of God’s sovereignty are discussed often in our circles. This new (to us) emphasis has been a welcome and much-needed change for the purpose of rounding out God’s sanctifying work in us. Though we could not see it, we were practicing some extent of legalism by its true definition (in my opinion), which is, trying to improve upon the finished work of the cross—thinking that there was some merit toward salvation in our standards. As I’ve mentioned in other writings, I believe that scripture (God’s very words, remember) instructs us to live rightly, doing all to the glory of God, which of course, we can only do in His strength. Living rightly in the good works God has prepared for us does not save us, but living rightly according to His example, because He loved us, and by the power of the Holy Spirit brings Him glory!
I find that as much as I enjoy and need and appreciate the heavy emphasis on God’s grace and sovereignty, it can be somewhat unbalanced. If God’s word were merely intended to relate the Good News, which is certainly its primary function, then what of Romans 15:4? “For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction. . .” and Colossians 3:16? “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another. . .” Matthew 7:23b and 24 tell us “Depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness,” Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. . .”
We are not to be confused. We must teach our children that our hope is only in the Lord, and in nothing else. However, in training our children, we must relate the entire purpose of scripture. God clearly gave it to us for instruction as well as for a vehicle to relay the gospel. Scripture tells us to “train up a child in the way he should go”, and that “all Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim 3:16,17)
Within the framework of the gospel, we are free moral agents, meaning that we make choices. We can make good choices or we can make poor choices. Our decisions, and our children’s, must be informed by excellent teaching and examples from scripture in order to equip us choose that which glorifies our Lord.
We are, and our children are, ambassadors of Jesus Christ. We must teach these fledgling ambassadors to have self-control and godliness, along with all the other character qualities found in Christ and taught in scripture. If we neglect to apply this aspect and purpose of scripture, we miss great opportunities to bring glory to God.
A godly life is a balancing act between two or more scriptural perspectives that can oppose each other when taken to extremes, but can complement and complete each other when viewed rightly. I see God’s word as a love letter with enclosures, including treasure maps to the ultimate treasure (salvation), and successive treasures (sanctification), along with an instruction manual to clarify the use of those priceless gems. What an amazing, loving, powerful God we serve!
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