The Words of Life

Introduction

Both the Old and New Testaments were compiled over a period of about 1,500 years. From about 1400 B.C. to 90 A.D., God used over forty different writers to author the Scriptures under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The compilation of these writings spans numerous genres or types of written text to communicate meaning about who God is, what He has done, what He is doing, and what He is going to do. The words of Scripture are meant to be understood and lived out in conformity to the will and interests of YHWH.

The recognized protestant canon of Scripture within both the Old and New Testaments are outlined in the tables below. Among both Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox believers, their canon of Scripture is different than what is outlined below. Here is a useful site to clearly understand the distinctions between them. In any regard, these listed below are of the common Protestant canon.

When one refers to the “biblical canon,” the term simply means that Scripture is a closed corpus of authoritative texts. For a more comprehensive paper I wrote concerning the canon, please check out this link: The Canonicity of Scripture.

Old Testament

The central figure of all the Bible is Jesus Christ. The entire Bible’s theme before and after His birth points to Him. By His direct involvement in creation, through His historical presence among the patriarchs, from the foreshadowing of the priests, and kings, to the predictive utterances of the prophets, we see Christ Jesus the Messiah as the central theme throughout Scripture.

As it is commonly read, “the New Testament is in the Old Testament concealed and the Old Testament is in the New Testament revealed,” we see the distinction between both the Old and New covenants to communicate meaning from YHWH to humanity, both Jew and Gentile.

New Testament

The Holy Bible consists of 66-books and each one has its specific place and purpose by sovereign intent. Namely to communicate both old and new covenants across dispensations that provide the means by which YHWH communicates with humanity, and each person individually.

See and hear the words of Christ (Jn. 17:17):

“Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.”

Understand what Jesus meant in His prayer to the Father. His followers were to be set apart (ἁγίασον), made Holy before YHWH and others to glorify the Father just as Christ glorified Him through the work YHWH gave Him to do. In His life, His forthcoming death, and His resurrection as prophesied (Isaiah 60:1-2, Psalm 16:10). This idea of sanctification is important to get clear about. The New Testament term in Greek (ἁγιάζω, hagiazō) it to make one dedicated to God; either in becoming more distinct, devoted, or morally pure. It is to sanctify or make holy (Matt 23:17, 19, Jn 10:36, 17:17, 19, Eph 5:26, 1 Thess 5:23, Heb 2:11, Heb 9:13, Heb 13:12, 1 Pet 3:15).

Sanctified by His Word

It is critical to not miss this. How are we sanctified? Through the inner workings of the Holy Spirit by the Word of God, the Bible (Eph 2:10). It is by Scripture, His inspired Word, that the Holy Spirit transforms our thoughts, desires, and actions. As Christ’s prayer before the Father is answered for His glory and good pleasure, we are made holy (qdš); through His Word by the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit who began thousands of years ago caused His people to write His words that we would hear them and come to know and love God.

Have a look at this analysis of Psalm 19:7-11 (NASB):

⁷ – The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
⁸ – The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
⁹ – The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether.
¹⁰ – They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
¹¹ – Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward.

When parsing the words across all verses to absorb and meditate on their meaning, we begin to see how the Word of YHWH is figuratively correlated to how it is recognized, by what it is, and by what it does. Searching the Scriptures, and drinking of all their life-giving words brings into you renewal and holiness that pleases God. You are made alive to love God by them.

The Way of Escape

Consider the following verses concerning how the Bible helps us specifically. To recognize that it is by Christ we have eternal life, we are given promises, and we have His word to keep from sinning against God.

1. John 5:39 ¹
   “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me;”
   
   Christ speaking with Pharisees about the testimony of Scripture about the Messiah. That it is in Him that we have eternal life. The Scriptures concerning Him, through the Holy Spirit, sanctifies us in the truth as He is the Truth (Jn 14:6).
   
   
2. 2 Peter 1:4 ²
   “For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent ^apromises, so that by them you may become ^bpartakers of the divine nature, having ^cescaped the ^dcorruption that is in the world by lust.”
   
   a – 2 Pet 3:9, 13, b – Eph 4:13, 24; Heb 12:10, 1 John 3:2, c – 2 Pet 2:18, 20, d – 2 Pet 2:19
   
   For those having escaped the corruption of the world that comes by lust, we were granted promises whereby in them we escape from the corruption and enslavement of lusts and participate in the divine nature of YHWH.
   
   “By means of these He has bestowed on us His precious and exceedingly great promises, so that through them you may escape [by flight] from the moral decay (rottenness and corruption) that is in the world because of covetousness (lust and greed), and become sharers (partakers) of the divine nature.” – 2 Pet 1:4 Amplified
   
   
3. 1 John 2:1 ³
   “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;”
   
   The endearing words of John the Apostle, full of grace, speak to the reader of Scripture to give us confidence in Jesus our Messiah, our High Priest, to intercede before Father YHWH on our behalf.

^{1 –} Jn 7:52, Rom 2:17, Mt 19:16-25, Jn 14:6, 2 Tim 3:15
² – Jn 3:3, Jas 1:18, 1 Pet 1:23, Rom 8:1, Jn 14:17-23, Jn 1:12, Rom 8:9, Gal 2:20, Col 1:27
³ – 1 Jn 1:9, Rom 6:12-14, Rom 8:12-13, 1 Cor 15:34, Tit 2:11-12, 1 Pet 1:13-16, Jn 16:7, Rev 12:10, Heb 4:14-16

It is Written…

There are metaphors throughout Scripture that brings out meaning to regenerate people who are drawn to Christ, and to give sustenance to those who are in Christ. To approach Him, inquire, obey, and seek Him in all our efforts as He is of the utmost desire because of who He is, we have His Spirit and the Word by which we abide.

We have in Matthew 4:4, Jesus Himself countering Satan that man shall not live only by basic sustenance, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. So during the encounter between Jesus and the devil, Jesus quoted Scripture there (Deut 8:3), and there it was that He was tempted by Satan and prevailed in obedience to the Word of God.

“It is written, ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE,
BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.’ ”

Then by His example, how could we do any less? Even before trying times of temptation, our sanctification is grounded and has its growth in Scripture. We are to live in obedience to God just as Jesus, whom we love, has done so before us.