The Bible and Its Purpose

The Bible is the most purchased book in history. Even so, most people do not fully understand the purpose of the Bible. This is evident in the existence of many different texts–based on people’s thoughts and opinions–that try to explain or interpret the Bible. All these varied opinions and explanations lead some people into confusion, while others put their trust in people instead of the Word of God. If we carefully study the Bible, we can clearly understand that our Heavenly Father has shown us its purpose.

The Bible Testifies About the Savior

John 5:39 You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me…

Jesus testified that the purpose of the Scriptures is to testify about Him. In other words, the Bible has been given to mankind to lead us to our Savior. This teaches us that eternal life is not given to the one who studies the Bible the most, but to the one who is able to recognize the Savior, whom the Bible testifies about. This is the reason why Jesus used the Bible to teach others that He was the Savior.

Luke 24:27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

Jesus appeared to his disciples on the day of His resurrection. At the time, they were kept from recognizing Him and had lost hope that He was the Messiah after witnessing His death on the cross. Although He could have used many different ways, such as miracles or wonders to prove that He was the Christ, He used the Scriptures to reveal how He fulfilled the prophecies therein, according to God’s will. This scene illustrates that the best tool to recognize Christ is the Bible. For this reason, the apostles also testified about Christ in this way.

The Early Church Members Used the Scriptures to Testify About Christ

Acts 17:2-3 As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,” he said.

Like Jesus, we can see Apostle Paul used the Scriptures to teach that Jesus was the Savior. We can also see this through the example of Philip.

Acts 8:35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

While speaking to the Ethiopian Eunuch, Philip testified about Jesus through the Old Testament prophecy in the book of Isaiah, following the example of Christ (Acts 8:30).

As we can see, Jesus, Paul, and Philip all testified about the Savior through the Bible. It is because the Scriptures are the only reliable tool that testifies about the Savior who gives salvation. Whoever believed the Bible was also able to believe in Christ, whom the Bible testified about.

Why Was Jesus Rejected by Religious Leaders When He Appeared?

Ironically, the religious leaders 2,000 years ago, who claimed to know the Scriptures better than anyone else, rejected and persecuted the very Savior whom they had been waiting for. Why was this? We can find two reasons in the Bible. First, they did not believe the words of the Bible could be fulfilled in reality, and second, they did not know God.

John 5:46-47 If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?”

What did Moses write? He wrote the first five books of the Bible, also known as the Pentateuch, which testify about Christ. Though the religious leaders read the Scriptures diligently, they did not truly believe in them as they were being fulfilled contrary to their own thoughts and expectations. Sticking to their own preconceived notions and misunderstanding of the Scriptures, they came to reject Christ.

John 15:21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me.

Jesus said those who rejected and persecuted Him (John 15:20), did not know the One who sent Him, who is God. By this, Jesus let us know that unless we use the Scriptures to recognize the Savior, we can never know God correctly. While the Bible described God coming to the earth in a humble human appearance and sacrificing Himself for our sins, the religious leaders, who rallied many against Christ, could not believe that almighty God would appear in such a way.

We must not repeat their mistake at Christ’s second coming. As the Bible testified about Christ at His first coming, it also testifies about Christ at His second coming. In fulfillment of all the Biblical prophecies, Christ Ahnsahnghong has appeared as the Savior in these last days. Let us be those who believe in the Bible absolutely and receive the Savior whom the Bible testifies about.