The Main Bible Story

But Jesus called them to Him, and saith unto them,

 Ye know that they which are accounted to 

rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; 

and their great ones exercise authority 

upon them. but so shall it not be among you: 

but whosoever will be great among you, 

shall be your minister: and whosoever of you

 will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. 

For even the son of man came not to be

  ministered unto, but to minister, and to give 

His life as a ransom for many.

Mark 10:42-45

     There are two types of Christian thought: 1. That the miracles of the early Church are to be demonstrated openly in the Church today. 2. That the miracles of the early Church are not to be manifested in today's Church. Both sides use the Bible for warrant. There is a great amount of objection and suspicion on both sides. There are stories from both sides and some of those stories do not belong to the actual story of the Bible. What is the story of the Bible? death and resurrection are what the story is about; do you have eyes to see it as it has been hinted on every page, it meet us in some disguise, at every turn, and muttered in conversations. This is the Bible! Sin brought forth death. Jesus' death and resurrection brings forth life. So many mistakes on this matter. Death and Resurrection is the main plot. So many stories making it hard to know which one(s) are correct. We are not to be committed to believing all stories. Most stories are probably false. Lies, exaggerations, misunderstandings and hearsay make up perhaps more than half of all that is said and written in the world, and this is true of Christianity. We must find a criterion to judge any particular story. (This was taken from C.S. Lewis on Miracles). This is why the Bible tells us to examine our faith, to test all things, to prepare to give a defense of our faith. You either prepare to know the truth or you just accept whatever is told or written. 

     What was the life-purpose of Jesus? Verse 45 of the opening Scripture tells us that Jesus, the Son of man came to minister, and to give His life for a ransom. Authentic Christians finds the Bible to be the very word of God. This dependence upon this Book, the Bible, is not a dead or artificial thing, it has the authority of God. Think about this: if it were not for the Bible you would be living a fatalistic life, no real hope, a dark and gloomy world and this would be even more true if you were left to your own devices. Authentic Christians do not find the Bible, God's law, to be burdensome, but to be the very crux of Christian liberty.  The Bible is an Authentic Christian' life and thinking. Is this true of you? Do you want liberty? You can have it if you follow the commands of God, they are not burdensome, yes in this world it is hard as they are against the culture of this world, but you have more: YOU HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT RESIDING IN YOU! You either allow the Holy Spirit to lead you, or you try to do it yourself. Many of can attest that trying to do things without the guidance of the Holy Spirit has not turned out so well. 

     Build now on our relationship with Jesus Christ. Listen to His words, do not just follow what has been or is now written. All is not wrong, but all is not right. How will you know? Follow God's commands that show us how. God will not do this for you: you must do it for yourself. That is, if this is your highest priority.

And he said unto him, Went not mine

    heart with thee, when the man turned

again from his chariot to meet thee?

    Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep 

    and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?

                    2Kings 5:26

build upon Jesus: not things of this world

Richard L. Crumb