The Bible as a window, not a wall

Discipleship, Teaching | by Pastor Adam Sinnett

At a recent Sunday gathering, we walked through James 1:18-27 on the Bible as the word of God and what it means to be “doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving [ourselves].” We examined James’ encouragements on how to approach the Bible (put away all filthiness, receive with meekness, and recognize its central role) and how to respond to the Bible (study intently, examine personally, and apply liberally). Last week, by God’s gracious providence, Desiring God released an artistic video on the vital role of the Bible called, “God wrote a book.” It goes well with our study in James. I encourage you to watch it (below).

The Bible is God’s direct revelation to us, through the pens and personalities of human authors, about who He is, what He is like, who we are and what we need, along with His radical promises to us and glimpses of our forever-future with Him. There is no other book like this book.

But, we often only look at it, rather than look through it to the deeper realities it conveys. When we look at it we may only see ancient stories, at best, or printed letters on a page, at worse. But, when we look through it we see reality, with God as the triune blazing center of all that is. Through it he saves sinners, through it he humbles the proud, through it encourages the discouraged, through it he gives strength to the weary. In a word, through it He reveals all we need to know and grow in Him. 

Often, in my experience at least, the reason our reading of the Bible gets dry and laborious is because we’re looking at it rather than through it. Or, John Piper says, “God wrote a book…The Bible is not a wall, but a window.” That’s helpful – and true. 

Christ is all,
Pastor Adam