The Bible is an amazing text. The Bible is how God communicates with you. However, it is evident from reading the Bible that God does not communicate in the same way through all of the books and chapters. The Bible is filled with tales of both amazing and horrifying events. It is foretold. There are laws in it. It includes songs and poetry. It is lettered. The Bible was composed in two parts: before and after the birth of Jesus. The Bible contains descriptions in some sections where no one speaks, God speaking in others, and people speaking in yet others. Thus, how can we determine which of these various components still applies to us today?
God speaks to you in the Bible
The Bible is entirely inspired by God. According to 2 Timothy 3:16, “God breathes out all of the Scriptures.” This indicates that the Bible is not merely human writings; rather, it is the product of the Spirit of God working through human authors. This brings us to the first crucial idea: we cannot just reject any portion of the Bible. The same verse goes on to say that everything is beneficial and valuable for training in righteousness, teaching, reproof, and correction. Therefore, the straightforward response to the query, “What portions of the Bible apply to us today?” is, “All parts.” However, they do not apply in the same way.
God speaks to us through history
The Bible contains a great deal of historical material. This is significant because it demonstrates the nature of God. Through His actions throughout history, God reveals aspects of His nature to us. Both the Old and New Testaments attest to this, and the New Testament does so even more. The life of Jesus is chronicled in the New Testament, and it is in Jesus that the entirety of God is revealed. You can also read about the founding of the first church, which demonstrates how God establishes His church and works in the world.
God speaks to us through prophecy
The Bible also contains prophecies in other places: [foretellings of future events]. Numerous of these prophecies have already come to pass. They kind of become history. They educate us to have faith in God because we know He will fulfill His word. As we comprehend God’s purpose for history, they can also deepen our grasp of it. Prophecies that partially occur in the future also have a double or even triple fulfillment. Some predictions focus exclusively on the future. These encourage us to look forward to and get ready for the future that God has planned for everyone who believes in Him.
God speaks to us through laws
Yet other parts of the Bible contain laws, mainly in the books Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Some of these laws are moral laws: they apply equally to all people at all times. An example of this is: you shall not steal. Other laws are ceremonial laws. Examples of these are laws about sacrifices. These laws point towards Christ and are fulfilled in Him. We do not have to obey these laws anymore, but they teach us about the worth of Christ. Finally, some laws are civil laws. These were like the civil law book for Israel. An example of this is that you someone’s sheep getting lost, you are obliged to take it back to the owner (Deuteronomy 22:1). These laws contain a lot of wisdom but do not directly apply to us.
It is not an acceptable defense to say that not all laws apply to us anymore. The New Testament makes it abundantly apparent in places like Hebrews 7:12: “Because the law inevitably changes in tandem with changes in the priesthood.”
God speaks to us through promises, warnings, invitations and demands
The Bible contains promises, warnings, invitations, and demands by God. Some of these are general in nature, some are directed to a certain group of people. So, you should always carefully study how it applies. A good example of this is one of the most popular verses in the Bible: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and hope” (Jeremiah 29:11). If you put that on a tile and hang it on the wall, it is easy to forget the context. First, this was a promise given to Israel in exile, not to all people at all times. Second, there is a condition connected to it: they will have to turn to God first.
God speaks to us through doctrine
The majority of the doctrine in the Bible is found in Paul’s letters. The explanation of God’s truth has application to our daily lives. It is critical to comprehend fundamental concepts such as the nature of God, the severity of sin, the reasons why Jesus is an excellent Savior, and the function of the Holy Spirit. Faith is the ability to trust and love God, but it also requires certain knowledge. The theological portions are immediately applicable to us now since they contain eternal truth.
It’s all about Jesus
You see, God uses a variety of voices in his Word to speak to us. As a result, in order to completely comprehend and obey God’s Word, it is crucial that you study it in prayer. Simply choosing a Bible verse and declaring it to be God’s Word for the day is insufficient.
You should never lose sight of the fact that, at the end of the day, [the entire Bible is about Jesus]. He is the focal point of all that. “Everything written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled,” He said to the followers of Him who had walked to Emmaus with Him after His resurrection (Luke 24:44). The entire Old Testament was composed in anticipation of Jesus’ arrival. And all of the New Testament clarifies why his arrival is significant.
What parts of the Bible apply today?
The entire Bible still has value today. We cannot discard any portion of it. However, we must try to comprehend how each component relates to us. You can’t go wrong if you concentrate on what is said about Jesus and how the Bible as a whole exalts and clarifies Jesus and our need for Him.
