Knowing Jesus is the Point

by Laura Springer, Th.M., Ph.D.

What is the point of theology? Of godly behavior? There is more, and God tells us this through three very different means of communication.

The Incarnate Word

As we have seen during 2017, Jesus is God's ultimate communication. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. …And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:1-3, 14 ESV).

The Book of Nature

This nature that Jesus made proclaims his power, greatness, and majesty (Psalm 19:1). Its proclamation flows like a continuous stream: day after day, year after year its witness of God's glory speaks and reaches every corner of the universe (Psalm 19:2-4).

The Written Text

Nature's witness is persistent, but there is more to God than glory. The witness of Scripture is complete and life-giving. Even more, God's verbal proclamation of himself will never pass away: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away” (Matthew 24:35 ESV).

 "The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
making wise the simple" (Psalm 19:7 ESV).

In 2018, we will be thinking through the doctrine of Scripture, known as Bibliology. The most important concept, the most critical point to keep in mind is that Scripture is not an end in itself. It is the very word of God, but its purpose is that we might know Jesus and become increasingly like him.

Knowing theology is not the point.

Knowing how to be a good person is not the point

Knowing Jesus is the point

Photograph: “Reflected” by LKSpringer (2016) at http://gloryology.blogspot.com/2016/01/reflected.html

Depicted Mural: The Word by Kent Twitchell (created 1989-1990 Biola University, Bardwell Hall)

Sources
John 5:39-47
Colossians 1:15-20
Hebrews 4:11-14
John 1:1-5
John 1:14-15
John 17:17