Lesson 1 - Why was the Bible written?
Note: All Scriptures quoted from the New American Standard (NAS) unless otherwise noted.
It Was Written to Lead You to the Messiah
The Bible [literally ‘the books’, it truly is a book of books] was written to lead you to the Messiah. Keep this foremost in your mind when you think about the overall purpose, intent, or meaning of the Bible and the two major sections in it, both the Old and the New Testaments. For example:The O.T. Was Written to Prepare the Jews for the Messiah
The Old Testament, which contains 39 books, was written to be a temporary tutor, custodian, or schoolmaster to prepare, train, and lead those who used it to receive the Messiah, especially the Jews. For example,“But before faith came [faith in Jesus as Christ], we [Jews] were kept in custody under the law [O.T. Law of Moses], being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Therefore the Law [of Moses] has become our tutor to lead us to Christ [Messiah], so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come [in Christ], we are no longer under a tutor [i.e. Moses’ Law]” (Ga 3:23-25). “For Christ is the end of the law [O.T. Law of Moses] for righteousness to everyone who believes” (Ro 10:4).
So, for the sake of being right and at peace with God, faith in Messiah, not the tutor, is what God now requires of His people.
What Does “Messiah” Mean?