Unlocking the Power of Biblical Theology
To truly understand the Bible, we need to approach it with the right tools. One of those essential tools is biblical theology. Unfortunately, many people view the Bible as a collection of unrelated stories, advice, or recipes for living a good life. However, this fragmented approach misses the central purpose of Scripture.
The Triune God’s Story
The Bible is, in fact, the triune God’s explanation of who He is, what He is like, and how He works throughout history through His Spirit and in His Son, Jesus Christ the King. Biblical theology helps us grasp this main purpose by examining each passage of Scripture in light of the entire Bible. By understanding how every part of Scripture relates to Jesus, we can accurately read and comprehend each event, character, or lesson within God’s progressively revealed Word.
The Church’s Mission
So, what is the church of Jesus Christ supposed to be and do? According to Jesus, the Scriptures testify that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all nations (Luke 24:47). Therefore, the proclamation of Jesus Christ should be at the heart of the church’s mission to disciple the nations. Biblical theology guards the church from proclaiming a false gospel and guides it toward keeping the true gospel as the centerpiece of its mission.
Sharing the Good News
When sharing the good news with those unfamiliar with Christianity, we must explain more than just a few spiritual laws or the Romans road. People need to understand that the Christian worldview requires a total transformation of mindset. In our evangelism, we must start with God and creation to see what’s gone wrong and follow what God has been doing throughout history. Only then can we discover why He sent Jesus and why that matters today.
Guarding the True Gospel
In response to false teaching, this book exhorts churches to use biblical theology to guard the true gospel. Jesus Himself says in Luke 24 that He is Scripture’s interpretive key. If we fail to read and understand Scripture in a way that leads us to Jesus, we will miss the point of the Bible and teach others to commit the same error.
About the Authors
This article is adapted from Biblical Theology by Nick Roark and Robert Cline. Nick Roark serves as the pastor of Franconia Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia, and previously served on the pastoral staff of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, DC. Robert Cline is the managing director for training content and curriculum at the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention.
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