This past Sunday I was privileged to be a part of the ending of a class on the Bible that was first recorded back in 1967. I had the opportunity to first take it in 1974. The purpose of the class is to show a person how to study the Bible, and it you’re a serious student of the Bible, it could be a real ‘eye-opener.’
The foundational Scripture for the class is John 10:10 where Jesus said, ‘The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.’ (KJV) And certainly, who would not want to live an abundant life?
The abundant life is a spiritual life as well as a physical life. We spend a lot of time making money and doing things. It’s very easy to get involved in the race of life and forget about the things of God. The subject matter of the class showed me that it is well worth the while making the things of God a priority.
The material taught is not the kind of Bible teaching that one would hear on the TV or in a Denominational Church. It is work that was done over the course of many years at the time of the taping of the class. For the several hundred thousand people that have heard it over the years – if you were to ask any of them shortly after taking the class, what they thought; they would likely tell you that they had never heard anything like that before. Most of them would tell you that they were very thankful for having sat through the teaching.
It is possible for God to work in men and women of God in our day and time who seriously want to know and teach the things of God. And when we talk about teaching God’s Word, we’re not talking about ‘preaching because preaching pays.’ We are concerned with financial abundance, but not if it requires us to compromise on the integrity of God’s Word!
There have been many men and women through the years who have taken to heart verses such as 1 Peter 1:25 ‘But the Word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the Word, which by the Gospel is preached unto you.’ (KJV). So what makes this class stand apart from other publicly available teachings on the Bible? It expounds the Scriptures: verse after verse after verse.
This class taught me that the subject of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation is Jesus Christ and that Jesus Christ was and is God’s plan for mankind’s redemption and salvation. That Bible teaches that Jesus Christ came to destroy the works of the adversary and to preach the Gospel so that anyone who wishes can come unto the knowledge of the truth!
11 Timothy 3:16,17 ‘All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.’ (KJV) If one were to study this verse in its minutest detail, one would see that the ‘abundant life’ is very well worth the pursuing, and is wrapped up in doctrine, reproof and correction.
You can’t live an abundant life once a wee: It’s a day by day decision to walk with and for God. And it’s not easy: it’s not for the faint of heart, because there is a Devil and he wants the worst for you and will do his best to see that you do not live an abundant life. However, the Scriptures tell us in 1 John 4:4 ‘Ye are of God, little children and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.’ (KJV)
Life is an adventure: It can be rough, it can be fun, depending on your background and circumstances. God can make it smoother for you than it would be otherwise: all you have to do is talk to Him, love Him and very likely someone will witness to you about the greatness of His Word and share with you about the greatness of how to live an abundant life.
I sure am glad I was there and it helped me to have funglimpses. Thanks for reading! Will Grove