Principle 24

HERMENEUTICS

PRINCIPLE 24

Highlight the Theme of Salvation

'“God Knew Our Greatest Need

If our greatest need had been information,

God would have sent us an educator.

If our greatest need had been technology,

God would have sent us a scientist.

If our greatest need had been money,

God would have sent us an economist.

If our greatest need had been pleasure,

God would have sent us an entertainer.

But our greatest need was forgiveness,

So God sent a Savior.”

–Author Unknown

This popular poem points to what the Bible is all about. God’s plan of salvation is like a scarlet thread that runs through the Bible. The overall purpose of the Bible isn’t to teach history, archeology, or even morals. The purpose to tell us about God and His wonderful plan of salvation for all people. It’s important to highlight this theme of salvation when we interpret Scripture. All Scripture, in some way, ties in with the Savior and the salvation He came to provide. In John 5:39, Jesus told the Pharisees that the Scripture bore witness of Him. He also showed two disciples on the road to Emmaus how the writings of Moses and all the prophets pointed forward to Himself (Luke 24:27).

Every passage of the Bible could fit into one of these four categories:

1. Man’s great need to be saved

Can you think of a few sections of Scripture that would fit into this category? There are many, including stories in the Old Testament that show man’s wickedness and sin.

2. God’s great plan of salvation

The first mention of the Redeemer is in Genesis 3:15. Right at the beginning of the Bible, God promised to send a Savior. His great plan of salvation unfolds throughout the rest of Scripture. 

3. Man’s great need to believe

No one is born a believer. Each individual must personally, by faith, put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. As the Lord Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Unless you are born again, you cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). No Scripture condemns a person for ignorance, but the Scripture makes it abundantly clear that no one is ignorant (see also Romans 1).

4. God’s great plan for the saved

Think of all the prophetic Scriptures in both the Old Testament and New Testament that fall into this category. It also includes the promises of the Bible and the great guidance and comfort of the Scriptures. Church doctrine would be another example of God’s great plan for believers.