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"I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said" (1 Cor. 15:3-4).

I spend quite a bit of my time studying the Bible and passing on its truth. In addition to writing devotional readings for TheHighCalling.org, I also put lots of biblical exposition on my blog at beliefnet.com, and am frequently asked to preach in churches or speak at conferences, where I almost always focus on Scripture.

Why? Why do I spend so much of my time exploring a book that was written centuries ago? Why do I care so much about the Bible?

And, for that matter, why do you? Why does it matter to you?

There are many ways to answer the question of why the Bible matters so much. Paul's summary of the gospel in 1 Cor. 15:3-4 provides one crucial answer. We pay attention to the Bible because it helps us understand the Good News of God's love in Jesus Christ. Notice what Paul writes in his summary: "Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said" (1 Cor. 15:3-4). If we want to understand the meaning of the death and resurrection of Christ, then we must know "the Scriptures."

Ironically, when Paul refers to "the Scriptures" here, he is not talking about what we call the New Testament. When he was writing to the Corinthians, most of the New Testament books had not been written yet, and this includes Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The Scriptures to which Paul refers are the writings of what we call the Old Testament. Though they do not narrate the specific events of Jesus' passion, they do provide the inspired, authoritative lens through which we might see the significance of these events clearly. Of course we have the gift of the New Testament, which narrates the events that are central to the gospel and provides ample commentary on these events. Thus, for us, the Scriptures are doubly helpful if we wish to grasp the meaning of Christ's death and resurrection.

As you read and reflect on biblical texts, let me encourage you to attend to how they help you understand the love of God in Jesus Christ. Though not every passage will relate specifically to the cross and resurrection, every text will indeed help you to know Jesus Christ more truly.

Every text will prepare you for a deeper experience of the Good News, so that you might live more fully as a witness and demonstration of its truth and power.

Adapted with permission from the original article "One Reason the Bible Matters So Much" at TheHighCalling.org. All rights reserved.

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