A Solid Foundation For Belief

I John 1:1-4

When I started college, I was studying to become an engineer. The program of study was carefully designed to show how each principle was developed, based on scientific testing and study, then applied to designing new machinery and structures. I enjoyed doing geometric proofs an the study of logic because each step had to be demonstrated to be true before moving to the next step. Because peoples lives might depend on the design of an airplane, a bridge, a building, or a power plant, every step must be carefully studied and designed to provide more than adequate protection, at the best possible cost.

Thanks to the effort to make sure that every portion of the design was correct, there are still drivable Model T cars, built as a cost that ordinary people could afford them. Airplanes built during the fifties still fly commercial flights, and the Empire state building and the Golden Gate bridge are in daily use.

Knowing how to do many of the needed calculations, it is troubling to see attempts to copy someone else’s design without verifying that each part is properly designed, resulting in failure of critical components, in an effort to save on design costs. People have died in collapsing buildings or bridges because the designs were not fully engineered, just copying someone else’s design, and critical details were ignored. A single flaw, or a series of minor errors, may cause the collapse of the entire structure.

As I study the Bible, I am impressed that the care to carefully document the basis for each claim or statement is so similar to what we did in our engineering classes. It is critical because people’s eternity hangs in the balance, as well as their life now as we see in I Timothy 4:8. “For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.” It would be silly to have a bridge built without assurances as to the design. It is equally silly to base our eternity on a system that can’t be verified.

Paul states that God is the author or designer of the scripture, in II Timothy 3:16. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” In essence God signed of as the engineer responsible for the design, although others did the drafting, at his instruction according to II Peter 1:21. “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”

It is impossible to show every detail clearly in a single architectural or engineering plan, so various drawings are made to clarify different aspects of what is required. Plumbers, electricians, framers and heating specialists must know what the plans call for on each set of plans and adapt their work to fit the engineers intention. It is critical that the various draftsmen who drew different parts be qualified, and directed by the chief engineer.

Throughout the Bible, God has given us points of reference so we can check the accuracy of our understanding and of our lives, just as engineering drawings give dimensions, which can be verified from plan to plan. It is these references that assure us of the accuracy of our work and that we have an accurate plan. John gives a set of reference points here that we can work from.

"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.” (I John 1:1-4)

John is not writing the things he thought, or some tradition, but what he actually experienced, what he heard from God the father, or from Jesus Christ, what he actually saw, and what he and the other apostles did. We can check what is taught here with the records of the other apostles to verify the accuracy of his teaching. Peter describes the same basis for his teaching.

“For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.” (II Peter 1:16-18)

Luke was not one of the apostles, but an interested observer of the teachings and life of Christ and the apostles. He describes what he observed from the sidelines, to make sure there was no mistake about the truth. Luke 1:1-4 records his basis. “Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed."

Because we can go back to those reference points and verify their accuracy, we are able to trust the accuracy of other scriptures. Anything which contradicts them must thus be incorrect. John’s teachings are to be taken on that basis.