How to Study the Bible (Part 6)

Hello Friends!

Welcome Back! Let’s continue our with our series titled “How to Study the Bible” for our Christian walk with our Lord Jesus Christ…

How to Study the Bible (Part 6)

Interpreting the Bible ~ Points to Appropriate

Here are a few important “points to appropriate” when interpreting the Biblical text…

Points to Appropriate

Be Literal:

We must seek to understand Scripture in its literal, normal and natural sense. Although symbolism and figures of speech appear in the Bible, they will be obvious from the context. For instance, when we study apocalyptic passages in Zechariah, Daniel, Ezekiel, Isaiah, and Revelation we will read about different kinds of “beasts” and “images” throughout these books. Although these are indeed symbols, they convey literal truth. Therefore, we must interpret the Bible in its normal and natural sense. Otherwise we're taking an unnatural, abnormal and nonsensical interpretation of God’s Word. Here is one example to avoid…

Some Jewish rabbis were zealous advocates of gematria – the process of assigning numerical values to the Hebrew letters in order to interpret the text. For instance, they said if one takes the consonants of Abraham's name -- b, r, h, m -- and add them up with their numerical equivalents, you will have 318. Therefore, when you see the word Abraham it means he had 318 servants… Huh? No! Abraham's name means Abraham – period! We must interpret Scripture in its literal sense, just as we would any other piece of literature!

Know the Context:

The Bible must also be studied in its historical context. What did it mean to whom it was spoken or written? We must also study its literary context. How does the passage or verse we are studying relate to the surrounding text? It has been well said that a text apart from context is a pretext… Well said!

Analyze the Sentence Structure:

In school, we (may have) learned how to diagram a sentence -- identify the verbs, nouns, prepositions and other parts of speech to find out what the entire text is saying. For example, let’s apply this approach to the Great Commission:

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you – Matthew 28:19-20

As we first read it – "Go", "make disciples", "baptizing", and "teaching" all sound like verbs. But when we study the original sentence structure, we will find there's only one verb, matheteuo –  "make disciples." The words "Go", "baptizing" and "teaching" are only participles, which means they modify the main verb. So the Great Commission is to “make disciples” – which involves “going” to them, “baptizing” them and “teaching” them. We must examine the grammar carefully to fully comprehend and appreciate the true meaning of the text!

Compare Your Interpretation with the Totality of Scripture:

This vital principle of interpretation is known as Analogia Scriptura – meaning all Scripture fits together. One part of the Bible doesn't teach something that another part contradicts. For example, when we read the Apostle Paul’s account of the Gospel to the Corinthians, he says:

Otherwise, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them? – 1 Corinthians 15:29

When this text speaks of being “baptized for the dead,” we know it CANNOT mean that we can get someone out of hell and into heaven by being “baptized” on his behalf. This is a false Mormon interpretation of which contradicts the clear teaching of salvation by “grace” through personal “faith” in Jesus Christ – alone!

Look for Practical Principles to Apply:

As we read the various Scriptures, we must desire to learn what spiritual principles apply to us and fellow “believers” in Jesus Christ. For instance, contrary to popular “opinion,” true spiritual warfare is not waged by railing at demons or “binding” Satan. Nowhere in Scripture are we commanded to do such things!

The Apostle Paul demonstrates for us that true Biblical spiritual warfare is waged in the mind by “pulling down strongholds” – speculations – and “casting down” every “high thing” – unbiblical ideas – that “exalts” themselves against the “knowledge of God” by taking “every thought into captivity” to the “obedience” of Jesus Christ and His Word:

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,  and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled – 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Again, Paul commands us to think and “meditate on these things” for a life dedicated to godliness:

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things – Philippians 4:8

Through our “obedience” to God, James – the half-brother of our Lord Jesus Christ – commands us to “submit,” “resist” and “flee”:

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you – James 4:7

The Apostle Peter also commands us to be “sober-minded” and “vigilant” – alert – against our “adversary” and his wicked schemes:

Be sober-minded, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour – 1 Peter 5:8

Therefore, we can conclude that true spiritual warfare is a battle for the Truth – waged in the heart & mind and won through the proper appropriation of the Word of God!

We are able to properly apply important principles such a spiritual warfare only after we have literally interpreted our passage(s), analyzed their context and sentence structure and have compared our interpretation within the totality of Scripture…

Thank you for reading! Don’t miss next week’s continued investigation of How to Study the Bible…

May the Lord Jesus Christ continue to bless you with His perfect love, mercy and grace!

Keep looking up and sharing the Gospel while there is still time… Hallelujah and Maranatha – come quickly Lord Jesus!

Blessings!

Shane <><

Feel the Presence

34 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 35 Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.  Exodus 40

Have you ever felt the presence of the Lord?  The presence of the Lord was so powerful here, that Moses couldn't even enter the Tent of Meeting.  It doesn't explain why this is, if it's that the presence is so thick that it's tangible and you physically cannot enter or if something else occurred here.

Regardless, it's an awesome event.  To know that God is present there, I mean, to really KNOW. 

Have you ever had a time when you knew God was there?  I have.  I could feel it.  I can't put everything into words, but it was a unique experience.  Does that mean that when I don't have that same feeling that God isn't there? Absolutely not.  God is omnipotent and omnipresent.  He is there even when we don't sense or feel him.  He never leaves us.  We may have to remind ourselves of that fact because we don't feel him, but it is a fact, nonetheless.

Thurs Devo - Questioning God's Choice

Have you ever thought you could do someone else’s job better than them?
Have you thought you should have been selected for a particular position, but someone else was?
Or, did the person you like pick someone else to date?
At different points in my life, I could answer yes to all three questions.

We don’t always understand why certain people are chosen. We can often complain about decisions that are made, especially by those in leadership. It’s one thing to ask legitimate questions or to bring up valid concerns in a respectful and appropriate format. However, it is a dangerous place to be to think we are better and superior to someone else or deserve to have the same authority as them.

Numbers 12:1-4    Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite. ² “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses?” they asked. “Hasn’t he also spoken through us?” And the Lord heard this. ³ (Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.) ⁴ At once the Lord said to Moses, Aaron and Miriam, “Come out to the tent of meeting, all three of you.” So the three of them went out.

Miriam and Aaron didn’t seem to like Moses’ wife. However, that doesn’t seem to be the real issue. Their words reveal their haughty heart attitude. They pridefully thought they deserved equal authority with Moses. God had used them to speak for Him and to help Moses, but they seemed to want more and felt they deserved it.

Interestingly, verse three mentions how humble Moses was! This is in quite contrast to prideful Miriam and Aaron! Moses didn’t deserve or earn his position, but he was God’s choice to be the main leader for the Israelites. Moses wasn’t a perfect leader, but God purposed to work through him.

Are you and I discontent with one of our positions?

How will you and I accept the position(s) God’s given to you and me at this time?   

Alice

I'm Sorry

But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. In this way, they will bring sudden destruction on themselves.  2 Peter 2:1

So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News.  Philippians 2:7

My journey toward being an unapologetic Christian was a tough one.  Even though I personally knew God at the bright young age of nineteen, it took almost twenty years to become Christian because of a person who falsely taught me what it meant to be Christian.  They would say that you had to meet the standards of God or you would not be saved.  What they did not say was that we were forgiven of our sins through Jesus Christ.  Thus every time I did not meet the measure, I felt like I was a failure never worth of either God’s love or a relationship with Him.  How do we fight a society claiming God is an angry God who is merciless and devoid of tolerance?

As Christians, we must learn to speak the truth especially when another’s belief is based on false teachings.  I remember hearing a preacher talk about a tragedy as being God’s way of punishing a group of people who sinned against Him.  While it is true that God is almighty, powerful, and capable of such things, the God we know is also loving and merciful.  So when I saw a person hurt by those preacher’s words, I simply looked at them, and said, "That is not the God I know.  I am so sorry someone led you to believe that."  The world will either teach others they are not worthy of God’s love or disillusion them with false teachings from those who claim to know God.   But as personal representatives of Jesus Christ, we must show the true loving God who gave His only Son for our sins.  When confronted with the argument that God is without remorse, concern, or love for them, we must reflect God’s grace, and there are no two words that show both love and grace better than a sincere “I’m sorry.”

We are unapologetically Christian, but it does not mean that we should not apologize for any false truths about God.  Our relationship with Him is the most wondrous and beautiful thing in our lives.  If someone is inhibited from making that connection due to prior experiences, let us share the special of favor Paul speaks of both defending and confirming God’s truth.  Find out what is behind their pain, and soothe them with words of love and understanding.  Who do you know that is against God  because of pain?  How will you stand when someone speaks falsely about who Christ is?  My prayer is that we are shining examples of the true living God to a deceived world by first simply saying, “I’m sorry.”  Amen.

Tues Devo: Keep serving

John 13: 12-17 “So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. Truly, truly I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.’” (NASB)

Hello,

In the category of “things easier said than done” I have titled this weeks as ‘keep serving’. Have you ever wondered why some friendships seem to last – but other fall apart? I believe one of the biggest pieces of that puzzle is a change in attitude about the relationship. That attitude change is reflected in one party stopping their service to the other. Whether that is from tiredness, or frustration – or just getting out of habit over time – stopping putting others first will hurt the relationship. The ironic part is that often when we stop, we feel the other has stopped and so we put on the brakes even harder out of anger/frustration. But the key is to start serving. No matter how upset you are, or entitled you feel – get back to serving one another. Not only will this begin to open the door to restoration, but as others watch you will have a chance to share your faith as to why you made this choice – following Christ’s example.

Have a blessed day,

Will Hill