SOUNDING OUT:
Keys to Spiritual Light

                                 A study in Biblical Accuracy by Dorothy Owens

  This pamphlet is prepared to enable us in the development of our spiritual life to study THE WORD and to make it a living reality in everyday living. In order to do this we may have to “unlearn” some things, which we accepted as “gospel” from man, but for which we find no backing of truth in THE WORD. In many instances it is an alarming commentary on our spiritual life when we honestly face up to the little that we actually know about the Bible after attending Sunday school and Church since early childhood. Have we checked our beliefs against the Word of God; or have we accepted man’s word and tradition?

  In material things most of us are very cautious of what we buy and accept, yet, concerning our spiritual life, we are prone to believe (or at least tolerate) anything, usually without question. That does not mean that we question THE WORD OF GOD... never!!! But, we certainly have every right and it is our responsibility to check what we are taught and believe in the light of THE WORD.

  The information in this spiritual life pamphlet is based upon the inherent teaching in the Word itself. The Bible need not be a closed book to us unless we so choose. Read the Bible with the attitude that it is NOT difficult and with the desire to know TRUTH.

  Our varying backgrounds of teaching make it necessary to establish “the attitudes toward the Bible” upon which these helps are based. There are certain foundational Scriptures which we must RIGHTLY DIVIDE and understand if our spiritual life is to be properly developed. The first one is recorded in II Timothy 3:16 and 17.

  The Bible as the Word of God is of necessity also the Will of God; for we cannot separate God’s Will from His Word any more than we can separate a man’s will from his word. God plainly says that “All scripture was God-breathed” and our attitude toward the Word indicates our spiritual status.

  Our second “attitude toward The Word” is stated in II Peter 1:20 and 21.

  If our second “attitude toward The Word” is true, namely, that no Scripture is of any private [one’s own] interpretation, then the third foundational truth is:

  You ask, “How can we know if we rightly divide The Word?” The Word is accurate — God says what He means and means what He says. He has a purpose for everything He says and even the way in which He says it. What appears to be an inaccuracy is usually due to our misunderstanding of what we are reading. Does the Bible say that Eve ate an apple? Does the Bible say that Jonah was swallowed by a whale? Jonah 1:17. (Matthew 12:40 says, “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly...” — this cross-references Jonah 1:17 which says a great fish.) Without going back to the “originals” we can see this inaccuracy. These may seem of little importance and it is true they have nothing to do with our basis for Christian living, yet we have read other passages just as carelessly, causing dissention, even new denominations. The Word of God is the Will of God. Any person can know God’s will if he will only study His Word and believe it.

  There have been many translations of the Bible and it is well to check and compare them in study. Nothing that man does is perfect — so all translations have errors. The Authorized Version commonly known as the King James Version is perhaps more familiar to most Christians than any other. Yet, it too is a translation of THE WORD OF GOD. Chapters, verses, punctuation, center references, marginal notes, chapter headings, etc. have all been added by man. Words in italics are not in the “originals” but have been added by the translators. The “originals” were without punctuation, divisions, etc. If the Word is inspired then the words must of necessity be inspired of God also. Since the “markings” were added by man and not “God-breathed” we must refrain from giving them the same importance as “the words.” The additions by man are good for reference but NEVER interpretation. We must of necessity always have the true meaning of the Word before we can have or make the proper application.

  The Bible has many writers but only one AUTHOR — God-breathed. Man did the speaking in his own vocabulary but what he spoke was what God wanted spoken.

  Since the Scripture is of “no private interpretation” it must interpret itself. This is done basically in one of three ways:

  The whole Bible is not addressed to us.

  I Corinthians 10:32 gives us an important key — there are three groups of people in the Bible-Jews, Gentiles, and the Church of God. We who are Christians belong to the Church of God. All of the Bible is for our learning-the specific things for us are addressed to us and must be understood of us. So it is MOST IMPORTANT that we see TO WHOM the passage is addressed. What was said TO THE JEW was not said to the Church of God, etc. Much of our confusion is caused by trying to apply what was written TO someone else to ourselves. Read the book of Romans (for example) in the light of this and it will unfold like a new book, because the entire book is not addressed TO the same group.

  The key to power in our day-by-day living is the RENEWED MIND.

  How do we renew the mind? By studying the Bible. Salvation (new birth, conversion) is God’s job as we accept what He made available (Romans 10:9, 10). This is the beginning of the Christian life which climaxes with eternal life. The renewed mind determines how we walk in this world between those two points and this is our responsibility. Many Christians manifest a defeated, miserable life, not a very desirable picture to the unbeliever. As we learn our sonship rights, as sons of God, we can walk without fear and accept the many things God has made available. We sometimes justify our living below par on the basis of humility, meekness-we are afraid we will offend God — we keep God the size of our own unbelief instead of increasing our believing. In the human family we are not offended if our child accepts something we have made available and offered to him, are we? We would be more likely to be offended if the child refused.

  God is Love, but He can do no more than we allow Him to do, because He gave us freedom of will — salvation is available but it is by our choice — the abundant life is available, but only by our acceptance. God’s goodness is so far beyond our comprehension that we many times try to whittle it down to our own standards of goodness. We too often try to justify our own shortcomings by blaming God. If earthly fathers treated their children like God is often accused of treating His children, those fathers would be prosecuted by law.

  In renewing our minds we learn what our job is, and continued study of the Word builds up our believing so that we can do His Will. It is interesting to know about God’s responsibilities such as the second coming, but we should not neglect learning our responsibilities and then acting on our responsibility. God is going to fulfill His part. Our opinions will not change one thing in God’s plan.

  The renewed mind, according to the Word, enables us to get our prayers answered. Believing is the key to receiving. Fear is man’s greatest enemy. Fear builds unbelief and unbelief defeats the promises of God. When we have fear we cannot believe; when we believe we will not fear.

  He was the same Jesus who had done mighty miracles in other places. In each instance where mighty works were done, the person or persons believed — they acted upon the words Jesus spoke. Prayer is not always asking God for something — although that is sometimes the only time we take time to pray. Prayer is fellowship with God — where we can just talk things over with Him (and it pays to take time to let Him talk to us). When we do have something to ask of God we just present our need, thank Him for meeting it, then relinquish it to Him knowing that the matter will be taken care of. It is in this relinquishing that we are often defeated — fear creeps in — and if things do not happen just the way we think they should — we become fretful. Do we really want God to have His Way, or have we actually wanted Him to verify our opinions? It is not sacrilegious to ask such questions — it is just being honest with ourselves and with God. WHAT WE BELIEVE DOES NOT CHANGE GOD’S WORD — BUT WHAT WE BELIEVE DOES DETERMINE WHAT WE RECEIVE. We say we will believe when we see — the Word of God says we believe (act) then we see.

  By acting upon the Word can I know that I am a Christian? This confronts many church people today although it is not freely expressed. There is a very simple reason for the uncertainty. Denominations have dwelt upon methods set up by man rather than actually studying the Word. Then when an individual does not respond to that method in the way “others” have, doubt and fear set in.

  Romans 10:9 and 10 says:

  Now let us be real honest and see if our belief and criticisms are based on the Scripture or if we are quibbling over these man made methods. A very fine Bible teacher says, “You can find God anywhere and miss Him everywhere.” Again we come back to the importance of the renewed mind.

  Denominations have been built by groups of believers who have similar beliefs and “interpretations” of the Scriptures. Did you ever ask yourself why we go to church? Such an honest question deserves an honest answer. What have we a right to expect from our church? Is it just another organization? The purpose of the church is spiritual — if we receive spiritual food from our Sunday School and Worship Services, all the other phases of our church organization will fit into proper order. We will be united in a desire to learn more of the love of God and inspired to manifest it in our everyday living. We have a right to expect to be edified when we attend worship services, and it is the responsibility of the “Man of God” to “rightly divide” the Word of Truth. Perhaps the lay people will need to renew their minds as to the responsibilities of the minister. This also must be based on the Scripture and not just on what we think.

  CONCLUSION: It is my sincere prayer that this little pamphlet will challenge you to search the Scriptures, and that it will be of help to you in making the Bible alive and real. It is our right and responsibility to check any teaching with the Bible and not just accept it because so and so said it. THE BIBLE MUST BE OUR SOURCE OF SPIRITUAL FOOD.