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.
All scripture is given
by inspiration of God, [God breathed, the Greek word
is theopneustos translated by the five words:
“given by inspiration of God”] and is profitable
for doctrine [how to believe rightly], for reproof [when
not believing rightly], for correction [how to get back
to right believing], for instruction in righteousness
[teaching]: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly
furnished unto all good works.
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.
Knowing this first [not
last, or any other place, but first], that no prophecy
[both forth and fore telling] of the scripture is of
any private [the Greek word is idios translated
“one’s own” or “his own,”
only here translated “private”] interpretation.
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.
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:
Study to shew thyself
approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. II Timothy
2:15.
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:
1. It interprets itself
in the verse where it is used. or
2. In the context, or
3. It has been used before.
The whole Bible is not
addressed to us.
For whatsoever things
were written aforetime were written for our learning,
that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures
might have hope. Romans 15:4.
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.
And be not conformed
to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing
of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and
acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:2.
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.
Or what man is there
of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him
a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts
unto your children, how much more shall your Father
which is in heaven give good things to them that ask
him?
Matthew 7:9-11.
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.
And he [Jesus] did not
many mighty works there [in his own home town] because
of their unbelief. Matthew 13:58.
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:
That if thou shalt confess
with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in
thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead,
thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth
unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is
made unto salvation.
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.
