Understanding The Bible

Understanding the Bible

by: Karen (mother-in-law)

I would like to relate the true story of a man in the Lord's church many of you know. He grew up in a non-Christian home - unchurched and "heathen". About the age of 18, his mother gave him a Bible. He began reading it - sometimes 6 or more hours a day. Without being taught by anyone, and contrary to popular religious thought, this young man determined just from reading the Bible that he needed to be baptized to have his sins forgiven. So he began looking at names of churches around town, trying to find one that sounded like the church he had read about in the Bible. He walked into a Church of Christ, found the minister in his study, and said, "I believe from reading the Bible that I need to be baptized to have my sins forgiven." The minister replied that it was exactly what he taught and what the church practiced and proceeded to baptize this young man. 

This ability to read God's word and understand it and obey it has made it possible for individuals throughout the centuries of time to come to the same conclusions - independent of each other. I have always found it amazing that people separated by time, distance, and theoligical beliefs can arrive at the same conclusions spiritually simply by reading and understanding the same book! 

This is possible for any topic in the Bible - not just the plan of salvation (as in the story of the young man above). How many people do you know who may be part of a denomination, never immersed to have their sins forgiven; and yet they live exemplary clean, godly lives - often putting baptized believers to shame. They, without submitting to God's plan for salvation, (and w/o the subsequent help of the Holy Spirit some of you claim) are able to read the Bible and allow it to effect change in their lives. 

So can we read the Bible and understand it and obey it without an internal aid of the Holy Spirit? Absolutely! Any chapter, any verse, any topic in the Bible? Undeniably, YES!

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."

Romans 12:2

New Years Resolution Part 2

Get right with God, before you try to fix your problem

I can't expect to stay true to my New Years resolutions unless I get right with God, dive deep into His Word, and continuously pray for help.  I am sure I am not the only person that has noticed that attitude and character changes for the best when Christ is put on. I have noticed in myself that when I am spiritually fit, I am a better person all around: Christ shows through me. 

I  Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. 1 Peter 4:8

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

Let others see Christ in Us

 I have a really good story called "One Ugly Hillbilly" in a previous post called "A Merry Heart". It is really worth reading. How much more attractive are people who have their minds set on things from above: who are not living for the world, those who display Christ daily in their lives? I want to put away my bad qualities and focus on what is worthy. I would rather be attractive on the inside then have a morsel of beauty on the outside. I want wholeheartedly to please my Lord.  

 “Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to SET A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, AND A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW;  and A MAN’S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD. He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.  And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it." Matthew 10:32-29

Let our conduct be worthy of Christ

This is a very serious matter. This kinda reminds me of another previous post called "True Worship".  I need to put on Christ daily, and worship His holy name in the ways He finds pleasing according to His Word.

I need to always have a Christ like attitude. You never know who is watching, and taking note of your actions. I don't know how many times I have heard this story: "You say you are a Christian, but you act like that?!" In putting on Christ; that new nature which is being renewed after the image of God, we become clothed with the character which shines in God Himself.

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.  Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience,  and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all. So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. 

Colossians 3: 1-17

Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mindstriving together for the faith of the gospel; in no way alarmed by your opponents—which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God.  

Philippians 1:27-28

 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain. But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all. You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me. 

Philippians 2:12-18

Taking off sin, and putting on what is good is easier when you hold on to God's unchanging hand.

Training vs. Trying

    "If you can love God supremely and love others as God has loved you without praying or reading the scriptures or participating in worship, good for you. I have trouble believing that you can pull that off, however, because Jesus prayed earnestly, studied the scriptures carefully, and participated in worship wherever he went. If he needed to live that way I know that I do, and I am very confident that you do too."
     There are many people who want to go to heaven, but most don't want to do what is necessary to get there. Exercising unto Godliness is something every Christian should take quite seriously. Disciplining ourselves is the key to persevere. 1 Corinthians 9:25-27 cannot say it any better. "Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. ²⁶ Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; ²⁷ but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified."  We are to simply run in a way to receive the ultimate prize. 

     If you have ever researched an Olympic gold medalist you would be amazed at how much discipline, and training they put forth to win a perishable medal. I'll use Michael Phelps as an example. Michael Phelps swims around 50 miles a week. His diet consists of 12,000 calories a day, and he trains for six hours a day six days a week. He does this. . . .for a medal, and for self gain. 
    Can a Christian try to be a Christian for sole gain?  Someone can choose to do a good discipline not to love God and others, but to impress God and others. Jesus gave clear warnings about this. In Matthew 6:16-18 it tells us that when we fast, we are not to look as if we are fasting, but to pretty much put a big smile on our face. It is not easy to train with anything. Disciplining ourselves is never easy. God though tells us in 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 to never tire from doing what is good. Everyday we should be praising God, praying, studying the scriptures, and being a Godly example and of course being with other Christians as often as we can. 2 Timothy 4:7-8 says "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; ⁸ in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing." What a glorious day that will be. 
    "Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by  him; for those whom the Lord loved he disciplines, and he scourges every son whom he receives."

It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Hebrews 12:1-11.

Are you in training for the race that really matters?

  

The Theatrical Christian

     The Theatrical Christian loves to talk about how loving, respectful, passionate and God-fearing they are, but sadly, their actions speak louder than their words. The theatrical Christian professes to be a Christian, but most notably evades to percolate like a Christian. Not only is the Theatrical Christian's approach to being Christ-like absurd in the way that they fail to practice what they preach, but they merely fail to practice what the Bible itself teaches. Their hypocrisy is so ludicrous, it makes it obvious and questionable the validity of calling themselves "Christian". Even the Bible clearly states that those who practice hypocrisy really are not Christians at all.  1 John 4:20 says "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that lovest not his brother whom he hath seen cannot love God whom he hath not seen".
      Let's make something clear though, it is very important to not confuse sin with hypocrisy. A hypocrite is a phony; someone who says one thing, but does another, and does this on a regular basis. Don't get me wrong, every Christian is guilty of all sins, including the sin of hypocrisy. Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God".  The Bible also says "Therefore we were buried with him through baptism into death: so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in the newness of life" (Romans 6:4). The difference is, a true Christian admits he is a sinner, and is constantly repenting and striving to live a Godly life.  
      Jesus had many things to say to the hypocrite. He directly confronted the hypocrites; usually scribes and pharisees, and openly spoke out against their hypocritical acts (Matt 7:5, 6:5, 23:1-39).  Yes, God condones hypocrites, but God says in Isaiah 9:17b, "For everyone is profane and an evil-doer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still". God loves the hypocrite, and wants them to repent and live a Godly life "For God so loves the World, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever sinneth, shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). 
     Jesus points out in Matthew 7:15-20 that is is by our fruits that we shall be known. Let us follow God's example and be an authentic witness to the nonbeliever; not a hypocrite. "Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe (1 Timothy 4:12). We must follow what it says in James 1:22 "But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves".