WHY DOESN’T EVERYONE SEE THE BIBLE ALIKE? EXCUSES: “I don’t read it because I cannot understand it” “You can prove anything by the Bible” “That is just your interpretation” “We need and interpreter” [Catholics] “Holy Spirit guides us” [Charismatic]
A. CAN Know (Ephesians 3:1-6) (Ephesians 5:17) “Wherefore, be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” (John 8:31-32) “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word then are ye my disciples indeed. And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.”
B. DWELL in God’s Word (1 Thessalonians 5:27) “I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.” (Colossians 4:16) “And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.” (Colossians 3:16-17) “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and Admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”
C. UNITY is Required (1 Corinthians 1:10) “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” (John 17:20-21) “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one as thou Father art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” (Ephesians 4:1-6)
A. Attitude --- “Cannot understand anyway” (Matthew 13:15) “For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing and their eyes they have closed lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.”
1. Ignoring God’s word, establish their own righteousness (Matthew 7:21-23) “Not everyone that saith unto me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast our devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
B. Influence --- of parents and kin (tradition)
1. Washing of hands (Matthew 15:1-20) (Mark 7:1-23)
a. Pharisees had made this a requirement
b. BUT, Jesus said, “Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.” (Mark 7:9)
C. Creeds --- doctrines of men (1 John 4:1) “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God because many false prophets are gone out unto the world.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21) “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”
D. Authority --- trusting in men (our ourselves) more than Jesus (2 John 9-11)
E. Failure to RIGHTLY DIVIDE God’s Word (2 Timothy 2:15) (2 Peter 3:15-16)
1. Isolating Verses
a. “faith only”
2. Failing to Distinguish between O.T. and N.T.
a. instrumental music, separate priesthood, incense, etc.
3. Literalization
a. “this is my body”
b. “144,000 going to heaven”
4. Spiritualization
a. “Jonah”
b. “creation account”
5. Misapplication of Commands
a. Christians told to “repent, confess sin, pray”
b. “alien sinner” told to H-B-R-C-B
6. Reading PART of a verse
a. (John 6:44-45)
b. (Galatians 3:26-27)
A. Do not approach the scriptures with the correct attitude
B. Allow human traditions to influence our understanding
C. Use as our authority in religion, some man or woman (or our own feelings)
D. Fail to “rightly divide” God’s word Let us set all of these things aside, and go back to the Bible for Faith, Forgiveness, and Fellowship in Christ.