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Questions for Study

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We must put forth effort to understand and correctly handle the Bible.  Paul told Timothy, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).  There are many who twist the Scriptures to their own liking, but also to their own destruction (2 Peter 3:16).  Satan misuses scripture as a temptation (Matthew 4:6), and those who handle the word of God deceitfully are following the devil’s lead (2 Corinthians 4:2; cf. 1 John 4:1-3; Matthew 7:15-20).  Since the Gospel can be perverted into a different message which does not save (Galatians 1:6-9), we must work to make sure we arrive at the true meaning of the soul-saving message.  Here are some questions to ask in studying scripture:

  1. Who is doing the speaking? Is Satan speaking?  Is Job venting his frustration at God? Is the man who is speaking in this text inspired or not?  Does the overall context of the Bible show that this statement is one approved by God?
  2. To whom is the statement addressed? Peter gives one answer to those who have yet to obey the gospel (Acts 2:38), but a different answer to one who has been baptized but has fallen back into sinful ways (Acts 8:22, cf. v. 13).  1 John 1:9 is addressed to those already in the Christian walk; it is not to be taken as the way a person is initially washed from sins (Acts 22:16).
  3. Under which covenant is this passage found? How many people today still regard the command to, “remember the Sabbath day” (Exodus 20:8), while never considering the difference between the New Covenant and the Old (Colossians 2:14-16)?
  4. What is the true meaning of the words in this verse? Words such as “baptism” and “bishop” carry a different meaning to many today than what the word in the original conveyed when the Bible was written. Sometimes it takes some digging to make sure the way we are taking the words are not colored by modern definitions.
  5. Is the language in this passage literal or figurative? The book of John is filled with examples of people taking Jesus literally without catching the metaphor He was employing.  While the Bible usually is to be taken literally it does use figurative language.  We recognize this in everyday conversation, we must apply it to reading the Bible as well.
  6. What is the immediate context of this verse? The best habit we can make in studying the Bible is considering the topic at hand. Looking at the verses preceding and following a certain text will help us to ascertain the meaning.  While chapter and verse divisions have added to our ability to locate precise portions of scripture, sadly, they’ve also caused people to isolate verses from the surrounding material.  This makes twisting the scripture very easy.
  7. Is this all that is said on this subject? In addition to considering the verses immediately surrounding a certain verse, proper understanding comes from also fitting a verse into the overall teaching of Scripture.  All too often people will quote a portion of scripture that they use as a proof-text for their beliefs without considering what else the Bible says on the matter.  If my interpretation of a passage contradicts other passages of scripture, then I have misinterpreted something.  We must always consider the entirety of Bible teaching on a subject before determining what a certain verse means.

 

-Mark Day

 

The Keys of the Kingdom

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When asked of the identity of Jesus, Peter made the confession, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16).  Upon this bedrock truth Jesus promised to build His church (Matthew 16:18; cf. 1 Corinthians 3:11).  Then immediately Jesus said to Peter, “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:19).  There is no change in topic here, for the church of Christ is the kingdom of Christ; therefore, it is natural for Jesus to speak of the kingdom when a discussion of the church is ongoing.

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Keys give access.  Jesus was saying that Peter would serve a function of giving access to the realm of the saved: the church.  Nowhere in this promise is Jesus stating that Peter would pass the keys to the next generation and start a line of authority for humans to preside over Christ’s kingdom and continually revise the doctrines and practices of the church.

Peter would open access to the kingdom.  Others had been attempting to control access to heaven, but only Jesus had the right to grant access (Revelation 3:7).  Jesus pronounced a woe to the scribes and Pharisees, “for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.”  Luke’s account mentions the key, “Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered” (Luke 11:52).

Jesus expounds on the keys in Matthew 16:19 explaining, “and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”   To “bind” and “loose” are terms that relate to matters of law.  Even today we say, “this contract is binding.”  Thus, Jesus is saying what God had determined regarding transgressions of His law in heaven and pardon would be declared by Peter. In fact, two chapters later, Jesus uses the terms “binding” and “loosing” again in regard to forgiveness of sin (Matthew 18:18).  Peter and the other apostles were not making up laws, but rather revealing God’s terms of forgiveness for all (2 Peter 1:16-21).

In Acts 2:38, Peter, on Pentecost day, declared the terms of pardon to the Jews who were guilty of crucifying the Lord by stating, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”  Not only did he function as the key bearer to grant access to the Jews, but also later to the Gentiles (Acts 10:47-48).

The way of forgiveness has been opened to all.  All may enter the kingdom if they will respond to the terms laid out in the gospel by inspired men such as Peter; when they do such they are added to the church, the kingdom (Acts 2:47).  Contrariwise, those who reject the inspired message of the New Testament will remain in their sins and be shut out of the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 25:10-12).

 

-Mark Day

No More Than The Necessary Burden

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The following is an excerpt from the letters written to the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia, “For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things” (Acts 15:28).  Acts 15 records a conference that took place in Jerusalem.  God’s requirements of the Gentiles was the topic addressed regarding which, “there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses” (Acts 15:5).

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Though these Pharisees believed and were part of Christ’s church, they were still up to their old ways.  Jesus said of the Pharisees, “…they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders” (Matthew 23:4).  The apostles and elders went to the Jerusalem conference to consider this matter (Acts 15:6), but it was not that they were going to determine by majority vote what position they were to take.  Rather, it would be established again to those at Jerusalem what God had declared about the Gentiles through miracles and wonders (Acts 15:12).  It was God’s choice that was acknowledged, not man’s choice that was decided (Acts 15:7).  Those Pharisees who were intent on binding the law of Moses and circumcision, were questioned as to why they were trying to put an unbearable yoke upon the necks of the Gentiles (Acts 15:10) and ordered to not trouble the Gentiles with laws God did not require of them (Acts 15:19).

There were requirements God had for the Gentiles.  They were to abstain from idols, fornication, from eating things strangled and eating blood (Acts 15:20, 29), but the extra laws the Pharisees desired to bind were not to trouble them.  God wants to bind on us no additional burden than the commands necessary to keep us from harm and in godliness that leads to eternal life (2 Peter 1:3).

Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).  There are requirements we must keep to follow Christ.  We must not seek to be loosed from what Christ binds upon us.  But His yoke is easy and His burden is light.  His commandments are for our good and are not grievous, nor burdensome (1 John 5:3).

But we must beware of those who would add laws which are not a part of the Gospel.  Christ has given us true freedom in His laws, so we should not be ensnared as slaves to man-made religious requirements (Galatians 5:1-2).  While it is often shown that man flouts the Lord’s commands, certain people have a tendency to go the other way and forbid things which God allows (1 Timothy 4:3).  Spiritual death is lurking in either direction.  Spiritual life is found in doing Christ’s commandments (Revelation 22:14).  When I continue in Christ’s word, then am I truly His disciple and truly free (John 8:31-32).

 

-Mark Day

The Church

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When many people hear the word “church” different thoughts may come to their mind as to what this word means. When it comes to religious matters we must appeal to a standard, and that standard is the Bible.

The word translated church comes from the Greek word “EKKLESIA” which means “called out assembly”. In the New Testament we read that the church when applied to Christians is “called out” of the world. 2 Corinthians 6:17-18, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”

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Christians are called out of the world and many will ask “How are we called?” The Bible teaches we are called by the Gospel. 2 Thessalonians 2:14, “Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The word “church” is used in three ways in the Bible.

  1. The term “church” is used of the “UNIVERSAL CHURCH”. In Matthew 16:18 Jesus promised “…I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” He is referring to the universal church, without regard to locality.
  2. “Church” is also used of “LOCAL CONGREGATIONS”. Revelation 2:1 says, “Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write…” This is referring to the congregation (church) that had been established in Ephesus.
  3. The word church can also mean “AN ASSEMBLY”, indicating a gathering of individuals. We read in Acts 7:38, “This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers…”. The word church in this context does not refer to the New Testament church, rather to the assembly that had been called out of Egypt, i.e. the nation of Israel. In other contexts it means a worship assembly of the Lord’s church. For example, 1 Corinthians 11:18, “For first of all, when ye come together in the church…”.

We note at this point that when the church is used in reference to New Testament Christians it is not referring to the building. In 1 Corinthians 16:19 the Bible says, “…Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.” This is referring to Christians that met (assembled for worship) in their house.

Also important is the fact when the word “church” is used in regard to Christians it never refers to a denomination. Denominations are not found in the Bible. Denominationalism is a secular division of a whole. Some believe the universal church is divided into differing denominations and this with God’s approval. However we read the apostle Paul by inspiration condemned division in 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.” As already shown, the Lord Jesus Christ did not build a denomination, He built “His church”.

We see from the Bible that those in the 1st century were called out of the world by their obedience to the Gospel. The Lord added them to the church (Acts 2:47) and they assembled for worship in local congregations without the need of denominations.

-Jerry D. Sturgill

 

Tell Me the Story of Jesus

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“Tell me the story of Jesus;
Write on my heart every word.
Tell me the story most precious,
Sweetest that ever was heard.”

 

In this week’s VBS, we echo the sentiments of these words of Fanny Crosby in this great, old hymn.  The Bible, though a library of sixty-six books, is really one story: the story of human redemption through Jesus Christ.  Over the course of 1,600 years God used over forty individuals from different cultures, in vastly different circumstances, speaking different languages to write one unified message to mankind (2 Peter 1:20-21).  The great emphasis of our theme this week is that all the stories of the Bible, even the stories of people such as Noah or Ruth, relate to the central story of Jesus Christ saving man from sin.  Jesus is the overarching theme and purpose of all these stories, and we need to connect them to this broader scope.

The early church loved to tell the story of Jesus and to be told it over and over again. Acts 5:42 records, “And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.”  Do we likewise love the story?  Even today, Christians can draw faith and spiritual strength from Bible stories, even Old Testament stories that lead up to Christ (Romans 15:4).

This week we have a great opportunity to meet every day to tell the story of Jesus at VBS.  This week we can grow in knowledge (2 Peter 3:18), keep our spiritual temperatures high (Revelation 3:15-16), encourage our brethren (Hebrews 3:13) and show we have the right priorities by choosing to give VBS precedence in our schedules (Matthew 6:33).  If you have the opportunity will you come to VBS?  The Bible stories taught this week will be stories that children will never forget for the rest of their lives and Christian adults will never get tired of hearing. Will you be like Mary and choose the better part (Luke 10:42)?  Will you show your child and/or the children who come this week that you love the story of Jesus because it is the most precious and sweetest ever heard?

The story of human redemption through Jesus Christ is so wonderful because it is true and you can have a place in it.  The records of people in the Bible “are written for our admonition” (1 Corinthians 10:11).  Just as the first-century church could be benefited by the accounts of God’s dealings with His people many centuries earlier, so we can reap the same benefit today.   The story of Jesus means my salvation if I believe and follow it (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

 

-Mark Day