Learn How to Believe that ALL of the Bible is For You

How Can I Know that ALL of the Bible is For Me?

Introduction:

I often say, “All of God’s Word is for you, but not all of it is to you.” That could sound like heretical teaching, but it is not intended to be that at all. It only means that when God says “you,” it is important that we see who He means. When He makes a promise, to whom was the promise given? Or, if He gave a command, to whom was it directed?

This is just part of careful interpretation, regardless of what you read. If we read the newspaper, a legal document, or a personal letter, the context in which a word is spoken means a great deal in interpreting any document.

Two Examples:

I like to ask, “When Jesus said, “That thou doest, do quickly,” does it mean Christians are always supposed to be in a hurry?” (But, this was Jesus’s command, given to Judas Iscariot: Judas had just then decided to betray the Lord, in John 13:27.) So, the obvious answer is “No! That command was not to everyone: it was only to Judas!”

But, then I might ask, “How about the Great Commission? To whom was it given?” If we read casually, we might say, “It was directed to the Eleven Disciples!” But a more careful reading would find that the eleven disciples were to produce other disciples across the whole world; and that they were to teach those disciples to obey all that Jesus had commanded the Eleven. (So… what had He just commanded the Eleven to do?)

Yes! The Great Commission is for all believers in the Church age. But, by extension, the Great Commission is also TO all believers! The “spiritual chain reaction” began at Pentecost in the second chapter of Acts. We see the continuing command in 2^nd Timothy 2:2. Paul commanded Timothy to teach (make disciples of) reliable, “…faithful men, who could teach others also.”

**But, We Believe the Whole Bible, Don’t We?**

Yes! We believe the Whole Bible. All of it is true. All of it is the inspired Word of God. But, in Genesis, for example, we can see that the entire book is mostly a narrative. The few commands there are usually to a single individual. We learn fundamental precepts there, about the nature of God, and we see, in “seed form,” the principles that fill the whole Word of God. We especially see the broad patterns there. Usually, though, the “commands” we find are very specific: they were given to specific individuals.

However, in the New Testament, we see that Jesus and the Apostles clearly saw the entire Old Testament as being the Word of God (not just “containing the Word of God.”) They quoted some passages verbatim, but often simply alluded to some narrative about a person or a situation, to demonstrate a concept. And, in those cases, if we were not familiar with the Old Testament history, we would completely miss the point of the New Testament teaching that’s based on that passage…and is derived from that passage. Let’s look at some examples:

Example 1: What About the Serpent in the Wilderness?

A good example of this is Jesus’s teaching (directed to Nicodemus, but still priceless to us) about why Moses “…lifted up the serpent in the wilderness.” (John 3:14-15) If we don’t know the story in Numbers 21:5-9, then we will be utterly mystified by the comparison Jesus made between Himself and that bronze serpent. (The one Moses lifted up on a pole, during the desert wanderings of Israel.) It represented God’s judgment for sin! The People were invited to “Look, and Live!”

Jesus was nailed onto that Cross as God’s judgment for the sins of the entire human race. We are invited to believe, trusting that the payment is complete, and Live! Jesus said, “It is finished!” meaning, “It is completed! I have completed the job I was sent to do!” The people were invited to look to God’s salvation from the venomous snakes, by looking to the bronze serpent. In so doing, they confessed that their sins had brought the judgment! And the result was that they did not die for their sins.

We are also invited to “Look and Live!” Jesus said, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life!” So, both the Old Testament account in Numbers 21 and the Gospel account of Nicodemus are priceless information for us, though neither was technically directed to us!

Example 2: What About “The Rock?”

When we read about Moses bringing water from the Rock (twice) during that same period of history, we might shrug and think, “Oh, yes: I know God miraculously provided water in the desert! That is wonderful, but it has very little application in my life…that was all for Israel!”

But we tend to forget that there were around 2.4 million people there, plus all their (numerous) herds of livestock. It was not just a little “spring” that God supplied: It was millions of gallons of water, coming out fast enough to supply all twelve tribes at once.

And in 1^st Corinthians 10:4, we find some really astonishing news: that spiritual Rock that followed them in the wilderness…was Christ! It is not given as an allegory or a metaphor. It is stated as a reality! And…Jesus is with me today! If He is truly that spiritual “Rock” that accompanied Israel through the physical desert, can He supply the spiritual water of life to me, today? Can He supply the Living Water to me as freely as He provided physical water to Israel?

And, the Water?

The story of “The Woman at the Well,” in John 4:4-14 helps us to link the two concepts. She thought Jesus was offering physical water, in an unending supply. But He made it clear that He offered something more. He invited her to receive that Living Water from Him!

Jesus’s promise in John 7:37-39 “completes the connection” for us! He offered that same Living Water, but the next verse explains that He meant the indwelling Holy Spirit, who was “not yet given!” Today, however, The Holy Spirit has been given. And, ever since Pentecost, He indwells each believer. What’s more, in John 14:23, Jesus makes it clear, that, in the person of the Holy Spirit, the entire Trinity has taken up residence in us. What an astounding idea!

He is still the Rock of Ages, supplying His cleansing blood for our salvation, and the endless flow of Living Water, for our continuing walk with Him. He invites the sinner to Come to Him, to Look, by faith, and to Live: To Receive His Eternal Grace and have Eternal Life today!

Example 3: What about Jonah?

In Matthew 12:39, 40 Jesus cited Jonah’s experience in the belly of the great sea creature, as a rebuke to his enemies who asked for a sign. They had demanded yet another sign, and He gave them only the sign of Jonah.

And it Does Two Things for Us:

First: It tells us that the story of Jonah is true. It truly happened, just as told. If I am uneasy with that idea, I have a problem. IfI don’t believe the book of Jonah is completely true, then I am saying that Jesus was wrong about His own Word! But many deny that the story of Jonah is true. They relegate it to the status of a “myth!” But, Jesus treated it as a fact! He treated it as history.

Second: It told us that Jonah’s experience was specifically a prophecy of the resurrection of Jesus! (Jesus called Jonah a prophet: what other prophecy did Jonah make? Or is it just the fact that he spoke for God?) But without that Old Testament prophet to read, we would be blind to the message Jesus offered. If we couldn’t go back and read the Book of Jonah, then we wouldn’t know what He was talking about. We would completely miss the prophecy!

Personal Application

Now: Were the commands in the book of Jonah directed to You? Did Jesus command you to go to Nineveh? (No…He didn’t.) But in that small book, we can see God’s compassion toward people whom we may consider our enemies. The teaching is there for us …if we are looking for it. How high is the priority you assign to the souls around us who are dying as we watch?

Last year, we heard that the president of an Islamic nation (who was the self-proclaimed enemy of Western culture, and the USA specifically,) was killed in a helicopter crash. What should our response be? Should we rejoice that one of our enemies is gone? Or should we grieve the fact that one of God’s created beings, created in His image, has perished, and is almost surely lost?

Jonah saw that Nineveh (the capital of Assyria) was filled with the enemies of his people, Israel! And God commanded him to extend God’s Grace to them! (No wonder he ran away!) And when God succeeded in bringing Nineveh to faith, Jonah was furious, saying, “I knew You were going to do this!” But God revealed the sin in Jonah’s heart, and the compassion in His own heart.

What about Me?

Do I have that same compassion? Or am I apathetic toward the lost, at best, seeing them only as enemies of the Faith? Jonah’s story may not be to me, but it surely is for me!

Jonah preached for three days and saw over 120,000 souls saved….and was furious with God for saving them. Jeremiah, in contrast, grieved and wept for the souls to whom he offered the truth of God. And only two (as far as we are told in scripture) accepted his message as truth, responding in faith. Jonah saw huge results but had a terrible attitude. Jeremiah had compassion for the lost, but saw a very small response. (And, I would still rather be “on Jeremiah’s team!”)

**But, Is it All for Us?**

2^nd Timothy 3:16, 17 says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, (complete) thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

We have looked at commands and promises given to individuals in the historical narratives of the Old Testament: We saw how some of them could be applied as being “for us to live by.” But others were only for examples from which we can learn the principles of God’s righteousness.

Divinely Given Examples

In 1^st Corinthians 10:11, Paul says, “Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.”

You remember that (in Daniel 12:8, 9) Daniel was told that the prophecy he had just received was not for him but rather for the people of the end times. The Apostle Paul saw that the church is increasingly part of that “end times” fulfillment. Today we eagerly look, hoping to see the fulfillment of the “end times” of Daniel’s Prophecy, as they happen. But we also need to look eagerly to see and obey the admonitions of the Old Testament scriptures that Paul points out.

David spoke to that effect, as well, in Psalm 119:9-11, 105, 130. “⁹Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word. ¹⁰With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from they commandments. ¹¹Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”

“¹⁰⁵ Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”

“¹³⁰The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding to the simple.”

This is how we learn to walk with God: By feeding on His Word. (And it is all food! If you are hungry, Eat!)

What About the “Personal” Books?

In the books of Ruth, Esther, and Job, we see corroboration of the historical books, as well as “inside information” about some of the events in those histories.

The events in the Book of Ruth all occurred during the history of the Book of Judges. But it tells us some “inside information” regarding the Genealogy of Christ, and, in doing so, it paints a clear picture of the coming Kinsman-Redeemer. We could see that Boaz was a picture of Jesus, our Redeemer. We could also see that Ruth, the Moabite woman, was a picture of the Church. She was a gentile woman from a tribe (the Moabites) cursed by God, but she was “grafted into” the genealogy of Christ, as one of his human ancestors!

The events in the Book of Esther happened during the Babylonian captivity: This book links the Jews in Exile to their Redeemer: It shows that He had not forgotten them. When the enemy moved to destroy them, God intervened. (Incidentally, this book is also the origin of the Feast of Purim, which commemorates that delivery, and it is still celebrated today by Orthodox Jews.)

The events in the Book of Job probably occurred about the same time Abraham was alive, though we can’t attach a definite date. But it tells us a good deal of “inside information” about our relationship with God, the limitations of Satan’s authority, and a few details about the Creation, as well as some hints about the angelic host.We see a prophecy there (Job 19:25-27,) that reaches far into the future, to the second coming of Christ, after the Great Resurrection! Again: it is all food! If you are hungry, EAT!

What About the “Meditations and Wisdom” Portions?

The Psalms and Proverbs hold Eternal Wisdom. So do the Song of Solomon and Ecclesiastes. Some parts are more easily applicable than others, but all of them are there for us to read, and to memorize them, and to meditate on them, and always, to profit by them!

Psalms

We just quoted a portion of Psalm 119. That chapter is 176 verses long, and all but four verses refer in some way directly to the profitability and necessity of the Word of God! David used many terms other than “word” to make clear the multifaceted nature of God’s Word: “Precepts, commandments, statutes, testimonies, law, ways, judgments, words, truth, and ordinances.” All these are used to describe His Word. And the four verses that do not directly refer to His Word all speak of His faithfulness and judgment, or (in one verse) His eternal Name.

Proverbs

In the Proverbs, we find God’s Wisdom, in practical application. Proverbs chapter two says that if we want the wisdom of God, we must pursue it through His Word and ask for it in Prayer.

Ecclesiastes

In Ecclesiastes, we hear the echo of God’s Wisdom coming through a man (Solomon) who had engaged in much folly. At the end of his life, he recognized that all of it had been a total waste of time and energy. He counseled the reader to drop the nonsense and focus on the Lord!

Song of Solomon

The Song of Solomon describes a love relationship between a bride and her beloved, the King. In the time when it was written, it spoke of the king (Solomon) and his betrothed (The Shulamite girl.) But the ultimate fulfillment is in the relationship between Christ (the King of Kings) and the Church (The Bride of Christ.)

What Now?

Look again at the Word of God: Look with New Eyes! It is all food for your soul, and if you faithfully feed upon it, you will grow!

Lord Jesus, we know that we are limited in our understanding of Your Word. Please open our eyes and hearts to understand Your Word, and help us to apply it to our lives.

May 20, 2017

Growing up into Christ

Hebrews 5:10-14; 6:1-3, Ephesians 1:1-14; 4:11-16

Introduction:

We’ve been studying through Hebrews…We spoke about the priesthood of Christ, and mentioned Melchisedec, in passing, because Jesus was said to be a “priest forever, after the order of Melchisedec.” We only briefly explored that connection, as there simply is not a lot said about Melchisedec. Let’s see what the writer of Hebrews has to say about why there isn’t much said.

¹⁰Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

¹¹Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.

Backslidden Babies

The “of whom”, here, is in reference to Melchisedec, not Jesus. The writer will make some rather mind-boggling points about Melchisedec, later, but for the moment, he is only making the statement that his audience is not fit to hear it. They are dull of hearing. He says that they have become less mature, not more, since becoming believers. This is an important point, as it underscores an uncomfortable truth about the new birth: it is possible to be saved and still be in terrible condition. Your position in Christ is perfect and eternal. Your condition, however, can change daily, or even on a moment by moment basis.

¹²For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

¹³For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

¹⁴But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

The believers are the ones he is talking to, here: he says they have been believers long enough that they should have been teaching others by now: instead they require a teacher themselves. He does not say “you are still babies”, but that “you have become babies”—incapable of taking food more substantial than milk—incapable of chewing and digesting solid foods. They have regressed! The words translated “strong meat” in KJV (Greek “stereas” and “trophe”) simply mean “solid food”. Old English used the word “flesh” where we would use “meat”, today; “meat” simply meant “food.” It is not a mistranslation, just evidence that the English language has changed over time.

So he is sharply admonishing the Hebrew believers that they need to grow up. He says that he is limited as to what he can teach them because of their continuing immaturity. This is the passage we are referring to when we say, “I am tired of milk; I want the meat of the Word.” We mean, “I don’t want “baby-food” teaching. I want something age-appropriate.” Well, you do have to be able to chew and digest it. He says that a person “unskillful in the Word of Righteousness” is not able to handle serious teaching. They are still babies, spiritually. But these folks had regressed to babyhood.

The word used here for “unskillful” is the Greek word “apeiros”, which comes from the verb “peirao”, meaning to try, or, to “test.” One “untested” in the Word is someone who has never had to use the Word of God in a real struggle. They have never had to lean completely on God’s Word instead of their own understanding, as The Proverbs command. So they have limited their understanding to human reasoning, which God says is rudimentary at best. Colossians 2:8 warns against being “taken captive” through philosophy, empty deception, the traditions of men, and the elementary principles of the World instead the things which are according to Christ.

There are some choices to be made, regarding God’s Word: when there is a conflict between the written Word (at least as you understand it) and what the World is teaching as “truth,” do you vacillate, trying to decide which one is truth, or can you firmly, immediately affirm in your own heart, “God’s Word is true!” and then move to see if there is simply a misunderstanding? Sometimes the issue is simple: I can misunderstand something in the Bible, and find out later that I was wrong in my understanding, but that the Bible was right all along. But when there is a clear conflict between the Scripture and what the World believes, I need to be comfortable with that conflict, firmly take my stand with the Bible, and cheerfully accept whatever consequences there are to being “out of step” with the World. I don’t need to “pick a fight” over it. I just need to know where I stand, and not have to do a lot of soul-searching over it.

My faith—faith in God’s Word—not the consensus of human opinion, has to direct my steps. We do not determine right doctrine, nor right behavior, by popular opinion, consensus, or a vote. The Righteousness and Authority of God are declared and taught in the Bible, and, whether I like it or not is not the issue. Only whether I subject myself to it: either I obey or I do not.

So: these folks were already believers, as a group—there were some among them who were uncommitted, as we have seen in the several warnings so far, but, as a whole, most of them were believers, and the writer is not questioning their status in the body of Christ. He was complaining that they had regressed in their faith. They had gone backward! How is that possible?

It is important to recognize that we still have two natures. We can still feed our old nature (and we often do!) If we revert to feeding the old nature instead of the new, then the old nature will regain strength, and the new will become weak and sickly. All the positional truths that are ours by virtue of the new birth will still be ours, but will be relegated to a “back-burner” status. We are still saved, but will not be living in the obedient, victorious life God has called us to enjoy.

All the things of the believers’ birthright were still the possession of the believers in this account: So, what did that include? What is the foundation we have to work with?

(Turn to Ephesians 1:1-14)

What things does God say are already true about us?

Because we are in Christ, we are:

Already blessed with ALL spiritual blessings, (Ephesians 1:3)
1. in the heavenly places
2. in Christ. (This is the heart of “positional truth” (true because I am “in Christ.”)
Already chosen in Him (in Christ) (Ephesians 1:4)
Already predestined to be “adopted”; that is, recognized as full heirs with Christ. (Ephesians 1:5; Romans 8:23)
Already accepted in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:6)
Already Redeemed through His Blood (Ephesians 1:7)
Already Forgiven for our Sins (Ephesians 1:7)
We have already obtained an inheritance in Him. (Ephesians 1:11)
We are already sealed in Him by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13)
We already have the “earnest” of our inheritance, the Holy Spirit, who will stay with us until the redemption of the “purchased possession”—us! The Church! (Ephesians 1:14)
Further, according to Ephesians 2:6, we are already seated in the heavenlies with Christ.

Much of the above is simply beyond my comprehension. I accept it by faith. But I don’t see these things…I don’t see myself as “seated in the heavenlies with Christ.” I see myself trudging along, day by day, muddling my way through life on earth. I need to understand that God’s viewpoint is eternal, and correct. I am seeing things from a viewpoint completely limited to time and space, besides being distorted by my sin nature, and my wrong thinking.

So, the question remains: how can we step beyond the usual “wrong-headed” experience in life, and see things from God’s perspective?

We walk by Faith, not by sight

The first step is to accept God’s point of view as correct, by faith in his character, not because it “makes sense” to us. I need to trust him because He is trustworthy, not because I can prove all the truths in His Word. (I can’t, by the way.)

God says we are already separated from our old sin nature, positionally, and that we are to live as those resurrected from the dead. Now, I don’t feel very dead…does that affect the truth in any way? Nope. God says it is true, and it is true. I am not required to “feel” anything. I am required to accept God’s truth by faith, and depend upon the fact that I am dead in Christ.

That death, reckoned as being mine, is what sets me free from sin. I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ liveth in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.

We Feed on the Word

The second thing is that God says we are to hunger for His Word, that we may grow thereby. (1^st Peter 2:1-3) The scripture is the food for our spirit, and the food by which our new nature can grow strong. If you keep feeding your old nature, it will stay strong, and torment you daily with the struggles of the flesh. If you feed your new nature regularly, it will grow strong, and you will stabilize in your walk with God.

We are also fed and taught by the shepherds God has assigned to the church.

Turn to Ephesians 4:11-16 (read it)

Here we see that Jesus gave certain people as gifts to the church. The shepherds and teachers, as well as the other office-gifts, are given for a specific purpose: the building up of the Body of Christ, for the work of the service of God…the work of the Ministry.

And, notice that a time clause is given, here. These gifts are given “until we all come into the unity of the faith”, with the result that we are mature, and no longer easily swayed by bad doctrine, among other things. He says we will grow up into Christ, the head of the Body, in all things. The end result will be the increase of the body, in terms of both numbers and strength.

Conclusion:

Hebrews 6:1-3 says that we are to press on, leaving baby food behind, and move toward maturity.

6: ¹Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

²Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

³And this will we do, if God permit.

The message is that we are to go ahead and leave childhood behind, and grow up. Settle the fundamentals in our minds, once for all, by faith, and move on to deeper truth. It is no longer appropriate to “wade”…we need to learn to swim, so to speak.

I recall, when I was about nine years old, going to swim with my Dad and younger brother, in the Santiam River, at Waterloo, somewhere near Lebanon, Oregon. I was able to swim, but was anxious about the depth of the water, because I was not yet a strong swimmer. So I kept asking my Dad, “How deep is the water, here?” He was finally exasperated, and said “It doesn’t matter how deep the water is! When you swim, you stay on top of the water!”

Dad was right! If you are only wading, then you are dependent upon being able to reach bottom. But if you are swimming, you are completely suspended in the water, and not concerned with touching bottom.

That is true in spiritual matters as well. If you intend to live in your own strength, then you are limited to what you can handle. If you are dependent upon God, and walking with Him, then the circumstances are immaterial. He is the one managing life’s struggles, not you!

Lord Jesus, help us to grow up into you, and to trust your Word more than we trust our own judgment, strength, and wisdom. We know that apart from you we can do nothing. Help us to feed upon your Word, and to grow thereby. Make us the Men and Women of God that you have called us to be.