Interpreting the Bible

Frederick Bruce wrote,"Any part of the human body can only be properly explained in reference to the whole body. And any part of the Bible can only be properly explained in reference to the whole Bible." Dr. Bruce understood the danger of taking a verse out of context. It must be explained in the context of the chapter and book where we read it, as well as the context of the whole Bible.

Interpret verses in the Bible within the context. The Bible is given by inspiration of God the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16). When we interpret a verse with other verses, we are being taught by the Spirit of God. He will guide us into all truth (John 16:13).

Interpret verses in the Bible comparing Scripture with Scripture. Look at the other verses in the same chapter, as well as the book and the whole Bible. That is to say, you interpret Scripture with Scripture. A verse in the Bible is not properly interpreted, when taken out of context.

Satan tempted Jesus, quoting a verse taken out of context (Luke 4:3-8). Other Scripture was ignored. Jesus overcame this temptation, quoting another Scripture to interpret Scripture. That's a warning for us today not to take verses in the Bible out of context. Remember to interpret Scripture with Scripture. The Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth.

God Is with You

God is like the very air you breathe. You can't see the air. Yet, you know that without air, you can't live. So it is with God. His very presence sustains your life. "Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?"(Psalm 139:7). Wherever you are now, you can know God is with you.

"God is spirit"(John 4:24). That means God is unseen to your eyes. God is like the air you breathe, you cannot see him. Only faith can recognize his presence. That's the reason you must come to God by faith. 

Our faith is not based upon what our eyes can see."Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen"(Hebrews 11:1). Faith is sure of God's presence everywhere and always.

Only the heart transformed by the Spirit of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, can know God's presence always. "For we walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7). God's Spirit enables us to believe his presence is with us. God says to us,"I will never leave you. I will never forsake you"(Hebrews 13:5).

God is with you. Think of the very air you breathe, in you and all around you. So it is with God. Walk with God by faith and talk with God along the way. He is there for you today and everyday. No matter where you are, recognize God is with you.

Born Again and Sure

Charles H. Spurgeon said, "You are born again if you believe that Jesus is the Christ, if you are relying upon a crucified Savior you are assuredly begotten again unto a lively hope." 

We may not comprehend all the movements of the Holy Spirit in our new birth, but we can be sure of our new birth by faith in Jesus Christ. There is mystery involved in our new birth (John 3:8). Jesus taught that people must be born again to enter the kingdom of God (John 3:5). It is a work of the Holy Spirit changing our hearts to believe in Christ (Romans 10:9).

The Bible confirms what Spurgeon clearly explained. "Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of him" (1 John 5:1). If you are born again, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is sure evidence.

If you are born again, you believe that Jesus is the Christ. You believe the gospel of Jesus Christ. He died for your sins. He is risen from the dead as your Lord (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). The written word of God and your faith in Christ is the evidence. That's certainly true, if you are born again.

If you are born again, the sure evidence is believing in Christ. Jesus is the Christ, the promised Messiah in the Old Testament and the Christ of the New Testament. New birth finds evidence by faith in Christ. That's the reason Spurgeon said, "You are born again if you believe Jesus is the Christ." 

Know God as Father

J.I.Packer wrote, "What is a Christian? The question can be answered in many ways, but the richest answer I know is that a Christian is one who has God as Father." 

Jesus said, "No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal him" (Matthew 11:27). 

Packer taught, "Sonship to God is not, therefore, a universal status into which everyone comes by natural birth, but a supernatural gift which one receives through receiving Jesus."

Dr. Packer was right! Being a Christian is knowing God as your Father. God's grace enables us to repent of our sins and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 17:30; 16:31). The Holy Spirit comes into your life to know God as your Father. 

"You received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, Abba, Father. The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God" (Romans 8:15-16).

Jesus Christ came into this world that all believers may know God as Father. Trusting Christ gives us a relationship with God as our Father. Believers are children of God the Father through faith in the Son of God, Jesus Christ. 

Change Your Mind

God commands all people everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30). Charles Spurgeon explained, "To repent is to change your mind about sin and Christ and all the great things of God." He went on to say, "The person who truly repents is never satisfied with his or her repentance. We can no more repent perfectly than we can live perfectly."

When you repent, there is a change of mind about sin and Christ. You knew that you were a sinner who had fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). You knew that only the Lord Jesus Christ could save you from the curse of sin and the power of sin. Repentance is turning from the sin of unbelief to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31).

Christians are not perfect people in this life. We are still tempted and sin from time to time. Therefore, when you repent, you confess your sins to God. Then, you find fresh cleansing from your sins, through the blood of Jesus Christ (1 John 1:9).

Spurgeon said, "To repent is to change your mind." As you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ through Bible study, your mind is changed by receiving more truth from the word of God. That is one reason Spurgeon taught that "we can no more repent perfectly than we can live perfectly." You receive more understanding in "all the great things of God."