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." The Holy Spirit who inspired the Bible is the same Holy Spirit who will helps believers interpret the Bible. Jesus taught that the Holy Spirit will guide believers into all truth (John 16:13).

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

Interpret Bible verses 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 can 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. Interpret Scripture with Scripture. The Holy Spirit who inspired the Bible will guide believers to interpret the Bible.

How 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, 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 God's presence. That's the reason you must come to God by faith. 

Your faith is not based upon what your 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 you to believe that His presence is with you. God says,"I will never leave you. I will never forsake you"(Hebrews 13:5).

Think how God is with you. He is like the very air you breathe, in and all around you. So it is with God. We 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 how God is with you.

Baptized with the Spirit

John R. W. Stott wrote a classic book on the baptism and fullness of the Holy Spirit. He taught that "1 Corinthians 12:13 indicates that the baptism of the Spirit is identical with the gift of the Spirit, that it is one of the distinctive blessings of the new covenant, and because it is an initial blessing, is also a universal blessing for members of the covenant."

For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free, and have been all made to drink into one Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13).

Dr. Stott made it clear that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is not found in the Old Testament, because it is distinctive in the New Testament. Every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is baptized with the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ, the church. It is our union with Christ, and our unity with the members of Christ. 

Jesus prayed that those who believe in him should all be one (John 17:11). His prayer is fulfilled with the baptism of the Spirit. This baptism is not for only some believers in Christ, but for all in one body. That's the reason Dr. Stott taught "the baptism of the Spirit is identical with the gift of the Spirit."

Dr. Stott made an important summary statement on the baptism of the Spirit. He wrote, "The fundamental truth that is involved is that by uniting us to Christ, God has given us everything." That is to say, we have already been blessed in Christ with every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3).

Born Again and Sure

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

The Bible confirms who are born again. "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). We are born again and sure by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

New birth is confirmed by truly believing the gospel of Jesus Christ. What is the gospel of Christ? He died for our sins. He is risen from the dead as our Lord (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). The written word of God and faith in the risen Christ is the evidence. That's certainly true in new birth.

Evidence of new birth is believing that Jesus is the Christ, the promised Messiah in the Old Testament and revealed as the Christ in the New Testament. Our new birth is confirmed by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. That's the reason Charles Spurgeon wrote, "You are born again, if you believe Jesus is the Christ." 

How We Are Converted

Conversion is repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21). The Holy Spirit enables us to repent and believe the gospel of Christ. God's goodness leads us to repent (Romans 2:4). We are converted, turning to God by faith in Jesus Christ our Lord.

We are converted believing the gospel of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). The Holy Spirit brings conviction as you hear the gospel. Conversion is preceded by the Spirit of grace. The Lord opens your heart to hear the gospel (Acts 16:13-15). The Holy Spirit convicts and convinces you of the need to believe in Christ (John 16:7-11). 

We are converted to Christ through the Holy Spirit. Repentance is a change of mind through the renewing of the Holy Spirit transforming us (Romans 12:2). Faith is an abiding gift of the Holy Spirit. He enables us to repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 18:27).

We are converted believing Jesus is the Christ. 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). Conversion to Christ is confirmed, as we love God and others. Love is the greatest gift of the Holy Spirit, because God is love (1 Corinthians 13:13; 1 John 4:8). 

Anyone May Be Saved

J. I. Packer wrote, "Rather, we should live in light of the certainty that anyone may be saved if he or she will but repent and put faith in Christ." 

Anyone may be saved who believes and confesses Jesus Christ is Lord (John 1:12; Romans 10:9). The promise of God is certain, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13; Joel 2:32). That's who God saves.

The Scripture is clear that we are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). Our salvation is receiving the gift of God in Christ. The Spirit of God convicts us of the sin of unbelief, not trusting in Christ alone to save us (John 16:8-9).

The Holy Spirit enables us to put faith in Christ our Lord. Saving faith is an abiding gift of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 13:13). Through faith alone in Christ alone is how God's grace saves us.

What about those who will not repent and put faith in Christ? Dr. Packer wrote, "God gives them over to their sins (i.e., removes restraints on their doing the disobedient things they desire), this is itself the beginning of judgment. It is called 'hardening' (Romans 9:18; 11:25; cf. Ps. 81:12; Romans 1:24, 26, 28), and it inevitably leads to greater guilt."

How We Repent

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."

Repentance is God's command to all people everywhere (Acts 17:30). We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). We know that only the Lord Jesus Christ can save us from the curse and condemnation of our sin. The Christian life begins with repentance, 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, we repent, confessing our sins to God. Then, we find fresh cleansing from our sins, through the blood of Jesus Christ. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

Spurgeon said, "To repent is to change your mind." As we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ through Bible study, our minds are 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."