How to understand the Bible
There are several ways that have been popularized.
1) You can go to a Bible college and graduate as a Bible scholar; or even earn a post-graduate degree and be a theologian.
2) You can memorize every verse in the Bible. Be an amateur debater.
3) Get a pastor’s license and be an evangelist.
All of these, and more, are reputable titles and methods of learning about the Bible.
Yet, there is a better way, and the only way—that is, the Bible’s method. I.e., walk through a restictive gate and narrow path that leads to life, which few ever find.
Hunt for life, seek it out, cry out for it, knock on every door. If that is your lifelong preoccupation, then, according to Jesus, you will find it. Life, spiritual life, the freedom from sin, and a child’s joy and love. What shall it profit to gain the world’s titles and badges of honor, and lose out on real life? What can be exchanged for childlike love and faith?
Where do we find this life? In the wisdom of the Bible. “For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.” (Prov. 8:35,36).
“All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.” (vs. 8). “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.” (11:30).
The best and only way to understand sacred Scripture is to love its righteous principles of love. Only by loving it will we learn from it. “I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.” (Prov. 8:17). Without the sincere desire for truth we have an aversion toward what the Bible speaks of. Truth and its righteous principles can’t get into our hearts and minds.
The vitamins in food are the key masters for feeding the cells. As the vitamin touches the cell wall, the membrane opens like a castle wall’s moat bridge, so the glucose can enter. But when food is stripped of its original condition and highly refined, the missing vitamins are not present when the glucose arrives at the cells for digestion. Thus without the necessary vitamins, the cells cannot open efficiently, and they starve and die.
Likewise, without the love of truth and righteousness, the beauty of the Bible cannot enter our souls. And then, even for a Bible scholar, it can be said that “Wisdom crieth without.” “Truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.” (Prov. 1:20;Is. 59:14). Such a person the scripture says is “dead while [he] liveth.” (1Tim. 5:6). The warning from heaven is “that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.” (Rev. 3:1).
But how do we get that love for the truth if we don’t have it? The love of truth comes with loving God. Here are the simple measures to obtain that love for God.
Call out to Him for it; and please be patient with Him! He hears the heart’s yearnings for His love, but our innate resistance to God conflicts with our conscious desire to love Him.
Study His word especially for the one purpose of getting to know Him. This will lead to a knowledge of His goodness toward the revolting sinners that we all are. Eventually your eyes will be opened wider and wider to your own horrid condition, and simultaneously the Holy Spirit will reveal the continual flow of God’s grace to us all, even when we didn’t know it. Time spent together with Jesus through His word will deepen the trust in Him. A fuller knowledge of His grace will humble the soul and finally break the heart hardened by pride. Repentance will be forthcoming and its resultant justification with heaven will open the willing soul to the entrance of the word of God.
Now the soul has graduated from the school of Christ, and is humbled and teachable in holy things. The heart loves God and the mind can appreciate all the principles of His character. The converted soul can see Christ’s righteousness and love and becomes transformed into the same beautiful and loving image.
1) You can go to a Bible college and graduate as a Bible scholar; or even earn a post-graduate degree and be a theologian.
2) You can memorize every verse in the Bible. Be an amateur debater.
3) Get a pastor’s license and be an evangelist.
All of these, and more, are reputable titles and methods of learning about the Bible.
Yet, there is a better way, and the only way—that is, the Bible’s method. I.e., walk through a restictive gate and narrow path that leads to life, which few ever find.
Hunt for life, seek it out, cry out for it, knock on every door. If that is your lifelong preoccupation, then, according to Jesus, you will find it. Life, spiritual life, the freedom from sin, and a child’s joy and love. What shall it profit to gain the world’s titles and badges of honor, and lose out on real life? What can be exchanged for childlike love and faith?
Where do we find this life? In the wisdom of the Bible. “For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.” (Prov. 8:35,36).
“All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.” (vs. 8). “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.” (11:30).
The best and only way to understand sacred Scripture is to love its righteous principles of love. Only by loving it will we learn from it. “I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.” (Prov. 8:17). Without the sincere desire for truth we have an aversion toward what the Bible speaks of. Truth and its righteous principles can’t get into our hearts and minds.
The vitamins in food are the key masters for feeding the cells. As the vitamin touches the cell wall, the membrane opens like a castle wall’s moat bridge, so the glucose can enter. But when food is stripped of its original condition and highly refined, the missing vitamins are not present when the glucose arrives at the cells for digestion. Thus without the necessary vitamins, the cells cannot open efficiently, and they starve and die.
Likewise, without the love of truth and righteousness, the beauty of the Bible cannot enter our souls. And then, even for a Bible scholar, it can be said that “Wisdom crieth without.” “Truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.” (Prov. 1:20;Is. 59:14). Such a person the scripture says is “dead while [he] liveth.” (1Tim. 5:6). The warning from heaven is “that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.” (Rev. 3:1).
But how do we get that love for the truth if we don’t have it? The love of truth comes with loving God. Here are the simple measures to obtain that love for God.
Call out to Him for it; and please be patient with Him! He hears the heart’s yearnings for His love, but our innate resistance to God conflicts with our conscious desire to love Him.
Study His word especially for the one purpose of getting to know Him. This will lead to a knowledge of His goodness toward the revolting sinners that we all are. Eventually your eyes will be opened wider and wider to your own horrid condition, and simultaneously the Holy Spirit will reveal the continual flow of God’s grace to us all, even when we didn’t know it. Time spent together with Jesus through His word will deepen the trust in Him. A fuller knowledge of His grace will humble the soul and finally break the heart hardened by pride. Repentance will be forthcoming and its resultant justification with heaven will open the willing soul to the entrance of the word of God.
Now the soul has graduated from the school of Christ, and is humbled and teachable in holy things. The heart loves God and the mind can appreciate all the principles of His character. The converted soul can see Christ’s righteousness and love and becomes transformed into the same beautiful and loving image.
posted by David | 3:30 PM
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