Can We Understand the Bible Alike?

1. Can We Understand the Bible Alike?

2. God gave us the Bible. Two options if we can’t understand the Bible alike: • God could but wouldn’t give it to us in a way we could understand it alike. • God would but couldn’t give it to us in a way we could understand it alike. Either one of these options reflects negatively on the nature and character of God: He’s a sadist or He’s not very powerful or smart.

3. Can We Understand the Bible Alike? • Is the Bible so difficult that the common man cannot understand it? • Is the Bible so difficult that we need a guide to help us (such as a direct operation of the Holy Spirit or some church authority) • If it can be understood – then it can be understood alike!!

4. Can We Understand the Bible Alike? • The Bible was written to be understood! • God expects us to understand His word “ALIKE!” • Why is it that many do not understand the Bible “ALIKE?” • We MUST understand God’s word!!

5. The Bible was written to be understood. • Romans 15:4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. • Matthew 12:3-5 But He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: 4 how he entered the house of God and ate the showbread which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? 5 Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless? • Matthew 19:4 And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’

6. The Bible was written to be understood. • Acts 17:11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. cf. Acts 17:2-3 • 2 Timothy 3:14-15 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

7. The Bible was written to be understood. The Old Testament contained a mystery that needed to be revealed. • 1 Peter 1:10-12 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, 11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.

8. The Bible was written to be understood. The Old Testament contained a mystery that needed to be revealed. • Ephesians 3:3-5 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: Revealed Strong's G601 - apokalyptō 1) to uncover, lay open what has been veiled or covered up a) disclose, make bare 2) to make known, make manifest, disclose what before was unknown

9. The Bible was written to be understood. In the New Testament, that mystery is revealed. Romans 16:25-26 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began 26 but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith—

10. The Bible was written to be understood. The Bible writers expected their readers to understand what they wrote. Luke 1:1-4 Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.

11. The Bible was written to be understood. • John 20:30-31 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. • 2 Corinthians 1:13 For we are not writing any other things to you than what you read or understand. Now I trust you will understand, even to the end

12. The Bible was written to be understood. • Ephesians 3:3-5 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets:

13. The Bible was written to be understood. Some things are hard to understand. • 2 Peter 3:16-18 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. 17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen. • Cf. Ephesians 4:11-14

14. The Bible was written to be understood. Some things are hard to understand. • Colossians 1:9-10 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; • Cf. Colossians 3:16, 1 Corinthians 2 • We must start with milk and work to the meat. Hebrews 5:12-14 • If we are going to study mathematics, we don’t start with calculus. We have to know the basics first. • The same thing is true with the word of God. • Hard passages don’t deal with salvation.

15. God expects and desires for us to understand His word. God desires for us to understand. • 1 Timothy 2:3-4 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. • 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. • Direct enlightenment?

16. God expects and desires for us to understand His word. God commands us to understand. • Ephesians 5:17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. • 2 Peter 3:18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

17. God expects and desires for us to understand His word. God expects us to understand His word ALIKE. • John 17:20-23 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

18. God expects and desires for us to understand His word. God expects us to understand His word ALIKE. • 1 Corinthians 1:10-13 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

19. God expects and desires for us to understand His word. God expects us to understand His word ALIKE. • Philippians 2:1-2  1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. • Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, unless they are agreed? • Unity in diversity is not unity.

20. God expects and desires for us to understand His word. God expects us to understand His word ALIKE. • What if we approached all of life like most approach the Bible? • Traffic laws • Rule books for any game • Any instruction manual • The laws of the land

21. Why do some not understand? What is claimed: • Only the “Spirit-filled” can understand. • 1 Corinthians 2:14 • 1 Corinthians 1:20-23 • It CAN’T be understood alike. • Ephesians 3:2-5 • Only the Catholic Church can explain it. • That’s what the preacher or pastor is for.

22. Why do some not understand? Real Reasons: • Many study for wrong reasons. • To uphold what they already believe • To justify what their parents believed • Many make little or no effort. • 2 Timothy 2:15 • Many fail to follow common rules of human communication.

23. Why do some not understand? The problem is not with God’s word. 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

24. Why do some not understand? Honesty and humility are more important than intelligence. • God’s word can be understood by: • Children • Babes in Christ • All truth seekers

25. We must understand. • John 6:44-45 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.

26. We Must Understand. • 1 Peter 1:22-23 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, 23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,

27. Obey The Truth Today! • Believe – John 8:24 • Repent – Luke 13:3 • Confess – Matthew 10:32-33 • Be Baptized – Mark 16:16 • Be Faithful – Revelation 2:10