TEXT:          I Timothy 3:15-17

INTRODUCTION:

1                 I hold in my hand the most important book you will ever study and yet it is not receiving it’s proper respect.

2                 It is the most printed and purchased book in the world.

3                 A national magazine conducted a survey of the Bible classes of several denominations through seventeen different states.  The results are shocking.

1)              Only one out of ten knew the name of the man who sold his birthright for a bowl of pottage.

2)              About one - half knew who delivered the Ten Commandments to the children of Israel.

3)              Only 26% knew the name of the disciple who betrayed Jesus. 

4)              Thirty-two percent did not know the place where Jesus was born. 

5)              Forty-three percent could not tell that Jesus was raised from the grave.

(A.W. Chism, The Sword of Truth, 3/84)

4                 It came from God;

(2 Tim 3:15-17 NKJV)  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. {16} All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, {17} that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

(2 Pet 1:3 NNAS)  seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

(2 Pet 1:20-21 NIV)  Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. {21} For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

5                 We will be judged by it; John 12:48.

6                 The Bible is our guide from this life to eternity.  Since it contains the words that will make us free, and is that by which we will be judged, it is important that we study it and understand it.

7                 But how do we understand the Bible?

8                 Let me give you just a few suggestions.

DISCUSSION:

I.                Study persistently.

A.              The Bible teaches that the person with a noble heart studies God’s word daily.

(Acts 17:11 NIV)  Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

B.              In the parable of the sower the one who accepts the word of God is said to have a noble heart.

(Luke 8:15 NIV)  But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

C.              The Bible commands us to study it

(2 Tim 2:15 NIV)  Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

D.              The more you study it the more you will understand.

II.              Study with a noble (honest and noble heart loving the truth of  God.

A.              The word can be twisted.

(2 Pet 3:16 NIV)  He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.

B.              One of the scariest passages in scripture.

(2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 NIV)  and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. {11} For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie {12} and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.

III.            Study expecting to understand it.

A.              Many people refuse  study the Bible or ignore its teaching because they are convinced that we can’t understand the Bible.

B.              In fact one church teaches that it is  not possible for the Christian to understand the Bible, only the ordained can understand it.

C.              God expects us to understand his will.

(Eph 5:15-17 NIV)  Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, {16} making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. {17} Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.

IV.           Study it understanding the difference in the Covenants.

A.              We discussed  how to use the Old Testament a few weeks ago. If you missed that lesson, please go back and get the tape.

B.              An amazing amount of false doctrine in the world today comes from a melding of the Old and new testament.

C.              We are not saved the way the Jews or the patriarchs were

D.              We do not worship the way people did  in those ages.

(Col 2:14-17 NIV)  having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. {15} And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. {16} Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. {17} These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.

(Gal 5:3-4 NIV)  Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. {4} You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.

V.             God wants us to understand the Bible so the rules for understanding it will be the same rules we would use for understanding any other book.

A.              Ask yourself who what when and where.

B.              The words of Satan are accurately recorded in the Bible. Don’t quote them as if they are God’s will  for us.

C.              Example: the Bible says Eat drink and be marry for tomorrow we die.

Actually it says. (Luke 12:19-20 NIV)  And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry."' {20} "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'

D.              Example An eye for an eye

(Mat 5:38-39 NIV)  "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' {39} But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.

VI.           Make sure you understand the context and the greater context.

A.              Preacher misusing Mark 16:16 on the radio. He said, "Mark 16:16 says 'He that believeth shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be condemned.'" He continued, "Friend if you don't like it don't take it up with me. I didn't say it. Jesus did." He left the middle of the verse out. 

CONCLUSION:

1                Have you taken your Bible study seriously?

            "Not everyone can take his time from the sun, and so multi­tudes must always depend upon the clock.  But if the clock would not mislead men it must be constantly regulated by careful observation of the heavenly bodies.  As a Professing Christian, you are the clock to many an ungodly man around you, and if you would not mislead him, you must seek to have yourself daily regulated by careful and devotional observation of the Son of Righteousness.  That which he sees in you may drive him away from Christ; therefore, keep yourself near the Lord, and seek to imbibe his spirit, so that instead of standing in the inquirers's way, you may even be the means of helping him on and introducing him to Christ."

 

             William M. Taylor:  THE LIMITATIONS OF LIFE AND OTHER SERMONS, pp. 280ff.  (Hodder & Stoughton - George H. Doran Co., NY

 

 

 

 

Sermon History:

07-30-2000-AM-Waterford Church of Christ

David E. Parks