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Bible Study
"It is the Spirit that gives life. The flesh does not profit anything! The Words which I speak to you are spirit and are life" (Jn. 6:63).
"How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" (Psa. 119:103).
"Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psa. 119:105).
"Sanctify them in Your Truth; Your Word is Truth" (Jn. 17:17).
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The focus of this section will be to review the purpose, or underlying theme, behind each of the individual books of the Bible. Seeing that we are nearing the end of this, the Church Age, it would seem appropriate for the Father to have raised up, as a testimony over these past nineteen-centuries, servants upon whom He could shed light as to His counsels, in this regard; that His people might gain an understanding into the whole of His word (Exo. 36:1,2; 1 Chron. 12:32).
May the Lord guide in this task!
As time permits an overview of each book will be added until commentary has been provided covering the whole of God’s published work to man. However! As there is, in our day, an abundance of material and diversity of opinion to choose from, insofar as the question of whose insights should be used, let the Scriptures be our guide:
For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called . . . (1 Cor. 1:26).
Therefore! Sources for the material posted are those whose life and walk comformed most agreeably to that of our calling. You may not be familiar with some of their names. Why? They were saints who led lives of insignificance in the eyes of man in that they rejected the glories of the flesh and the world. They were true pilgrims. Theirs was a testimony of having a mind set on Christ and heavenly things. That being the case, what they had to say should by of tremendous worth to the saints.
Who are they? Browsing through the web-site you'll come across many of their names. Though some might not, presently, be posted, they will be as additions become available.
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Guidelines for the Study of God's Word
“We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well to take heed, as unto a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but by holy men of God who spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (1 Pet. 1:19-21).
Many times, unwittingly, the interpretations we make, of certain verses, conflict with other verses in Scripture and/or underlying principles also found in Scripture. For example: Assuming roles of leadership is one. Many Christian leaders advocate the Saints involvement in national affairs and politics, citing numerous Old Testament examples. But therein is the problem. The Old Testament applied to the Nation of Israel, a people God intended to be as a light and blessing to the other “nations” of the world. In this they failed, miserably. As a result, the prophet Daniel explains, their authority to rule, in the earth, was revoked and given to the Gentiles (Dan. 2). This same prophet goes on to say that this authority will play itself out through the rise and fall of four great empires. But in the end, these – the Gentiles - will fail in obedience to God, as did Israel. Then the right of rule shall be given back to Israel, with the true Son of David as their King. And they shall be re-established in their land.
In contrast to this, the Church, consists of a people not of this world, as Israel was. They are a spiritual body, with a corresponding spiritual heritage. The Old Testament principles applied to God’s people in the earth, who held title to earthly promises and privileges. God’s New Testament people are citizens of heaven. They hold title to promises and an inheritance of an order outside this world. To mingle the two is to confuse not only these two peoples of God, but the distinctions that applied to them as two separate peoples, having separate callings, separate promises and privileges, and separate inheritances.
Consider! This is God’s word! If we can find only a few verses in support of an “opinion” or belief, would it not be better to abstain from any determination, until more understanding is given by the Holy Spirit? After all, . . . that is one of His appointed tasks (Jn. 14:26; 1 Jn. 2:27). Oh! The damage that is done, because we would speak on things without sufficient light, rather than wait on the Lord, and listen.
As we shall be held accountable for everything that others believe of what we say, it seems quite perilous to be making interpretations without having numerous other verses, and the underlying principles of Scripture, for support. Let us learn to “. . . judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: . . .” (1 Cor. 4:5). May we learn to render opinion only on those things we have received sufficient light to respond to.
John tells us in Revelation, “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Rev. 19:10). When the spirit within the believer is motivated by His, the testimony will be true, and our understanding of Scripture will be in conformity with the One who alone has a testimony that is always true (Jn. 3:33). If it is not, then our understanding stems from the darkened resources of our own mind. Hence the reason we are warned, not to believe every spirit, “but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (1 Jn. 4:1).
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"I testify unto every man that hears the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues written in this book: And if any man shall take away . . . , God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city,. . ." (Rev. 22:18, 19).
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