Part 5
SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES
1. "Search the scriptures"
John 5:39
2. "Remember the word that I said"
John 15:20
3. "Let these sayings sink down into your ears"
Luke 9:44
4. "Take heed therefore how ye hear"
Luke 8:18
5. "Take heed what ye hear"
Mark 4:24
6. "Beware of the leaven (doctrine) of the Pharisees" Matt.16:6, 12
7. "Beware of false prophets" Matt. 7:15-17
These are very interesting verses. First items 1, 2, 6, & 7 do not instruct us to “search the scriptures’. In number one, the verse acknowledges that some folks do search the scriptures, but they cannot not rightly divide the word of truth. Number 2, instructs us to remember His words, He being the living word of God. So it is implied that one would ‘search the scriptures to see if what He says is true. In numbers 5 & 6 it is again implied that one would search the scriptures to see (test) the spirits of those who are responsible for the spiritual instruction of others. If one does not ‘know’ the scriptures, how can they test what they hear? Remember the folks of Berea?
Bible studies should be for discerning the truth of God’s character, and our God ordained instruction for living a life pleasing unto Him - not for the picking out of selected verses that appear to support some church dogma. We are all too often wrapped up into ‘proving’ what it is we think we already know, rather than discovering more of the heart of God.
We all can quote some ‘foundational truths’, but so much of what we recite is done so with little understanding, and frequently without wisdom.
It is time for us all to ‘hit the books’ once again. This time setting aside all of our accumulated knowledge, and approach the word openly, honestly, sincerely, and even innocently (as a child).
Again, in considering all of the verses listed in this thread – context is everything! Verses simply lifted out of the Bible have no value at all if they are not tied to, and understood within the context of their usage. Want to know where so much false doctrine originates? It is from the mixing and matching of verses that seem (in our English translations) to support one another, when in actually they may not!
Okay, that should be enough for today to start some mental wheals turning.
LETTING YOUR LIGHT SHINE
1. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works" Matt. 5:16
2. "Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness"
Luke 11:35
3. "Go and bring forth fruit, and bear much fruit"
John 15:16, 8
4. "Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father"
Luke 6:36
5. "Tell how great things the Lord hath done for thee"
Mark 5:19
6. "Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields"
John 4:35 [There is work to do.]
7. "Walk while you have the light"
John 12:35
The first item is an interesting one. Aren’t we to do our ‘good deeds’ in private so we get our recognition from God and not man? So, what does mean to let our light shine? How does letting that light shine enable others to see our ‘good works’? What good works?
In item two, how can light also be darkness? Doesn’t light chase darkness away?
Next numbers 3 through 6 are strange inclusions in this list. Talking about fruit, things that the Lord has done, and look at a field, what does that have to do with ‘light’?
Finally, what light is Jesus speaking about here? Himself? The Holy Spirit? Your light? What light? Where is one to be ’walking’? For what purpose?
Yep, things are getting a little more complicated.
A passing question that I have posted a couple of times on the internet: How many 'gospels' are there identified in the the N.T.? What are they? How do they differ from one another? How do they relate to Jesus Christ? Now, if you can't get a little Bible study out of this it is because ......!