Reading/Studying/Interpreting/Applying the Word of God

When we seek to interpret the scripture, we should avoid:

1. Drawing conclusions at the price of proper interpretation (Do no make the Bible say what you want it to say, but rather let it say what God intended it to say when He wrote it)

2. Avoid Superficial interpretation. When interpreting the Bible there are four main points to consider: language, culture, geography, and history.

3. Do not spiritualize the passage. Interpret and understand the passage in its normal, literal, historical, grammatical sense.

When we seek to interpret the scripture, we must keep in mind 4 basic principles:

1. Scripture should be understood in its literal, normal, and natural sense. The Bible does contain figures of speech and symbols that are intended to convey literal truth. In general, however, the Bible speaks in literal terms, and we must allow it to speak for itself.

2. We need to interpret scripture in its historical context. We must ask what the text meant to the people to whom it was first written. In this way we can develop a proper contextual understanding of the original intent of scripture.

3. We need to understand the basic grammatical structure of each sentence in the original language. Asking to whom was the passage written, what tense the verbs are written will help to make the meaning of the text become clear.

4. The Bible does not contradict itself. If we arrive at an interpretation of a passage that contradicts a truth taught elsewhere in the scriptures, our interpretation cannot be correct. Scripture must be compared to scripture to discover its full meaning.

As an aside, also read Bible introductions, commentaries, and background books which will enrich your thinking through the illumination which God has given to other men and to you through their books.

Then: Believe it (John 6:68,69), Honor it (Job 23:12), Love it (Psalm 119:97), Obey it (1 John 2:5), Guard it (1 Timothy 6:20), Fight for it (Jude 3), Preach it (2 Timothy 4:2), Study it (Ezra 7:10)

It is not enough to study the Bible. We must meditate upon it. In a very real sense we are giving our brain a bath; we are washing it in the purifying solution of God's Word.

Be one who accepts the truth of God's Word even though it may cause you to change what you always have believed, or cause you to alter your life pattern.

(taken from the MaCarthur Study Bible)

This is what it is all about!

I wish that all men would repent and believe! (2 minutes)

http://illbehonest.com/

Some good things to listen to

Listen to this....it is only 3minutes long

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MLbHJztlyU&feature=PlayList&p=E6372186CB8DC471&index=8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2zvqQ1w-Os&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gv6uxCch7oc&NR=1

"In view of His Mercy...."

"Therefore I urge you brothers in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies a living and holy sacrifices, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:1-2)

I have been thinking alot about my life and the direction that I know the Lord is leading me in regards to my personal life as it relates to the way that I lead and serve my wife and children; especially as it relates to the roles of the man and the woman in a marriage relationship. Obviously, I could talk about Ephesians 5, I Timothy 2, and Titus 1-2, until I am blue in the face, but it means nothing unless you and I are looking at them from the same paradigm. "We interpret Scripture through presuppositions of what we 'think' to be true" So basically, if you (or I) are not basing everything that you do (every facet of your day to day life) on the revealed truth found in the scripture than you are, simply put, living your life according to what you think to be true, which has been influenced / saturated by the every element of the world specifically designed to present a truth in direct contrast to the Word of God, and henceforth you interpret passages such as the ones listed above from a presupposition of truth that has no foundation or root in the revealed truth found in the Word of God. So, these verses regarding the roles of the husband and the wife, are foolishness to you because you are not reading them from a presupposition that the Bible is the inerrant, infallible, complete, revealed truth of God useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that you will be thoroughly equipped for every good work. Having said that, I could not begin to instruct or comment on the roles of the husband and wife, which clearly do not conform to the pattern of this world (Rom 12:2) unless I first present, through scripture the "view of God's mercy".
I do feel like this part of the verse can get overlooked or less emphasized, but as I was sitting here in prayer thinking about these verses in Romans 12, I kept coming back to this phrase, (In view of God's mercy). I believe that this is the foundational phrase from which you can understand not only the rest of that chapter, but pretty much the whole New Testament and God's instructions for living an unashamed, non-conforming, righteous-seeking life. The verse says, "...in view of God's mercy, offer your bodies as living sacrifices..."; throughout the Old Testament sacrifices were made as repentance for sins, in honor to God, and as acts of worship. When Christ came He did away with the earthly sacrifices as a means of justification for sins. He became the justification / propititation for my sins. He looked at me: wretched, dead in my trespasses and sins, worthless (of my own merit), abominable, damnable to hell, and through His grace gave the gift of salvation sovereignly to an object of His wrath (me). Basically, He is just. Therefore, before Him, I deserve eternal wrath in hell, but He by His Sovereign saving grace showed mercy on my soul, giving me a saving faith that was from Him (Eph 2:8-9) so that I could spend eternity with Him. THAT is mercy (very short version)! So now back to the verse in Romans 12: "...in view of God's MERCY..." He tells us to offer our bodies (our lives -- the totality of them) to Him as a spirtual act of worship. Another thing to note, in the Old Testament, when they offered sacrifices they did not offer to the Lord defiled offerings, they were required to offer to Him the best of the best. Now back to Romans....He doesn't want us to offer Him defiled lives. "...in view of God's MERCY..." when you begin to see THAT, how could you possibly not want to do everything possible to offer your very best to Him! Well, what is your very best? Read the sermon on the mount (Matthew 5,6,7) and keep reading in Romans 12 --> "Do not conform anymore to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" ...Hebrews 12 :1 says, "...let us lay aside every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles us, and let us run the race that is set before us..." I will let the Word and the Holy Spirit direct you to what those verses are talking about in your life. So once your "view of God's mercy" is broadened and your understanding, from The Word, is deepened, you begin to realize that the things of this world grow strangly dim in the light of His glory and grace! So the long and short is that you cannot understand the freedom in the Lord's order for the family unit and each one's role until you have sought His Word and He has revealed himself, through His Word, to you in such a way that His mercy overwhelms you and His grace leads you to the cross.

"The Cross (of Christ) does not give us a minor shift or two with regad to a few of our ethical and moral and religious values. The cross radically disrupts the very center and citadel of your life from self, to Christ" (http://www.illbehonest.com/)


All His Love and Grace
Matt

The Big Plan

So I was reading with Ashley tonight and read a passage that kinda struck me in a different way than you may expect or think. I'll share:

" So then you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God's household, built on the foundationof the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. The whole building is being fitted together in Him and is growing into a holy sanctuary in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for God's dwelling in the spirit" Ephesians 2:19-22

The more that I study and emmerse myself in the Word of God the more I begin to see the majestic Sovereignty of our Mighty Lord. The Word of God is God's revelation of Truth to and for us, therefore the more we read and study the greater and more majestic the picture of our Lord becomes to us. "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God; He was with God in the beginning" Plain and simple we limit our view of the God we say we serve when we neglect to study His revelation to us....Himself (The Word). Anyway, having said this, when I began reading this passage from Ephesians the phrase "...the whole building is being fitted together in Him...." kept sticking in my mind. This seems like a continual and constant "fitting together" if you will. A continual working towards an end. What I am getting at is that when I read this passage I see the Sovereign Lord at work within His master plan for the universe that began being fashioned from creation and is still continually being fashioned today. The neat thing that I realized is that if I am a true believer than I am part of that sovereign plan of our Master. I am constantly being fitted together in the Lord so that once "I have finished the race marked out for me" I hear the words, "well done my good and faithful slave". Then I will be able to "look back" and see how I did fit in the Lord's sovereign plan and hopfully faithfully continued the work so that those that are to follow me can build upon what the Lord used me for to fit them for their place among the building of the Master Plan.

Thanks
Matt (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

An Exhortation While Walking in Sovereign Sustaining Grace

Let's be honest, life can seem tough sometimes. (Although I must preface this by saying that we in America do NOT really know what it means to suffer. I do not say this to minimize anyone's present circumstance, but I have really been challenged with a type of true Christianity that I see and hear about it other countries. Here, we live our worldly conforming lives and when we face a little percieved hardship our spiritual mettle is tested. In other countries, a pursuit of Jesus Christ is certain death) Anyway, having said that, I can say from a personal level that we as a family have and are walking through some times of testing. What I want to do is tell you about the sustaining peace, grace, and faith that our Saviour has given us through His Word ("Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God"). There is a beautiful passage of scripture (Jeremiah 32:36-41) that really elevates the Sovereignty of God in walking us into tough times, but while we are there, He sustains us with His Sustaining Grace. Then as He walks us out of the tough times, He rejoices over us and gives us His Word in order to glory and exult in Him alone. The tough things we are walking through are in His hand. As the Sovereign God He ordains, sustains, and delivers according to His will. This view of His Sovereignty has really been a blessing to Ashley and I. To know that He is here and in total control. What He wants from us is this:
"Offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to the Lord. This is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the re-knewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is, His good, pleasing, and perfect will" (Romans 12:1-2)
We must know His Word and yearn, seek, and pursue His Holiness so that in the midst of any strom we may experience Him. Whether He says "storm...peace be still" or the storm continues, it is ordained for His glory and we can either choose to see that and put our trust in the awesome God or we can choose to put our faith in ourselves and not glory in His Soveriengty. I want to leave you with a verse of exhortation for all of us that "call" ourselves Christains:
"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust indeed is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by the waters, that sends its roots out by the streams. It does not fear when the heat comes; it's leaves are always green. It does not worry in a year of drought, it NEVER ceases to bear fruit!" (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

Matthew 7, says that you know a tree by its fruit. Are you bearing the fruit for Christ that you so adamately profess? Better yet, are you so rooted in Christ, not conforming to this sick world, and firmly based in the Word of God and His Sovereignty that you continue to bear fruit in and through tough times? That is the mark of a true believer. I exhort you as does Jeremiah, where are your roots planted? Every root of your life and who you are?

God Bless
Matt

We must preach the whole Counsel of God!

“Leave out the holy character of God, the holy excellence of his law, the holy condemnation to which transgressors are doomed, the holy loveliness of the Saviour’s character, the doctrine, and the holy tempers and conduct of all true believers: then dress up a scheme of religion of this unholy sort: represent mankind as in a pitiable condition, rather through misfortune than by crime: speak much of Christ’s bleeding love to them, of his agonies in the garden and on the cross; without shewing the need or the nature of the satisfaction for sin: speak of his present glory, and of his compassion for poor sinners; of the freeness with which he dispenses pardons; of the privileges which believers enjoy here, and of the happiness and glory reserved for them hereafter: clog this with nothing about regeneration and sanctification, or represent holiness as somewhat else than conformity to the holy character and law of God: and you make up a plausible gospel, calculated to humour the pride, soothe the consciences, engage the hearts, and raise the affections of natural men, who love nobody but themselves.
And now no wonder if this gospel (which has nothing in it affronting, offensive, or unpalatable, but is perfectly suited to the carnal unhumbled sinner, and helps him to quiet his conscience, dismiss his fears, and encourage his hopes,) incur no opposition amongst ignorant persons, who inquire not into the reason of things; meet with a hearty welcome, and make numbers of supposed converts, who live and die as full as they can hold of joy and confidence, without any fears or conflicts. …
What wonder if, when all the offensive part is left out, the gospel gives no offence? What wonder if, when it is made suitable to carnal minds, carnal minds fall in love with it? What wonder if, when it is evidently calculated to fill the unrenewed mind with false confidence and joy, it has this effect? What wonder if, when the true character of God is unknown, and a false character of him is framed in the fancy,–a God all love and no justice, very fond of such believers, as his favourites,–they have very warm affections towards him?
I would not give needless offence. Let this matter be weighed according to its importance. Let the word of God be examined impartially. I cannot but avow my fears that Satan has propagated much of this false religion, among many widely different classes of religious professors; and it shines so brightly in the eyes of numbers, who ‘take all for gold that glitters’, that, unless the fallacy be detected, it bids fair to be the prevailing religion in many places.”

-Thomas Scott

Is it possible?

Is it possible to understand the gospel message, have strong religious convictions, serve in a Bible-believing church, and be convinced you have a saving relationship with God, and yet still not get into heaven when you die? The Bible couldn't be any clearer on the answer. Yes, many people will one day stand before God and be shocked as they hear Him say, "I never knew you; depart from Me...........

A Brief Challenge: " A Living Sacrifice"

If you want to live a nominal Christian Life than be like everyone else. If you want to be Holy, you cannot do what others seemingly can do unnaffected. Everything you watch, listen to, look at, look like, dress like, talk about, talk to will either strengthen you in Holiness or draw you away from the Lord. "Be Holy therefore because I am Holy". "I urge you brothers, offer your bodies as living sacrifices, Holy and pleasing to the Lord....."

As a true Christian...."Others can...You (brother/sister) cannot"

Love ya
Matt

IT IS TIME

It is time......It is time for Christians to "Not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you will know the perfect will of God, His good, pleasing and perfect will!" We must NOW conform our lives...our very every being to the Word of God--"work out your salvation with fear and trembling". Do you you LOOK like the world? WHAT is different then, I ask. Do not compare your differences to those around you in your family, your church, or your work...Compare your life to the WORD of GOD. Period. End of Story. How much of our time each day is spent on meaningless conversation, meaningless hobbies, just meaningless...How much of our day do we spend saturating our minds and hearts with the perfect WORD of God? The reason our country is in the state it is is not becuase of politicians or the debauchary that is all around us, it is becuase so many of us "christians" LOOK LIKE THE WORLD. So many of us professing Christians have lost our flavor. Jesus tells us on the sermon on the mount.."we are the salt of the earth". Salt is not only to give flavor, it is for preserving. If Jesus said we are the salt of the earth, we are to be the ones preserving the "earth" (people/culture/society) against the staleness of satan. Look around you have we been being the salt? I think not...Love HIM, Live Him, Know Him, Seek him, saturate your life with Him..."Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God"

Bless you
Matt
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uLDTp89XYc

Could not have said it better

This short blog thing can work for me...Add a link and I am done...I will add some more substance when I get a minute. Many of you know that Ashley and I have decided not to have a television in our house. Why you ask, read why my friend John doesn't, I could not have said it better myself. And this is not a cop out for not giving an answer myself---I have shared with many people our decision and why. Also, I am not saying that everybody has to think the same way, just read the link and be encouraged, irritated, or challenged.

Make your today Christ exalting today!!
Matt

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/TasteAndSee/ByDate/2009/4023_Why_I_Dont_Have_a_Television_and_Rarely_Go_to_Movies/

It's been awhile

wow, it has been awhile....God is doing big things in my heart and my mind...."be transformed by the renewing of the mind..." so the blog page is not really big enough to get it out. But here is something that I heard that was challenging

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ-8OvGn9yA&feature=channel