THE SPIRITUAL BATTLE – 62 Can We All See (Understand) The Bible Alike?
“If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 4:11, KJV).
Loved ones, Satan has many preachers fighting against the truth in our Spiritual Battle. Recently a preacher raised the question: “Can we all understand the Bible alike?” He declared that we cannot and asserted that those who believe that we can are simply entertaining an ignorant viewpoint.
IN TRUTH: Moses said that we can (Deuteronomy 29:29). David said we can (Psalm 119:104). John said we can (John 20:30-31). Jesus prayed that we will (John 20:17). All these spokesmen for God have declared that through study of the Scriptures we are enabled to see them alike.
If we will accept only the word of God (1 Peter 4:11), we should not only see the Bible alike, but understand and practice it alike. We should be ONE religiously.
Your Understanding, My Understanding
The claim is frequently made: “You understand the Bible one way, and I understand it another. Neither of us should condemn the other.” Another variation of the same tune: “Well, that is your interpretation of the Scriptures. I have mine as well. Perhaps both of us are right.”
These statements contain a logical contradiction. There is no such thing as “understanding the Bible differently.” If two people differ on the meaning of a biblical text, one of them is wrong about the matter—possibly both. We might mis-understand something different, but we do not understand something differently. Moreover, a passage does not yield two different interpretations; somewhere, there is misinterpretation.
Can God Make Himself Understood?
We operate daily upon the presumption that we, frail mortals though we are, can make ourselves understood to our peers. A department store places an advertisement in the newspaper about an upcoming sale. Hundreds of people flock to the same establishment on the correct day at the right time expecting specific items at a certain price to be available for purchase. How is it that they understand the ad alike?
A recipe is printed on a cereal box for oat bran muffins. Hundreds of ladies across the country follow it and bake delicious muffins for their families. Do they understand the instructions alike?
A physician prescribes a medication. Do we believe that the pharmacist will understand what the doctor has prescribed, and are we confident that we can understand the instructions for taking the medicine?
If we can sensibly operate our lives on a routine basis, recognizing that we are able to communicate with one another in an intelligible fashion, why can’t we acknowledge that God, who is infinitely wiser and abler than man, can clearly make his will known to humanity?
If one suggests that Jehovah could not clearly make Himself known to man, he reflects upon the power of the Lord. If one argues that God purposely did not reveal Himself to mankind in a lucid fashion, he reflects upon the benevolence of his maker. If one contends that man has no responsibility to understand and obey the precepts of the Scriptures, it is he who evidences great ignorance of his obligation to Heaven.
What Saith the Scripture?
The Bible is replete with passages which have as their underlying basis the assumption that we can uniformly understand our divine responsibility as made known in the sacred writings. Consider the following:
Christ declared that man shall not live by bread alone, but “by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). If spiritual life is only to be found in the words from God, does it not stand to reason that humanity is capable of understanding that message?
When Jesus rebuked the Sadducees for their error concerning the resurrection of the human body, he charged that a part of their problem was that they were ignorant of the Scriptures (Matthew 22:29). Does this not presuppose that had they been good students of the Old Testament they could have uniformly known that there was to be a resurrection of the body?
Though none of us was alive to witness the first-century miracles performed by the Lord Jesus, the history of those events was written down in order that we might believe those signs which documented the Master’s claim of deity (John 20:30-31). Can we believe the biblical narratives regarding Christ’s deeds and confidently have a united understanding that He is the Son of God? If not, of what value is the New Testament?
Of the early church it is said: “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and soul” (Acts 4:32). How could such a statement possibly be made unless those early saints were capable of agreeing upon the apostolic instruction?
The citizens of the city of Berea were considered to be nobler than those of Thessalonica, because they received the word of God with all readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to determine the accuracy of what they were being taught (see Acts 17:11). Does this affirmation not imply that these inquirers were able to draw harmonious conclusions about the word of God?
The Christians in Rome were commanded to be on the lookout for those who caused divisions and occasions of stumbling “contrary to the doctrine which ye learned” (Romans 16:17). If we cannot understand the Bible alike, how could anyone ever be disciplined for walking contrary to sound doctrine? That would make no sense whatsoever.
In the New Testament epistles, the churches are constantly admonished to “speak the same thing,” to be free from divisions, and to “be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10; cf. Philippians 2:2). How can we possibly take this instruction seriously if we are incapable of understanding the Bible alike?
The apostle Paul plainly declared that by reading the message which he wrote, we would be able to perceive his understanding of the gospel of Christ (Ephesians 3:1-7). He thus subsequently charges: “Wherefore be ye not foolish but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:17).
The inspired Scriptures are said to be profitable “for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness: that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). If we do not have the ability to understand the Scriptures, how can the holy writings profit us in the aforementioned categories?
If we can understand that 2 + 2 = 4, if we can understand that fifty-five miles per hour means just that, then we can understand, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved…” (Mark 16:16). We can understand that there is “one body” (Ephesians 4:4), and that that body is the church (Colossians 1:18). We can further know that salvation is in that body (Ephesians 5:23), and outside of that body no redemption is to be found (2 Timothy 2:10).
The problem with those who contend that men cannot agree upon the Scripture’s teaching is simply this: they are ignorant of the truth and are seeking a way to justify error!
For Example: Does Christ A Law?
From the wave of neo-Calvinism [the teachings of John Calvin (d. 1564) or his followers, emphasizing predestination, the sovereignty of God in overruling the free will of man, and salvation by grace alone], presenting itself in various congregations comes the startling interpretation that we are saved by grace without any act of obedience on our part.
It is obvious from the context of the Book of Galatians that Paul refers to the Law of Moses in many passages. Galatians 2:19 says, "Through the law I am dead to the law." Does this mean that a Christian is dead to the law of Christ? Galatians 3:12 says, "The law is not of faith." Does this mean that Christ's law is not of faith? Galatians 3:13 says, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law." Does this mean that Christ's law is a curse and He delivered us from it?
Galatians 3:18-19, 21, 23-24; 4:4-5, 21; and 5:3 are all obvious references to the Mosaic Law. The argument that these passages refer to law in general (because the definite article is not present in the Greek) ignores Romans 8:2, "For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."
The definite article is there — not only in the English, but also in the Greek. Christ indeed has a law — a law of spirit and life — and Paul said it made him free from the law of sin and death.
Many other passages speak of Christ's law. "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2). "...the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God..." (Romans 8:7). In the New Covenant, God puts His "laws into our mind" as we hear and believe the Gospel (Hebrews 8:10; Romans 10:17). Paul was “not without law to God, but under the law to Christ” (1 Corinthians 9:21). Christ's way is "the perfect law of liberty" (James 1:25; 2:12). It is "the royal law" (James 2:8).
Obedience to Christ is linked inseparably to salvation (Matthew 7:21-29; 28:18-20; Luke 6:46; Acts 3:22-26; Romans 6:17-18; Philippians 2:21; 2 Thessalonians 1:8; Hebrews 5:8-9; 1 Peter 4:17; Mark 16:15-16; Revelation 20:12-13; etc.).
To say that seeking justification by obedience to Christ's law is not necessary implies that God's grace has no conditions (cf. Titus 2:12). The natural consequence of this error leads either to universalism (belief that all people will be saved) or to John Calvin's doctrine of Limited Atonement (the belief that only “the elect” – those God has selected and operated on directly – will be saved).
This error is serious. It is not benign. It is grievous, malignant, flagrant, and egregious. Grace is both appropriative and consequential. It is both free and conditional. It is received by obedience, and it requires obedience. It brings salvation and it teaches us responsibilities (Titus 2:11-12). It is offered to all, but it is appropriated only as man hears, understands, and obeys the law of Christ. That's what the Great Commission is all about. When we deny these truths, we are actually denying God's power of salvation.
Conclusion
Can we understand the Bible? Of course we can. Can we understand it alike? YES, however, BEWARE! There are somethings that hinder a clear understanding of the Bible:
1. Relatives (Matthew 19:29; 10:34-37).
2. Pride (Proverbs 14:12; 16:18; Obadiah 3; Revelation 3:17-18).
3. Majority (Exodus 23:2; Matthew 7:13-14, 21).
4. False doctrine (Matthew 13:14-15; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12).
5. Satan (2 Corinthians 4:3-4).
Through the free gift of God’s grace by Jesus’ blood (Ephesians 2:8; Revelation 1:5) and your obedient faith (Romans 1:5; 10:17; 16:26), salvation is offered. If you have questions or wish to comment, please do so. Lord willing, a Bible answer will be provided for every Bible question.
Shared with you by Samuel A. Matthews, preaching with the Liberty NW church of Christ, meeting in Portland, Oregon, USA. The God of Heaven and Earth is so good, and His love reaches all. He is in control, so trust Him. We love you with the love of the Lord (John 13:34-35).