Can We Understand the Scriptures? Alike?

In the previous post I asked some questions and promised to give my answers in a later post. Here they are.

1. Can we understand the scriptures?
The short answer is as "Christian" gave it, YES! Consider for a moment the thought "What good would the Bible do the people if you had to have a PhD to understand it?" Some would like that and some actually want you to believe that. It makes it easier to keep people under control if they think that only the priest can understand God's Word. It also makes it simpler for them because they don't have any need to study since they cannot understand it anyhow.

As Paul was writing by inspiration to the Corinthians he pointed out the necessity of speaking so that it was easily understood (I Cor. 14:9). Since this was a God inspired passage we can know that he would hold himself to the same standard. This is not to say that there are no difficult passages. It only points out that God does not give us a revelation which cannot be understood.

2. Can we understand the scriptures alike? Why?
Here again "Christian" gave an accurate response. It is important to emphasize that "God is not the author of confusion". What other term could accurately describe intending for two people to understand the same statement differently. If God intended Christian to understand a command in one way, Saul in another, anonymous in yet another and myself in an even different way wouldn't that be confusion? Perhaps utter chaos would better describe it.

Consider the fact that it is God's word that serves as the standard by which we will all be judged. (John 12:48). If we cannot understand it alike what kind of justice would be issued? The answer of course is that there would be no justice! Yet God is just (Acts 17:30-31). It is therefore not only possible for us to understand the scriptures alike, it is imperative.

3. Are we really going to the same place in different ways?
We could use many things to illustrate this point. Lets use the airport for an example. There are many ways to get to the airport. A person could arrive by bus, taxi, private car, on a bicycle, on foot and the list could go on. Once in the airport you get your ticket and pass through the security area and make your way to the gate. When it comes time to board there is only one way to the airplane and that is through the door. Well so it is with Heaven! We may arrive from different places but all had to enter the same way!

The scriptures teach that Jesus is the only way! (John 14:6). Jesus is the door (John 10:7). In both of these passages it is apparent that there is only one way in and that is through Jesus. You say that we all got there in different ways. That is true, however you do not begin your journey to heaven until you pass through the door! We may arrive at the door in different ways but from that point on there is only one way! Jesus said that "no one cometh unto the Father but by me!" As we have observed already God has only one set of rules for us today. Therefore all must make the same journey, follow the same path in order to arrive at the same place.

Understanding What We Read

In Acts 8 Philip who was one of those chosen to serve the Grecian widows in Acts 6 is sent to meet the eunuch from Ethiopia. The eunuch was reading from Isaiah when Philip approached his chariot. Philip said to the eunuch "understandest thou what thou readest?" What a wonderful and important question.

In this country there are hundreds of different religious organizations claiming to be able to show a person the way to heaven. Many claim to follow the Bible in practicing their religion. I think it is safe to say that there are some, that is a few, points on which most would agree, at least in principle. Such being the case it is also safe to say that there are many points upon which few can agree.

If most claim to follow the Bible, why is there so much religious division? Do we not all have the same road map, guide book, standard? Let me emphasize that the problem is not the Word of God! The Bible clearly teaches that God is not the author of confusion! But God is the author of the Bible. Therefore the Bible is not the problem. What then is the problem?

If you get brave enough to talk about the scriptures with your neighbor you will probably hear things like: "that's your interpretation" or "that is your opinion" or perhaps "we just cannot understand the scriptures" or even "we can read the same passage and you understand it one way and I get something totally different out of it" and finally "we are all going to the same place just on different roads".

With these things in mind, let me ask some questions to get our discussion going on this important topic.
1. Can we understand the scriptures?
2. Can we understand the scriptures alike? Why?
3. Are we really going to the same place in different ways?

I will share my answers in a later post. Looking forward to reading yours.

Summary on Suffering

I, as you, have always known that people suffer. It wasn't until the subject of suffering came up on another blog that I came to realize how much the scriptures have to say about the subject. At that time I was doing research for a lesson on a totally different subject when a number of suffering scriptures just kind of jumped out at me. My first thought was how big this subject is. At that point I think I was only at the hem of the garment so to speak. As I have prepared for this blog it becomes more apparent all the time that it is even larger than I had realized then.

The English term "suffer" is used in a number of ways in the Word of God. We have in these writings confined our discussion to the common usage. It has been noted that we potentially suffer for doing wrong, for carelessness, for chastisement, and for doing what God demands. All will suffer in this life and some will suffer for eternity.

Please observe that we have mentioned the suffering of Job as a result of temptation. We have noted that Peter and others suffered for the "Way". It has also been observed that the possibility exists for one to suffer for doing wrong, (I Peter 2:20).

The apostle Paul is credited with writing more of the New Testament than any other writer. God saw fit to use his writings to give us the instructions He wanted us to have. It is because of this that we know more about Paul's life than perhaps any other New Testament character. In II Corinthians 11:23-28 we learn a great deal about what this man of God endured for the "Way" which he had earlier persecuted. Here was a man who knew what suffering was all about. He had given it and received it.

Hear the instructions given to Timothy. "Suffer hardship with me as a good soldier of Christ Jesus." II Tim.2:3. "Be not ashamed therefore of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but suffer hardship with the gospel according to the power of God;" II Tim. 1:8. "But be thou sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill thy ministry". II Tim. 4:5. "Yea and all that would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." II Tim. 3:12.

One could only conclude that God knows that His faithful servants will suffer in this life. Through the pen of the Apostle Paul, God tells us we need to be aware that it will happen and be prepared for it. It is then safe to conclude that those who obey God according to His word will suffer. Not suffering? Perhaps there are some changes you need to make!

Pertinent Questions on Suffering

In commenting on a previous post a reader made some statements about life being a learning experience and perhaps even continual chastening. In order to better understand their point I asked the following questions:
1. are you saying that living is suffering?
2. are you saying that life is a learning experience therefore we do not suffer?
3. or are you saying that all undesirable things that happen to us is the direct chastisement of God?
Then another reader suggested that I answer my own questions. And so I shall.

ARE YOU SAYING THAT LIVING IS SUFFERING? In this blog we have been discussing the subject of Human Suffering as well as in another blog. Always there seems to be confusion as to what constitutes suffering or a reluctance to accept the clear Bible teaching. In an effort to clarify the subject we have suggested that we sometimes suffer as the result of our own stupidity or carelessness. Allow me to give you a personal example. I do construction work. One late afternoon in October or November a few years ago I and my helper were framing a wall for a friend. As many do I was using an air nailer. You can probably guess what happened. Due to carelessness on my part I nailed my index and second fingers together with a 3" nail. I suffered twice in this ordeal. The pain from the nail and the pain of the hospital bill. But I learned to be more careful. I do not view this as chastisement from God or the kind of suffering He tells us to be prepared for. (I Peter2:19-21) I did nothing sinful.

It has also been suggested that we suffer from the chastisement of the Lord, Hebrews 12:5-10.
When I was a child I was disobedient from time to time and my parents would use the razor strap applied to the seat of learning to discipline me. I suffered some pain from that as well but it was punishment or chastisement for wrong doing. They disciplined me because they loved me. This is as God ordained it to be. God uses family, friends and even governments to chasten us today as we try to walk in His ways. But this is not the kind of suffering He tells us to be prepared for. (I Peter 2:19-21) He does indicate that we should expect this kind of suffering in Hebrews 12 and I Peter 2. This is suffering for wrong doing.

Living is not suffering but all living will suffer. This takes the forms mentioned above, chastisement for doing wrong and suffering for our own stupidity.

2. are you saying that life is a learning experience therefore we do not suffer?
Any who would take the time to reflect upon their life should reach the conclusion that life is a learning experience. I enjoy learning. This is a good thing since I am in many ways like my dad who is fond of saying that" he learns something new every day, usually the same thing he learned yesterday." It is not quite that bad yet but . . . . I enjoy learning new tips on how to do those things which I do, learning how things work and how to do things for myself, and of course things in the Scriptures that I didn't know or perhaps had forgotten. We can learn a lot from life and the things that happen to us. Sometimes these lessons are easy and sometimes we suffer in order to learn. While we need to look at our life and learn from it I do not believe God expects us to nor can we examine every tick of the clock and learn from it. Perhaps Solomon was using an hyperbole to stress the learning aspect of life. Life is indeed a learning experience which involves suffering.

3. or are you saying that all undesirable things that happen to us is the direct chastisement of God? In answer to this question I would have to say no. In the personal example I gave earlier, nailing my fingers together was an undesirable experience but not a chastisement from God. As I indicated I did nothing sinful in this regard. Since we from time to time need chastisement from God, he will provide it. In this sense it is continual but not continuous. There are two types of undesirable experiences. The first are those like the one above which are the result of our carelessness or stupidity. The other is the kind that we are told to be prepared for in I Peter 2. Those times that we suffer for doing what is right. Suffering is an undesirable activity which is a part of living.

May we approach life ready to learn from the suffering that comes from our carelessness and stupidity and that which is the chastisement of God. We must also rejoice when we are "counted worthy to suffer for the Name."

The Proving of Our Faith

After reading our last post the question was asked by a reader "to whom are we proving our faith?" I gave a short answer and promised to develop the idea more fully in another post. Here goes.

The short answer is that we are not proving our faith but rather God is. We had noticed in the last post that God gave Satan permission to tempt or try Job within limits. It was also pointed out that Job maintained his faith and character throughout the ordeal. (read the book of Job). Here is my understanding of how it works, according to the scriptures.

In Job 1 Satan is before God seeking permission to tempt. Peter writes in I Peter 5:8 that the "devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:" These two passages agree fully. Jesus tells Peter in Luke 22:31 that Satan had asked permission to go for Peter that he "might sift you as wheat:" These passages show clearly that Satan must have permission to tempt. It is declared in Job 1, and Luke 22:32 that God sets limits. This is also supported by Paul's writing in I Corinthians 10:13 which states that God will not allow us to be tempted above which we are able to bear.

So lets put it all together. When Satan asks permission to tempt God says ok but only to this point. God knows how much we can stand and he also provides the way of escape to assist us. It could then be said that God has confidence in us. He knows that we can overcome or find the way of escape. Doesn't it give us encouragement to know that God thinks we are able to deal with the temptation in a victorious way!

To whom is our faith being proved? To us! God is all knowing therefore he does not need to have our faith proved to him. People around us will know our faith by our works so they do not need to have it proved to them. (James 2:18, Matthew 5:16) Who is left? Ourselves! In Mark 9:24 Jesus is about to heal the epileptic boy. As Jesus speaks to the father of the child he exclaims to Jesus "I believe, help thou mine unbelief". The boy's father believed but realized that his faith could be stronger. It is my prayer that my faith will also be stronger and yours as well dear reader.