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.