CAN WE UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE ALIKE?

By: Richard Kirkland

Introduction:

            A.   Have you ever been involved in a Bible study with a friend or neighbor and reached that decisive point in your study where they turned and said to you, “Well that’s just your interpretation of the Bible?”  Most of us know the discouragement of trying to respond to that point of view regarding the study of the Bible.  But what does it really mean?  Is it:

                                                1.         Just a way to put off a decision and bring an end to the conversation?

                                                2.         A way of implying that the discussion and disagreement is really not worth debating?

                                                3.         A way of saying, “I’m right, you’re wrong, I don’t want to discuss it.”

                                                4.         A way of implying that it is impossible for us all to read and understand the Bible alike.

                        B.         There are many people who really do not understand the Bible.

                                                1.         Some do not understand because they have never studied.

                                                2.         Others do not have an interest in spiritual things.

                                                3.         Some do not understand it because they have approached it subjectively.  Their understanding is determined by their emotions and feelings alone.

                        C.        Obviously, the Lord wants us to understand it.

                                                1.         Would God, who created the mind, give us a book that the mind cannot understand?  Paul wrote, “by which, when you read, you may understand” (Ephesians 3:4) and [t]herefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:17).

                                                2.         “I do not pray for theses alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; “that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” (John 17:20-21).

                                                3.         The Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide n My word, you are My disciples indeed. “And you shall know the truth, and the truth sall make you free.” (John 8:31-32).

                                                4.         Knowing first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit  (2 Peter 1:20-21).

                        D.        The question is not, “Why can’t we understand it?” but, “Why can’t we understand it alike?”

I.          BECAUSE WE ARGUE OVER THINGS ABOUT WHICH THE BIBLE IS SILENT.

                        A.        Genesis 3.  All agree on “fruit”, but what kind?

                        B.         Exodus 3.  All agree on “burning bush”, but what kind?

                        C.        John 3.  All agree on “by night”, but why?

                        D.        The previous examples are not crucial.  Regardless of our opinion about them, we will not be lost.  They merely illustrate the point — we disagree when we step outside of what is written and begin to speculate about things that cannot be found in the Bible.

                        E.         We must start and stop where the Bible starts and stops.  To go onward is sin (2 John 9).  The unrevealed things are not ours to understand.  “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law” (Deuteronomy 29:29)

II.        BECAUSE WE GO BEYOND WHAT IS WRITTEN.

                        A.        An excellent example involves the question of who are the proper subjects (candidates) for baptism. 

                        1.         Baptism is for those who:

                        a.         Have been taught (John 6:44-45; Matthew 28:19).

                        b.         Who believe (Mark 16:16).

                                                c.         Who repent (Acts 2:38).

                                                d.         Who confess (Acts 8:37).

                        2.         The departure — INFANT baptism!  In all the records of household baptisms in the Bible, there is no evidence that infants were among those baptized.  In fact, in every instance, those who were baptized were those who “heard” the word.

B.         Another example involves the mode (immersion, sprinkling, etc.) of baptism.

                        1.         The Bible answer (Acts 8:36-37; Roman 6:3-5; Col. 2:12).

                        2.         Every noteworthy Bible scholar agrees that Bible baptism is immersion.

                        3.         The departure: The first record of sprinkling was in AD 251 for one who was sick in bed.

                        4.         The first law allowing sprinkling came from Pope Stephen in AD 753 “to be used in the case of emergency only.”  Not until the Council of Ravena in 1311 was sprinkling ruled to be a substitute for immersion at all times.

C.        A third example is the music of the church.

                        1.         Everyone agrees that “acapella music-singing” is acceptable.

                        2.         Only the New Testament provides instruction about the music of the church.

                        a.         Speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, (Ephesians 5:19).

                        b.         Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (Colossians 3:16).

3.         Singing is a specific “kind” of music.  God didn’t say, “make music.”

4.         The departure — “God didn’t say ‘don’t’ use it.”

D.        A final example is the name of the church.

                        1.         The Bible speaks of only one church.

                        a.         “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18).

                        b.         Greet one another with a holy kiss.  The churches of Christ great you. (Romans 16:16).

                        2.         The members of the church of Christ are called Christians (Acts 11:26). This is the only proper name ever given to disciples of Christ.  We are members of Christ’s church, hence the church of Christ — Christians only (and the only Christians are those who are in Christ’s church).

                        3.         The identification “church of Christ” is undenominational.  The Bible does not speak of hyphenated Christians — Baptist Christians, Methodist Christians, etc.  Any other name than “Christian” goes beyond what is written.  To be identified as other than a member of the “church of Christ” goes beyond what is written.

III.       BECAUSE OF SUNDRY OTHER REASONS.

                        A.        Because religion is a matter of generation and not regeneration.  Religion is often handed down from parents. (Matthew 15:9).  If tradition is sufficient, the Muslims, Hindus, Jews and others will be saved.

                        B.         Some simply do not believe what the Bible teaches.

                        1.         “I know but the Bible says, BUT...”

                        2.         Wrong attitude — “The reception of any truth depends on our attitude toward it.”

                        3.         Some people study the Bible with their minds already made up.  They do not study the Bible to gain understanding — they just want to prove their presuppositions.

                        4.         “For the hearts of this people have grown dull.  Their ears are heard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them” (Matthew 13:15).

                        5.         Many people follow, in religion, the latest fad.  They are attracted to that which is the most popular, showy, fashionable.  Like the child who chooses a shiny, new penny over a worn $10 bill, they are not able to distinguish between things varying values.

Conclusion:

            We can understand the Bible alike if we can understand it at all!  We can understand it (2 Timothy 3:16).  We will be judged by it (John 12:48).  Will we follow it?