THE TRUTH ONLY PART 3

THE TRUTH ONLY PART 2

In the part One and two of this series, we have established that The Truth is in the person of Jesus and what He has done. We also saw that the Truth is opposed to the law in that the law is contrary to sound doctrine. 1Timothy 1:9-10.  Click the link to read the part one and part two if you have not read it. In this last part, we will be looking at how to interpret the Bible.
The Bible is the only Book we can get the truth from. It is our book of doctrine. So it is important that we know how to interpret the book. Some basic questions we will address in this series are; What really is the message of the Bible, How do we interpret Genesis to Revelation and How do we stick with what is written in the Bible?

THE MESSAGE OF THE BIBLE
2Timothy 3:15  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
The Bible is written to show us salvation through faith which is in Christ. The message of the Bible is Christ.  What about Christ? The salvation which is Christ. While Jesus was on earth, He said in John 5:  39  Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.  The scriptures testify of Jesus. Though we can learn many things from the Bible, but we must not remove our focus from the essence of the book. The Bible is the ONLY book where we see things pertaining to salvation in Christ. This is why we must reverence the book. It is a Holy book. Why is it holy? It is because it is set apart to teach us salvation in Christ. This does not ignore the fact that the Bible teaches other things like marriage, and the rest. But, the central theme of the Bible is Salvation which is in Christ.

HOW TO UNDERSTAND THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE
The Bible contains 66 books. These books are divided into two parts. Genesis to Malachi (The Hebrew text) which was called the old testament by the translators. Then Matthew to Revelation (The Greek text) which was called the New testament by the translators. In understanding how to interpret the Bible it is good we examine the word scripture.
The Bible is generally referred to as scripture. This is because Scripture simply means writing, or that which is written. The word scripture is from the Greek word “graphe” which means writing, that which is written or documented. The word is used 51times in the New Testament books of the Bible. “Scripture” is used 53 times in the whole Bible, once in the Old Testament (Daniel 10:21), 51 times in the New Testament books of the Bible as “graphe” and once as “gramma” in 1Timothy 3:15 which means content. Why are my giving all these details? Are they necessary to know how to teach the Bible? Yes.
Though the whole Bible can be refer to as scripture but Whenever the Bible uses the word scriptures it always refers to Old Testament books of the Bible. Let’s look at some examples.
•In Matthew 21:42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Same in Mark 12:24,
Jesus refers to scriptures and quoted psalm 118:22   The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
•In Luke 4:18-21, Isaiah 61:1-3 was quoted and called scripture
•In John 19:24,  psalm 22:18 was quoted and called scripture
•In Acts 8:32, Isaiah 53:7 was quoted and called the scripture
•Romans 4:3, Genesis 15:6 was quoted and called the scripture.
You can search and read all The 52 references of the word scripture in the new testament books of the Bible. They all refers to the old testament books of the Bible.
Having established that, now let’s  look at how to understand different portions of the Bible. Every part of the Bible is important. To understand how to interpret the Bible we will divide The Bible into four parts. The Bible can be divided into the scriptures/Old Testament books of the Bible (Genesis to Malachi), the four gospels (Mathew to John), Acts of the Apostles, the epistles and the book of revelation.
The scriptures (Genesis to Malachi). The scriptures are mysteries that have been unveiled in the epistles.
Romans 16 : 25  Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, 26  But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
Notice from the above verses, Paul calls what he preaches the revelation of the scriptures and he called the Scriptures mysteries. We also see similar things in Colossians  1: 26-28, and Ephesians 3:1-5. Whatever is in Genesis to Malachi (scriptures) should not be taken literally. It will need interpretation. This was first done by Jesus to his disciples after His resurrection.  Let’s look at it in   Luke 24:25-27, 45-47. Luke 24:25-27

Luke 24: 25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory
27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
Jesus met some disciples on the way to Emmaus. They were discussing about the current happening of His death and resurrection.  Jesus expounded to them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself(vs27).  The Greek word for “expand” is “Diermeneuo”, it means to explain, to translate or interpret. It is the same word used for interpretation of tongues in 1Corinthinas 14:5, 13, and 27.  The interpretation does not always look like the original. The old Testament books must be interpreted. All thanks to God the interpretation has been done for us in the epistles as revealed by the spirit of Christ. This is why we must not take whatever we see in the old testament books literal. It must be viewed in line with The interpretation.
The 4 Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) and the book of Acts: These are historic accounts that show the fulfilment of the scriptures (Genesis to Malachi). The books are actual accounts of the man Christ Jesus and His disciples. They are very relevant to know how Jesus lived on earth; how He wrought miracles, how he related with people and how his disciples prolonged His days on earth. Jesus put a disclaimer on the four gospels before He died in John 16:12-13. He told His disciples “ I have yet many things to tell you but you cannot bear them now…”  the people could not bear them because they were dead men. Matthew 13:15. The many things are the things that Christ has revealed to the Apostles and they are documented in the epistles. Ephesians 3:1-5.  The four gospels and Acts cannot be used as doctrine, they can only support doctrine.
The epistles (Romans to Jude) and the book of Revelation:  The epistle is the revelation of the scriptures (Genesis to Malachi) It is the unveiling and interpretation of scriptures. The Epistles form the body of the doctrine of Christ. This doesn’t in any way make the other parts of the Bible irrelevant. They all have their importance. But, when it comes to doctrine/teaching we stick with the epistles and use the other parts of the Bible to support it. We have the revelation of the mysteries of the scriptures  (Genesis to Malachi ). We are not to give our own interpretation. The interpretation has been done for us and documented in the epistles.
Ephesians 3 :  3  How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, note
4  Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
The mystery of the Scriptures has been revealed to the Apostles by the Holy spirit. Remember in John 16:13, Jesus promised His disciples that the spirit will tell them the many things He had to tell them which they could not bear. This has been fulfilled. It is this many things that is documented in the epistles. All we have to do is to READ TO UNDERSTAND THE MYSTERY. We read and read and read the interpretations of the mystery of Genesis to Malachi. What the Spirit of truth does to us today is to open our eyes to see the truth as it is revealed in the epistles. This is what is called illumination. This was the prayer of Paul for the Ephesians Church in Ephesians 1:17-23.   The book of Revelation is the epistles in a pictorial form. It is the revelation of Christ. The pictures must not be taken literally but be viewed with the epistles and the application of knowledge from the whole Bible.

STICK WITH WHAT IS WRITTEN IN THE BIBLE
The Bible is a book set apart to show us Christ. In that it is a book, we must stick with what is written in it. We are not to have our opinions and then look for verses to support it.
2Timothy 3: 15  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17  That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
Scripture is profitable for teaching.  Dreams, experiences, visions are not profitable for teaching the truth. Only SCRIPTURES IS PROFITABLE FOR DOCTRINE.  We cannot teach our experience. When Jesus the word put on flesh, He stock with ‘it is written.’ He was always quoting from the scriptures. In fact, He rebuked people for not knowing what is written.  He never taught the people of His heavenly encounters knowing that He is from heaven. It is not bad to say a little of your experience or visions but they must not be taught as doctrine. This is why Paul could say in Galatians 1:6-9 that even though an angel from heaven teaches anything against the Grace gospel of Christ, let that Angel be treated as a cursed thing. We must subject supernatural experiences to what is written in the Bible.
But man of God, Apostle Paul got what He wrote by revelation. Question, revelation of what? Or revelation from where?
Galatians 1: 12  For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Whenever people read this what they think is that Paul just got the revelation from vacuum. This is not true. We must allow the Bible interpret itself. Paul told us where He got his revelation from.
Acts 26: 22  Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:
23  That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.

Acts 17: 2  And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
Act 18:28 For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.
From the above scriptures and many more others we can boldly say that Paul got his revelation from what is written in the Scriptures  (Then Genesis to Malachi). So when He said he got it by revelation.  It means as he studied the scriptures the Holy Spirit revealed the interpretation to him. Notice In Acts 17:2, as his manner is, he reasoned with people from scriptures. Not from his head or his encounters.  He never taught his encounter. THIS IS STICKING TO WHAT IS WRITTEN.
Part of sticking to the Truth is not adding to what is written and not having your opinion apart from what is written. When people read textbooks like Essential Mathematics, they do not think what the book is saying. They take what it is saying. It is only when it comes to the Bible that people want to be innovative. For example, in a textbook you read that Biology is the study of living things. When you are asked what is Biology according to that Book, you say only what is written.  This must be the same approach to Bible interpretation. Bible teaching is Bible interpretation.

In summary, THE TRUTH ONLY IS WHO/WHAT  WE PREACH. It is the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. It is the sufferings of Christ which is death and burial and the glory that follow which is Christ resurrection and His ascension into our heart. This is all we are to preach as it is written in the Bible. This takes diligent. We must be very diligent to see the truth as it is revealed. It is laziness to pick a verse and start saying what you like. That is what we should never do. 2 Timothy 2:15. We must study to see the truth only which is the graciousness of God in Christ.

Dear reader, repeat the following from your heart,

I STICK TO THE TRUTH ONLY

I DO NOT PREACH WHAT IS REIGNING

I AM GIVING TO REVEALING JESUS

I RESPECT THE TRUTH MORE THAN PERSONALITY OR AGE

I AM A BIBLE ADDICT.

Remain blessed. May Your eyes be continually enlightened to see in accuracy what has been revealed and to know the inheritance in the saints.

By OBIAZIKWOR EMEKE MODESTY
www.emekemodesty.com

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