How Do We Prove All Things?

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.1Th 5:21

Can I Understand the Bible Myself?
YES! Every BELIEVER can understand Scripture.

While teachers are to teach us the Word we must verify truth ourselves.
Even when Paul was the preacher he highly commended some because:
...they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. (Ac 17:11).

Two Approaches to Scripture

1. Cerebral Possibilities
The man-made science of hermeneutics analyses Bible texts grammatically, historically, culturally, etc. It tries to find the best meaning. (But in the end leaves the analyser to pick what is best?) In the past theologians spoke of "the curse of hermeneutics" because of this danger. It removes petals from the flower to find its beauty. The origin of this word holds insight. (Hermes: the pagan god who delivered truth) Hermeneutics is equally available to believers and skeptics alike. "Higher criticism" is hermeneutics that has rationalized nearly every Bible doctrine into total uncertainty. Herein is the curse: hermeneutics gives possible meanings, but truth is not an array of hermeneutical possibilities.

Academic Elitism is the belief that only well-educated theologians and scientists can resolve truths like creation. But experts do not resolve these conflicts —there is no more consesus among the well-educated. They come down on all sides of the conflict and can only argue more fiercely.

There is a better way...

2. Spiritual Discernment

But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
(1 Cor 2:14).
This method is not available to unbelievers although they may mimic every step.

 

To Spiritually Discern Scripture:

1. Believe First

God has decided that FAITH alone will unlock His written truth.
Faith is the 'way' to interpret God's Words
Faith is primary; understanding is secondary.
We must first believe in order to understand.
Our rebellious nature likes to understand first and then decide whether to believe.

Unbelief is a dangerous slope away from God.

Jesus' reason to believe was only "It is written!"

The Prophets' reason to believe was "Thus saith the Lord!"

An Unbeliever's greatest need is not more data but repentance.

...with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition,
if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, (2 Tim 2:25).

God illuminates Believers and darkens unBelievers.

God has decided that His Written Truth would be

Understood by Its Simplest Believer
and
Hidden from Its Smartest Unbeliever

Jesus prayed,

"I praise thee O Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
that Thou didst hide these things from the wise and intelligent
and didst reveal them to babes." Matt 11:25

So,

"That your faith should not rest on the wisdom of men
but on the power of God." (1Cor.2:5)
Higher intelligence has no advantage over Faith.

2. Obey
The primary difference between believing facts and having faith in God is that we demonstrate our faith with actions. We can know in our head and heart what is right and true but are often not willing to put it into practice. This leads to blindness.

But someone may well say, “You have faith, and I have works; show me your faith without the works,
and I will show you my faith by my works.” (Ja 2:18).

3. Memorize, Meditate, Pray and even Fast for Wisdom

Some Scriptures only give up their meaning with hard work. Like digging for silver we have to mine the truth. Memorization enables meditation. Insight often comes when we replay the words, word-perfect, in our minds many times.

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. (Ja 1:5-8).

Jesus said the Spirit of truth will guide you into all truth. (Jn.16:13)
Mercifully we are not left to the "wisdom of man."


4. Trust Inerrancy

Because God cannot lie, His words (original) are inerrant.
Our best Bible translations represent those originals well.
Luther and others paid dearly to open the Bible for the common people.
Because there are no errors in the Bible we can test any idea.
Truth will harmonize with all of Scripture.

5. Trust Sufficiency

Skeptics like to point out that the Bible is not a science text or that it omits major information needed to know the truth of origins. For them man-made knowledge provides what is missing.
But not so fast...

• While it is true that the Bible doesn't contain all truth it always provides its believers with enough information to protect them from
"speculations raised up against the knowledge of God."
• The Bible provides umbrella truths with wide implications. Those who won't believe are unprotected. Their Bible becomes silent on specifics because they have discounted vital guidance provided by a larger truth.
• Arrogant demands that God's words must accommodate our puny frame of reference will be answered with silence, consistent with the behavior of a good authority.
"All Scripture [...] is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness." (2Tim.3:16)

6. Trust Authority
  • The plain meaning honors inherent authority in inerrant words.
  • God's words rule over fallen man's best knowledge.
  • To know fundamental truths we don't need more data, we need more faith.
  • We believe in order to understand —a painful reversal for perpetual academics.
  • God's words overrule all man-made knowledge partitions like science.
  • God's Words are always reliable; man's are always suspect.
  • God's Words cut between truth and error in every subject.

    "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Heb.4:12)

    As a good authority Scripture:
    guides more than it informs in some areas like science.

    As a good authority Scripture responds with silence to rebels.

    Recognize Rebellion
  • The greatest interference to communication is believing we know better.
  • Rebellion is wanting to be equal with true authority.
  • Dual authority always results in confusion.

    • 7. Trust Bible History

    The Bible contains 2 kinds of truth: Historical events and Spiritual Principles.
     Jesus taught the necessity of believing Biblical record of physical events first when He asked,
    "If you don't believe me when I speak of earthly things
    how will you believe when I speak of heavenly things?" Jn.3:12

    Bible doctrines are framed on historical events past, present and future.

    We must believe physical events before we understand the doctrine.
    If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, [historical event] you shall be saved; (Rom 10:9).

    Our earliest history (Genesis) defines the elements in Spiritual principles.
    Distorting these events denies the vital principles and definitions contained.