How to make sense out of scripture

Ever pick up the Bible with good intentions, only to put it down in exasperation? Surely much in its pages can strike home to even a first-time reader, but, oh, there's so much that is beyond understanding! It is indeed a formidable book, which probably accounts for it being so little read by so many. Even so, no one should lose heart if God's advice is followed, and clearly scripture gives us the essential precepts to follow.

At the risk of stating the obvious, repentance and faith toward God is the number one requirement. However, the obvious is obviously most often ignored, resulting in spiritual blindness, confusion, and dissension. Though emphasized from beginning to end in His Word, Hebrews 11:6 reveals it in a nutshell:

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

(A good example of diligence is that of Jacob who wrestled with God the whole night and would not let him go until being blessed. Jacob's refusal to take 'no' for an answer should be a reminder for everyone who seeks, often for  weeks, months, or years, to secure God's blessing).

Jesus told Nicodemus, a ruler of Israel who came to him by night, that "Ye must be born again." Here's a case where Jesus' words were taken TOO literally, their spiritual significance not being perceived by Nicodemus.

The reason for Nicodemus' problem is explained in 2 Cor. 9-16 where verse 14 states, "But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

Every born-again Christian will appreciate that, yet it is only the beginning, not the whole story. So many appear to stop short of serious discipleship and do damage to the truth of scripture because of natural inclinations. Even Christian leaders are found following a "different gospel" than the apostle Paul preached. Let's be careful we don't make the same mistakes. What are they? Why do they happen? Consider these for starters:

*Approaching scripture without reliance upon God's help.

*Reading into scripture our own preconceptions and hearsay from others, making it fit our view rather than our being conformed to it.

* Failure to appreciate the accuracy and consistency of scripture when it sometimes appears to contradict itself. 

* Ruling out the miraculous; trying to explain it in natural terms, as does evolutionist teaching.

* Taking what is obviously symbolic in a literal way, as Nicodemus did.

* Trying to spiritualize by allegory, etc. passages meant to be taken literally.

* Reading verses and passages out of context must be the biggest problem. Failing to consider the five "W's"--the who, when, what, where and why that are addressed and relevant. Not considering other scriptures that add light. Instead of seeking to find the truth, a portion of the truth is taken to support a pre-conceived notion.

Related to taking scripture out of context is the failure to recognize the progressive revelation of truth in the various dispensations of God from the time of Adam's innocence to that of conscience, government, promise, the law, grace, and finally the millennium. To confuse the truth of one dispensation with that of another can wreak havoc with understanding. Today, for instance, so many scriptures addressed to Israel under the Law are commonly read as if directed toward the Church in this age of God's grace. Much of today's theology concludes that the Church has replaced Israel in God's plan, ignoring such passages as Romans 11:25-29. Christendom has been divided no end by idolizing the views of so called "Church fathers" who were under the influence of Greek philosophy and the culture of Rome. The resulting theology and influence of traditions have often all but erased the stated intent of scripture with a mix of different interpretations that leave Christians divided and confused.

At the root of the problem is the Biblical illiteracy existing  today. Too many Christians remain in ignorance over such doctrines as the various judgments of God, of the two advents of Christ, of the two resurrections, of the sanctification of the spirit from the flesh, and little insight regarding discipleship. To elaborate upon these is beyond the scope of this article, but anyone interested is invited to visit the web site of C.I. Scofield that elaborates upon all these (Should you visit that site, you can easily return to this one by using the "back" key).

All that has been said is not intended as a kind of systematic program for everyone to use. No, each of us learns in different ways; instead, the intent here is to offer reminders that might reveal and perhaps solve unwitting roadblocks to study. God knows and understands our individual needs; if we earnestly seek Him, He promises that we shall find Him (Matt 7:7). Let's remember God's greatness, that He is able to reach to the uttermost, to speak to even those who are literally blind and the deaf. That being so,  we who are blessed with the ability to search His written word should be greatly encouraged.

The Bible warns of many who, hearing, do not hear, those who have become familiar with the scriptures but haven't let the truth sink into their hearts. Sometimes in our approach it may be better to start with a little and chew on it well, rather than to cover more than we can digest. To read and re-read just one of the gospels, validating questions raised by cross referencing other relevant scriptures, can be a good approach for many. Sometimes just a few verses that really speak to us can be really powerful and can encourage us to ask God for more. As one theologian has advised, our goal is not limited to how many scriptures we come to know but how they all fit together. To do that is to be astonished  by how the Bible ties together from start to finish, evidence that all 66 books by all kinds of people is inspired by one Author. Ours is no blind faith.

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