BASIC BIBLE KNOWLEDGE

Basic Bible Knowledge and Study Prerequisites;

    There  are several facts concerning God's Word, the Bible, of which 
we must be aware in order to properly understand and apply it to our 
lives.  These will  be  developed  more fully as  we  progress, but there 
are basics we must establish even to begin a study that will prove pro-
fitable.

      The first of  these "facts" is  found  in the letter  to the  Hebrews 
scattered abroad at the time of the Apostles. Hebrews  4:12-13 says, 
"For the Word of God is quick (alive) 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.  Neither is  there any creature that 
is not manifest in  His sight;  but all things are  naked and  open unto 
the eyes of Him with whom we have to do."  It  is clear from this pas-
sage of  the Word of  God that  the Bible  is  a living  Word.  It  never 
changes, however;  as we  read,  study and begin to draw life from it,  
the Word  looks into our hearts  and sees  what no one  else does.  It  
changes not,  but we  are changed as we read the  same  passage are  
struck by new new shades of meaning and  ethic not  previously  rea-
lized.  Different people  read  the same  passage and  although  it  is 
the same,  it speaks   to the individual  at the point of need.  We may 
spend a lifetime  studying this  book made up of 66 books,  and regu-
larly find fresh and seeming original  messages  from it depths as we 
are enlightened  by the Spirit of  God.  It is said,  "we cannot  plumb 
it's depths,  but the Word reaches into our very souls."

    Another of these facts is the pertinence or application of God's Word to 
every  individual  or  group  in  every situation.   In  2 Timothy 3:16-17  we 
read, "All  scripture  is given  by  inspiration of  God, and  is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof,  for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" 
"That the man  of  God  may  be perfect, throughly  furnished  unto  every  
good work."  My understanding of  this benchmark of Scripture  is; God's 
Word applies  in every  situation.  It is directly from  God  the  Father and  
will be our guide and measure of our works,  thoughts,  and  aspirations as 
applied by  the Holy Spirit.  We must never make  attempts to be pleasing
to our Lord without guidance and knowledge found in His Word, all of it.

     Finally, if we would know the history of God's dealings with His people, 
the Jews, we will only find an understanding of  this in  God's Word.  Here 
we  learn  from  His relationship and dealings with this people,  how he will 
respond in every situation  we  may come up against.  We find  He will  not 
countenance rebellion  for very  long,  but is always quick to forgive and to
restore His  people  if  they will  only repent of  their sin and  turn  back  to 
Him with broken and contrite hearts.  Further,  we learn how he uses disci-
pline in the  lives of  His  people to bring them to  the  point of  repentance.  
His  great  love  has  spawned a righteous  jealousy  desiring  the very best 
for His creation.  He has gone to great  lengths to effect a change of  heart 
in  his people without apparent  coercion or going against an individual will. 

    Having  heard  two sides to  the question  of  the  Universal  Fatherhood 
of  God and  Brotherhood of  man  for over  50 years, I  have  a  response;  
According to the flesh, we (mankind) are all  brothers/sisters, since we are 
all of one lineage.  (Adam & Eve) In  that sense, every  man  is my brother 
and every woman my sister.  Having been regenerated  by the  Holy Spirit 
of  God, I have a  unique brotherhood with  those who have received Jesus 
Christ as  Savior, "Born  of  the Spirit  of  God."  This may be some of  the 
cause  for  contention over  the subject, but as we look at  this question pro-
perly;  there is  no  basis for disagreement.  Paul,  the Apostle  referred  to 
unbelieving  Jews  as   his  "brethren,  according  to  the  flesh."   He  then
expressed great love for them and desire for  their  reconciliation with God 
the Father in Christ Jesus.  When we, as  God's  children  through Spiritual 
birth, look at unbelievers,  there must be a felt kinship.  "There but  for the 
grace of God go I," must be our attitude.  If we take no credit for our mere
acceptance of the "free" gift of  God,  Salvation,  that removes  pride from
the equation.  

The Word of God cannot be separated from God the Father, God the 
Son, and God the Holy Spirit.  In the Gospel of John, chapter one, vs 14 
we find;  "...And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, (and we 
beheld  His Glory, the Glory as of  the only begotten of the Father,) full 
of  grace and truth.  Our Lord, Jesus Christ, was the subject of this pas-
sage of Scripture.  He is "God of very God," and is called the Word (of 
God).  God the Father is the  author of His Word through  Christ Jesus, 
the Word, empowered or actuated by the Spirit of God.

God's Word,  the Bible,  is one book made up of  66 books or divisions, 
penned by some 40 men from all walks of life over a period of 1,600 years.  
It has been  preserved over  time in a miraculous  manner and  is unique in 
literature as  the only Word  we have  from God.  Christ is  that word  in a
person.  While the most astute among us never plumb it's depths, even the 
simplest of  us finds messages well  suited to meet our  needs;  life eternal 
through the Christ of the Bible.  PRAISE HIS NAME!!! 

An aside here;  There have, over the years,  been many translations of the
Scripture from Hebrew and Greek to modern languages used today across
this world.  Without these modern translations from  linguistic experts who
are also Godly men and women, there would be vast numbers  in our world
who would not be reached with the message of the Gospel of  Jesus Christ
from  both  divisions  of  Scripture.  Translations are  used  by missionaries
as  they communicate with persons who would never learn the original lan-
guages.  The apparent  issue has to do with man's  imperfection.  We must
conclude, then, that our Lord preserves  the vital message of Scripture for
this purpose although  passed  through the hands of  mankind who is by his
nature, flawed.  Controversy over  the various  translations seems to have
abated in recent  years and we  accept this by faith  as we are led  by God
in the Spirit.
                          

donporter     9.14.12   edited 11.28.14