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Do you truly know the Word of God? Yes No

Paul affirmed that we could understand God’s word (Ephesians 3:3–4). In spite of Paul’s statement, it is evident that some do misunderstand, pervert or deliberately misapply God’s word. They believe they cannot understand because they have told this so often by priests, preachers and parents. They are unconcerned that they pervert and misapply the Word because they are convinced it is impossible to do otherwise. They have contrived a religion that pleases them and are convinced God is pleased since he has not made it clear what He truly desires. The majority believes we are helpless to do otherwise because the Bible is an incomprehensible mystery.

The Bible is not a daily newspaper to be rapidly and carelessly read over and then discarded with no further thought (see and discuss: John 5:39–40; 2 Timothy 2:15; 2 Peter 1:3). The reason that most do not understand the Bible is that they have never taken the time to really read and study it. Convinced that it is incomprehensible, they haven’t even tried. Some that have tried gave up, because they had no appreciation for its organization or knowledge of the relationship of the parts to the whole.

The Bible is a textbook. It was authored by God and written by men chosen by Him. The Bible tells us about God, Christ, the Holy Spirit and man. God must have intended that man understand what was written or He never would have gone to the great care necessary to give man such a book. Neither would he have seen to it that His book was so carefully preserved or made universally accessible.

JOHN 20:30–31

30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

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COMMENTARY

Why was The Gospel According to John written? Can we understand this simple statement? It is clear that accounts of the signs done by Jesus were recorded that those who read might believe Him to be the Son of God.

1/12

JOHN 8:32

32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

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COMMENTARY

Jesus said we could know what the Truth is. That should settle it.

2/12

EPHESIANS 5:17

17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

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COMMENTARY

Man does share things in common with the animals. God formed him from the dust of the ground just as He did all the beasts of the field and the birds of the air (Genesis 2:19). God gave them all the breath of life (Genesis 6:17; 7:15, 22). Yet, we have already noted that there is a duality about man—an inward man and an outer man. Since only man is said to have been made in the image of God it seems obvious that the inward or higher part of man is that which is in God’s image, not the flesh or lower life principle which man shares in common with all the animals.

3/12

EPHESIANS 3:1-4

3 For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— 2 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you, 3 how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. 4 When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ,

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COMMENTARY

What does Paul say would happen when we read? The word “perceive” means “to understand with the mind.” One can understand Paul’s understanding of God’s revelation in Christ Jesus.

4/12

II TIMOTHY 3:13–17

13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

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COMMENTARY

Timothy “knew” the Holy Scriptures and as a result was made “wise unto salvation.” These same Scriptures are able to “thoroughly furnish” a man unto ALL good works. How is that possible if men cannot understand what the Scriptures teach?

5/12

II TIMOTHY 4:3–4

3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

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COMMENTARY

Paul explains why some men do not understand the truth revealed in the Bible, they turn away from truth to follow what their heart desires to do. They follow “fables,” that is, literally fiction. They make it up as they go along to suite themselves.

6/12

II THESSALONIANS 2:11–12

11 Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, 12 in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

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COMMENTARY

Men are led away from truth into error because they do not love truth more than anything else. This is why they can be seduced and deceived.

7/12

II PETER 3:16

16 as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.

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COMMENTARY

There are difficult things in the Bible which require much study. Those who are ignorant and are not grounded in the Scriptures will be led into error.

8/12

JOHN 7:17

17 If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.

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COMMENTARY

The “good ground” is characterized by “an honest and good heart.” Pride, prejudice, skepticism and lust keep men from understanding the Bible, the Word of God. The fault is in man and not in the Word.

9/12

I CORINTHIANS 2:12-16

12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. 14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

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COMMENTARY

Paul affirms that the Apostles had received from Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit “the hidden wisdom of God.” This they had received in order that they might ”know the things freely given to us of God.” The Word of God can be understood. The “natural man” that does not receive the things of the Spirit is that man who [1] does not will to do God’s will (cf. Romans 8:7); [2] he has a skeptical mind (1:23), and [3] he is following the desires of the flesh (1:26).

10/12

HEBREWS 4:12–13

12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

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COMMENTARY

We are told the Word is living and active. How can instructions be living and active if they cannot be understood? How is it possible for the Word to discern the character of our thoughts and intentions without being understood by the one reading it?

11/12

JAMES 1:21–25

21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

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COMMENTARY

The Word is able to save us. However, we must be doers of the Word. We cannot ignore what the Scriptures reveal to us about ourselves and our needs. How could the Word be such a “mirror” of the soul if we cannot see the image it portrays? James clearly shows us that the fault is with the “forgetful hearer” and not the Word.

12/12

Completed!

CLICK TO BEGIN LESSON 3 - BAPTISM

UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE - LESSON 2

TAKE A QUIZ

JOHN 20:30–31

COMMENTARY

JOHN 8:32

COMMENTARY

EPHESIANS 5:17

COMMENTARY

EPHESIANS 3:1-4

COMMENTARY

II TIMOTHY 3:13–17

COMMENTARY

II TIMOTHY 4:3–4

COMMENTARY

II THESSALONIANS 2:11–12

COMMENTARY

II PETER 3:16

COMMENTARY

JOHN 7:17

COMMENTARY

I CORINTHIANS 2:12-16

COMMENTARY

HEBREWS 4:12–13

COMMENTARY

JAMES 1:21–25

COMMENTARY

Completed!