LESSON 2.11 THE BIBLE WILL INTERPRET ITSELF.

Lesson 2 - THE BIBLE IS GOD'S TRUTH

2.11 THE BIBLE WILL INTERPRET ITSELF.

Learning how to divide the Scriptures correctly will show you how the Bible interprets and explains its own meaning. Soon you will be able to distinguish between the truth and doctrines that men have created. Here are some guidelines that will help in personal Bible study:

Find out who wrote it by reading several verses ahead.
Learn which one of the Laws were in effect when it was written and the circumstances which surround the writing.
Collective information is important. Seldom does one scripture alone give us all the facts needed to get the whole picture. Example: We are commanded to work out our salvation, Philippians 2:12. The directions as to "how" are found in several different verses, not just one. Romans 10:9 says that believing saves; Acts 3:19 says that repentance saves; Romans 10:10 says that confessing Christ saves; and 1 Peter 3:21 says that baptism saves. By taking only one of the Scriptures and not including the others, a person would not have complete instructions on what to do to be saved.
Learn if a scripture has a symbolic meaning, (figure of speech) or a literal meaning. Examples: The parables of Christ teach us lasting principles. He used familiar objects, surroundings, events, and people to draw a picture. To illustrate how He used symbols: An important part of the Christian's worship is the Lord's Supper. We are commanded to remember him by eating it each Lord's day. The bread (without yeast) symbolizes His body on the cross. The fruit of the vine (blood of the grape) is a symbol which represents His blood sacrificed for our sins.
Keep each Scripture in its proper context. Don't remove words, ideas, or concepts from its setting and wrongfully apply them somewhere else.
Don't change God's commands. He means what He says! We are told what to do in worship. Do only what He says and don't try to improve it. There is a church in America who conducts ballet dances occasionally as part of its worship service. The practice is sinful! They justify this by saying, "The Bible doesn't tell us not to do it." The Bible doesn't have to say," Do not conduct a ballet dance" for it to be the wrong thing to do. When the Bible is silent, we must be silent. By not following the examples of New Testament worship, churches add things that God did not authorize in the worship.

The Jews, living under the Old Testament Law, were not allowed to change the worship, (Deuteronomy 4:2). We live under the New Law of Christ, and Christian worship is explained in the New Testament. If a church selects a practice from the Old Law of the Jews and offers it to God today, it is adding to God's commands. This is why you must be certain that what you practice and how you worship are in accordance with the will of God, not what men invented.

Revelation 22:19-20. For I testify unto every man that hears the words of the prophecy of this book. If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book. And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.