Building Bible Confidence: Part 9

Part 9: A Common Understanding

Introduction

Through this section, we have learned about authority. The Bible presents authority as objective, external, and outside of man’s control. This authority is standard and does not change depending on culture or interpretation. Objective authority is a blessing for all of us because it is just. We don’t have to worry about a lack of fairness or preferential treatment, God is just and will deal righteously with all. God’s authority has been communicated through the ages by God’s messengers. Their words were confirmed through miraculous gifts and signs. When the Bible was completed, the perfect will of God had been revealed. This standard is universal so that anyone, anywhere can learn about God’s will and authority.

For First Century Christians Only?

As people read through the Bible, there are some who interpret it as a good book or a nice story. They are not convinced that its message is for anyone else besides the direct audience in the first century. The apostle Paul writes that such a view is mistaken:

For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church (1 Cor. 4:17).

The sacred writings of the Bible were not meant to be interpreted subjectively, nor were they only for the first century church. Paul sent Timothy to Corinth to teach them the objective standard that all churches were to follow. Paul also confirmed that God does not operate with subjective authority. The Bible says:

For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints (1 Corinthians 14:13).

The view that the Bible is open to any and all interpretation does not bring peace but confusion. In all the churches of the saints, God brings peace. It is through a universal standard that peace is accomplished.

How Can We Know?

Christians all over the world can have faith that the God of peace has made His will known in a simple and common way. Jesus assures us that knowing the Father's will is possible when we seek to know it:

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened (Matthew 7:7-8).

When we pray for guidance and humble ourselves, we can know the Father's will. What standards help us determine what is important?

1. Commands reveal God's will. When Jesus commands that we love our enemies, one way to obey is by praying for them (Matthew 5:44). When Paul says to give on the first day of the week, Christians contribute to the Lord's church each Sunday (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). The apostle John provides the reasoning for obeying the commands within the Bible:

Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him, (1 John 2:3-5). 

Commands should be simple to determine and obey. Simple doesn't always mean easy, as we struggle against the flesh (see Romans 7). By God's grace through faith, we obey what God commands, knowing that by keeping His word, we are perfected by His love. 

2. Examples reveal God's will. Christians also look for Biblical patterns or models that we should imitate or avoid. Paul urged Christians to imitate his example because he was imitating Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1). He also says:

Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come, (1 Corinthians 10:11). 

Studying the Bible requires an honest heart and consistency. Christians must determine if examples are arbitrary (not intended as a pattern for us to follow) or are spiritually significant (intended as a pattern for our obedience.) An arbitrary example is: the apostles used boats to travel, (e.g. Acts 27:1-2)) so we must travel in boats. Such an example is not intended as a pattern. A spiritually significant example is how the early church met every Sunday to commune (Acts 20:7), thus we must meet every Sundays to commune. Such an example is intended as a pattern.

3. Necessary Inference reveals God's will. In addition to commands and examples, there are Scriptures that require Christians to use necessary inference to know God's will. Inference means a conclusion based on a set of facts. Necessary inference means that the conclusion is inescapable or unavoidable, based on reason (we should note that inference does not give license to create any doctrine or opinion by claiming "it is inferred." A Bible student must always have honest motives and a pure heart).

The disciples had to necessarily infer that Jesus was not talking about food when he warned them to beware of the yeast of the Pharisees (Matthew 16:6-12). Peter had to infer that a vision of the unclean animals was indicative of God's acceptance of the Gentiles in the kingdom (Acts 10:15, 28).

And there are times when necessary inference calls for obedience. Consider water baptism in the Christian Age. The Bible always describes it as an immersion under water (e.g. Matthew 3:16; Acts 8:38-39). We necessarily infer that without immersion, the command is not obeyed. Therefore, when someone is baptized for the remission of sins, the water is not just sprinkled or poured over them. They are immersed in water through faith, symbolizing their death to sin and resurrection to a new life (Romans 6:1-5).

The Apostles Used These Standards

Let’s consider the early days of the church. A serious question brought before the apostles and elders in Jerusalem: Is circumcision necessary for salvation? (Acts 15:1-2). During the discussion, Peter recalled a divinely approved example of Gentiles' being saved without circumcision. He necessarily inferred that they were saved without it (Acts 15:6-11). Next, Paul and Barnabas used their example of God's confirming their teaching with miracles when they converted gentiles. They also necessarily inferred that circumcision was not necessary for salvation (Acts 15:12).

The apostles and elders all agreed there was not yet any command from the Holy Spirit. They used examples, necessary inference, and respect for Bible silence to discern that Gentiles were saved without being circumcised. Approved by the Holy Spirit, they issued a command for all the churches that circumcision was not necessary to a salvation by grace through faith (Acts 15:22-35).

The Greatest Command and Why It Matters

With this section on God's authority, there may be questions about the importance of these details. Can't we just love God and agree to disagree? The Bible shows that authority does matter. But there is a healthy perspective Christians should have: we should not be modern-day Pharisees who revere the law so much that we abandoned our first love. We should remember that love is the great motivator behind everything we do. Even our respect for God's authority is based on love! When asked about the most important commandment, Jesus said:

“'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets,” (Matthew 12:36-40).

The entire law hung on these two commands. All of New Testament commands, examples, and necessary inferences do as well. We are a people who are motivated by love! This principle doesn't mean we abandon God's authority, but rather we pursue an honest and consistent interpretation of the Bible, based on our deep and abiding love for God. Paul wrote:

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. [...] And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love, (1 Corinthians 13:1-3, 13).

Paul emphasized that the underlying motivation for a Christian is a fervent love (for God and for one another.) Without love, our knowledge, talents, and actions are meaningless. But with love as our primary motivator, we can find common ground and respect for the authority of His word.

In Review: A Common Understanding

God gave a universal standard so that we could know His will. It does not change based on culture or geography. It was not for first century Christians only but for all who seek the Lord. With an humble heart and proper motivation, we can all understand God’s will by reading and meditating on the commands, examples, and necessary inferences of the Bible. Inspired by God, and motivated by love, we can search the Scriptures and find fulfillment through God’s authority.

*This article was taken from The Bible Series, a twelve-part study written by Jonathan Edwards. This study is available for free PDF download at www.pureandsimplebible.com