Calvary Road Baptist Church

“INTERPRETING THE BIBLE”   Part 1 

Fall is upon us and the time for really fake China Virus influenced sports of various kinds is everywhere. And I want to speak to you about sports. I want to speak to you about one aspect of the largest and richest sport in America. This sport draws more money than the National Football League, the National Basketball Association (otherwise known as CCP Basketball or Beijing Ball), and Major League Baseball at the height of their popularity combined. This sport involved more spectators each Sunday than did all three of these sports combined until the spectators were ordered by the governor of each state to stay home. Of course, the sport I refer to is Christianity.

The reason I call Christianity a sport is because so few people take it seriously. It’s treated somewhat like a leisure time activity. It’s thought to be something you can take or leave as you like, and when the governor tells you that attendance is no longer allowed and you have to leave it. Most people in California, as well as in other states, choose to leave it.

However, there is another aspect of modern-day Christianity that is much like a sport for spectators instead of being for participants. Most professing Christians treat their faith in Christ as if it were a football game, something to pay attention to once a week. Or, at most, signal your seriousness by saying an occasional “Praise the Lord” or “Amen.” It is understandable why so many preachers like it that way ... easier on them.

That said, I am not persuaded God intended when He sent His Son to die on a Roman cross, and the Lord Jesus Christ did not intend when He suffered and bled and died for our sins, for the Christian life to be a noninvolvement bleacher event. It was not the Triune Godhead’s design for us to sit in the stands and eat popcorn and chew gum in the peanut gallery while one or two paid performers stood up and did tricks and tried to get laughs.

I am persuaded God wants His children; God wants all His children to get off our blessed assurances and glorify Him in thought, word, and deed. Amen? I want to praise many of you folks in the congregation because more of you are involved in real Christianity than has been my observation in other Churches that I have seen and heard about. I praise God for that.

In relatively active and real Churches like this one, there are two general areas of Christian involvement. Still, in the most active of congregations, only one area of involvement is generally observed. That’s the area of getting out and doing, seeking to reach people for Christ, and so forth. Of course, that kind of activity has been severely curtailed by our present circumstances.

The other area of involvement, however, is vital to every Christian. This is an area of involvement that has not in any way been affected by the current circumstances. This is the area where noninvolvement causes people to eventually drop out. Oh, you may serve God for a year, five years, or longer ... but if you are not actively involved in this area of the Christian life you will ultimately drop out, you will burn out, you will fall by the wayside.

The area of Christian involvement I am referring to is interpreting the Bible. I say interpreting the Bible and not reading it because the two are not the same thing. I am delighted that so many of you are reading the Bible through in our reading through the Bible reading program. That’s great. But I suspect far fewer of you are interpreting the Bible.

How do I know? It’s pretty easy to tell. When you are interpreting the Bible, you are discovering things in Scripture. And you won’t be able to keep quiet about what you find out. You’ll have to come and tell me or go and tell someone else what you have discovered. It is just the nature of things. And though it sometimes happens with our people, it does not occur often enough.

Let me warn you about some things in advance. When you learn something from the Bible and try to share them with people who are not interpreting the Bible themselves, they will sometimes pooh-pooh what you say you’ve learned or act thoroughly disinterested. So don’t be discouraged by their telling reactions.

Remember, great men of God in the Bible didn’t just sit around waiting for God to fill them with visions and dreams. They interpreted the Bible, too. Are you unconvinced? Have you not noticed this yourself?

Turn to Daniel 9.1-2: 

1  In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans;

2  In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. 

What must Daniel have done to understand from Jeremiah’s book that Judah would be in Babylon 70 years? He had to interpret what he was reading. Do you think I am misreading this passage?

Turn to Nehemiah 8.5-8: 

5  And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up:

6  And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

7  Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place.

8  So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading. 

What must Ezra and his helpers have done before they could perform the task here described by Nehemiah? Interpretation of what they had been studying, unless you think I am mistaken.

Turn to Second Timothy 4.13, where we will read the words of the most excellent Bible scholar who ever lived ... the Apostle Paul: 

“The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.” 

Do you know what parchments are? They are scrolls on which the Word of God was written. Why did the apostle want the parchments? He wanted to study the Word of God that he might interpret what was the mind of God on certain subjects.

Now, turn to Second Peter 3.15-16: 

15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. 

Are certain portions of the Bible somewhat more problematic to interpret than some passages? Peter says there are, especially some of Paul’s writings. And if it was hard for Simon Peter, it will be hard for you and me.

But notice this, whether it be great intellectuals like Daniel, Ezra, and Paul, or just a regular working man who was used of God, like Peter (a fisherman) ... individuals of spiritual greatness interpreted those portions of the Word of God they were studying. If you want to walk with your feet firmly on the ground and with your heart in the heavenlies, you must interpret the Bible you are studying. If you want to know the mind of God instead of just knowing the mind of the preacher, you must interpret the Bible you are studying. If you want mountain top experiences instead of tiptoeing on spiritual molehills, you must interpret the Bible you are studying.

I know some of you are thinking, “I just can’t.” That you are thinking those thoughts can be attributed to the fact that you are not interpreting the Bible you are studying. I say this because the Christian who feeds himself, or herself, the Christian who does not rely on preacher spoon-feeding, has realized long ago that he or she can interpret the Bible, for I can do all things through Christ.[1] Amen?

With the time that I have left, let me share with you the benefits of your devotion to the interpretation of the Bible. 

LET US BEGIN WITH THE DOCTRINE OF SIN 

There are three fundamental truths I am persuaded you would do well to remember about sin, in addition to the fact that God hates it because it is so very nasty and vile to Him:

First, the scope of sin. What do I mean when I refer to the scope of sin? By scope of sin I refer to how widespread it is, how thoroughly it has penetrated the human race, and how impactful it has been to every human being. Do you think you can recognize the scope of sin as you read the Word of God, reflecting upon what you have read, taking notes of your observations, and comparing what you are presently reading to other portions of the Bible on the same subject? I think you’re more than capable of doing that. Since that is the case, why is it that you are not doing what you clearly can do? Perhaps it is my fault. Perhaps it is your fault. Either way, you begin to rectify the situation tonight when you get back home. Get a notepad, sticky tabs, something to write with, and a determination to get into your Bible. My recommendation is that you start with Romans 3.23: 

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” 

Do you think you could jot down other passages that illustrate the sinfulness of every human being, be they young or old? Do you also think you can take note of how sin diminishes a person in the sight of God? I think you can. I am convinced you can do this if you will. Isn’t that studying that will lead you to a conclusion, which is called interpreting?

Second, the seriousness of sin. How debilitating is sin? How crippling is sin? How defiling is sin? How corrupting is sin? Do you not think you can take note of such things as you are reading through your Bible? Is not the man born blind, and is not blind Bartimaeus, physical illustrations of how debilitating sin is to a person spiritually? Isn’t the man with a withered hand or the friend lowered to the Savior through a roof an illustration of how crippling sin is? Is not leprosy an illustration of how defiling and corrupting sin is? We all know that the ultimate consequence of sin is death because the wages of sin is death, Romans 6.23. However, you are as capable of reaching these conclusions and coming to these realizations as I am. This is not the stuff in the Bible that requires a preacher or teacher for a Christian to learn about. This truth in the Bible requires a Christian who will study and seek to interpret the Bible for himself or herself.

Third, the sentence of sin. Romans 6.23 declares, “For the wages of sin is death.” Very few Christians could not, all by themselves, connect this passage with what happened to Adam and Eve in Genesis chapter 3. God promised Adam that if he ate the forbidden fruit, he would die, and Adam did die due to eating the forbidden fruit. He died spiritually, and he also died physically. That was also Eve’s experience. The ability to interpret Romans 6.23 in light of Genesis 3 is within the reach of most believers who seek to interpret what they study in God’s Word. Where pastoral help might be required is connecting this to Revelation 20.14-15: 

14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. 

These simple steps of reading a portion of God’s Word, taking notes of what you read, reflecting on what it means and how it is connected to other passages that come to mind or that are referenced in your marginal notes, will result in you having a serious understanding of sin as it is taught in the Word of God. And suppose you reflect on your own conduct, your spouse’s conduct, your children’s conduct, your neighbor’s conduct, and the behavior and decisions you observe in the lives of your Church family. In that case, you will develop a solid grasp of sin and its consequences. And what you have interpreted from God’s Word, you will be able, should you decide to do so, to share with others. 

LET US CONTINUE WITH THE DOCTRINE OF SALVATION 

Granted, the doctrine of salvation is a bit more theological in the minds of some Bible students than the doctrine of sin. Sinful conduct and the consequences of sin are somewhat easier to deal with than the doctrine of salvation. That said, there are three launching pads from which to begin your successful and personally rewarding study of the doctrine of salvation:

First, there is the powerlessness of man, as opposed to the infinite power of God. How hard is it to get your mind around the infinite power of God? Not hard at all, by my way of thinking. After all, God did create the universe, and all that herein is by His spoken Word. Additionally, He sustains the universe that He has created. So, God’s power is beyond our ability to comprehend. But you can study it and take note of it as you read God’s Word. On the other hand, man’s impotency, our complete and utter lack of ability, power, and potency is very easy to understand. Romans 5.6 reads, “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly,” with the words “without strength” translating Greek for weakness. Thus, at one end of the power scale is God. At the other end of the power scale are individual men and women like you and me. We have no capacity for accomplishment in the spiritual realm. None.

God, on the other hand, is infinitely powerful in every conceivable way. I would also suggest to you that God is infinitely powerful in every inconceivable way. Study the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, record every attempt by a human being to provide spiritual deliverance for himself or herself, and you will compile a record of abysmal failures. Start with Eve’s attempt, which ended in failure. Proceed to Adam’s attempt, which ended in failure. After that, we find God’s successful intervention. And on it goes with the individual who studies and interprets God’s Word, adding to your journal various observations, conclusions, comparisons of Scripture, and points of interest for future consideration. That is how the child of God, that is how you become an interpreter of Scripture.

Next, the program of God as it towers over the plans of mortal men. Consider Romans 8.29-30 as a wonderful place to start: 

29  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

30  Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. 

These are the five golden links that form the chain that connects eternity past to eternity future for one of God’s elect. Notice, if you will, what will happen to you that is dictated by decisions made in the mind of God in relation to His son Jesus Christ. The five individual links are “he did foreknow,” “he also did predestinate,” “he also called, “he also justified,” and “he also glorified.” The first two things that God did He did in eternity past. The next two things God did He did during this span of the individual’s life here on earth. The final thing that God did is something He has not yet done with some people, but which is spoken of as having already been done because nothing will stop it from being done. These are decisions that God has already made, with three of the five decisions not having been implemented for at least some of His people. That said, the overarching plan and goal of God for His people is our individual conformity to the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. What God has purposed will be done. Nothing can thwart Him. This is why Romans 8.28 declares, 

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” 

Third, the salvation of the sinner taking place by the power of the Holy Spirit. Your study of the Holy Spirit of God can become a prosperous study, with these three considerations to build upon: First, the Spirit’s power to save us. 

Then, of course, there is the Spirit’s power to seal us. God the Father seals His own, but He does so by means of His Spirit. What does this sealing accomplish and guarantee just like sealed packaging of expensive merchandise? Two things, the guarantee against spoilage and the prevention of loss, as the seal of a package bound for delivery: 

2 Corinthians 1.22: 

“Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts." 

Ephesians 1.13:      

“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise." 

Ephesians 4.30:      

“And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." 

Is the child of God, we who have been sealed by God with the Holy Spirit, secure? Amen and amen. However, do not mistake the believer’s security in Christ by the sealing of the Spirit as a motive for a passive and lazy approach to living the Christian life. Quite the contrary, as this next consideration shows.

Which is, third, the Spirit’s power to sanctify us. From our study of the Lord Jesus Christ’s high priestly intercessory prayer, we find that Our Lord’s second request of the Father on behalf of his men and also us, John 17.17, is a plea that God would sanctify us. The means by which this sanctification process occurs is the believer’s immersion in the truth, the truth being the Word of God. And who, one might ask, applies the Word of God to the believer, illuminates the understanding of the believer, and works in the life of the believer to obey God’s Word, to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ, and to glorify God by bearing fruit? This can only be the indwelling Spirit of God. 

My goal was to bring you a simple four-point message to provide you with some encouragement and a bit of a nudge toward becoming an interpreter of the Word of God as you read and study Scripture. The idea that I had was to provide four areas of study to begin your journey through the Christian life of researching and interpreting God’s Word.

Of course, my charge is to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ and to perfect the saints for the work of the ministry. I am so much more effective to accomplish these two charges when the members of our Church study the Word of God and do the bulk of your interpreting of Scripture.

I have set before you two of the four main points I intended as a jumping-off point for your study and your interpretation of Scripture. The first point was the doctrine of sin. The second point was the doctrine of salvation. Next time, the Lord willing, I will wrap up my comments about interpreting the Word of God by addressing the doctrine of the Savior and the doctrine of His Second Coming.

__________

[1] Philippians 4.13

Would you like to contact Dr. Waldrip about this sermon? Please contact him by clicking on the link below. Please do not change the subject within your email message. Thank you.

Pastor@CalvaryRoadBaptist.Church