For “Misunderstanding” The Bible Ten Rules Part 3 For “Misunderstanding” The Bible

#10 “Tell yourself that you cannot understand the Bible and that it is impossible for everyone to understand it alike.”

#9 “Bring a carnal mindset to the Scriptures.”

#8 “Make up your mind about what you believe before you open the Bible.”

#7 “Take Scripture out of context and apply it to whatever you wish.”

“Refuse to consider ALL PASSAGES that address a given subject.” #6

What is precious and great? Psalm 139:17, “How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!” Psalm 119:160, “The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.

How important was all of God’s word to Jesus? Matthew 5:18, “For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.” How important was the smallest stroke of the Law to Jesus?

“Redefine GOSPEL into a SOCIAL GOSPEL!” #5 Emphasis on the outer man Eating meals together defined as “fellowship” Church sponsored sporting events as “edification” Humanitarian efforts as “gospel outreach”

“Redefine GOSPEL into a SOCIAL GOSPEL!” #5 Renders such passages as incomprehensible Only a true widow… (1 Tim. 5:16) Only needy saints (Acts 11:27-30; etc.) Eating and drinking not a work of the church (1 Cor. 11:34; Rom. 14:17) Having a mind that is set on earthly things is incompatible with discipleship (Phil. 3:17-19) The work of the church is to be the pillar and ground of truth (1 Tim. 3:15)

#4 Acts 8:30, 31: “Never ask for help.” 30 So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?" 31 And he said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him.

“Choose the Scriptures you like, disregard the rest.” #3 Treat the BIBLE as you would a buffet Search the BIBLE only to find good “one-liners” Remember that Satan chose a passage of Scripture to tempt Jesus to do wrong in Matthew 4:6

EXAMPLE 1: Baptism is NOT Essential! Pursuing hell with religious fervor… EXAMPLE 1: Baptism is NOT Essential! Have your mind made up (#8) Choose a verse which sounds good on the surface (#3) 1 Corinthians 1:17, “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.”

EXAMPLE 1: Baptism is NOT Essential! Pursuing hell with religious fervor… EXAMPLE 1: Baptism is NOT Essential! Ignore the context (#7) 1 Cor. 1:12-15 Redefine or reject other passages that address the same subject (#6) Mark 16:15, 16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3, 4; etc.

EXAMPLE 2: As long as you LOVE God, you will be saved! Pursuing hell with religious fervor… EXAMPLE 2: As long as you LOVE God, you will be saved! Have your mind made up (#8) Choose a verse which sounds good on the surface (#3) “But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him” (1 Cor. 8:3) Ignore the context (#7) That shows how love of God prohibits one’s use of knowledge and liberty to make a brother stumble

EXAMPLE 2: As long as you LOVE God, you will be saved! Pursuing hell with religious fervor… EXAMPLE 2: As long as you LOVE God, you will be saved! Redefine or reject other passages that address the same subject (#6) “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (Jn. 14:15) “…If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word…” (Jn. 14:23) “He who does not love Me does not keep My words…” (Jn. 14:24) “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love” (Jn. 15:10)

Proverbs 11:18, 19 18 The wicked man does deceptive work, But he who sows righteousness will have a sure reward. 19 As righteousness leads to life, So he who pursues evil pursues it to his own death.”