1. Welcome

2. Can we Understand
Alike ?

3. Logical Contradiction
“Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ” Eph. 3:4
Comprehend
You understand the Bible one way.
I understand the Bible another way.
Logical Contradiction
That is your interpretation.

4. There is no such thing as “understanding the Bible differently.”
If two people differ on the meaning of a Bible text, one is wrong – possibly both.
We might misunderstand something differently, but we do not understand something differently.
Can we Understand
the Bible Alike ?

5. Can God make Himself Understood ?
Yes !
Men can…
Ad in newspaper or tv
Recipe on cereal box
Prescription for medicine

6. Can We Understand the Bible Alike?—Part I
Prejudice
Man A
Man B
Man C
1. Ill. of 3 men with glasses
a. Man "A" reads with Green glasses and the paper appears green
b. Man "b" reads with red glasses and the paper appears red
c. Man "c" reads with blue glasses and the paper appears blue.
2. Well, the paper is actually white. There is no way to convince these three that the color is not as they see it. They have a pre-conceived idea of what they are going to see.
A preconceived idea, opinion.

7. Can We Understand the Bible Alike?—Part I
Prejudice
Man A -
Man B -
Man C -
Calvin
Creeds Of
Men
Wesley
Smith
1. Application - If a man reads the Bible:
a. (CLICK) With John Calvin - then he gets the ideas of Calvin
b. (CLICK) With John Wesley - then he gets the teachings of Wesley
c. (CLICK) With Joseph Smith - then he something different altogether
d. The creeds of men are the pre-conceived teachings of men.
e. You and I have to be very careful of this, that we don’t read the Bible through the glasses of any man, but study it as God’s letter to you, because that is exactly what it is
1 Peter 4:11a “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God.”

8. What does the Bible Say ?
Matt. 4:4 “man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”
Matt. 22:29 “you are mistaken, not knowing the scriptures nor the power of God.”
John 20: signs “but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ”

9. What does the Bible Say ?
Acts 4:32 “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and soul.”
Acts 17:11 “…searched the scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.”
Rom. 16:17 “contrary to the doctrine which ye learned.”

10. “In complete agreement” BBE
What does the Bible Say ?
1 Cor. 1:10 “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”
“In complete agreement” BBE

11. What does the Bible Say ? Ephesians 3:1-7
v. 3 God revealed the truth to Paul
v. 4 “by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)”
v. 5 This was not known in earlier days
Comprehend
“Wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Eph. 5:17

12. 16. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17. That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
2 Timothy 3:16-17

13. Can we Understand
Yes
Alike ?

14. 2 + 2 = 4

15. We can Understand
“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.” Mark 16:16
“There is one body” - Eph. 4:4
“And he is the head of the body, the church:” Col. 1:18
Salvation is in that body - Eph. 5:23

16. Instability, disorder, commotion
If we are honest then we can understand and come to the same conclusions about the Bible.
If we cannot see the Bible alike then we have confusion.
“For God is not the author of confusion.” 1 Cor. 14:33
Instability, disorder, commotion

17. Can we Understand
Alike ?

18. We can Understand
Alike !

19. We can understand the Plan of Salvation
is not so PUZZLING!
Believe
Confess
Repent
Heb. 11:6
Matt. 10:32
Acts 17:30
SAVED!
Be Baptized
Be Faithful
Mk. 16:16
Rev. 2:10

22. Nelson Chapel Church of Christ
5039 Six Mile Road
Maryville, Tn
April 1, 2018
Sermon by Arthur Pigman
2705 Druid Hill Dr.
Maryville, Tn
CCL