INTERPRETING THE WORD OF GOD CORRECTLY, AND HOLDING IT IN BALANCE (2)
Thank you for the great response I have received relative to the first blog in this series. Many are very concerned about poor interpretation of the Scriptures by many Preachers in their preaching. I think it is time we came back to great expository preaching, and truly feed the people of God.
Many of the major doctrines of the Church have various schools of interpretation, and some I may allude too in this series, I want in this blog to write more about holding the truth (doctrine) in balance.
If your interpretation does not line up with the general direction and tone of the Bible, I would suggest you are out of balance.
The other important aspect of balance is that we PRACTICE WHAT WE PREACH. some people are more “doctrine” centred than Christ centred, and simply want to argue and promote their interpretation of a specific doctrine.
For example, SOTERIOLOGY (Doctrine of Salvation) which has 2 main Schools (Arminianism & Reformed) and if this awesome truth of being born again is not held in balance, it can produce an unhealthy sin consciousness and fear of backsliding, or to those more influenced by hyper-calvinists, can be so caught up with being “predestined” and “chosen” and not follow the direction of the Word of God and “WORK out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” PHil.2:12-13 KJV.
AMP.N.T. work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ).
Phil.3:14 KJV I PRESS toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
We must co-operate with the Lord and His Word, and continually make Him the Lord of our Life, Rom.12:1 AMP N.T.APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive (continuous dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.
I am saying :
JUST HAVING YOUR THEOLOGY RIGHT DOES NOT GUARANTEE YOUR ETERNITY IN HEAVEN
Another example is ESCHATOLOGY (Doctrine relating to End times/Second Coming of Christ.) This has many Schools of Interpretation, and again many people simple want to argue about their belief, once again, to keep this truth in balance, we must live like the early church DID and seek to live holy and victorious lives as if Christ could break through the clouds TODAY, and be busy sharing the GOOD NEWS OF THE GOSPEL at every opportunity, not be concerned if the person is “predestined” leave that to the Lord.
I am not saying Doctrine (TRUTH) is not important, but to hold the truth in balance we must seek to be CHRIST-CENTRED living out the truth of God’s Word so that we personally know and people can see GOD’S SO GREAT SALVATION IS WORKING IN US.
I feel I must mention THE GREAT COMMISSION Matt. 28:19-20 N.I.V. Therefore go and MAKE disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
Becoming a Christian is not just “making a decision and asking Jesus to come into your life”, it involves CONFESSION OF SINS AND REPENTANCE. The new Believer then needs to be Discipled.
This is not a 4 week Class, or say a 3 months Catechism Class, DISCIPLESHIP IS SOMEONE WALKING WITH THE NEW BELIEVER (FOR AS LONG AS IT TAKES) AND SEE HIM MATURING AND BECOMING A DISCIPLE-MAKER.
Experience has sure taught us that just as we don’t throw a baby into a swimming pool and say “now swim” neither do we leave a new Believer to his own devices, we all know people who have made “decisions” but are not part of the church, and we simply call them “backsliders”. Discipleship is seeing 1 Peter 1:23 KJV fulfilled in their life. “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever”.
Discipleship is seeing that the seed of God’s Word has entered the new Believer’s life and he is growing in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
May the Lord help us to hold God’s Word in balance not only in the context of the whole of Scripture, but we let the Word of God work in us so we grow to be ever more like him and keep falling in love with Him more and more.
Please feel free to comment on this mini series.
