12 Truths to Understanding God's Word (Parts 7-9)

[mharrell08]

Continuing from Parts 1-3 & 4-6:

12 Truths to Understanding God's Word

Truth #7 'Comparing [or Matching] Spiritual things with Spiritual'   

    [A] "Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches; COMPARING [or 'matching'] SPIRITUAL THINGS WITH SPIRITUAL" (I Cor. 2:13).

    [ B ] "And to this AGREE the words of the prophets; as it is written..." (Acts 15:15).

    [C] "These [Bereans]... searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were SO [Gk: 'in this way,' 'like'] (Acts 17:11).

    [D] "AS You have sent Me into the world, EVEN SO have I sent them into the world" (John 17:18, and many, many other such comparisons).


2-3 witnesses are needed to establish any scriptural truth or doctrine. These witnesses must also match and in accord with one another. In this excerpt from the 12 Truths paper, Ray uses the scriptures that speak of 'judgment by fire' in Rev 20 and 1 Cor 3. Two witnesses that speak of One Truth and are in accord with one another.

But we must be mindful that the scriptures must be in accord with one another. Just because a particular word is being used, does not make it a spiritual match. For example:

In Mark 9:49, Jesus says that everyone will be seasoned with fire and every sacrifice must be seasoned with salt. We know and understand that Jesus' words are words of spirit and not literal. We are to be 'like' a sacrifice seasoned with fire & salt: fire cleanses an animal sacrifice as God fiery judgments clease us; salt preserves these same sacrifices as does the Holy Spirit of promise preserves us until our full redemption.

In Ezekial 16, God reprimands the Israelites for 'sacrificing their children in fire'. Though the same words are used as in Mark 9, they are NOT in accord with them. What Israel did in the flesh was an act of harlotry and abomination [Ezek 16:20-22]. What Jesus is speaking of is for our benefit and spiritual condition.



Truth #8 'The OT scriptures are our admonition, example, learning'


    [A] "Now ALL these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for OUR ADMONITION [to reprove, caution, warn, remind of obligation or duty, etc.], upon whom the ends of the world ['eons—ages'] are come" (I Cor. 10:11).

    [ B ] "Now these things were OUR EXAMPLES, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted" (I Cor. 10:6).

    [C] "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for OUR LEARNING..." (Rom. 15:4).

Two excerpts from Ray in this section:

It is essential that we study the Old Testament Scriptures, for they are often the only key to the New Testament Scriptures.

If you cannot identify yourself, personally, with all the stories and accounts in the Old Testament, then you have not even begun to overcome all the carnality that you are.


Paul, Peter, and the rest of the apostles taught the salvation of all from the OT Scriptures. Paul understood that the events from the OT were an 'allegory' which forshadowed spiritual truths [Gal 4:22-26].

We all are found in the OT as we all have the same human flaws. While a man of today may not receive strength from his hair as did Samson [Judges 13:5], many men of today have had their lust of a woman be their downfall as did Samson. The root of our sins is the same as for the Israelites throughout the OT as well as all humans throughout God's creation.



Truth #9 'No Scripture is it's own interpetation'

    [A] "Knowing this first, that no prophecy [inspired writing or speaking] of the Scripture is of any private [Gk: 'its OWN'] interpretation" (II Pet. 1:20).

    [ B ] "To understand a proverb, AND THE INTERPRETATION [or 'puzzle'—the proverb itself is not also the interpretation]..." (Prov. 1:6).

    [C] "Are you able to make known unto me THE DREAM which I have seen, AND THE INTERPRETATION thereof [the dream does not interpret itself]?" (Dan. 2:26).

Excerpt from Ray in this section:

All Scripture is inspired, and all Scripture is true, but no one Scripture fully explains and interprets itself. Remember that should someone want to show you from "a" single Scripture that there is no end to the lake of fire, for example.

As we should not be convinced of any truth with a single Scripture, we must not do likewise. Without other scriptures to help interpet one's pet belief, that person can only rely on speculation and conjecture. Let us not rely on false assumptions when speaking the truth, to non-believers and believers alike. Let us rely on the scriptures to interpet other scriptures.



Marques

[Samson]

Some especially important points to keep in mind from Marques Third Part of Twelve Truths To Understanding God's Word found below. I'll make a few comments that illustrates How this is beneficial.

In Mark 9:49, Jesus says that everyone will be seasoned with fire and every sacrifice must be seasoned with salt. We know and understand that Jesus' words are words of spirit and not literal. We are to be 'like' a sacrifice seasoned with fire & salt: fire cleanses an animal sacrifice as God fiery judgments clease us; salt preserves these same sacrifices as does the Holy Spirit of promise preserves us until our full redemption.

In Ezekial 16, God reprimands the Israelites for 'sacrificing their children in fire'. Though the same words are used as in Mark 9, they are NOT in accord with them. What Israel did in the flesh was an act of harlotry and abomination [Ezek 16:20-22]. What Jesus is speaking of is for our benefit and spiritual condition.

Just because the word Fire is used in both Scriptural passages above doesn't mean that the Fire is being used for the same purpose. Spiritual Fire(GK-PUR) is for Our benefit and cleanses Us of Carnality(Fleshly thinking). On the otherhand, the Israelites sacrificed their Children in Literal Fire, with no desire for their benefit(The Children).

Paul, Peter, and the rest of the apostles taught the salvation of all from the OT Scriptures. Paul understood that the events from the OT were an 'allegory' which forshadowed spiritual truths [Gal 4:22-26].

We all are found in the OT as we all have the same human flaws. While a man of today may not receive strength from his hair as did Samson [Judges 13:5], many men of today have had their lust of a woman be their downfall as did Samson. The root of our sins is the same as for the Israelites throughout the OT as well as all humans throughout God's creation.

Hopefully the Forum Samson learns and benefits from the experience of the Literal Samson of Judges chapters 15-17 and not continue to experience the spiritual downfall from the "lusting of Woman," as Samson did.

As we should not be convinced of any truth with a single Scripture, we must not do likewise. Without other scriptures to help interpet one's pet belief, that person can only rely on speculation and conjecture. Let us not rely on false assumptions when speaking the truth, to non-believers and believers alike. Let us rely on the scriptures to interpet other scriptures.

The above paragraph should be kept in mind prior to starting a Thread in order to avoid promoting "Ones Pet Belief," "Speculation," and "Conjecture."

                          Thanks, Samson.