WK-1-.doc
DISCUSS
The authority of Gods Word
The
Bible is the word of God. It consists of two parts. The first part, The Old
Testament, was written before Jesus was born. The second part, The New Testament,
was written after Jesus went back to be with God.
Most
of the bible is an account of God’s dealings with man. What is the difference between an
account and a story?
The
entire Bible contains 66 books, 39 in the old testament
and 27 in the new testament.
Each
book is divided into chapters. Each chapter is divided into verses.
Note
that verse divisions in the Bible are not the same as paragraph divisions in a
book. What is the
definition of a paragraph? (A
paragraph is suppose to contain a complete
thought). The meaning of a verse might not
be clear unless you read some of the next or previous verse.
Each
book of the bible has a name just like a regular book. The chapters and verses were not in the
original books of the Bible, They were added to make things easy to find. For example, the first verse of the
first chapter of the first book in the Old Testament is Genesis 1:1. Please find that verse now.
Genesis
1:1 says "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth"; We
say that "It Says" because
the Bible is the word of God and God speaks to us through the Bible.
Lets look at the 19th. verse of the second
chapter of James. We say James 2:19 because it makes it
easier to find Book
"James", chapter
"2", verse "19".
James
2:19 says "Thou believest that there is one God;
thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble".
What
conclusions can we come to by reading these two verses.
1
one God
2
God created all
3
devil trembles
By reading
these two verses we can come to the conclusion that Believing
in God does not make us any better off than the Devil.
Read
Hebrews 11:6
But
without faith <it is> impossible to please <him>: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and
<that> he is a rewarder of them that diligently
seek him.
So
far we have found out that God created the heavens and the earth, That believing in God does not make us any better than the
Devil, but that God does expect us to believe in him. This might not sound reasonable.
Lets
look at Acts 17:2
And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three Sabbath
days reasoned with them out of the scriptures.
The
Bible is a totally reasonable book if you take the time to understand it.
2
Timothy 3:16
All
scripture <is> given by inspiration of God, and <is> profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction,
for instruction in righteousness:
You
should not base any doctrine
(teaching) of the Bible only on what man tells you. ( The
bible says Judas went out and hanged himself -- go thou and do likewise ), but
those two verses do not belong together.
Mat
27: 5 And
he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and
hanged himself.
Luke
10:37 And
he said, He that showed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou
likewise.
God
requires us to have faith in him, not in everything we are told about Him. We are required to find out if what we
are told agrees with what His word says.
Acts
17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word
with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those
things were so.
2
Timothy 2:15, 16
[Study
to show thyself approved] unto God, a workman that needeth
not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
What
does rightly dividing the truth mean?
interpret
Deuteronomy
25:4 Thou shalt
not muzzle the ox when he [treadeth out <the
corn]>. 1 Timothy 5:18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle
the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer <is> worthy
of his reward. 1 Corinthians 9:9 For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not
muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the
corn. Doth God take care for oxen?
No
I am not asking for a donation.
Paul was reminding the Church at
God
has a plan that can provide eternal life for each one of us. Gods plan is
contained in the Bible. Gods plan works because of Jesus.
God
can do one of three things,
1. Set a standard, and accept
only those who meet that standard.
He already did that
with Christ
2. Realize that none is perfect
and grade on a curve.
How long would it take for Heaven to be as bad as
the earth is now?
3. Come into our hearts and
change us so it will no longer be
a. possible for us to sin.
John
5:39
Search
the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they
which testify of me.
Acts
4:12
Neither
is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven
given among men, whereby we must be saved.
You
have heard the expression a thing worth doing is worth doing right.
A
better saying is "A thing worth doing is worth doing"
There
is no best way to read the Bible. Holding your self accountable is very
important
I
suggest that you print C1_Read and get started.
Over
the next six weeks we are going to try to take a close look at Gods plan of
salvation.