HOW TO UNDERSTAND SCRIPTURE
Our Creator God knew we humans would need a standard by which to govern our lives, so He chose certain men to record His Word in print. This written Word of God we call "The Holy Bible", and it is now available in many languages and various translations. The original word was given to these men over a period of many years, and recorded in basically two languages Hebrew and Greek. Because we are mostly dependent on our English translations, we need certain guidelines to follow, to make sure we are getting the exact meaning of what these original writers intended us to know. They were inspired by the Holy Spirit (2 Tim 3:16), the same Holy Spirit who indwells us followers of Jesus today, so we should be sure to seek His guidance for the correct understanding of what we read from His Word.
A fairly simple way of understanding scripture came to me from a little booklet called "Understanding Scripture at Face Value". The authors Robert Van Kampen, and Charles Cooper explain face value as "the normal, natural, customary sense of the text intended by the Author/author at the time it was written. This booklet has helped me to understand how the church has been led to believe certain doctrines that are not really based on God's Word. The 5 principles given in this booklet are as follows.
1/ Seek to discover the Author/author's intended meaning. Each and every passage of scripture has only one meaning, although it may have more than one possible application. This meaning was determined by the author at the time of writing, never by the reader!
2/ Recognize the importance of context. Only when we know and understand the context in which a text is written, will we know how the writer intended the passage to be understood.
3/ When ever possible, let scripture interpret scripture. Always interpret difficult passages in the light of clear passages.
4/ Determine the literal reference of figures of speech. A figure of speech is "any deviation either in thought or expression, from the ordinary and simple way of speaking.
5/ Look for near/far implications and applications in prophetic passages. In other words the same scripture may apply to more than one certain time. For example in
(2 Sam 7:5-16) the prophet Nathan's message to King David applied to his son Solomon, as well as to Jesus, who is referred to as the heir of David's throne forever!
If these 5 principles are followed faithfully when studying scripture, be prepared for finding out that many doctrines you have been taught as truth, are really not! In other words, some people have presented their own theories as if they were truth based on God's Word, when if fact they were trying to make the scriptures confirm their theory by putting their own meaning on them. We must never be guilty of doing that! Someone has referred to this as "Experiential Theology", or in other words taking some experience and attempting to find scriptures to support their experience, instead of checking to make sure their experience lines up with scripture! God's Word properly interpreted and understood is "Absolute Truth"!!!
Sincerely submitted.
Dave Jamer
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
THE WEDDING GARMENT
THE WEDDING GARMENT
Jesus told a parable as recorded in (Matt 22:1-14), which involved a king who arranged a wedding for his son, and sent out invitations to various people to come to the wedding. But verse five states that "they made light of it", and refused to come. After several attempts failed, he sent his servants out "into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests" (Matt 22:10) NKJV. When the king went in to inspect the guests, he found one man who didn't have on a "wedding garment", who was cast out into "outer darkness". The parable ends in verse 14 with "For many are called, but few are chosen".
Like all of the parables that Jesus told, this one is definitely meant to teach us a lesson. This one would seem to be telling us that there needs to be a proper garment that must be worn to qualify us to attend the wedding of the King's Son, which we can safely assume, is referring to is the marriage of Jesus to His true Church. In other words not everyone who is invited to be at this special event will accept the invitation. And even not everyone who accepts will be qualified, unless they are wearing the proper garment. These people would be like those listed in (Matt 7:21-23), who thought their spiritual attainments would qualify them for entrance into the Kingdom! So what is this special wedding garment that is essential for entrance into the eternal Kingdom of God?
One scripture passage that helps to give the possible answer I believe is found in (2 Cor 5:17-21). Here we read about all those who are "in Christ", become new creations, and that "God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" NKJV. As I understand this scripture, the moment we receive Jesus Christ as our Savior, we are "born again" of the Spirit, and then become "in Christ", and receive our own personal "wedding garment"! This is our true ticket, so to speak, for admission into the wedding ceremonies in heaven. This is when Jesus and the true Church, that He has been in the process of creating for the last 2000 years, finally come together! (Matt 16:18). So we can see that obtaining this wedding garment is the most important thing that you can receive. And remember it is a gift from God, and we can never do anything to earn it, it is definitely grace plus nothing. Religious activities will never take the place of this, no matter how much we may strive for it!!
Sincerely submitted.
Dave Jamer
Jesus told a parable as recorded in (Matt 22:1-14), which involved a king who arranged a wedding for his son, and sent out invitations to various people to come to the wedding. But verse five states that "they made light of it", and refused to come. After several attempts failed, he sent his servants out "into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests" (Matt 22:10) NKJV. When the king went in to inspect the guests, he found one man who didn't have on a "wedding garment", who was cast out into "outer darkness". The parable ends in verse 14 with "For many are called, but few are chosen".
Like all of the parables that Jesus told, this one is definitely meant to teach us a lesson. This one would seem to be telling us that there needs to be a proper garment that must be worn to qualify us to attend the wedding of the King's Son, which we can safely assume, is referring to is the marriage of Jesus to His true Church. In other words not everyone who is invited to be at this special event will accept the invitation. And even not everyone who accepts will be qualified, unless they are wearing the proper garment. These people would be like those listed in (Matt 7:21-23), who thought their spiritual attainments would qualify them for entrance into the Kingdom! So what is this special wedding garment that is essential for entrance into the eternal Kingdom of God?
One scripture passage that helps to give the possible answer I believe is found in (2 Cor 5:17-21). Here we read about all those who are "in Christ", become new creations, and that "God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" NKJV. As I understand this scripture, the moment we receive Jesus Christ as our Savior, we are "born again" of the Spirit, and then become "in Christ", and receive our own personal "wedding garment"! This is our true ticket, so to speak, for admission into the wedding ceremonies in heaven. This is when Jesus and the true Church, that He has been in the process of creating for the last 2000 years, finally come together! (Matt 16:18). So we can see that obtaining this wedding garment is the most important thing that you can receive. And remember it is a gift from God, and we can never do anything to earn it, it is definitely grace plus nothing. Religious activities will never take the place of this, no matter how much we may strive for it!!
Sincerely submitted.
Dave Jamer
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Tough And Tender Truth
A HUGE QUESTION
The Holy Scriptures gives us many examples of the contrast between people who are considered the "righteous", and those that are considered "wicked". Proverbs chapter 37 would be a case in point, there are at least 8 times the little word "but" is used to distinguish between the two. We can see there is a tremendous difference between the two, especially regarding their eternal destinies! And yet we read that "God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). And we know from (John 3:16) that God so loves the whole world that He sent Jesus to redeem us from the penalty of sin. This leaves us with a huge question, what then constitutes the difference between the righteous and the wicked in God's eyes, that His Word would make a clear distinction between the two?
I'm sure there are deep theological issues here that my simple mind can not comprehend, but just consider these points of truth. First off, Jesus declared that "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6), so we can be sure that He knows the answer to this question. Before He left this earth after He had finished His task of providing redemption for mankind, He sent the Holy Spirit to take His place here on earth. (John 14:26). Since, as followers of Jesus, we have the Holy Spirit indwelling us, all we need do is ask Him the answer to questions like this. I have done this, and what came to my mind was the fact that God created each of us with a free will, that allows us to make choices. We sometimes make right choices, but sometimes make wrong choices, like Paul explains to us in chapter 7 of his letter to the church in Rome. Our carnal fleshly nature always wants us to make the wrong choices, while the Holy Spirit tries to guide us to make the right choices. Paul explains this struggle in (Gal 5:16-17), and we can all relate to this fact!
Because of the foreknowledge of God, He knew the choices we will make, before we make them. (Rom 8:29), but we must allow His Holy Spirit to help us make the right choice every time! This requires a complete yielding of our will to His, but even when we fail, we have the provision He has made for us as recorded in (1 John 1:9), so we are covered, providing we obey His Word. Thank God He loves us enough to provide everything we need, but we must provide the obedience, which He cannot do for us! So the answer to our problem as I see it is to follow the advice of the apostle Paul in his letter to the churches in Galatia that we mentioned above!!
Sincerely submitted.
Dave Jamer
The Holy Scriptures gives us many examples of the contrast between people who are considered the "righteous", and those that are considered "wicked". Proverbs chapter 37 would be a case in point, there are at least 8 times the little word "but" is used to distinguish between the two. We can see there is a tremendous difference between the two, especially regarding their eternal destinies! And yet we read that "God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). And we know from (John 3:16) that God so loves the whole world that He sent Jesus to redeem us from the penalty of sin. This leaves us with a huge question, what then constitutes the difference between the righteous and the wicked in God's eyes, that His Word would make a clear distinction between the two?
I'm sure there are deep theological issues here that my simple mind can not comprehend, but just consider these points of truth. First off, Jesus declared that "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6), so we can be sure that He knows the answer to this question. Before He left this earth after He had finished His task of providing redemption for mankind, He sent the Holy Spirit to take His place here on earth. (John 14:26). Since, as followers of Jesus, we have the Holy Spirit indwelling us, all we need do is ask Him the answer to questions like this. I have done this, and what came to my mind was the fact that God created each of us with a free will, that allows us to make choices. We sometimes make right choices, but sometimes make wrong choices, like Paul explains to us in chapter 7 of his letter to the church in Rome. Our carnal fleshly nature always wants us to make the wrong choices, while the Holy Spirit tries to guide us to make the right choices. Paul explains this struggle in (Gal 5:16-17), and we can all relate to this fact!
Because of the foreknowledge of God, He knew the choices we will make, before we make them. (Rom 8:29), but we must allow His Holy Spirit to help us make the right choice every time! This requires a complete yielding of our will to His, but even when we fail, we have the provision He has made for us as recorded in (1 John 1:9), so we are covered, providing we obey His Word. Thank God He loves us enough to provide everything we need, but we must provide the obedience, which He cannot do for us! So the answer to our problem as I see it is to follow the advice of the apostle Paul in his letter to the churches in Galatia that we mentioned above!!
Sincerely submitted.
Dave Jamer
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
WWJD orWDJD
WWJD or WDJD?
Most of us have heard and probably were involved in the recent fad of repeating WWJD (what would Jesus do), in any given situation. That is a good question for anyone to think of before making any major decision in their life. But recently I heard a take off on this expression, expressed by the letters WDJD (what did Jesus do). In my mind this expresses a much more important question that we should carefully consider. This takes in the complete matter of salvation, or our redemption from our sinful condition inherited from the first Adam. (Rom 5:12) If we read more in the letter of Romans, the apostle Paul gives a clear presentation of what the Bible often refers to as the "Gospel of the Kingdom". He starts with chapter 1:16 where we read "For I am not ashamed of the good news about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile" NLT. Then he goes on in chapters 1 and 2 to define the sins that God hates. In (Rom 3:10-18, and 23) he makes it clear that all of us have sinned, and absolutely no one is righteous before a holy God, and in (Rom 6:23) he clearly states that the wages (what we earn for our labor) is death!
Here is where the good news, which is the gospel of the Kingdom, comes into play. Only God Himself could provide the cure for the human dilemma that we all found ourselves in. Only the death of a perfectly sinless human being could satisfy the wrath of our holy God against the sin of mankind! This is what we celebrate on December 25th, the birth of Jesus Christ, the only "virgin born man" who ever lived on earth! He became "Immanuel" (God with us) see (Matt 1:18-23) for the message given to Joseph by the angel Gabriel. In spite of all the pagan practices that have been introduced into church traditions over the years, this day is meant to be a sacred day to give thanks to Almighty God for this incredible gift of a Savior!
Our New Testament portion of the Bible, which is God's written word, gives us the complete history of the birth, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus. As well as the history of the early years of the Church that He is in the process of building for over 2000 years now. (Matt 16:18). As well as the record of His coming return to earth to receive the true Church, when the Father gives Him permission. This can only happen when this true Church makes herself ready, and God's time is right! So in the meantime this is a brief history of WDJD!!
Sincerely submitted.
Dave Jamer
Most of us have heard and probably were involved in the recent fad of repeating WWJD (what would Jesus do), in any given situation. That is a good question for anyone to think of before making any major decision in their life. But recently I heard a take off on this expression, expressed by the letters WDJD (what did Jesus do). In my mind this expresses a much more important question that we should carefully consider. This takes in the complete matter of salvation, or our redemption from our sinful condition inherited from the first Adam. (Rom 5:12) If we read more in the letter of Romans, the apostle Paul gives a clear presentation of what the Bible often refers to as the "Gospel of the Kingdom". He starts with chapter 1:16 where we read "For I am not ashamed of the good news about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile" NLT. Then he goes on in chapters 1 and 2 to define the sins that God hates. In (Rom 3:10-18, and 23) he makes it clear that all of us have sinned, and absolutely no one is righteous before a holy God, and in (Rom 6:23) he clearly states that the wages (what we earn for our labor) is death!
Here is where the good news, which is the gospel of the Kingdom, comes into play. Only God Himself could provide the cure for the human dilemma that we all found ourselves in. Only the death of a perfectly sinless human being could satisfy the wrath of our holy God against the sin of mankind! This is what we celebrate on December 25th, the birth of Jesus Christ, the only "virgin born man" who ever lived on earth! He became "Immanuel" (God with us) see (Matt 1:18-23) for the message given to Joseph by the angel Gabriel. In spite of all the pagan practices that have been introduced into church traditions over the years, this day is meant to be a sacred day to give thanks to Almighty God for this incredible gift of a Savior!
Our New Testament portion of the Bible, which is God's written word, gives us the complete history of the birth, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus. As well as the history of the early years of the Church that He is in the process of building for over 2000 years now. (Matt 16:18). As well as the record of His coming return to earth to receive the true Church, when the Father gives Him permission. This can only happen when this true Church makes herself ready, and God's time is right! So in the meantime this is a brief history of WDJD!!
Sincerely submitted.
Dave Jamer
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
TWO GREAT APOSTLES
TWO GREAT APOSTLES
In the first century after the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, two men rose up as apostles in the early church. At that time the whole known world was divided between "Jews" and "Gentiles" (non-Jews). The Jews were descendants of Abraham, and were known throughout scripture as God's "chosen people", that He had set apart from the other nations to show them how God, their Creator expected them to live. Paul is known as the apostle to the Gentiles, while Peter is known as the apostle to the Jews. It seems to me that they must have made some agreement between themselves, that If Paul would allow Peter to write a two part letter to the Gentile churches that he had established, he in turn would allow Paul to write a letter to the Hebrew church centered in Jerusalem. This is only speculation on my part, but the evidence seems quite clear to me, that they were clearly addressing the churches in each others area of responsibility. I know the theologians can't agree on who wrote Hebrews, because no author is named, but the writing style points to Paul in my opinion!
Paul was given clear revelation about the true church consisting of both Jews and Gentiles when he wrote his letter to the church in Ephesus. This is part of the great mystery that God revealed to Paul as recorded in (Eph 2:14-22). And then in (1 Peter 1:1-2) he clearly identifies who he is writing to, and later in (1 Peter 2:9-10) you would think he was writing to Jews. He refers to them as "God's chosen people" and a "holy nation"! These people were born as Gentiles (non Jews), but are now "new creatures in Christ" (2 Cor 5:17), as were the Jews in Jerusalem after they believed in Jesus, and accepted Him as their Savior! God is no respecter of persons, but loves the whole world with His Agape love. (John 3:16), and expects us as followers of Jesus, to do the same!
We may not be apostles like Paul and Peter, but we are considered as "Christ's ambassadors", with a ministry of reconciling people to God. We often think that this is reserved for pastors or missionaries to far countries, but now God is bringing a great mixture of these nations, with various religious backgrounds, right here to our own city! What an opportunity to practice our ministry of reconciliation, without leaving our home city. God is bringing the nations to us, to learn about His amazing love and acceptance!!
Sincerely submitted.
Dave Jamer
In the first century after the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, two men rose up as apostles in the early church. At that time the whole known world was divided between "Jews" and "Gentiles" (non-Jews). The Jews were descendants of Abraham, and were known throughout scripture as God's "chosen people", that He had set apart from the other nations to show them how God, their Creator expected them to live. Paul is known as the apostle to the Gentiles, while Peter is known as the apostle to the Jews. It seems to me that they must have made some agreement between themselves, that If Paul would allow Peter to write a two part letter to the Gentile churches that he had established, he in turn would allow Paul to write a letter to the Hebrew church centered in Jerusalem. This is only speculation on my part, but the evidence seems quite clear to me, that they were clearly addressing the churches in each others area of responsibility. I know the theologians can't agree on who wrote Hebrews, because no author is named, but the writing style points to Paul in my opinion!
Paul was given clear revelation about the true church consisting of both Jews and Gentiles when he wrote his letter to the church in Ephesus. This is part of the great mystery that God revealed to Paul as recorded in (Eph 2:14-22). And then in (1 Peter 1:1-2) he clearly identifies who he is writing to, and later in (1 Peter 2:9-10) you would think he was writing to Jews. He refers to them as "God's chosen people" and a "holy nation"! These people were born as Gentiles (non Jews), but are now "new creatures in Christ" (2 Cor 5:17), as were the Jews in Jerusalem after they believed in Jesus, and accepted Him as their Savior! God is no respecter of persons, but loves the whole world with His Agape love. (John 3:16), and expects us as followers of Jesus, to do the same!
We may not be apostles like Paul and Peter, but we are considered as "Christ's ambassadors", with a ministry of reconciling people to God. We often think that this is reserved for pastors or missionaries to far countries, but now God is bringing a great mixture of these nations, with various religious backgrounds, right here to our own city! What an opportunity to practice our ministry of reconciliation, without leaving our home city. God is bringing the nations to us, to learn about His amazing love and acceptance!!
Sincerely submitted.
Dave Jamer
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