A Review:A Review:The Bible Can Be Understood Alike:The Bible Can Be Understood Alike:• By Affirming that the Bible is the Word of GodBy Affirming that the Bible is the Word of God– The Bible (The Bible (everyevery word of it) is the result of the verbal, word of it) is the result of the verbal,

plenary inspiration of God (2 Tim. 3:16-17)plenary inspiration of God (2 Tim. 3:16-17)

• By Acknowledging It Can Be Understood AlikeBy Acknowledging It Can Be Understood Alike– Understanding the Bible is not only possible, Understanding the Bible is not only possible,

understanding the Bible understanding the Bible IS EXPECTEDIS EXPECTED!!– Understanding it at all Understanding it at all IS TO UNDERSTAND IT ALIKE!IS TO UNDERSTAND IT ALIKE!

• That’s the only way to understand it.That’s the only way to understand it.• There’s no such thing as understanding differently.There’s no such thing as understanding differently.

– We understand it ALIKE UNTIL we get in the way!We understand it ALIKE UNTIL we get in the way!

A Review: A Review: The Bible Can Be Understood Alike:The Bible Can Be Understood Alike:• By Distinguishing Between the Old & the NewBy Distinguishing Between the Old & the New– Designated as Two Different CovenantsDesignated as Two Different Covenants– Delivered Through Two Different MediatorsDelivered Through Two Different Mediators– Two Very Different Sacrificial SystemsTwo Very Different Sacrificial Systems– Two Very Different Remedies for SinTwo Very Different Remedies for Sin– Two Different Covenants for Two Different PeoplesTwo Different Covenants for Two Different Peoples– Two Different PurposesTwo Different Purposes– Two Different DurationsTwo Different Durations

• By Accepting That the Bible Is All-Authoritative, By Accepting That the Bible Is All-Authoritative, All-Sufficient & All-DeliveredAll-Sufficient & All-Delivered

• By Making Proper & Necessary DistinctionsBy Making Proper & Necessary Distinctions

A Key Verse & Key Responsibility in A Key Verse & Key Responsibility in Understanding the BibleUnderstanding the Bible• 2 Timothy 2:152 Timothy 2:15– Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that

needeth not to be ashamed, needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truthrightly dividing the word of truth. . (KJV)(KJV)

– Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of rightly dividing the word of truthtruth. (NKJV). (NKJV)

– Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the handling aright the word of truthword of truth. (ASV). (ASV)

– Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the accurately handling the word of truthword of truth. (NASB). (NASB)

– Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the rightly handling the word of truthword of truth. (ESV). (ESV)

Must Make Proper & Necessary Must Make Proper & Necessary Distinctions BetweenDistinctions Between• The Merely Reported & the AuthorizedThe Merely Reported & the Authorized– Acts 16:9-12 (Paul preaching the gospel in Macedonia)Acts 16:9-12 (Paul preaching the gospel in Macedonia)• The Authorized (Essential)The Authorized (Essential) = Preaching the gospel in = Preaching the gospel in

MacedoniaMacedonia• The Merely Reported (Incidental)The Merely Reported (Incidental) = Travelling by ship = Travelling by ship

– Acts 20:7-9 (Brethren worshiping in Troas)Acts 20:7-9 (Brethren worshiping in Troas)• The Authorized (Essential)The Authorized (Essential) = Worship God, as He directed = Worship God, as He directed• The Merely Reported (Incidental)The Merely Reported (Incidental) = Meeting on third floor = Meeting on third floor

Must Make Proper & Necessary Must Make Proper & Necessary Distinctions BetweenDistinctions Between• Circumstance & ConditionCircumstance & Condition– Acts 16:13-15 (Conversion of Lydia)Acts 16:13-15 (Conversion of Lydia)• CircumstancesCircumstances = Sabbath day, riverside, place of prayer, = Sabbath day, riverside, place of prayer,

sitting down, meeting of womensitting down, meeting of women• ConditionsConditions = The preaching, the hearing, the believing, the = The preaching, the hearing, the believing, the

baptism (essential for her salvation)baptism (essential for her salvation)• Circumstances vary. Conditions do not.Circumstances vary. Conditions do not.

– Acts 16:25-34 (Conversion of Philippian Jailor)Acts 16:25-34 (Conversion of Philippian Jailor)• CircumstancesCircumstances = in prison, singing and praying at midnight, = in prison, singing and praying at midnight,

earthquake, opened doors, loosed chainsearthquake, opened doors, loosed chains• ConditionsConditions = The preaching, the hearing, the believing, the = The preaching, the hearing, the believing, the

baptism (essential for his salvation)baptism (essential for his salvation)• Circumstances vary. Conditions do not.Circumstances vary. Conditions do not. Common sense can Common sense can

distinguish between the two.distinguish between the two.

Must Make Proper & Necessary Must Make Proper & Necessary Distinctions BetweenDistinctions Between• The Temporary & the PermanentThe Temporary & the Permanent– The early church had:The early church had:• Apostles, possessing a miraculous measure of the Holy Spirit Apostles, possessing a miraculous measure of the Holy Spirit

to perform miracles (Mark 16:20; Heb. 2:3-4; Ac. 2:4)to perform miracles (Mark 16:20; Heb. 2:3-4; Ac. 2:4)• Apostles, endowed with the power and ability to impart Apostles, endowed with the power and ability to impart

miraculous gifts to others (Acts 8:14-20; 19:1-6; 2 Cor. 12:12)miraculous gifts to others (Acts 8:14-20; 19:1-6; 2 Cor. 12:12)• Spiritual/Miraculous gifts, possessed by Christians upon Spiritual/Miraculous gifts, possessed by Christians upon

whom an apostle had laid his hands (1 Cor. 9:2; 2 Tim. 1:6)whom an apostle had laid his hands (1 Cor. 9:2; 2 Tim. 1:6)– Necessary, yet temporary elements in infant churchNecessary, yet temporary elements in infant church• Living apostles (John 21:18-19; Acts 12:1-4; 2 Tim. 4:6-8)Living apostles (John 21:18-19; Acts 12:1-4; 2 Tim. 4:6-8)• Miracles (cease when purpose fulfilled, John 20:30-31)Miracles (cease when purpose fulfilled, John 20:30-31)• Spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 13:8-13; Eph. 4:11-13)Spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 13:8-13; Eph. 4:11-13)• Never intended to be a part of Never intended to be a part of permanentpermanent Christianity Christianity