Interpreting the Bible

[k4c]

The important thing to keep in mind, when interpreting the Bible, is to never use verses to interpret the Bible, but rather, use the Bibe to interpret the verses.

If I read a verse such as this, "John 14:15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments" I can make it say anything I want if I just focus on the verse without drawing from the rest of the Bible.

The Ten Commandments are foundational to true worship and godly love but they are also the enemy of the flesh. If we're in the flesh and never come to allow God to write His Law on our heart we will refuse to allow John 14:15 to be referring to the Ten Commandments. If we're a disciple of Jesus we will use the Bible to interpret John 14:15. When we do this we will see that to love Jesus means to keep His commandments as found in His words and His commandments, found in His words, direct us to love one another.

John 13:35 "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.''

Now the big question.

What does love look like?

My interpretation of love may be different than yours. I might say that it's okay if I have sex with woman as long as I love them. You might say different. But how does God define love.

Romans 13:8-10 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery,'' "You shall not murder,'' "You shall not steal,'' "You shall not bear false witness,'' "You shall not covet,'' and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'' Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

The foundation of God's defination of love is found in the Ten Commandments. They are not the end all of godly love but they are the foundation of godly love. In other words, if I go to church, read my Bible, pray, feed the hungry and cloth the naked all while I'm living in adultery all my worship and good works are worthless.

If I'm going to church, reading my Bible, praying, feeding the hungry and clothing the naked yet I'm forgetting to keep the seventh day holy or dishonoring my parents God says my worship is worthless.

Matthew 15:3-9 Jesus replied, "And why do your traditions violate the direct commandments of God? For instance, God's law is `Honor your father and mother; anyone who reviles his parents must die.' But you say, `Even if your parents are in need, you may give their support money to the church instead.' And so, by your man-made rule, you nullify the direct command of God to honor your mother and father. You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, `These people say they honor me, but their hearts are far away. Their worship is worthless, for they teach their man-made laws instead of those from God.''

Why would my worship be worthless if I'm dishonoring my parents or fogetting the Sabbath? Because God looks at the Ten Commandments as a chain with ten links. If I break one link the chain is broken.

James 2:1-11 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who said, "Do not commit adultery,'' also said, "Do not murder.'' Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.

If we use the Bible to interpret John 14:15 we will all come to the same conclusion of what the commadments are as it relates to godly love.

 

[Haldog]

The important thing to keep in mind, when interpreting the Bible, is to never use verses to interpret the Bible, but rather, use the Bibe to interpret the verses.

If I read a verse such as this, "John 14:15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments" I can make it say anything I want if I just focus on the verse without drawing from the rest of the Bible.

I agree with letting the bible interpret the bible. In the case you cite above Jesus himself tells us a few verses later just what commandment He is talking about. John 15:12 says "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." Doesn't it make sense to let Jesus himself say this is the commandment He is speaking of instead of going back and including the 613 commandments from the Torah?

Just my opinion of course.

 

[k4c]

I agree with letting the bible interpret the bible. In the case you cite above Jesus himself tells us a few verses later just what commandment He is talking about. John 15:12 says "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." Doesn't it make sense to let Jesus himself say this is the commandment He is speaking of instead of going back and including the 613 commandments from the Torah?

Just my opinion of course.

I love my girlfriend and to prove I love her we have sex almost every night. Oh, and please don't tell my wife because I love her too and to prove my love for her we have sex all the time.

I love God so I'm going to fly a plane into the World Trade Center and kill non-believers to prove my love for God.

God's Law was written with His own finger on unchangeable stone. The first four teach us what love for God looks like and the last six teach us what love for man looks like. The Ten Commandments are not the end all of what godly love is but it's the foundation. Every sin and crime committed in the world has its root in God's Law.

Jesus tells us to love one another but it's the Law that defines that love.

Romans 13:8-10 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery,'' "You shall not murder,'' "You shall not steal,'' "You shall not bear false witness,'' "You shall not covet,'' and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'' Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

If I truly have a godly love I will not have sex with my girlfriend nor will I murder. I will also have no other Gods before God, I won't use statues in worship, nor will I use God's name in vain and I won't forget to keep the Sabbath holy.

 

[Kira Light]

So well over 99% of Christians don't love Jesus?

Actually, not even Sabbath keepers manage to keep all of the commandments. Did Jesus mean to say, "If you love Me, TRY to keep My commandments"? He better have, or NO ONE loves Him!

 

[k4c]

So well over 99% of Christians don't love Jesus?

Actually, not even Sabbath keepers manage to keep all of the commandments. Did Jesus mean to say, "If you love Me, TRY to keep My commandments"? He better have, or NO ONE loves Him!

You can love without having a complete understanding. When we fall in love with God we will begin a journey with Him. In this journey He will teach us what godly love looks like and what true worship is. As He shows us new things about Himself and teaches us about true worship we will make the changes needed to please the one we love.

The commandments define godly love and because we love we will keep them. Keeping the commandments is not a requirement for love, it's a fruit of it. You can keep the commandments and not love but you can't love and knowingly live a lifestyle of breaking them without conviction and brokenness, which leads to 1 John 1:9.

Now, just because we don't keep them perfectly does not mean we throw them out nor does it mean we don't love. It only means we are sinners in need of God's grace.

 

[Cribstyl]

SOS.......Same Old Stuff.

 

[k4c]

SOS.......Same Old Stuff.

The new stuff you have does not mean it's true stuff.

 

[Cribstyl]

The important thing to keep in mind, when interpreting the Bible, is to never use verses to interpret the Bible, but rather, use the Bibe to interpret the verses.

If I read a verse such as this, "John 14:15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments" I can make it say anything I want if I just focus on the verse without drawing from the rest of the Bible.

Yep......that must be your SCAM101 approach


Only a SDA member can help you to see that your interpretation is wrong for two reasons.
What Jesus said as my commandments are what He spoke in this context.
The books of John, 1john, 2john are only about 2 commandments so it's a scam to say " keep my commandments" refurs to the ten commandments given by Moses.


You're on the keyword trip until you default to the "ceremonial laws" claim when you're ready.

 

[k4c]

Yep......that must be your SCAM101 approach


Only a SDA member can help you to see that your interpretation is wrong for two reasons. What Jesus said as my commandments are what He spoke in this context. You're on the keyword trip until you default to the "ceremonial laws" claim.

That's a convenient way around obeying God, to bad it's not the way the children of God are identified.

1 John 3:10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.

Practicing righteousness does not mean we are being made right by keeping the Law.

 

[Cribstyl]

That's a convenient way around obeying God, to bad it's not the way the children of God are identified.

1 John 3:10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.

Practicing righteousness does not mean we are being made right by keeping the Law.

You believe that righteousness comes by obeying the law.
We believe righteousness comes by obeying the doctrines of faith.
The law is not of faith.

Have fun.

 

[k4c]

You believe that righteousness comes by obeying the law.
We believe righteousness comes by obeying the doctrines of faith.
The law is not of faith.

Have fun.

Faith does not make void the Law, it unpholds the Law...I will have fun.

 

[Cribstyl]

Faith does not make void the Law, it unpholds the Law...I will have fun.

The text(Rom3:31) means that within the doctrine of faith, noone displays ungodly character.
This is one of those text that must be twisted to support your commentary and a false understanding by isolating this text from it's context.
The law is Not of faith.

Gal 3:12And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

Rom 4:16Therefore [it is] of faith, that [it might be] by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

Gal 2:16Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Phl 3:9And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

 

[k4c]

The text(Rom3:31) means that within the doctrine of faith, noone displays ungodly character.
This is one of those text that must be twisted to support your commentary and a false understanding by isolating this text from it's context.
The law is Not of faith.

Gal 3:12And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

Rom 4:16Therefore [it is] of faith, that [it might be] by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

Gal 2:16Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Phl 3:9And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

You are making the same misstake most people make. You keep referring to justification by works of the Law. No one is justified by keeping the Law because justification has to do with making a past wrong right. If you sin you can keep the Law all day from that moment on and still not have that sin paid for.

When you place your faith in Christ you are justified, (Just As If I Never Sinned) but that does not mean I can now continue breaking the Law. You can not say stealing, lying, murdering and worshiping idols is a sin but if you believe in Jesus they're not a sin. It's just the opposite. When you're in Christ, sin becomes more sinful to you. This is the power behind sanctification.

The Law points out sin so that those who are coming to God can make the changes that are needed and those who are already with God can live a godly life.

 

[Cribstyl]

You are making the same misstake most people make. You keep referring to justification by works of the Law. No one is justified by keeping the Law because justification has to do with making a past wrong right. If you sin you can keep the Law all day from that moment on and still not have that sin paid for.

When you place your faith in Christ you are justified, (Just As If I Never Sinned) but that does not mean I can now continue breaking the Law. You can not say stealing, lying, murdering and worshiping idols is a sin but if you believe in Jesus they're not a sin. It's just the opposite. When you're in Christ, sin becomes more sinful to you. This is the power behind sanctification.

The Law points out sin so that those who are coming to God can make the changes that are needed and those who are already with God can live a godly life.

Someone has a total misunderstanding of what the bible means by "justification."
Only God can justify, Only God can condemn because He is the judge.

Easton's Bible Dictionary
Justification:
a forensic term, opposed to condemnation. As regards its nature, it is the judicial act of God, by which he pardons all the sins of those who believe in Christ, and accounts, accepts, and treats them as righteous in the eye of the law, i.e., as conformed to all its demands. In addition to the pardon (q.v.) of sin, justification declares that all the claims of the law are satisfied in respect of the justified. It is the act of a judge and not of a sovereign. The law is not relaxed or set aside, but is declared to be fulfilled in the strictest sense; and so the person justified is declared to be entitled to all the advantages and rewards arising from perfect obedience to the law (Rom 5:1-10).
It proceeds on the imputing or crediting to the believer by God himself of the perfect righteousness, active and passive, of his Representative and Surety, Jesus Christ (Rom 10:3-9). Justification is not the forgiveness of a man without righteousness, but a declaration that he possesses a righteousness which perfectly and for ever satisfies the law, namely, Christ's righteousness (2Cr 5:21; Rom 4:6-8).
The sole condition on which this righteousness is imputed or credited to the believer is faith in or on the Lord Jesus Christ. Faith is called a "condition," not because it possesses any merit, but only because it is the instrument, the only instrument by which the soul appropriates or apprehends Christ and his righteousness (Rom 1:17; 3:25,26; 4:20,22; Phl 3:8-11; Gal 2:16).
The act of faith which thus secures our justification secures also at the same time our sanctification (q.v.); and thus the doctrine of justification by faith does not lead to licentiousness (Rom 6:2-7). Good works, while not the ground, are the certain consequence of justification (6:14; 7:6).

 

[Cribstyl]

The term "justification by works of the law," means that, you believe that God calls people to righteousness by keeping the 10 commandments.


(let see how you respond to that, since we keep talking arround each other in so many thread.)

Go you agree, disagree or explain please?

 

[k4c]

The term "justification by works of the law," means that, you believe that God calls people to righteousness by keeping the 10 commandments.


(let see how you respond to that, since we keep talking arround each other in so many thread.)

Go you agree, disagree or explain please?

Justifed by works of the Law means you think you can be made right by keeping the Law but you can't. The Law justifes no one it only points out sin so that the blood of Christ can cleans you and justify you. This is daily work of Jesus' blood and a daily work of the Law. If you commit adultery you have to come to the cross. If you dishonor your parents you have to come to the cross. If you disregard the Sabbath you have to come to the cross. This is a daily work that lasts a lifetime.

 

[Cribstyl]

Justifed by works of the Law means you think you can be made right by keeping the Law but you can't. The Law justifes no one it only points out sin so that the blood of Christ can cleans you and justify you. This is daily work of Jesus' blood and a daily work of the Law. If you commit adultery you have to come to the cross. If you dishonor your parents you have to come to the cross. If you disregard the Sabbath you have to come to the cross. This is a daily work that lasts a lifetime.

Your reply is unscriptual and proven to be false. Righteousness by faith does not consider what Moses preached but rather what Christ and the apostles taught.
2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness.
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. [fn2]

5 For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them.

WHY?....(a couple of reasons are The law commands only the flesh of man and says "if you do this, or if you dont do that" you will die.
Faith commands the heart and soul to be possitive and to love.
Christian obedience is not to the law Given Moses, but the law of faith taught in the epistles to the churches.

Rom 3:27¶Where [is] boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
Rom 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Justification by faith has nothing to do with keeping or breaking the 10commandments.

 

[k4c]

Your reply is unscriptual and proven to be false. Righteousness by faith does not consider what Moses preached but rather what Christ and the apostles taught.
2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness.
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. [fn2]

5 For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them.

WHY?....(a couple of reasons are The law commands only the flesh of man and says "if you do this, or if you dont do that" you will die.
Faith commands the heart and soul to be possitive and to love.
Christian obedience is not to the law Given Moses, but the law of faith taught in the epistles to the churches.

Rom 3:27¶Where [is] boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
Rom 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Justification by faith has nothing to do with keeping or breaking the 10commandments.

Romans 2:13 For the ones that God will justify are not those who have heard the Law but those who have kept the Law.

Ooops! Sorry that verse was accidently cut and pasted. Just pretend you didn't see it. You're good at that anyway...

 

[Cribstyl]

Romans 2:13 For the ones that God will justify are not those who have heard the Law but those who have kept the Law.

Ooops! Sorry that verse was accidently cut and pasted. Just pretend you didn't see it. You're good at that anyway...

Actually, the context prove this as a partial sentence relating to one of two groups. group1 is without the law and group2 is with the law.

Rom 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.


Rom 2:12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;

Rom 2:13 (For not the hearers of the law [are] just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

Rom 2:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:



CRIB COMMENTARY:
Rom2:11 God does not respect those with the law more than those without the law.
Rom2:12; The reason why those "without the law" will perish "without the law" is because the law only judges those under the law.

Rom 2:13 ( The hearers of the law are those with the law (cannot be those without the law) are justified by what they do because already have and have heard the law.


Rom 2:14 The Gentile which have not the law means that the law is not given to them. (CASE CLOSED)
Saying they were given the law or sabbath at creation is a false teaching.


Isolating that text leads to a faulty or underhanded effort in order to keep a false doctrine in business.

 

[k4c]

Actually, the context prove this as a partial sentence relating to one of two groups. group1 is without the law and group2 is with the law.

Rom 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.

Rom 2:12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;

Rom 2:13 (For not the hearers of the law [are] just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

Rom 2:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:

CRIB COMMENTARY:
Rom2:11 God does not respect those with the law more than those without the law.
Rom2:12; The reason why those "without the law" will perish "without the law" is because the law only judges those under the law.

Rom 2:13 ( The hearers of the law are those with the law (cannot be those without the law) are justified by what they do because already have and have heard the law.

Rom 2:14 The Gentile which have not the law means that the law is not given to them. (CASE CLOSED)
Saying they were given the law or sabbath at creation is a false teaching.

Isolating that text leads to a faulty or underhanded effort in order to keep a false doctrine in business.

Now listen carefully because I'm only going to say this once.

Romans 2:14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things contained in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves,

Though they don't have the Law, they do things contained in the Law. They do things contained in the Law. They don't do all that the Law says but they do some things contained in the Law because the last six commandments have to do with our relationship between each other and the first four have to do with our relationship with God and since they don't have God, being that they are Gentiles who are without God and without hope in the world, they will have to learn the first four when they become born again. Being born again God is able to write His whole Law in their hearts and mind and they would be a burden for them to keep.

Romans 2:13 For the ones that God will justify are not those who have heard the Law but those who have kept the Law.

Ooops! Sorry again. That veses just keeps sticking to my key board. Just disregard it I wouldn't want it to ship wreck your faith. I think you could even use white out in your Bible if you really wanted to. What's one more sin anyway?