6 The apostles and elders met to consider this question
Message: Interpreting Scripture with the Church
Time: Clearly written by Luke, this book follows the lives of Peter and then Paul after Jesus' ascension into heaven. The book was completed about 62 AD as Paul sat in prison. It provides an account of the growth of the Church and spread from Jerusalem, from a small group of frightened believers in Jerusalem transformed into an empire-wide movement of people who had committed their lives to Jesus Christ, and it should help us to be bold and have zeal in our walks with God.
What the Lord is Saying:
Scripture is the only infallible authority in our lives. Scripture will not fail us. But there are other authorities we can use in our lives, namely the Church or those within it. We can learn from other people's insights into the Scriptures because the Holy Spirit is present in lives that are surrendered to God.
Message: Interpreting Scripture with the Church
Time: Clearly written by Luke, this book follows the lives of Peter and then Paul after Jesus' ascension into heaven. The book was completed about 62 AD as Paul sat in prison. It provides an account of the growth of the Church and spread from Jerusalem, from a small group of frightened believers in Jerusalem transformed into an empire-wide movement of people who had committed their lives to Jesus Christ, and it should help us to be bold and have zeal in our walks with God.
What the Lord is Saying:
Scripture is the only infallible authority in our lives. Scripture will not fail us. But there are other authorities we can use in our lives, namely the Church or those within it. We can learn from other people's insights into the Scriptures because the Holy Spirit is present in lives that are surrendered to God.
I think the point here today is that we need each other and it is important in reading Scripture to read commentators, depend on the Holy Spirit, but also talk about among people that believe the Bible is inspired and infallible.
I've knocked the idea of Roman Catholics and that the Bishops and apostles of the church throughout the 1000 years or so that there was not a printing press would herald the teaching of God's word and so it basically became a think to just let the Bishops discern the meaning of God's word. But, I think in some ways we all do this or have a tendency to align ourselves with some speaker and trust his interpretation. And yet, I think the point is that this doesn't mean that we don't study the Word ourselves and don't have regular Bible study ourselves. I don't know what it was like growing up in the 14th century and prior. Perhaps church involved meeting together after a message and talking about the sermon.
Discerning the will of God in our lives is a difficult venture. We all have different feelings about our faith and approach it in different ways. At times, yes, we have similar alignment to the truth. Bt, I think we need to be careful to assemble together and to always make that a priority in our lives. In Acts 15, Paul and Barnabas took time to think about this question of circumcision and men from Judea saying that it was imperative for salvation. They concluded that grace is what is key in our lives. The grace of God has been present throughout history - in the time of Moses and Abraham and the giving of the Law and present in their time, following the raising of Jesus from the dead. Grace is what was key in all of this not sticking to rules. Rules are needed in our lives, but not to bring about salvation. Paul and Barnabas took time to think about what was being said but also trusted in the Holy Spirit and what He was speaking to them and leading them.
I need to make sure I am doing the same thing as I listen, study, read the Word of God.
I've knocked the idea of Roman Catholics and that the Bishops and apostles of the church throughout the 1000 years or so that there was not a printing press would herald the teaching of God's word and so it basically became a think to just let the Bishops discern the meaning of God's word. But, I think in some ways we all do this or have a tendency to align ourselves with some speaker and trust his interpretation. And yet, I think the point is that this doesn't mean that we don't study the Word ourselves and don't have regular Bible study ourselves. I don't know what it was like growing up in the 14th century and prior. Perhaps church involved meeting together after a message and talking about the sermon.
Discerning the will of God in our lives is a difficult venture. We all have different feelings about our faith and approach it in different ways. At times, yes, we have similar alignment to the truth. Bt, I think we need to be careful to assemble together and to always make that a priority in our lives. In Acts 15, Paul and Barnabas took time to think about this question of circumcision and men from Judea saying that it was imperative for salvation. They concluded that grace is what is key in our lives. The grace of God has been present throughout history - in the time of Moses and Abraham and the giving of the Law and present in their time, following the raising of Jesus from the dead. Grace is what was key in all of this not sticking to rules. Rules are needed in our lives, but not to bring about salvation. Paul and Barnabas took time to think about what was being said but also trusted in the Holy Spirit and what He was speaking to them and leading them.
I need to make sure I am doing the same thing as I listen, study, read the Word of God.
Promise: I need to be willing to submit myself to the authority of the church and those that have studied the Word of God. I need to seek to read Scripture with the church and to learn from others both past and present.
Prayer: Lord, keep me diligent in the personal study of Your Word. Give me discernment continually as I listen to those that are around and state their understanding of Your Words. Thank you for the wonderful individuals that have taken the time to study and learn Your word and understand it.
Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines with February being about the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve.
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