Let The Scriptures Speak
For Themselves
In starting this blog, I have two intentions: to provide insight into scripture, using the scripture itself as the final authority; and to allow an opportunity to further explore thoughts I may not be able to address from the pulpit.
Therefore, in my first post I want to address the importance of letting the scriptures speak for themselves. There are far too many voices, trying to draw your ear away from God. We live in an age where there is no shortage of distractions: most of us waste hours of our time and affection on television, games, and social media. To make matters worse, everyone with an opinion, feels that said opinion is somehow equal with scripture. We then as Christians need to be careful, careful to not let any voice ever speak more loudly to us than the voice of God.
That first begins with understanding that the scriptures are the Word of God, that your Bible wasn't written by men as some religious text, but breathed onto the page by God Himself, through those human pen men. Each writer used by God, was used in the capacity of a dictationist or ghost writer, but the Holy Spirit is the author of the Bible. Like with a ghost writer, we see hints of the penmen, but their style never exceeds the voice of the Author, the inspiration behind every word is His. The Apostle Peter was used to explain this perfectly, in the first chapter of his second Epistle.
"For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."
2nd Peter 1:16-21KJV
Here Peter explains that his teachings, were not from traditions or fables, but God Himself. He explains that scripture was not authored by men, that they were merely pens being moved of God to write. That our Bible is so much the Word of God, that having heard God speak from Heaven with his own ears, on the Mount of Transfiguration, Peter says the Bible is "a more sure word of prophecy". Peter is saying he trust his Bible more than his own hearing of the audible voice of God.
He also says that "no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation", which is typically taken to mean, that it cannot mean different things to the individual reader, but has one fixed interpretation. While that however is a factual statement about prophecy, and should go without saying, at least of any true prophecy, I don't however believe that to be Peter's point. It would seem to be he is making a point of scripture as a whole, given the context. That point being that all interpretations of scripture must be made in the light of scripture as a whole. That since God is the author of all of it, then it must all be interpreted as His Word.
I mean by this, that the scripture is not many little puzzle that can be laid out and admired individually, but one large puzzle that must fit seamlessly together. You can add to understanding this, the point God spoke through Paul in 2nd Timothy, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" 2nd Timothy 3:16. That because it is all from God, none of it is there by accident, but it all must be fitted into the puzzle. Meaning if your doctrine contradicts, ignores, or twist any part of scripture, then it ceases to be a Bible doctrine and becomes an opinion.
My point, and the heart purpose of this ministry, then is quite simple; to compare scripture with scripture, and in turn let God speak for Himself. So then if you want to learn the Word of God, as free as we can be of personal opinions, or traditional teachings; join us on this journey. I may not be the most eloquent of writers, but I can promise that with each post, I will always do my best to put my opinions aside, and
Let the Scripture Speak.