Reading the Bible without confusion
Have you ever been confused by a Bible teaching that seemed contrary to something else in the Bible? Have you ever read a scripture that seemed to contradict another scripture? Paul said that the entire Bible is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness (2 Tim 3:16). But he also said that we need to “rightly divide the word of truth” (2 Tim 2:15). We divide the word whenever we emphasize one scripture over another. So how do we divide the word rightly? In essence there are two questions we should ask when reading any scripture in the Bible: (i) What does this passage mean in light of the finished work of the cross? And (ii) who is the writer writing to or about? The filter of the cross To hear some people preach today you might conclude that the cross was of no significance. In truth, Jesus’ death on the cross is the single most important event in human history. Before the cross the old law covenant reigned. But after the cross a new covenant