Why is The Bible So EASY To Understand?
The key to understanding is an awareness that the Bible was an unfolding revelation from God:
He reveals what He wants when He wants. It is easy once you acknowledge the differences between Old Testament Judaism and the New Testament’s Body of Christ (Christianity).
Pay close attention to whom God is speaking throughout the books: Jews, Gentiles, or both.
Remember that ALL scripture is written FOR us, but NOT all scripture is written TO us!
2 Corinthians 4:4 “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”
Here’s your “cheat sheet” to obtain a basic working knowledge of the Bible:
Genesis 1-3 (Creation & the Fall of Man; Sin corrupts all of creation)
God originally created man for an immortal existence in the Garden of Eden. However, Eve was deceived by the serpent and Adam disobeyed God. As a result of Adam’s sin, death entered the world and they both were removed from Paradise. God shed the blood of an animal to cover their spiritual nakedness (disbelief and disobedience) – not their continued, created state of physical nakedness. It was their shame from sin that God covered, only after Adam & Eve inadequately tried through their own “work” of making aprons with fig leaves to help hide themselves among the trees of the garden. God said it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. However, mankind continued to rebel against God, resulting in Noah’s Flood and then again with the confusion of language and dispersion at the Tower of Babel.
Acts 7 & Acts 13:16-41 (Summary of the Old Testament)
Given mankind’s continued rebellion, God established a covenant with Abraham, resulting in the Jewish people and their nation of Israel. However, they failed to believe God and continued to rebel against Him. Even with all of the prophecies and miracles, they still failed to recognize Jesus Christ as their own promised Messiah. They were so focused on performing the legalistic works of their “religion” and ceremonies, that they failed to realize how simple God made it for everyone who believes in Jesus Christ to be justified. Whereas, the law of Moses (The Ten Commandments) merely identified sin and had no ability to provide any salvation! (See Galatians 2:16 & Galatians 3:10-14)
John (The life, death, burial & resurrection of Jesus)
Fully God yet fully man, Israel’s Messiah arrived to fulfill Old Testament prophecy. His earthly ministry was “only to the lost sheep of Israel.” However, about the non-Jewish Gentiles, Jesus said “I have other sheep, not of this pen. I must bring them also.” BEFORE His blood was shed for the forgiveness of our sins, Jesus commanded His disciples to “not go among the Gentiles.” However, Jesus then explained “But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” AFTER He completed His work on the cross, in His resurrected body, the Lord Jesus appeared to the eleven disciples and told them to “go and make disciples of all nations.” He fulfilled Jewish prophecy and was crucified by both the Jews & Gentiles. Remember, God said it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. He was buried and was resurrected on the third day, as foretold in the scriptures.
Romans (God’s saving gift of Grace opened to ALL people, justified by faith plus nothing)
The first people to be called Christians were actually Gentile converts of Paul, the Apostle of the Gentiles, not of the assembly of Jewish believers in Jerusalem, who still kept the Law, and were called “The Way.” Paul, previously known as Saul of Tarsus and a persecutor of Jesus’ followers, outlines the gospel and God’s gift of grace: Salvation and righteousness for ALL who believe it. God has made it so simple for us to be saved: FAITH + NOTHING! If you believe that Jesus Christ died, was buried and resurrected to atone for your sins, you will be saved. Good works will flow from true faith, but no amount of works will ever earn your salvation. God’s grace is a gift and there is absolutely nothing that you can do to earn a true gift! Only faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross erases our sins (past, present and future) and provides our assurance of eternity with Him in a restored Paradise.
1 Corinthians 15 (Resurrection of the Dead)
Read the above sections of the Bible for yourself!
This will give you a basic foundation upon which you can continue your Bible readings with greater understanding. Read the whole book. See what it actually says. Don’t just let someone else try to tell you what they think it says! Why trust your eternity in the hands of someone who may be deceived, or even worse, someone that may be a deceiver?
…And Why Should You Believe The Bible?
- 40 different authors (over 1,600 years) wrote 66 books telling one unfolding and consistent account.
- It’s NOT the words of men:
- 1 Thessalonians 2:13 “… you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God…”
- 2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is God-breathed…”
- It has withstood the test of time: It has been amazingly preserved over thousands of years, while countless opponents have tried (and continue) to suppress, discredit and destroy it. Its believers continue to face increasing persecution around the globe. It continues to be proven to be historically correct in ALL matters of archaeology, geography, prophecy and scientific discoveries. It repeatedly proclaims itself to be true and is the ONLY faith with its main figure still claiming to be alive!
- Because of the Jewish people:
- Establishment of the Jewish homeland in 1948, as required in order to fulfill prophecy
- Revival of the only language that was dead for 1,900+ years: Hebrew
- Their prophesied Messiah arrived with the right requirements, at the right place & at the right time
- Anti-Semitism: if the Jewish people ever ceased to exist, God’s prophecies and promises would be impossible to fulfill, making Him out to be a liar. “Replacement Theology” ignores God’s everlasting covenant with Israel and is a false teaching that the church has now replaced Israel as the recipient of God’s promises. These both help explain the tremendous, irrational hatred toward this tiny nation of Israel and the Jewish people!