Coffee With The Lord

12 Basic Presuppositions and Convictions About Scripture That I Embrace

1. The Bible is inspired… Its message is sourced in God – it comes from God. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21)
2. The Bible is both a divine book (inspired by God) and a human book (written in human language by human writers).  Both aspects are essential and must be affirmed and held in tension.
3. The text of Scripture is completely trustworthy and true (“infallible” – true – “inerrant”)
4. The text of Scripture originally came to us in the languages of Hebrew, Aramaic and Koine Greek
5. The language of the biblical text should be taken seriously, examined carefully – Therefore a largely literal version of Scripture (a “standard version”) is best for serious study
6. Close examination / analysis of a passage of Scripture in foundational to quality Bible study and interpretation of Scripture (i.e. what does the passage say and how does it say it)
7. Quality Bible study requires consideration of the “then and there” of a text (i.e. the “situation” to, from or about which, a passage was written).  That should always precede consideration of the message to us “here and now.”.
8. Biblical writers had a purpose in what they were led to write – therefore consideration of the writer’s purpose in a biblical passage is critical.
9. An understanding of a complete literary unit of Scripture (i.e. a “book” of the Bible) provides the background for understanding the individual units within it (i.e. passages). 
10. Both the broader context and immediate context of Scripture must be taken into account in interpreting Scripture… context rules in interpretation!
11. The message of Scripture, although ancient and spoken to particular situations and for particular purposes in the past, is a timeless message and the truths) expressed therein apply to all humankind and cultures.
12. In Bible study and the task of interpretation, we come to the biblical text to examine what it says and by the time we have finished God has examined us!  The Holy Spirit makes the truth of Scripture real to us.  We encounter the Living God as we study and apply the message of Scripture.  Scripture points beyond itself to the Living God!!!

Expressed by LeRoy R. Bartel, DMin

“Studying the Bible is for Protestant Christians a ‘sacrament’ – it is a means by which God is directly encountered and by which people open themselves up to God’s transforming power” (Wilhoit, James C. and Leland Ryken in EFFECTIVE BIBLE TEACHING)

This morning during my time of “Coffee with the Lord” I read one of the longest chapters in the Bible – Deuteronomy 28 (68 verses). It is also a chapter that leaves you with mixed emotions. It describes in detail the blessings and the curses that are assured if God’s people Israel abandon fidelity and obedience to God’s revealed will as they prepare to enter “the Promised Land” …

Com’on take the time, give it a read, and let the impact of it’s contents impress and influence you!

Here’s how it starts out… “If you will faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. All these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voiced of the Lord your God! (vss.1-2) …

And then a bit later… “But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord your God or be careful to do all His commandments and His statutes that I command you today, then all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you! … All these curses shall come upon you and pursue you and overtake you till you are destroyed, because you did not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes that He commanded you (vss. 15 & 45)…

Hey, it’s not just the Old Testament… obedience is a big deal throughout the Bible – in the New Testament as well!!!

I would have to say that one of the biggest changes that came over my life when I received God’s gift of salvation through Christ, and was “born again” (John 3:3-7) is my desires changed. I stopped desire to “do my own thing – pursuing my own self-will and desires – and experienced a deep and abiding desire to do God’s will and please Him!

In fact, after reading Deuteronomy 28 this morning, I jotted this in the margin of my Bible: “Oh Lord, May I take this passage seriously! May I always seek to obey, honor and please You!”