Commitment

My wife and I will have been married 6 years in October.  In that time we’ve had two houses, one dog, a little girl, and countless adventures.

Like any couple, we’ve had our own challenges that we’ve faced together.  But if I could do it all over again, I would gladly say those vows once more!

When I first presented this lesson Brandie and I had just gotten married.  I wrote in the introduction to that original draft that the responsibilities of the big commitment hadn’t fully sunk in yet, but that I was praying I would be able to do my best to uphold the weight of those vows I swore to uphold to both Brandie and our God.

Of course, to many people marriage is a commitment that is just too big to take on and they’ll actively flee it or – if they even got married to begin with – they may dismiss their spouse at the first sign of trouble…  As students of the Bible we of course know that marriage is meant to be a life-long commitment.

Mark 10:6-9 But from the beginning of the creation, God ‘made them male and female.’  ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” 

However, unfortunately, people don’t seem to care much about commitment in today’s world.  Whether it’s in business deals, marriages or simply promises made to friends, “commitment” is a word that’s sadly become empty and devoid of its meaning.

Earthly Commitments and Spiritual Commitments

But whether we take them seriously or not, we make commitments on almost a daily basis.  We pledge to repay loans, make payments with credit cards, and make promises without even thinking about it at times.

However, Jesus urges us to not make promises or pledges to others.

Matthew 5:33-37  Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

If we make a promise that we can’t keep, we have made ourselves into liars!  As Jesus said, we should let our “Yes” be “Yes” and our “No” be “No.”  But if we do make pledges, oaths, or other Earthly commitments we are obligated to uphold them!  Likewise, if we make a spiritual commitment, we are obliged to uphold it!

Christian Commitments

Becoming a Christian is a spiritual commitment.  When we became Christians, we committed our lives to Christ! In doing so, we committed ourselves to a life in service to God.  Surely, this is a commitment we can't afford to take lightly!

Ephesians 4:1-3 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace…

Like most commitments, there are a lot of duties that go accompany the original pledge.  I would like to discuss just a few of the obligations that accompany a Christian’s commitment to Christ.


• Obligations to the Church and Fellow Christians

As Christians we should be encouraging and uplifting to our brothers and sisters in the faith.

Colossians 3:15-16 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

One of the most discouraging things to a Christian is for them to see other Christians not coming to church on a regular basis.  Therefore regular church attendance is not only for worshipping God, but also for edification of our fellow saints.

Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.  


• Obligations to the Poor

We have an obligation to be charitable, in particular to needy saints, but also to any we may encounter who need help.

1 Timothy 6:18-19  Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.


• Obligations to Unbelievers

We should be a good example and share the Gospel with others.

Matthew 5:13-16 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.


• Obligations to Family

The Bible teaches that everyone in the family unit has special role to fulfill.

Colossians 3:18-20 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.  Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.  Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. 

Mutual love and respect are the foundation of a family’s commitment to each other.

Ephesians 5:25-29 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. 


• Above All: Obligations to God!!!

Of course, above all, Christians have the biggest obligation to God.  The great thing about our commitment to Christ is that all of those other obligations just seem to fall in place if we have an enduring love for God and a fervent desire to obey His will.

Romans 12:1-2  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Just as Paul pointed out in Romans, as followers of Christ we are to present ourselves as living sacrifices.

Think about what that means.  We should be dead to the world and living for God, giving Him our all.

However, when we commit, we give everything!  Christians are committed to God Himself and He, above all other, above everything else, deserves all that we have!  We need to remember that and keep our priorities straight in this life if we want to be true servants of God.

Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Are we Lukewarm?

In the book of Revelation we can read of seven different churches, representing nearly every type of congregation one could expect to encounter. One church in particular we would not want to emulate…

Revelation 3:15-16 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 

Are we serving Christ with all of our effort?  Or are we only partially committed.  A true Christian should be “on fire” for Christ.

Convenient is not an adjective one would use to describe commitment.  Of course, keeping any kind of earthly commitment is no easy task.  Spirtual commitments are no different.   Think of all the faithful followers of God in the Bible.  Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, and Jesus Himself!  Their commitment to God led them down some rocky paths!

It’s easy to recognize that true commitment requires sacrifice.  Christ, of course, is the ultimate example of this truth.

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

“Vows Made in Storms”

While Brandie and I were on our honeymoon, I remember reading a sign at one of the restaurants we visited which read:

  “Vows made in storms are forgotten in calm waters.”

Let’s examine the truth in this saying for a while.

We’ve all heard stories of unbelievers who encountered some kind of hardship in life.  Whether it be a serious illness or financial ruin, the desperate unbeliever may pray to God, “God, if you’ll just get me through this, I swear that I will change my life and live for you.”

Sometimes it works out that they end out coming out of the dire situation just fine and maybe, for a while, it seems the unbeliever really did turn their life around for God.  But eventually, once the tribulation is forgotten, they go right back to the life they were living before.  The vow they made in the storm was forgotten in the calm waters.

I think the opposite can be true also: Vows made in calm waters can be forgotten in storms.

It’s really easy to be a Christian when everything is right with the world.  But the moment that things get hard whether it be poor health or persecution of some form or whatever, when things get hard, people will unfortunately forfeit their commitment to God.

Let’s strive to remember God always, whether it is in calm or stormy waters.

After all, God is committed to us; shouldn’t we be committed to Him?

Hebrews 10:23  Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 

Matthew 24:35

When Darkness Veils

Joel 2:31 The sun will be turned into darkness And the moon into blood Before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes.

Tomorrow the United States will experience its first total solar eclipse in nearly 100 years.

During this rare astronomical event, the Moon will be positioned between the Earth and Sun.  A total solar eclipse is only visible within a limited area, one has to be at the right location at the right time to view the phenomenon.  On Monday, the 10,000 mile long, 100 mile wide shadow of the Moon will travel over a narrow path stretching across the continent, all the way from Oregon to South Carolina.

As the Moon passes in front of the Sun spectators can expect a 360 degree “sunrise”, a nearly  10 degree drop in temperature, and the arousal of nocturnal creatures such as crickets confused by the occurrence, responding to what they perceive as night.

In ancient cultures, the eclipse was viewed as an omen of terrible things to come and the period of darkness was met with a sense of dread.  Indeed, even today there are some proclaiming that the upcoming eclipse is some kind of sign of impending doom for our nation.

However, as eerie and ominous as the spectacle of the eclipse promises to be, we can rest assured that at the end of it all the Sun’s light will inevitably make its return, shining just as bright and glorious as ever.

Likewise, we would do well to remember that our almighty God cannot be conquered!

The Darkness of Golgotha

Luke 23:44-45  It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun's light failed…

Literally and metaphorically, one of the darkest days in the history of the world took place during Christ’s crucifixion.  The darkness that lasted three hours on that terrible day has no natural explanation.

The sky went black at what should have been the brightest time of day (the “sixth hour” being noon).  Examining the historical information, we know that this could not have been a solar eclipse.  Recall that, according to Hebrew tradition, the Feast of Passover occurred at the time of the full moon.  Meanwhile, Science teaches us that solar eclipses only occur during the new moon phase, when the Moon is positioned completely on the other side of the planet.

Certainly this was some kind of supernatural occurrence, as if creation itself mourned the injustice of Jesus’ anguish on the cross.

Whatever the explanation, we read that it was black as midnight at midday when the Son of God died a torturous, humiliating death; rejected by the very people he had come to save.

Surely the Devil must have delighted in the gloom, thinking this to be his crowning achievement… Of course, in just three days’ time the "prince of darkness" would be sorely disappointed to find that what he assumed was his moment of definitive victory would turn out to be his resounding defeat.

Job 5:12-14 He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success.  He catches the wise in their own craftiness, and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick end.  They meet with darkness in the daytime and grope at noonday as in the night.

Is it coincidental that this verse in Job describes the exact atmospheric conditions on the day of Christ’s death?  Perhaps not…

One of the most poignant themes of the Bible is that we’re reminded time and again that God has the ability to turn even the worst situations to His will.  That darkest of days on Golgotha was going to reveal the glory of God in a way never before witnessed.

Under God’s control, this ultimate act of evil would accomplish His ultimate outpouring of love.  As wicked as man’s hearts and as devious as Satan’s plans were, the glory of Christ could not be extinguished.  The darkness would be overcome with light.

We know that Jesus’ death on the cross was not the end.  He arose.  Christ was resurrected.  Putting an end to the final enemy –  death itself – Jesus denied Satan his triumph.

Hebrews 2:14  Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, He himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil…

1 Corinthians 15:55-57  “O death, where is your victory?  O death, where is your sting?”  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Through the giving of His precious blood in this ultimate sacrifice, we no longer have to fear death.  Christ provided a means of redemption and forgiveness for all who seek it.  No longer would mankind be doomed to eternal separation from God, for in Christ humanity would have glorious hope of being reunited with their Creator in Heaven!

Colossians 2:13-15  And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

God’s Power and Promises

Indeed, the cross stands as the ultimate example of these timeless truths:  Attempting to overthrow God is futile and God keeps His Word.

No enemy can stand against God.  No threat can defeat Him.  As the Creator of all, there is no power beyond Him.

Job 26:5-14  The dead tremble under the waters and their inhabitants.  Sheol is naked before God, and Abaddon has no covering.   He stretches out the north over the void and hangs the earth on nothing.  He binds up the waters in his thick clouds, and the cloud is not split open under them.  He covers the face of the full moon and spreads over it his cloud.  He has inscribed a circle on the face of the waters at the boundary between light and darkness.  The pillars of heaven tremble and are astounded at his rebuke. By his power he stilled the sea; by his understanding he shattered Rahab. By his wind the heavens were made fair; his hand pierced the fleeing serpent.  Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways, and how small a whisper do we hear of him!  But the thunder of his power who can understand?

Throughout history, God’s power is demonstrated time and again.  Think back to the many military victories of the ancient Israelites against overwhelming odds.  Consider the endurance of the Bible and the resilience of the church through the ages, despite the world’s attempt to snuff out Christianity even to this day.

Likewise, we know that the almighty God keeps His promises.  Though it may be on His timeline and not our own, our longsuffering God makes good on His word.

2 Peter 3:8-9  But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you…

We read that many of the disciples fled when Jesus was arrested.  Only but a few lingered during His crucifixion.  An even smaller number would visit His tomb expecting Him to return as He said He would.  During the darkness that covered the land at the time of Christ’s death, His followers must have felt a deep sense of despair.  Perhaps they worried that with Jesus dead, His promises died with Him.  And yet we see throughout the Bible that sometimes God would take entire generations to fulfill His promises.

The promise of Jesus’s coming extends back as far as Genesis 12 when God made His three covenants with Abraham.  God told Abraham that through him “all the families of the Earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:2-3).  While Abraham would not see God’s final promise fulfilled within his lifetime.  Indeed it would be nearly 2000 years from the time God made the initial promise to Abraham until Jesus was finally born.  Christ’s disciples only had to wait three days for Jesus to return to life!

Deuteronomy 7:9  Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations…

Therefore, we must always remember that even when circumstances are at their most dire and the world is at its darkest, there is always hope if we have God.

The Light of Living Hope

Peter reminds us that no matter what darkness we face, we need not lose hope in God.

1 Peter 1:3-6 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials…

He called the hope in Christ a “living hope”.   Consider that this phrase is different from our normal use of the word.  We typically think of hope as being a desire for something in the future, something we are uncertain that we will attain.

However, we know the power of our God.  We know that He keeps His promises.  Therefore, the kind of hope we read of in the New Testament is a far deeper, more confident hope.

Hebrews 6:11  And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end…

Certainly, this hope is put to the test at dark times.  It’s always disturbing to consider that we as Christians will face persecution for doing what is right.  But God promises that our suffering is temporary and that He will be with us through it all.

Romans 8:28, 31-39  And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose…  What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Yes, the Bible tells us that ultimate victory will belong to God and those who trust in Him.

Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?

"Let Your Light So Shine"

As we have seen, God’s light cannot be eclipsed.  In fact, recall that very first act of creation was God bringing forth light…

Genesis 1:3  And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

God’s been at the business of defeating darkness pretty much the whole time!

He loves us so much that He was willing to come in the flesh and be sacrificed in our place.  The darkness witnessed on the day that Jesus was crucified was only temporary.  God was able to transform something truly awful into the most awesome blessing we could hope to receive:  redemption.

We read of His power and longsuffering promises.  Trusting God and having hope in Him, we need not fear even the darkest of days.  As long as we have the light of the Lord in our hearts, He will be with us.

But let’s not be selfish with that light.

Matthew 5:14-16 You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

One need only watch the nightly news to recognize that our world is engulfed in darkness.  Humanity desperately needs the light that only hope in Christ can bring, so let’s be sure to share it with the world around us!

Don’t let your light be eclipsed!

Matthew 20:28

The Importance of Context

Matthew 4:9 “…All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”

This was a verse that was actually printed on one of those "daily inspiration" calendars.

At first glance, this verse sounds pretty inspiring, but there’s just one problem…  Do you know what it is?

Yup.  These words seem pretty uplifting and comforting until you realize that it was Satan who was speaking!  This knowledge makes that particular verse a little less inspiring doesn’t it?

Thus, we see that there is a danger in taking even just a single Bible verse out of context.

Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth

2 Timothy 2:15  Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

The Apostle Paul admonishes us to handle God’s Word in the correct way.

Many, it seems, when they study the Bible look at it in such a way that every Bible verse is independent of the rest of the text.  They may even attempt to interpret a single verse on its own, without any kind of reference to what came before or after.  While many of our Bibles are indeed subdivided into books, chapters, and verses, we understand that single verses are part of a greater whole.

It’s been said that people can use the Bible “to prove just about anything”.  With an irreverent, scattershot approach that certainly can be the case!

For example:   Jesus said, “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you” in John 15:14. Jesus told Judas, “What you do, do quickly” in John 13:27. Judas, we are told, “departed, and went and hanged himself” in Matthew 27:5. Finally, Jesus said, “Go and do likewise” in Luke 10:37. By selectively using quotes, we arrive at a conclusion that we know is incorrect – that Jesus wants followers to commit suicide.*

In a more serious and tragic real-world example we know that in our nation’s own history that the Bible was used in such a way by some to attempt to justify slavery.  While it is true that slavery is mentioned in the Bible, the New Testament did not teach Christians to enslave one another (In fact, in Philemon, Paul wrote with the intention of freeing the runaway slave Onesimus).

How many souls have been misled due to taking verses out of context, whether intentionally or otherwise?  How many false doctrines have been founded based upon twisting God’s Word to say something actually contrary to God’s will?  We see that not taking context into consideration could lead to serious consequences.

2 Peter 3:15-16 ...And consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.

Therefore, as good students of God’s Word we need to consider each of the following in regards to context:  What is the immediate context?  Who is speaking?  Who is being spoken to?  Is it found in the Old or New Testament?  What is the historical, geographical, and cultural context?

Immediate Context

If you are having difficulty understanding a particular passage, the solution may be as simple as reading a bit backwards or forwards in the text.

A good clue that further reading might be required is found in looking at the grammar.  Sometimes a verse cuts off the ending of a thought short, perhaps ending in a comma rather than a period.  Obviously, this means you need to read a bit further to get the complete statement.

Likewise, look to see if a verse you’re reading begins with a transition word such as therefore, however, then, thus, moreover, nevertheless, so, etc.  If this is the case, then you probably need to read a verse or two before.  These parts of speech connect ideas in phrases and they don’t usually occur unless they are referring to a previous idea.  In other words, as an old saying goes:  “When you come to a ‘therefore’, you should check to see what it is THERE FOR!”

Let’s return to a verse we purposefully used out of context earlier:  In Luke 10:37, Jesus can be quoted saying, “Go and do likewise.”

Go and do what???

The usage of the word “likewise” implies that Jesus is referring to something he had said earlier.  If you go back far enough in this chapter, you see that Jesus was having a conversation with a “certain lawyer” who was questioning Him (Luke 10:25-29).  Reading further, we see that Jesus answers the man’s questions by telling him the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-36), essentially teaching that we should treat all with mercy and love.  So at the conclusion of this conversation, Jesus told the lawyer that he should “go and do likewise” – meaning that he should follow the example of the Good Samaritan in the parable.

As you can see, when we’re examining smaller passages, we must be aware of their place within context of the larger paragraph, chapter, or even the entire book!

Who Said It?

Some people think that you can just take any scripture from the Bible and safely assume that it is God speaking.  Indeed, the Word of God is inspired by God, but consider the fact that not everyone who speaks in the Bible is an inspired writer!

I’ll never forget the sermon in which our longtime preacher, John Baxter, made a very provocative statement attention:  “Not everything in the Bible is true.”  The tense uneasiness in the congregation was almost audible as his words hung in the air for just a moment – surely meant for emphasis – that felt like an awkward eternity.  One might think that this was a sacrilegious declaration, but as he would go on to point out, sometimes within the context of a passage we find that the person speaking is unreliable.

As we saw earlier in Matthew 4, it could very well be the devil speaking within in the context of a passage!

In Matthew 12:24 the Pharisees said that Jesus was aligned with Satan.  But we know that the Pharisees were unreliable because they often plotted against Jesus and sought to “entangle Him in His talk.” (Matthew 22:15)

Colossians 2:21 tells us, “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle…”, but we see that this was Paul quoting rules of men in this passage, comparing them to the grace of Christ’s law.

Job’s wife famously said, “Curse God and die” in Job 2:9 - clearly this is not godly advice!

Compare these examples to a verse like John 14:6 in which Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.”   We know that we can trust these words since they came from the Son of God Himself!

We can also trust the words of the Apostles, knowing that these were men who were appointed by Christ and inspired by the Holy Spirit.  Thorough study reveals that their teachings align with the rest of Scripture.

1 Corinthians 14:37 If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.

To Whom Was It Said?

Likewise, it is important to notice to whom a statement was made in Scripture.  Who was the intended audience?

In Genesis 6 we see God giving the instructions for the building of the Ark.  Who were these instructions given to?  Noah, of course!  Obviously, God does not expect us to build an Ark today.  These directions were intended for Noah alone as we can easily discern based on the context.

Applying this same logic, we can easily differentiate between statements meant for a particular individual, a specific group or for everyone for all of time.

Studying the context, we know that John 14:25-26 was directed at the Apostles specifically to prepare them for the forthcoming Day of Pentecost (Acts 1-2).

These are very specific, time-bound circumstances Jesus was relating to those directly present.  Thus, we see that not every passage is meant for Christians today.

However, we know that John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” – is meant to be a broad statement directed toward all of mankind henceforth.  We all have the chance at salvation through Christ’s love for mankind.

Old or New Testament?

Along these same lines, it’s also imperative to consider which part of the Bible you are reading from.  The Bible is divided into two Testaments (Laws or Covenants), the Old Testament and the New Testament.  It is only through a thorough study of the Bible as a whole that one can clearly see that teachings of each Testament are meant for completely different groups of believers of completely different times.

A mature student of the Bible understands that today we are under the New Testament, not the Old Testament.  In fact, two entire books of the Bible – Romans and Galatians – were written by Paul to address the fact that salvation from sin is through the Gospel of Christ, not through the Law of Moses.

Galatians 2:21  I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.

We are taught that the Old Testament came to an end as Christ died on the cross, ushering in the New Testament in its place.

Hebrews 9:15-16 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.

The transition between the Old Testament to the New Testament can be very confusing for unstudied believers and unbelievers alike, leading to some unfortunate misunderstandings.

Christians should know that the Old Testament laws – including those pertaining to worship – were done completely away with.  Therefore we cannot use the passages out of context from the Old Testament to justify the continued practice of outdated worship such as observance of the Sabbath or circumcision.  In fact, we are explicitly warned that we can no longer follow any part of the Old Testament that has been put away.

Galatians 5:3-4  And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.

On the other hand, a favorite ploy of those seeking to make believers out to be hypocrites is to point out that they don’t follow the “whole” Bible.  They might say, “You don’t believe in gay marriage because of Leviticus?  Well, I bet you ignore the part where it commands to not eat shellfish!”
Such a statement reveals a lack of understanding regarding the continuation of certain aspects of God’s Law throughout the Bible.  Diligent students of the Scriptures understand that some laws are consistent throughout the entirety of God’s Word, extending onward even into the present New Testament age.  Various forms of sexual immorality – including homosexuality – are forbade by God in both the Old and New Testaments.  These have always been wrong in the eyes of God… along with various other sins that no reasonable person would ever debate such as lying, idol worship, murder, etc.

Meanwhile - as we have already established - the majority of laws found the Old Testament are not upheld by Christians because they were repealed in the New Testament.  For example, Acts 10:9-16 does away with dietary restrictions, while 1 Timothy 4:1-5 also speaks against such.  Likewise there are social laws pertaining to crime and punishment, warfare, slavery, circumcision, animal sacrifice, feast days, ritual cleanness, etc. observed by the Israelites that Christians are under no obligation to uphold under the New Testament.

It is Christ and His New Covenant that, thank God, we are under today.

Hebrews 1:1-2  God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,  has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds.

Historical, Geographical, and Cultural Context

In many ways, the Bible is an historical book.  Despite what skeptics may suggest, the events contained within the Bible took place within the real world.  In fact, archaeologists have been known to use the Bible’s geographical descriptions to find various ruins – which serve to further the Bible’s credibility as an historical text.

Within the pages of the Bible we read of descriptions of life in ancient Egypt, Babylon, and the Roman Empire.  Notable historical figures such as Pharaohs, ancient kings, and government officials are mentioned within the text, sometimes even interacting within Biblical characters directly.
Therefore, it would certainly be beneficial to learn about the history, culture, and even geography of events in the Bible.

Examining a map of the region allows one to gain an appreciation for the journeys of the Israelites as they wandered the wilderness, Jesus’ earthly ministry through ancient Israel, and Paul’s missionary journeys around the Mediterranean.

Similarly, gaining an understanding of the culture of the times provides perspective of the times and helps one to gain new insights into Biblical truths.

In regards to cultural context, a good example is Jesus’ Parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37.  To fully appreciate the impact of this parable it helps to know just who the Samaritans were.

During Jesus’ time the Samaritans had complicated relationship with the Jews that extended back to Old Testament times (Samaritans are mentioned as far back in the Bible as 1 Kings).  Apparently the Samaritans would associate themselves with the Jews when convenient, taking advantage of their common heritage and worshiping God.  However, the Samaritans had a reputation of abandoning the Jews when they were being persecuted or conquered, reverting back to idol worship.  Thus, the Samaritans were considered social outcasts at best, hated enemies of the Jews at worst.  The Samaritans were considered a “mixed race” and subject to much racist and nationalistic ridicule by the Jews.  This knowledge makes one realize how shocking Jesus’ parable must have been to the original audience; He made a “no good” Samaritan the hero of His story!

Obviously, some of this may require additional study in supplementary resources such as a Bible dictionary or atlas.

Conclusion

When you set out to read any secular book, you don’t just flip to the middle, read a single sentence, and then turn to some other random section and do the same.  Yet how many Bible studies must look like this to an outsider?

If all of our Bible study consists of selective quotes then we’re definitely going to miss out on the author’s intended purpose and probably misinterpret what was meant to be said!

Of course, the best way to study the Bible in context is to read it as it was meant to be read…  As a whole.

Acts 20:27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.

Starting with Genesis and concluding with Revelation, reading the Bible from cover-to-cover as an ongoing narrative reveals the cohesive, epic story of God’s love for mankind, humanity’s ongoing rejection of God, and God’s longsuffering, ultimate plan for the redemption of the human race through His Son, Jesus Christ.


* Excerpt from : “Keeping the Context”