The Single Key That Will Help You Interpret / Understand the Bible

When you get right down to it, the Bible really isn't that hard of a book to interpret. It really isn't.

Oh sure, there are certain passages that are difficult to grasp just as there in any other form of literature. But for the most part the main message of the Scriptures is quite clear. It's so clear that even a child can understand it. Jesus said so Himself. (Mark 10:15)

I mean, how hard is it really to comprehend?...

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

And then what about this one?...

[The person] who has the Son has the life; [the person] who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. (1 John 5:12)

Each of these two verses seem pretty clear to me. Don't they to you? If one believes in God's Son, he'll have eternal life. And if he doesn't believe in Him, then he won't have it. It's that simple. (I believe in Jesus so I'm going to heaven. I hope you would believe, too.)

Now it's safe to say that most people who'll wrangle with you over Bible interpretation ~ especially when it comes to things that are easily understood ~ most people will do it because deep down inside they really don't want to be held accountable to its message. And the only way they can justify themselves in taking that position is by somehow proving the Bible is flawed in one way or another. This type of person really isn't interested in knowing the Lord. If he was he would be more inclined to take the Scriptures at face value as they should be taken.

The Bible really isn't that hard of a book to interpret. Its essential message is easily interpreted / understood especially by those who are genuinely interested in God. (Jeremiah 29:13)

That's the key. :)

(To read: How Can a Particular Christian Denomination Be So Sure That Their Interpretation of the Bible is Accurate When So Many Other Denominations Have Contrary Interpretations?, click here.)

You might also be interested in:

• Was Jesus in the Grave Three Days and Three Nights or Not?
• What About Those Who've Never Heard the Gospel? Will God Condemn Them to Hell, Too?

How Can a Particular Christian Denomination Be So Sure That Their Interpretation of the Bible is Accurate When So Many Other Denominations Have Contrary Interpretations?

Before I answer this question I'd like to talk about the whole concept of preconceived notions. You know what those are, don't you?

Preconceived notions are opinions formed apart from the facts.

Like when a person decides before he meets another person that because he's of a different color he probably can't be trusted. That's a preconceived notion. That's an opinion formed apart from the facts.

Now you would agree with me (I think) that you can't really know whether a person can't be trusted before you meet him (or her) especially without evidence. And yet many people ~ including believers in Jesus Christ! ~ still will form opinions about others beforehand in this way.

Now I believe the question before us is one based in an opinion formed apart from the facts. And that opinion (preconceived notion) is this: Because there are so many denominations (different church groups, churches under the banner of Christianity) there must be just as many contrary interpretations of the Bible.

But that's simply not true.

And here's why.

When you get right down to where the rubber meets the road, the high percentage of Christian denominations really do agree on the same things. They really do hold to the same interpretation of the Scriptures.

I'm talking about "essentials" here. Not secondary issues. But the central ones. (To read Trap 3 That Christians Fall Into: Majoring on the Minors, click here.)

(These are the "essentials" of the Christian faith.) Like God becoming a man in Jesus Christ. Like Him being born of the Virgin Mary. And like Jesus living a sinless life.

"Scripture tells us ... that [Christ] 'knew no sin' (2 Corinthians 5:21); [Christ] 'did no sin' (1 Peter 2:22); [and] 'in [Christ] is no sin' (1 John 3:5)." (Matthew by Ironside, pg 33)

Most Christian denominations believe this. (And if they don't, they are not Christian.)

Most Christian denominations also believe that Jesus came into this world to give His life as a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45) That He suffered and died on a cross and that He rose again on the third day to secure man's salvation.

And finally, most denominations also believe that Christ will return again a second time to recompense the righteous as well as the wicked according to their deeds.

The high percentage of Christian denominations do agree on these essentials of the Christian faith.

So this preconceived notion that they don't and that they each have contrary Bible interpretations is just that ~ a preconceived notion.

(To read the follow up post: The Key to Interpreting / Understanding the Bible, click here.)

You might also be interested in:

• Was Jesus in the Grave Three Days and Three Nights or Not?
• What About Those Who've Never Heard the Gospel? Will God Condemn Them to Hell, Too?