Bible's Reliability

 

    You can rely on the validity of the Bible.  It began hundreds of years before the written word, but the people were careful to not change it.  That is part of the reason why there is not a lot of detail in Genesis.  By Exodus there was the written word.  

    The Bible is the first book, but it was kept in manuscripts in the beginning.  There are more identical copies of the Bible's manuscripts than any other book in history.  There are more than 5,700 manuscripts of the new testament in Greek alone.  That means with all the languages there are about 25,000 manuscripts of the new testament in the ancient languages.    

    There are many translations of the Bible, but throughout history it was God's people who copied it word by word, line by line to make sure it was not altered.  Today, some dialects have strayed from the exact truth, but NASB has stayed very close grammatically to the Hebrew and Greek.  To copy the thought process into English the NLT is one of the best translated Bibles to understand the meaning and concepts of the ancient languages.  Bible Gateway and YouVersion are good apps of the Bible to use.  

    The chapters and verses were added to make it easier to find context.  It began to be used in 1557 when the English Bible was being printed.  None of this takes or adds to God's truth.  It is about making your personal Bible Study easier.  

Psalm 12, 19:7-11, Isaiah 40:6-8, John 17:13-19, 2 Timothy 3:14-17, & 2 Peter 1:19-21

Reading Scripture

 

        Reading Scripture does not come naturally.  You can go to church your whole life and not really understand how to read the Bible.  There are many ways and no set correct way other than to do so often.  The more you invest into reading and praying scripture the more you get out of it.  It is not a book to be read once from beginning to end.  You jump around and you reread.  It will have different impact over time.

    Reading the context is important.  You need to understand what is going on to see that it still applies today even though a few things will be different.  Try to keep the big picture in mind while personalizing it for your life at the same time.  

    Creation was when God spoke and life began.  He took nothing or the void and spoke existence to create life.  It was good.  It was holy.  It was perfection that lead to the simplest form of peace.  When humans allowed sin into the world perfection was tainted.  The consequences were eventual and possible eternal death.  It also meant that everyone has to deal with the consequences of their inherited sinful nature.

    Redemption was paid by Jesus to put to death sin.  If you have faith, then the bondage of sin no longer has possession of you.  You have soul freedom to be able to spend eternity with God.  Jesus provides restoration of the soul.  

    When you read the Bible you need to study the scriptures through observation, interpretation, and application.  Ask yourself what the scripture is actually saying.  Then what does this text mean.  Lastly ask yourself how you can apply it to your life today.  It will build holy habits over time if you focus on today.  

    Memorization is a wonderful way of meditating on scripture.  I will admit that I am horrible remembering the exact verse or book.  I typically don't get it verbatim either, but I know enough where I can use scripture in context in a conversation without preaching.  I also focus more on the context than one verse that can be manipulated according to some people's perspective.

    You find the way to memorize verses, sections, or even books of the Bible.  Use the method that works for you to memorize: write, say it, repeat it over and over, find ways to use it on a daily basis until you don't have to look it up, journal, sing it, or use a prayer partner to go back and forth repeating it (holding each other accountable).  You can't go wrong if you try.

Joshua 1:6-9, Psalm 5:1-3, Proverbs 3:5-6, Matthew 4:1-11, & 2 Timothy 3:14-17

Living Theology

 

    God knows your heart.  You can deceive yourself and others, but you can never deceive God.  That is why you need to ask yourself: Is what I say I believe reflected in how I live my life?  Be honest with yourself and take inventory on what you can make changes in.  It is important to live out what you believe.

    Living out your theology is being obedient out of love instead of duty.  It is living with integrity to honor God in the seen and unseen moments of life.  It is being a doer of the Word instead of just listening and absorbing.  It is applying what you learn and turning it into applicable life wisdom.  It can be hard to live in this world and not become like this world.  You have to be persistent to keep your focus and attention on God.

    Obedience is living a humble life to be able to listen and obey God's commands in all situations.  Obedience is living out your salvation with joy.  You accept the sacrifices that it may require in this life to keep an submissive and teachable heart.  God changes the heart and its desires.  Some things that may have seemed like they would be sacrifices are no longer sacrifices.  Once you understand that everything is God's and you are only taking care of it for now, the easier it is to keep things in perspective.

    God's Word is meant to be studied.  Do not cheat yourself and only read it on the surface level.  Really dig in.  Figure out a Bible study that would work best for you in this season of your life.  The point is be able to remember what God is speaking to you all day and maybe for many days.  This is how you live out your theology.  

    Dreams, wealth, and good health are not promised.  Peace, joy, and salvation for eternity with God are promised.  Do not get the promises confused with desires or what you want the truth to be.  God's Word is a blessing to have in life, so take full advantage of it.  Appearances mean nothing if your heart does not really belong to God.  

    Living out your Theology is having a strong and steady prayer life that accompanies the time you are investing in studying God's Word.  You can't lie to yourself if you are baring everything to God.  You will not do it perfectly, but you will be transparent.  Praying scripture helps your heart become closer to God and keep your steps steadfast.  God is not hiding.  He is giving you all the wisdom, direction, and guidance that you want to have.

John 14:15-21 & James 1:19-27

Worthy Theology

 

    Theology gives you your since of worth.  When you know your worth to God you can find happiness and see how you are blessed.  As you go through your journey with God pray for blessings and to be able to see the blessings that He is giving you.  To be blessed you have to turn away from your sins toward God.  You can't expect to be blessed by merely existing.  That is a blessing of it's own, but to really be blessed in life you have to choose God over your own selfish desires.

    You know your worth when you are able to delight in God's instruction over your life.  You have a hunger or need to know God better.  You spend time in His Word, so your spirit is nourished and strengthened.  You find fulfillment in following Jesus instead of doing things your own way.  You learn how to trust God and the path He made for your life.  

    Worth is discovered in the wisdom of glorifying God.  All things that are loving and good come from Him.  It help you trust that He is watching over you because he protects what He makes righteous.  This should be encouraging and convicting.  The more of you that you pour into God the more your soul is nourished and you find approval from God.

    You can't just read God's Word.  You need to pray over it, think about it, and meditate what the Holy Spirit speaks to your soul.  It has a lasting affect when you start memorizing scripture because you will have it at hand when you need it.  His word will live in your heart and mind.  In time it will produce fruit.  You don't have to try or force it.  It will happen in God's timing because you trust Him.  It also help protect you from Satan's attacks.  

    The more you learn your worth in God's Word the more you become equipped to defend it.  It takes spiritual discipline, but knowing God's love is enough motivation.  You are commanded to obey God, but it is not hard work.  If you love God, then you obey because it is a privilege not a chore.  You find delight in obedience and submission because you don't have to work so hard.  You get love displayed in protection, guidance to safety, and wisdom.

    Worth that comes from God is displayed in delight in God's Word, joy in all seasons, ability to forgive, humility to serve, and spiritual flourishing.  He gave you rules and regulations to benefit you not limit your life.  When He rebukes, instructs, and educates it is because He loves you and finds you worthy.  When you fight Him for rule over your heart and life you are rebelling against what He is trying to give you.  It is your choice to accept or reject what God offers.  You can have spiritual freedom or you can be enslaved to your sin.

Exodus 20:1-17, Psalm 1, Matthew 4:1-11, 5:17-20, & Romans 3:21-26, 8:26-30

Eternal Theology

 

    Part of Theology is what you believe about eternity.  You have to define what forever means to you.  How to you view eternity?  How do you define eternity for you?  How you endure your life will depend on how you answer these questions.  

    Eternity is Biblical.  The soul never passes, ends, or stops existing.  The soul is the part of you that is eternal.  While you live in this life God sustains, protects, and heals the soul.  Life is a gift from God, but eternity is a long time.  You have to figure out where you want to be for eternity during this short life. 

    Christians have been persecuted since Jesus' trials and sacrificial death.  He instantly created the one and only way to eternity with God.  It is easy to have salvation, but living it out is not always easy.  God's Word prepares you.  It can be trusted.  It is never irrelevant.  

    God's Word is timeless.  It speaks to everyone who is willing to listen.  It resonates and changes lives.  It helps a lot if you learn the history and cultural context to scriptures, but it can still speak to you as you journey through your faith.  You will find correction where it is needed in time.  As long as you hold onto the never changing truths without altering them then you are doing fine.  Faith is a journey that begins with accepting the truth of salvation and ends when you join God.

    The Bible instructs how to live, rebukes sin, corrects erroneous thinking, and trains in self-discipline through  decrees, precepts, statutes, commands, history, promises kept, and everything else that the Word gives you to learn God's character.  Life may feel messy or out of control, but trust that God is working things for the good of all His people.  He sees the eternal picture.  

    God never promised security in work, relationships, health, or financially.  His security comes with what happens after this life.  When you put your trust in those things you replacing them on your throne.  The throne belongs to God, so trust Him over the seasons of your life.  Choose what you believe and hold on.  Allow it to help you endure during the temporal hard times. 

    Life success means nothing in the eternal.  Give all your accomplishments to God.  Sacrifice them to glorify Him so that you can start seeing the bigger picture.  Your relationship with God is your most vital relationship that you will ever have.  It will make your life thrive even in the hard times.  God is sovereign over eternity.  His Word has stood the test of time and stands firm that it is true.  

Psalm 119:89-112, Isaiah 40:6-8, & Matthew 24:32-35

Active Theology

 

    Christians believe things that seem impossible.  If you are true Christian, then you believe that there is only one God, but He is in three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).  You believe that He spoke this world and everything involved in life into existence.  You believe that Jesus came to live among people to be the final and true sacrifice that death could not defeat.  He rose back to life after three days of death.  You believe that God's Word is a living love letter to all people.  It holds the secret to the power of eternal life: Jesus is the only way.

    What you believe you live out in your life.  Your faith is dead or it makes you bold.  Your theology is an active part of your life to find rest, peace, discernment, and endurance.  When you rebel you lose out on these powerfully holy tools.  Faith requires in believing the impossible and knowing that God can still do anything as long as it matches up with what He said in the Bible.  He can't lie.

    Living theology hold a sense of urgency.  Scriptures are not just words, but the powerful voice of God.  You can't fake your way in faith.  God's Word divides, penetrates, convicts, and reveals truth.  You can only take God for granted for so long before consequences will be faced.  The Bible tells you what happens to the hard hearted.

    The Bible is active because of the Holy Spirit.  He works in and through it.  He provides understanding and wisdom.  He helps you see the truth.  He leads you toward repentance, humility, correction, obedience, and joy.  He reveals your selfish motives and helps reshape them to be pure.  In this way you are able to judge yourself to avoid being judged by God.

    God's Word produces fruit if it is heard, read, studied, and lived out.  You have to tend and cultivate your relationship with God.  It can't be one sided.  If you lack spiritual fruit, then it is on you not God.  Do not get so busy in life that you can't make time for God.  He took the time to create and pursue you.  You can give a little time back.  In the long run you are the one that benefits from it.  No moment spent with God is ever wasted.  

Psalm 95, Isaiah 55:8-13, & Hebrews 3:12-15, 4:6-13

Theological Scripture

 

    God's Word is broken down by scriptures found in 66 different books that make up one book:  the Bible.  Scriptures are authorized by God to empower people, bring them closer to Him, teach, correct, and be truth in this world.  It shows that God is consistent, loving, and truthful.  He commanded that His words never be altered and enforces consequences to those who reject His authority.

    Theology is important because what you believe is foundational to who you are.  Scriptures help shape you as you learn God's character.  God's Word has sustained itself for hundreds if not thousands of years.  It is reliable.  It has proven itself over and over again.  However, it is the personal touch that makes it real.  When you believe you are changed from the inside out.  It heals wounds that you may never have known you had or the world could not heal.

    Scripture is inspired by God.  It is God breathed, but written by man.  It holds power unlike any other book in existence and it is assessable to anyone who seeks it.  It is empowered by the Holy Spirit's connection with God and your heart.  The power is personalized, but offered to everyone.  God created you with your personality.  He is not trying to change who you are, but to enable you to be better, pure, and stronger.

    God has authority over every aspect of life, but He also gifted you with free will.  He will never force Himself on you.  It is your choice to believe and embrace scripture.  It is up to you to find the value in salvation.  Scripture is used to help you see more clearly.  It is your choice to submit to God's authority or to reject it.  

    Theology is learning and understanding scripture.  Some passages are very hard to really understand.  Sometimes you have to accept certain things on faith.  Sometimes you have to accept that you will not fully understand on this side of salvation.  However, God has revealed the truth to you and is not keeping it secret.  God's truth is timeless and for everyone.  

    Theology helps you endure the persecution that comes from following Jesus.  It helps you embrace it and understand why it is important to endure.  Scriptures help prepare you to follow Jesus and understand what it means.  It helps you stand against false teachings, ignorance, or only embracing the good parts.  Salvation is free, but following Jesus cost you everything.  It is dangerous to not understand the truth.

John 1:14, 16:12-15, 2 Timothy 3, & 2 Peter 1:19-21