Daily Bible Nugget #310, Romans 2:13

Posted on July 8, 2014 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Romans 2:13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

My Comment:

Have you ever found a contradiction in the Bible? Probably you haven’t.

So, let me show you one.

Romans 2:13 clearly states that “the doers of the law shall be justified.”

Now here is the verse in the Bible that rather obviously contradicts Romans 2:13. You will find that there is a contradiction between Romans 2:13 and Romans 3:20,

Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Do you see the contradiction?

To say “the doers of the law shall be justified” contradicts “by the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified.”

If you have your “thinking cap” on, this obvious contradiction should “raise red flags” or “turn the light on” in your mind.

Why?

Because we know for sure that the Bible never contradicts itself.

You should immediately recognize that something is very wrong here.

And indeed, something is most certainly very wrong.

When we encounter a contradiction in the Bible, that should grab our attention. We should seek to find out what is the cause or basis of the contradiction. Sometimes when we encounter a contradiction, we realize we have been mistaken in our prior understanding of a subject related to the Bible. We need to then correct our understanding by changing our mind, by modifying our position, so that it is in accord with the Bible.

Sometimes a contradiction may appear because we lack the full information on the subject as it is revealed or taught in the Bible. In that case, we need to do a more thorough study of the subject from the Bible to be sure to come up with a correct understanding. In such a case, we must learn to change our mind and accept the new and fuller teaching from the Bible that resolves the apparent contradiction.

Sometimes a contradiction is created by the translators who themselves held a mistaken view of Bible doctrine. That is the reason Romans 2:13 appears to contradict Romans 3:20.

This is a very serious matter.

In this case, the issue extends far beyond Romans 2:13 and Romans 3:20. The matter is of utterly critical importance, for misunderstanding here leads to a total misunderstanding of Bible doctrine as it pertains to the basis of salvation. It leads to or produces a total misunderstanding of what our Lord Jesus Christ accomplished when He went to the cross. It produces a wrong understanding of the Atonement of Christ. And if you don’t think that is a serious matter, you had better think again. Go back over what I have written ever so briefly above about the seriousness of contradictions.

In this particular example using Romans 2:13 and Romans 3:20 the contradiction must be resolved by noting the fact that the term “justified” is used in two very different senses, and that for strict clarity and accuracy though the same Greek word underlies our English translation “justified” in both verses, the first passage (Romans 2:13) is in reference to Old Testament times before the coming of Christ, when sinners could only be justified in a legal or forensic sense because the Law could not bring about regenerative change. The sinner could be forgiven, but sin was not removed: the forgiven sinner continued in sin, powerless to do otherwise, and so the necessity of a continuing sacrifice involving Levitical offerings and an annual Day of Atonement, because such sacrifices were unable to take away sin (Hebrews 10:4, 11).

Now that Christ has come and made the once-for-all permanent sacrifice for our sins as our great High Priest, sins are not merely forgiven, but rather removed, because of His priestly-sacrificial Atonement. In this dispensation of the Gospel, those who truly believe in Christ are transformed such that a regenerative change (Titus 3:5) takes place and believers are made new creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

To suggest otherwise is a terrible case of doctrinal error. To suggest otherwise is to relegate the effectiveness of the blood of Christ to an effectiveness no different from what was accomplished by the blood of Levitical animals in the Old Testament dispensation. If that is the dispensation you are unwittingly holding on to or living in, you are not experiencing the full reality of the salvation benefits Christ has provided for you.

Perhaps now you perceive the importance of finding apparent contradictions and studying the Bible closely enough to resolve them.

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Daily Bible Nugget #309, John 6:14

Posted on July 7, 2014 by Jerry

The Nugget:

John 6:14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.

My Comment:

The thirteenth proof for the Perspicuity of Scripture is the amazing knowledge of the Scripture exhibited by ordinary people among the populace as well as the leaders in the time of Christ (The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, Topic Number 1122, page 1598).

During a home Bible study with several members of my high school Sunday school class we, without planning to do so, began to brainstorm the subject of what the ordinary people or their leaders knew about the Bible as revealed in the New Testament. I am thankful that at the time I wrote down the Scripture references to the passages we found. I placed those collected references at John 6:14 as Topic Number 1122 in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

I believe there is much to be learned from this set of references. First, the common people in Israel and their leaders knew much about the Scripture–probably more than many of us today. Second, that they had such a broad understanding of the Scriptures pertaining to their promised Messiah shows they bear great responsibility for failing to recognize Jesus Christ as their Messiah. Third, that this knowledge was as diverse and widespread as we read it to be in the New Testament surely proves the Perspicuity of Scripture, for however they learned these truths they themselves mention–whether by hearing the Scripture read to them, or whether they read the Scriptures for themselves, surely that they understood them to such a degree demonstrates the Bible is understandable.

The only way I know to convey to readers here the thrill of the discoveries we made that evening in a home Bible study is to ask that you consider carefully the references we found, now given as Topic Number 1122, for John 6:14, at the key words This is as displayed below, and read the verses to see for yourself. I am posting the references for John 6:14 so that you may enjoy what we found, that it may be an encouragement to your spiritual life as you grow in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18) as we did.

For those who desire to DIG DEEPER into this subject:

(1) Consult the cross references given in Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible on pages 1174-1175 for John 6:14.

(2) Consult the cross references given in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge on page 1196 or in Logos 5 Bible software for John 6:14.

(3) Lacking access to those two resources, consult the cross references for this passage as I have developed them as given below:

John 6:14. seen the miracle. ver. +Jn 6:2. Jn 2:23. 1 S 10:7. Ac 2:22. said. Jn 7:12, 31. This is. T#1122. Jn 1:21, 41, 45, 49. 7:31, 40-42, 52. 12:34. +*Da 11:33n. Mt 2:1, 2, 4-6. 10:15. 11:2-6, 22-24. 12:23. Mk 6:11, 15. Lk 2:25-35, 36-38. 7:16, 19-23. 9:19. 10:12-16. 19:11. 23:42, 43. 24:17-21. Ac 1:6. 17:6, 7. 26:26, 27. of a truth. Gr. alēthōs (S#230g, Mt 14:33). Jn 7:40. 8:30. Mt 14:33. Lk 4:25. 9:27. 12:44. 21:3. 22:59. Ac 4:27. 10:34. 1 Cor 14:25. that prophet. Jn 1:21, 25. +Jn 4:19, 25, 42. *Jn 7:40. 9:17. +*Ge 49:10. **Dt 18:15-18. +Mt 11:3. +Mt 21:11. Mk 6:15. Lk 7:16. 24:19. Ac 3:21-24. 7:37. should come. Jn 11:27. +Mt 11:3. world. Gr. kosmos, +Mt 4:8.

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Daily Bible Nugget #308, Acts 17:11

Posted on July 6, 2014 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

My Comment:

The twelfth proof for the Perspicuity of Scripture is that individuals are commended for testing the truth of what the apostles taught by checking those teachings against the Bible (The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, Topic Number 1121, page 1598).

If you were to carefully read Acts, chapter 17, you would learn that the Apostle Paul was meticulously teaching from the Scripture that Jesus is the true Messiah. Paul taught that the Scriptures prove that it was necessary that Christ, or the Messiah, must suffer, and then rise from the dead, “and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ” (Acts 17:3). For three Sabbath days Paul reasoned with the Jews of Thessalonica out of the Scriptures. Some of the Jews believed Paul, but others decided to use physical force to drive Paul out of town.

Paul went to Berea and taught the same message out of the Scriptures to the Jews in their synagogue. The Jews of Berea did not resort to physical force to suppress Paul’s message. Instead, they checked out what Paul was teaching by searching the Scriptures daily to discover whether what Paul had to say was really there in the Bible. They found what Paul taught is what the Bible said. Therefore, many of them believed (Acts 17:12). The Bereans had the right approach to spiritual things. They checked out what they were being taught by comparing it carefully with what they found in the Bible. When they found that what they were being taught was true to the Bible, they believed the teaching they had received.

Notice how this proves the doctrine of the Perspicuity of Scripture–that is, that the Bible is understandable. If the Bible were not understandable, the Bereans who attended the synagogue where Paul taught would not have been able to turn to the Scriptures by themselves, that is, on their own, to check out the truth of what Paul was teaching. But the Bereans were able to search the Scriptures daily to verify the truth of Paul’s message. This surely demonstrates most vividly that ordinary individuals were deemed competent to judge the truthfulness and correctness of the teaching of the apostles by comparing the apostolic teaching with what they found in the Bible, the twelfth proof for the Perspicuity of Scripture.

For those who desire to DIG DEEPER into this subject:

(1) Consult the cross references given in Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible on page 1250 for Acts 17:11.

(2) Consult the cross references given in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge on pages 1270-1271 or in Logos 5 Bible software for Acts 17:11.

(3) Lacking access to those two resources, consult the cross references for this passage as I have developed them as given below:

Acts 17:11. more noble. or, well-born. Gr. eugenēs (S#2104g). High in rank, hence they were more courteous (CB). T#1099. *Ac 13:7. Ge 34:19. 1 Ch 4:9. *Pr 1:5. 9:9. Je 2:21. Lk 19:12g. Jn 1:46-49. 1 Cor 1:26g. Thessalonica. ver. +Ac 17:1. 1 Th 1:1. 2 Tim 4:10. they received. *Ac 2:41. 8:14. 10:33. 11:1. Ne 8:3. +*Jb 23:12. *Pr 2:1-5. **Pr 4:7, 20-22. 8:10. Ec 5:1. Song 8:2. Je 6:16. *Mt 13:11, 23. Mk 4:8. Lk 10:38, 39. 2 Cor 8:5. 1 Th 1:6. **1 Th 2:13. *2 Th 2:10. **James 1:21. **1 P 2:2. the word. Gr. logos, Mk 9:32n. +Ac 8:4. 10:36. *Lk 16:29. readiness of mind. Ac 10:33. %Ac 14:2. 16:14. %+*1 S 25:17. **Ps 25:9. Mk 12:37. *S#4288g: Ac 17:11. 2 Cor 8:11, 12 (willing mind), 2 Cor 8:19 (ready mind). 2 Cor 9:2 (forwardness). This word is used in the New Testament (1) of a ready desire to hear God’s word, and (2) of a ready desire to give to God’s work (Thomas Walker). and searched. or, examined. Gr. anakrinō, *S#350g. Rendered (1) examine: Ac 4:9. 12:19. 24:8. 28:18. Lk 23:14. 1 Cor 9:3. (2) judge: 1 Cor 2:15, 15. 4:3, 3, 4. 14:24. (3) ask question: 1 Cor 10:25, 27. (4) search: Ac 17:11. (5) discern: **1 Cor 2:14. Thayer defines this word “By looking through a series (ana) of objects or particulars to distinguish (krino) or search after. Hence, to investigate, examine, inquire into, scrutinize, sift, question” (Lexicon, p. 39). Compare “search” at Jn 5:39, the same English but a different Greek word (*S#2045g). T#1069. Le 11:3. 1 Ch 28:8. **Ps 1:2, 3. 119:18, 97-100, *Ps 119:148. Pr 2:2. +*Pr 8:9. *Pr 15:14. +**Is 8:20n. *Is 34:16. *Lk 16:29. *Lk 24:44. *Jn 3:21. +**Jn 5:39n, 40. 1 Cor 2:14g. 1 Tim 4:13. +**2 Tim 3:15-16. *1 P 1:10-12. +*2 P 1:19-21. *1 J 4:5, 6. the scriptures. ver. Ac 17:2. Ac 8:28. 26:22, 23. *Ps 119:105. *Ps 138:2. +*Je 15:16. +*Je 23:18, 22, 28, 29. +Mt 21:42. +*Mk 12:24. +*Ro 15:4. 2 Tim 2:15. daily. Ac 16:5. Ex 16:4. *Dt 17:18-20. +*Jsh 1:8. 2 Ch 8:14. Ezr 3:4. *Ne 8:18. +*Ps 1:2. Pr 8:34. Lk 11:3. +*Lk 21:36. +**Col 1:10. +*He 3:13. *He 11:6. *1 P 2:2. *2 P 3:18. whether. or, if. FS184D1, Lk +22:67. A. T. Robertson notes that the Bereans “were eagerly interested in the new message of Paul and Silas but they wanted to see it for themselves. What a noble attitude. Paul’s preaching made Bible students of them. The duty of private interpretation is thus made plain (Hovey)” (Word Pictures, vol. 3, p. 275). T#1059, T#1121. Ac 8:31n. Dt 13:3. +**Pr 14:15. 15:14. *Pr 18:1n, +*Pr 18:17. +**Is 8:20n. Ezk 14:10n. +*Da 11:30. Ho 6:3. +*Mk 4:24. +*Lk 8:18. Jn 4:42. 7:17. **Ro 14:12. 1 Cor 10:15. +*1 Cor 14:29. *2 Cor 4:2. +*Ga 1:8n, 9. **1 Th 5:21. 1 Tim 4:1. James 1:19. *2 P 3:16, 17. **1 J 4:1.

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Daily Bible Nugget #307, Galatians 1:8

Posted on July 5, 2014 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Galatians 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

My Comment:

The eleventh proof of the doctrine of the Perspicuity of Scripture is that individuals are deemed both competent and responsible to recognize false doctrine (NTSK, Topic Number 1120, page 1598).

Paul gave the Galatian churches one simple test to determine if doctrine was true or false. If it matched what he had already taught them, it was true. If teaching they heard did not match what he had already taught, it was false.

Today we have the record of what the apostles taught in the New Testament. Any teaching that does not agree with or match what is contained in the Old and New Testament is false doctrine.

This is why it is so important to know your Bible. It is important to both read and study the Bible. Churches, pastors, and Sunday school teachers need to equip those they teach with a good knowledge of Bible doctrine, and the answers to false doctrine. Knowing the answers to false doctrines taught by various groups is part of what is involved in the study of apologetics. This is part and parcel of what is involved in spiritual warfare.

If you have read very far on this site about Real Bible Study you know I frequently address false doctrine, no matter who might be teaching it. To be teaching (or learning/believing) false doctrine is a very serious matter. It can lead you right into apostasy, the aspect I have called doctrinal apostasy. Doctrinal apostasy can lead to loss of salvation as surely as moral apostasy.

The Jews in the time of Jesus were guilty of doctrinal apostasy. Jesus told the Jews, “If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:24).

To have a wrong idea of who Jesus is, something the Jews did not understand (John 8:43) or believe (John 5:43, 46), is a most serious failing. In our day, the Jehovah’s Witnesses deny who Jesus really is. They have made a mistake similar to what the Jews made, or perhaps worse. Jehovah’s Witnesses are preaching what Paul called “another gospel”(Galatians 1:6). They are preaching “another Jesus,” whom they equate with the archangel Michael. To believe such error, to follow such error, is to come under the double curse Paul gave in Galatians 1:8, 9. Those who believe and teach such mistaken views of Christ do not possess the kind of saving faith that brings eternal life.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses I have spoken to claim to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, but they deny that Jesus is God the Son. They argue that Jesus is never in the Bible called “God the Son.” That is true. The precise words “God the Son” are not to be found in the Bible. But the teaching that Jesus is God the Son most certainly is. Is Jesus ever called God’s son? Yes–God Himself spoke the very words from heaven (Matthew 3:17). Is Jesus ever called God? Yes. Thomas called Jesus God and was neither corrected nor rebuked for doing so, but commended (John 20:28, 29). So in the New Testament, Jesus is clearly called God and is also identified by God Himself as God’s Son. Therefore, by necessary inference, Jesus must be God the Son as well as the Son of God.

If Jesus is the Son of God in a higher sense than any other person or being, Jesus logically must possess the nature of God His Father–that is, a Divine Nature. Paul says a number of things which bear this out, where in Philippians 2:6, where Paul speaks of Jesus being in the form of God, and Philippians 2:7, where Paul speaks of Jesus being made in the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. Thus, Jesus had two natures in one Person, a human nature and a divine nature, in whom, Paul writes, dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Colossians 2:9).

When we know the Gospel as it was taught by the original Apostles and Christ Himself–all preserved in the New Testament record for us to study and learn–we can spot a false gospel, another gospel, as soon as it rears its satanic head. This proves the Perspicuity of Scripture, for by it ordinary believers are expected and required to know the difference between true and false doctrine by comparing it to the original doctrine contained in Scripture, the eleventh Biblical proof of the doctrine of the Perspicuity of Scripture.

For those who desire to DIG DEEPER into this subject:

(1) Consult the cross references given in Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible on page 1347 for Galatians 1:8.

(2) Consult the cross references given in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge on page 1367 or in Logos 5 Bible software for Galatians 1:8.

(3) Lacking access to those two resources, consult the cross references for this passage as I have developed them as given below:

Galatians 1:8. though we. or, even if we. FS102C, +Mt 5:29. FS185B, +Ga 6:1. ver. Ga 1:9. Is 9:15. Je 16:20. *Je 23:16. 1 Cor 16:22. *2 Cor 11:13, 14. 1 Tim 1:19, 20. Titus 3:10. **Re 22:18, 19. an angel. *1 K 13:18n. +*Ro 8:38. **2 Cor 11:14, 15. preach any other. T#1120. Individual Christian believers are here deemed competent to judge the doctrinal correctness of the preaching of an inspired apostle or even an angel from heaven, a very clear assertion of the Bible doctrine of the perspicuity of Scripture (Ps 119:104, 105. Pr 8:9. +Mt 12:3). This doctrine holds that, in all essential matters pertaining to faith and practice (Ps 19:7. 119:9, 11), the Bible is clearly understandable upon careful study to even the humblest believer (Ps 119:99, 100), without the interposition of an institutional or ecclesiastical authority to interpret the Scriptures for him (1 J 2:20, 27). Closely allied to this is the doctrine of the right and necessity of private judgment (Ac 17:11. 1 Cor 14:29. **1 Th 5:21n), which holds that the individual is responsible directly to God for his beliefs (Ro 14:12), and that God will hold him responsible only to believe what is taught in Scripture (Is 8:20), apart from the teachings of humanly devised creeds and institutions, or unwritten traditions however hoary with age. The doctrines of perspicuity and private judgment having been clearly established as scriptural (see the following reference passages and their notes), the conclusion to be drawn is that the ultimate authority in spiritual or doctrinal matters is the written word of God found in the Bible, not the teachings of any man or group of men. Thus there can be no “one true church,” for any church is only “true” insofar as its teachings rest squarely upon and are in accordance with the teachings of the inerrant and infallible verbally inspired word of God in the Bible. +Ps 102:18 (T#49). **Ps 119:105, 130. +*Pr 8:9. +**Is 8:20n. +*Je 23:28n. +*Da 11:33n. Mt 7:15. +*Mt 15:14. Mk 7:7-9. +Lk 12:57 (T#420). +**Jn 5:39n. 16:13n. Ac 8:31n. 15:15. +**Ac 17:11. **Ro 14:12. +*Ro 15:4. 1 Cor 10:15. 14:29. 2 Cor 3:14. +*Ep 4:14. +*Col 1:23. 2:18. **1 Th 5:21. +**2 Tim 3:15-17. **2 P 1:19, 20n. *1 J 2:20, 27. **1 J 4:1, 2. +*2 J 1:10. gospel. 1 Th 1:5. 1 P 5:12. than that. or, contrary to that. *Dt 4:2. *Dt 12:32. *Dt 13:8. Jsh 1:7. +*Pr 30:6. 2 Cor 11:4. **Re 22:18, 19. have preached. FS147A, +Ge 50:24. 1 K 13:20n, 21. let him. Ga 3:10, 13. 5:12n. Ge 9:25. +*Le 15:8. +*Dt 27:15-26. Jsh 9:23. 1 S 26:19. *Ne 13:25. Pr 28:10. +**Je 10:25. +*Mt 15:14. 25:41. 2 P 2:14. accursed. Gr. anathema (S#331g, Ac 23:14). Ga 3:10, 13. Jsh 7:1, 12. Mk 14:71. Ac 23:14. +Ro 9:3. +*1 Cor 12:3n. *1 Cor 16:22g.

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Daily Bible Nugget #306, John 5:24

Posted on July 4, 2014 by Jerry

The Nugget:

John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

My Comment:

The tenth proof of the doctrine of the Perspicuity of Scripture is that the Bible must be understandable for each individual is held responsible to hear and believe its message for himself (NTSK, Topic Number 1119, page 1598).

Notice Jesus doubly assures us that those who keep on hearing His Word and keep on believing on the One who sent him continue to have everlasting life. For this to work in an equitable manner, the Word which is being heard must of course be understandable to those who hear it in order for them to be able to believe it. The word Jesus gave, what he here terms “my word,” is now available in only one place–your Bible. Therefore, the Bible must be understandable in order for those who hear or read its message to believe it. That most surely proves the Perspicuity of Scripture, the doctrine that the Bible is understandable to the ordinary person who hears or reads its message.

I remember as a teenager how striking this verse was to me. Now, many years later, it amazes me how much more is taught in this verse than what I understood at the beginning of my Christian life. At first I was most impressed by the portion of the verse which states “and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” At that time I was taught that the perfect tense underlying “is passed” proved the doctrine of eternal security, for the perfect tense points to a past action with ever continuing results.

I later learned upon further study that the promise of “is passed” is contingent upon meeting the conditions specified at the beginning of the verse: he that keeps on hearing and keeps on believing is now having eternal life, the present tense verbs in the underlying Greek text emphasizing a continuing action, not a one-time single act of faith. Thus, the Bible teaches the absolute eternal security of the believer, not the unbeliever. Thus the doctrine widely taught and believed doctrine called “Once Saved, Always Saved,” or unconditional eternal security, is false to the Bible and is heresy and should not be taught.

Another important truth denied by some churches or denominations or religious organizations is the important fact that we have eternal life now, not merely after we die. And we can know for sure that we have eternal life in this present life and do not have to wait until after we die to find out whether we do or not.

I believe that the Council of Trent has an article which denies this truth. The present Roman Catholic Church’s doctrine is founded in large part upon what was decided or affirmed by the Council of Trent. Unfortunately, the Council of Trent was gravely mistaken on this issue if my memory of what it ruled on this issue is correct.

Well, so much for the validity of Church Councils and man-made creeds. If they agree with the Bible, fine. If they contradict what the Bible clearly affirms, they are of course mistaken. That is why it is best to go by the Bible alone and in its entirety. We can do that with the confidence that the Bible is understandable, and must be so for God to justly hold each of us individually responsible to hear and believe what it teaches. This constitutes the tenth proof of the Perspicuity of the Bible.

For those who desire to DIG DEEPER into this subject:

(1) Consult the cross references given in Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible on page 1172 for John 5:24.

(2) Consult the cross references given in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge on page 1193 or in Logos 5 Bible software for John 5:24.

(3) Lacking access to those two resources, consult the cross references for this passage as I have developed them as given below:

John 5:24. Verily. ver. Jn 5:19. +Jn 1:51. +*Nu 5:22. +Mt 5:18. +Mk 14:18. He that. T#1119. **Jn 3:16, 18, 36. 6:40, 47. 8:51. *Jn 11:26. 12:44. **Jn 20:31. Mk 16:16. *Ro 10:11-13. **Ro 14:12. 1 P 1:21. **1 J 5:1, 11-13. heareth. +Jn 8:43. 12:37-40. +**Is 55:3. Mt 13:9. +*Mk 4:24. +*Lk 8:18. Ac 3:22. 10:22. Ro 8:17. He 3:7. my word. Gr. logos, Mk 9:32n. believeth. +*Jn 3:16n, Jn 3:36. **Jn 20:31. Ac 10:43. 13:39. +Ac 16:34. Ro 3:28. *Ro 4:5. Ga 3:22. Ep 2:8. 1 Tim 1:16. **1 Tim 4:10. Titus 3:8. He 6:1. *He 10:39. *1 P 1:21. **1 J 5:9-13. that sent me. ver. Jn 5:23, 38. hath. Eternal life is a present possession. ver. Jn 5:26, 39. +Jn 8:12. Lk 10:42. **1 J 5:13. everlasting. Gr. aionios, +Mt 18:8. Jn 3:15, 16. 6:68. **Ro 6:23. and shall not. **Jn 10:27-30. +*Jn 17:6. Ro 5:1, 2, 9. **Ro 8:1, 16, 17, 28-30, 33, 34. **Ep 4:30. 1 Th 5:9. *2 Th 2:13, 14. 1 P 1:5. *Jude 1:24. into condemnation. ver. Jn 5:29. Jn 3:18. **Ro 8:1. Re 20:11-15. but. Mt 18:8. *Col 1:13. *1 J 3:14. is passed. Gr. metabainō (S#3327g, Mt 8:34). FS144C1, +Ge 21:1. *Ps 37:28. Is 45:17. 51:6. Col 1:13. 1 J 3:14. from death. Lk 15:24. Ro 6:13. *Ep 2:1-3. +*James 5:20. 1 J 3:14. unto life. Ps 133:3. Pr 16:22. Ro 6:4. 2 Cor 5:15. Col 1:13. 2:13. 3:3. 2 Tim 1:1, 10. 1 J 3:14. *1 J 5:12.

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Daily Bible Nugget #305, Proverbs 8:9

Posted on July 3, 2014 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Proverbs 8:9 They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.

My Comment:

The ninth proof of the doctrine of the Perspicuity of Scripture is that the Bible declares itself to be plain (NTSK, Topic Number 1118, page 1598).

If the Scripture declares that it is plain to him that understandeth, then a study of just who God says is the person who understandeth is very much in order. That study can be made by consulting the cross references given for this verse below. One of the most important of those cross references is made to Proverbs 28:5, “Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the Lord understand all things.” A verse like Proverbs 28:5 links the ability to understand the Bible to personal character. Those who are evil won’t understand Scripture. Those who understand not judgment is a reference to those who do not understand justice, particularly God’s justice. Those who seek the Lord will understand Scripture.

The Scripture is right to those that find knowledge. There are many who are busily engaged in their attempt to literally “rewrite the script” that God has given by His own declaration in His Word. People, churches and denominations object to some doctrines plainly taught in the Bible, such as the doctrine of eternal punishment. They do not possess the understanding that Abraham clearly had when Abraham asked the significant question, “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25). Rather, they take it upon themselves to judge the supreme Judge, and contradict what He has explicitly revealed about what He plans to do (John 3:36). They take it upon themselves to rewrite God’s character, focusing on the comfortable attribute of God’s love, and ignoring or suppressing God’s attributes of justice and righteousness and holiness. The Seventh-day Adventists go astray on this issue today as did their founder Ellen G. White, as do the Jehovah’s Witnesses of the Watchtower Society, and no doubt many others, including those contemporary Evangelical writers and leaders who commend the message of books written by Edward Fudge, like his title The Fire that Consumes, in denial of unending conscious punishment in hell as spoken of by our Lord Jesus Christ most plainly (Matthew 25:46). Peter gave a severe warning against those who wrest the Scriptures to their own destruction (2 Peter 3:16).

The message of the Scripture will be sufficiently plain to any reader who will read and study the Bible apart from denominational and cultic sources and commentary that “poison the well” by wresting the Scripture, by denying what it plainly means.

That is why I encourage you to study the Bible using a plain text edition first.

For those who desire to DIG DEEPER into this subject:

(1) Consult the cross references given in Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible on page 657 for Proverbs 8:9.

(2) Consult the cross references given in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge on page 699 or in Logos 5 Bible software for Proverbs 8:9.

(3) Lacking access to those two resources, consult the cross references for this passage as I have developed them as given below:

Proverbs 8:9. all plain. Pr 1:7. 2:6. 4:11. *Pr 14:6. 15:14, 24. 17:24. 18:1, 2, 15. Dt 27:8. 30:11. Jb 26:3. **Ps 19:7, 8. *Ps 25:12-14. 27:11. 102:18. **Ps 119:98-100, 104, 105, 130. *Is 35:8. 42:16. **Is 45:19. Je 14:14n (point 5). Am 3:10 (*S#5228h). *Mic 2:7. Hab 2:2. *Mt 13:11, 12. Lk 10:21. *Jn 6:45. **Jn 7:17. **1 Cor 2:14, 15. +*Ga 1:8. 2 Tim 2:7. **James 1:5. +*James 3:17. 1 J 5:20. that understandeth. Pr 14:6. 17:10, +*Pr 17:24. 19:25. 20:5. 22:21. 26:2, 7, 11. +**Pr 28:5, 11. 1 Ch 15:22. Jb 6:24. **Ps 119:104n. Je 23:20. +*Da 11:33n. **+Jn 6:14 (T#1122). *Ac 8:30. right. Pr 2:7. 3:32. 4:2. 11:3, 6, 11. 15:19. Ps 45:1. Ec 12:10. to them. Is 8:16. find knowledge. Pr 11:27. 18:15. 1 K 13:18n (point 12). Ps 49:3. +*Ac 17:11.

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Daily Bible Nugget #304, 1 John 2:27

Posted on July 2, 2014 by Jerry

The Nugget:

1 John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

My Comment:

The eighth proof of the Perspicuity of Scripture is that the Bible is understandable because it declares we have no need of a human authority to teach us.

This is a bold statement. The Apostle John wrote this to believers. The historical and cultural setting includes the fact that there were some teachers who were teaching new twists on doctrine. They had brought in this new doctrine–a teaching that involved moral apostasy–and tried to subvert the genuine believers who stayed faithful to the truth they had been taught whether by John or other apostolic authority. In this particular case the false teachers withdrew from the fellowship of the genuine believers. John said that marked them as being false from the beginning (1 John 2:19).

In our day we have all the apostolic teaching there is recorded and preserved to our time in one Book, our New Testament. The New Testament contains the only extant primary source documents about Christ and His teaching, and the teaching of His authorized Apostles and those who worked directly with them. Together with the Hebrew Scriptures originally revealed to the Jews and preserved in our Old Testament, this is the full extent of what has been written under Divine inspiration for our learning (Romans 15:4).

John writes that those who truly have been saved have an anointing that provides for them the understanding of Scripture so that they are in no need whatsoever of any other external official teaching authority. The final authority we all have is the Scripture–the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. That anointing which John mentions is the indwelling Holy Spirit which they–the ordinary Christians he was addressing–received upon placing their faith in Christ.

During the lifetime of the Apostles the Church as directly led and taught by them could indeed be considered the pillar and ground of the truth, and in that sense constituted the official teaching authority (1 Timothy 3:15). Now that none of the original Apostles is alive upon earth today, we have instead of the Church the Divinely inspired writings providentially preserved in the New Testament, together with the Old Testament, as the official source of our doctrine, and the final teaching authority.

The Apostles warned in their writings not to depart from the faith delivered once for all to the saints (Jude 1:3). Believers in that day were warned that immediately after the apostles were no longer present that false teachers would come in to draw away disciples from the church to themselves (Acts 20:29, 30; 1 Timothy 4:1).

The absolute test of truth is found in Galatians 1:8, 9. True doctrine must fully correspond with the doctrine the Apostles placed for us under divine inspiration found in our Bibles.

Any attempt to introduce new doctrine allegedly developed since the time of the Apostles is apostasy.

This must not be confused with the interesting fact that it is possible to study the Bible carefully enough to discover truth in the Bible that has been there all the time but is now more accurately understood than ever before, far as we know. For example, our understanding of Bible prophecy may well be greater than the understanding possessed by either the Church Fathers or the Protestant Reformers. I believe our understanding of the Bible doctrine of the Atonement of Christ today, though this new more accurate understanding is presently not widespread, is far greater than in previous generations of Bible students and scholars. Our understanding of the doctrine of God, particularly including the doctrine of the Trinity, is greater now than what has been recorded in the writings of the first Christian centuries. The doctrine of the Trinity, though the word itself does not occur in the Bible, is an example of a doctrine derived by means of necessary inference yet directly from the Bible.

Therefore, the Perspicuity of the Scripture is proven on the basis that the Bible declares we have no need of an official teaching authority outside of or beyond Scripture itself according to 1 John 2:27. Thus, as to ultimate authority, the Bible is our teacher, not the Church. What any church teaches must always be carefully checked against what the Bible teaches.

For those who desire to DIG DEEPER into this subject:

(1) Consult the cross references given in Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible on page 1474 for 1 John 2:27.

(2) Consult the cross references given in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge on page 1493 or in Logos 5 Bible software for 1 John 2:27.

(3) Lacking access to those two resources, consult the cross references for this passage as I have developed them as given below:

1 John 2:27. the anointing. FS22D5L, +Ps 45:7. See on ver. *+1 J 2:20. *1 J 3:24. Ex 28:41. 29:7. 30:26. 37:29. 40:13. Le 2:1. 7:35. 8:12, 30. Nu 7:43. 18:8. **1 S 16:22. 1 Ch 16:22. +*Ps 23:5. 92:10. 105:15. 133:2. Is 10:27. Ezk 16:9. Mt 25:4. *Jn 1:16. 3:34. *Jn 4:14. *Ac 10:38. 2 Cor 1:21. Ep 4:30. 1 Th 4:9. *1 P 1:23. *2 J 1:2. received of. Westcott notes that the Greek construction employed here (lambanein apo) emphasizes the source (as also 1 J 3:22; 3 J 1:7; Mt 17:25); the construction lambanein para (Jn 5:41, 44; 10:18; 2 J 1:4; Re 2:27; Mk 12:2; Ac 2:33; 3:5; 17:9; 20:24; James 1:7; 2 P 1:17) to emphasize the giver. 1 J 3:22. Mt 17:25. Lk 11:13. *Jn 1:16. Ac 2:38, 39. 5:32. 3 J 1:7. abideth in you. FS101, +Dt 32:42. +1 J 3:24. **1 J 5:10-13. Jn 15:7. +*Ro 8:9, 14, 16. need not. Ye have no need whatever (Lange). 1 J 4:1. Jn 2:25. 16:30. +*Ga 1:8n. 2 Cor 9:1. 1 Th 1:8. 4:9. %He 5:12. Re 2:2. any man teach. T#1117. ver. *1 J 2:20, 21. +**Pr 28:5. +*Is 8:20n. *Is 54:13. **Je 31:33, 34. Ezk 14:10n. Jn 6:45. *Jn 14:26. *Jn 16:13. %Ac 8:31n. **Ro 14:12. Ga 1:8n. *He 8:10, 11. 2 P 1:20n. but. 1 Cor 2:13. *Ep 4:21. **1 Th 2:13. 1 Tim 2:7. *2 P 1:16, 17. +*Jude 1:3. same anointing. +=Ex 28:41. Jn 14:16, 17. 2 Cor 1:21. teacheth you. Present tense, active voice, indicative mood verb. The application and interpretation of the truth is continuous (Westcott). T#841. Ps 25:5, 12. +*Ps 32:8. +*Ps 119:12, 18, 102, 104. *Ps 143:10. *Pr 1:23. 11:9. Is 30:21. 35:8. 54:13. Lk 12:12. Jn 6:45. +*Jn 14:26. *Jn 16:13, 14. 1 Cor 2:10, 14. Ep 4:20. Titus 2:12. of. Gr. peri. or, concerning. all things. Mt 13:11. +*Jn 14:26. 1 Cor 2:12. Col 2:10. +*Col 3:16. +**2 Tim 3:15-17. +*Jude 1:3. is truth. +Jn 14:17. 16:13. and is no lie. As Antichristian teaching (JFB). ver. 1 J 2:21. even as. Gr. kathōs (S#2531g). The use of kathōs marks this idea of a definite and fixed standard (Westcott). ver. 1 John 2:6, 18. 1 J 3:2, 3, 7, 12. hath taught you. Aorist tense, active voice, indicative mood verb. The first teaching contained implicitly all that is slowly brought to light in later times. … This clause excludes all ‘developments’ of teaching which cannot be shewn to exist in germ in the original message; and at the same time leaves no room for the inventions of fanaticism. That which was taught first is the absolute standard (see Westcott). Ac 11:26. Ga 1:6-9. +*Jude 1:3. ye shall. ver. *1 J 2:28. Jn 6:56. **Jn 8:31, 32. *Jn 15:4-7. *Col 2:6. abide. FS101, +Dt 32:42. ver. 1 J 2:24. Jsh 2:19. 2 S 7:3. +*Ps 119:33. Pr 3:21. +*Jn 8:31. 15:4, 9. +*Ac 11:23. +*Ac 13:43. +**Col 1:23. him. or, it. The personal reference cannot be questioned in ver. 1 J 2:28, and that must decide the interpretation here. Christ—God in Christ—is the subject constantly present to the mind of the Apostle (see Westcott). ver. 1 J 2:5. Jn 15:4. *Col 2:7, 8.

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Daily Bible Nugget #303, Romans 1:7

Posted on July 1, 2014 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Rom 1:7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

My Comment:

Who would have ever thought that God would address a book to all of us very ordinary people? Yet that is just exactly what He has done. The Bible says so, many times over. Notice Paul addressed his letter, our book of Romans, to people he calls saints. That word has been taken over in some quarters and exclusively applied, it would seem, only to such very holy people that the Church has declared them saints–as if leaving the rest of us out of the picture. That is not what God has done. God has repeatedly addressed His Book to the ordinary person. Christians were all called saints when Paul wrote his most important letter to have come down to us, the book of Romans. Saints are, more literally, holy ones. They are holy ones because they have placed their faith in the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ, and Jesus has made them whole again, made them into new creatures in Christ, now possessed of a new nature by the not just forgiveness of their sins, but as the word in Greek often translated “forgive” actually means, the removal of sins.

But the point is, the book of Romans or the Bible as a whole was not addressed to kings, priests, or religious leaders, but to very ordinary Christian believers, people every bit like you and me. This has a profound meaning.

The Perspicuity of Scripture is proven by to whom the Bible was actually addressed! Since it was addressed to very ordinary people, it can be understood by very ordinary people. And that is good news indeed. It is also Proof Seven for the Perspicuity of Scripture. Remember, “perspicuity” is a fancy word used to express the simple idea that the Bible declares itself understandable.

Since the Bible is understandable, this ought to be an encouragement to you to read it.

For those who desire to DIG DEEPER into this subject:

(1) Consult the cross references given in Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible on page 1271 for Romans 1:7.

(2) Consult the cross references given in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge on page 1292 or in Logos 5 Bible software for Romans 1:7.

(3) Lacking access to those two resources, consult the cross references for this passage as I have developed them as given below:

Romans 1:7. To all. FS13, +Ep 3:14. The salutation commenced in verse 1 is resumed. T#1116. Ac 15:23. *1 Cor 1:2. 2 Cor 1:1. Phil 1:1. *Col 1:2. James 1:1, 2. *1 P 1:1, 2. 1 J 2:7, 12-14. Jude 1:1. Re 2:1, 8, 12, 18, 29. 3:1, 7, 14, 22. that be in. Ep 1:1. Phil 1:1. Col 1:1. Rome. ver. Ro 1:15. +*Ac 2:10. 28:16. +2 Tim 1:17. beloved of God. Ro 5:8. 8:39. *Ro 9:25. *Dt 33:12. Ps 60:5. Song 5:1. Ep 1:6. *Col 3:12. 1 Th 1:4. 2 Th 2:13, 14. *1 Tim 6:2. 1 J 4:10. called. ver. +Ro 1:6. Ro 8:28. 1 Cor 1:2. *Col 3:15. *1 Th 4:7. *He 3:1. *1 P 1:15. *2 P 1:3. to be. FS63K, +Ge 37:13. saints. or, holy ones, hagios, not “saints” as in the OT sense of consecration or separation, and so ceremonial or declarative. The term is used here in the moral or regenerative sense of persons made holy or Christlike (Lavender NT, fn. d). Ro 16:15. Ex 19:5, 6. Le 11:44. *Le 19:2. Ps 16:3. Hab 1:13. Ac 9:13, 32. 1 Cor 1:2. 7:14. +2 Cor 1:1. Ep 1:4. He 13:12. Grace. T#1542. Ro 3:24. 16:20. Ex 33:13. *Nu 6:23-27. 1 Ch 29:10. Ps 108:6. 1 Cor 1:3, etc. 1 Cor 16:23. 2 Cor 1:2. *2 Cor 13:14. Ga 1:3. Ep 1:1, 2, 7. *Ep 2:7, 8. Phil 1:2. 4:23. Col 1:2. 1 Th 1:1. 5:28. 2 Th 1:1, 2, 12. 3:18. 1 Tim 1:2. 6:21. 2 Tim 1:2. 4:22. Titus 1:4. 3:15. Phm 1:3, 25. *He 4:16. 13:25. 1 P 1:1, 2. *1 P 5:10. *2 P 1:2. +2 J 1:3. Jude 1:2. Re 1:4, 5. 22:21. peace. FS171I9B, +Is 57:19. See on +*Ro 5:1. Ge 43:23. Jg 6:23. 19:20. Ezr 4:17. Ps 85:8. *Ps 122:6. Da 4:1. Lk 19:42. 24:36. *Jn 14:27. 20:19, 26. *Ga 5:22. 6:16. **Phil 4:7. 1 Th 1:1. 1 Tim 1:2. 2 Tim 1:2. 1 P 5:14. +2 J 1:3. God our Father. *Ro 8:15. *Mt 5:16. +*Mt 6:8, 9. Lk 11:2. *Jn 20:17. *2 Cor 6:18. Ga 1:4. 4:6. Phil 4:20. *1 Th 1:3. 2 Th 1:1. *1 J 3:1. and the Lord. +*Jn 5:23. +**Ac 7:59, 60. 1 Cor 16:23. *2 Cor 12:8-10. *2 Cor 13:14. Ga 1:3. 6:18. *Ep 6:23, 24. *Phil 4:13, 23. *1 Th 3:11-13. 5:28. 2 Th 2:16, 17. 3:16, 18. 2 Tim 4:22. Phm 1:25. Re 22:21.

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Daily Bible Nugget #302, Romans 10:17

Posted on June 30, 2014 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

My Comment:

The sixth proof for the Perspicuity of Scripture is found in Romans 10:17, which states that the Bible is understandable because it is the source of faith.

As you either hear the Word of God in Scripture, or read the Scripture for yourself, you really will discover that the Scripture produces faith in your life. For me, I was not expecting anything unusual as I first read the New Testament seriously. I was not looking for saving faith, or even salvation, for at the time I did not realize I was not saved. But God through His written Word by means of the working of His Holy Spirit brought me to saving faith and a personal knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ as I have mentioned here many times. If you will receive the truth of God’s Word as you read it, God can and will do the same for you so that you can absolutely know that you have everlasting life (John 5:24; 1 John 5:13).

But notice what this proves. The Bible is understandable! It could not produce saving faith if it were not understandable.

So, though this may be contrary to what you have been taught, though it be contrary to what some churches teach, the Bible itself declares it is understandable. I have now furnished you six specific proofs from the Bible that establish that the Bible claims to be understandable. The doctrine of the Perspicuity of Scripture, therefore, is firmly established.

For those who desire to DIG DEEPER into this subject:

(1) Consult the cross references given in Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible on page 1290 for Romans 10:17.

(2) Consult the cross references given in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge on page 1311 or in Logos 5 Bible software for Romans 10:17.

(3) Lacking access to those two resources, consult the cross references for this passage as I have developed them as given below:

Romans 10:17. faith. ver. Ro 10:8, *Ro 10:14. **Ro 1:16. *Lk 16:29-31. *1 Cor 1:18-24. Ga 3:2, 5. Ep 2:8. *Col 1:4-6. **1 Th 2:13. *2 Th 2:13, 14. *He 4:2. *James 1:18-21. *1 P 1:23-25. *1 P 2:1, 2. by hearing. T#888. **Ro 1:16. Jb 42:5. Ps 18:44. *Ps 19:7, 8, 11. *Ps 119:105, 130. Pr 6:23. 8:33, 34. Is 2:3. 55:2, 3, 10-12. *Mk 4:24, 25. Lk 9:11. Jn 1:37. **Jn 5:39. 6:63. **Jn 20:31. Ac 4:4. 10:22, 36-43. 15:7. +**Ac 17:11, 12. 1 Cor 1:21. *Ga 3:2, 5. Ep 1:13. Col 1:6. He 4:2. *James 1:21. *2 P 1:19. *Re 1:3. and hearing. FS16, +Ge 1:27. +*Je 23:28, 29. *Mk 4:24. Lk 8:11, 21. +*Lk 11:28. *2 Cor 2:17. **He 4:12, 13. Re 1:9. by the word. Gr. rhēma (S#4487g), Mk 9:32n. T#1115. ver. Ro 10:8. *Pr 4:20-22. **1 Th 2:13. +**2 Tim 3:15-17. *James 1:18. *1 P 1:23. of God. Lk 3:2. **Lk 4:4. Jn 3:34. **Jn 8:47. Ep 6:17. He 6:5. 11:3. 13:7. **1 P 1:25. Significant ancient authorities support the alternate reading “of Christ,” but Gifford cites Meyer, De Wette, Lange, Philippi, etc., who “agree in regarding it as a gloss intended to define more precisely the meaning of “by the word of God.” Furthermore, if the alternate reading is accepted, it is the only occurrence of rēma Christou in the New Testament. Jn 5:38. 8:37. Col 3:16. 1 P 1:11. 1 J 1:10.

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Daily Bible Nugget #301, James 1:18

Posted on June 29, 2014 by Jerry

The Nugget:

James 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

My Comment:

The fifth proof of the Perspicuity of Scripture is found in James 1:18, which states we have been born again, born of God, with the word of truth in the Bible.

I saw an interesting discussion on a new website devoted to discussing Bible questions and theology. The discussion thread that caught my attention immediately was about prevenient grace, a Bible subject sometimes advanced by Arminian theologians in opposition or in contrast to irresistible grace, a theological subject often advanced by Calvinistic theologians. You will find neither term (“prevenient,” or “irresistible”) in the Bible itself. The concept behind “prevenient grace” is most clearly seen at Philippians 2:12, 13 and here at James 1:18 with James 4:8. The idea is that as anyone draws near to God, God will draw near to that person in grace, with the Holy Spirit at work to prepare and open the heart (Acts 16:14) when the Word of God in the Bible is heard or read (James 1:18).

Well, I didn’t enter the discussion I saw. I could see that too many presuppositions based upon Calvinism and a lack of information available to the participants would make the discussion of the subject difficult to advance in line with what the Bible itself teaches. The biggest and likely fatal mistake made by the Calvinists is the failure to carefully observe the grammar underlying the proof texts Calvinists use to support their position.

But in any case, there is nothing in the Bible, rightly interpreted in accordance with the underlying grammar, that would support the idea of irresistible grace. God’s grace and God’s love may indeed be resisted and is resisted by anyone who refuses to come to the light (John 3:19; John 5:40; Acts 7:51). It is a matter of the personal will and personal choice to believe the provision for our salvation that God has declared in the Gospel. To be saved, we must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31). It is a command to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (1 John 3:23).

Grammatically speaking, commands are given in the imperative mood. Thus by the imperative mood God is appealing to the will of man to obey to receive the benefit obedience brings. God’s provision of salvation has been made for all (2 Corinthians 5:14, 15; 1 Timothy 2:6; Hebrews 2:9; 1 John 2:2). The benefits of that provision are reserved for those who meet and fulfill the stipulated conditions (John 3:16; John 5:24; John 10:27). Jesus made it very plain that “narrow is the way,” and “few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:14).

The perspicuity of Scripture–the understandability of Scripture–is proven by the fact that God uses His written Word in the Bible to bring us to saving faith in our Lord Jesus Christ (James 1:18).

For those who desire to DIG DEEPER into this subject:

(1) Consult the cross references given in Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible on page 1447 for James 1:18.

(2) Consult the cross references given in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge on pages 1465-1466 or in Logos 5 Bible software for James 1:18.

(3) Lacking access to those two resources, consult the cross references for this passage as I have developed them as given below:

James 1:18. Of his own will. or, Having willed. Gr. boulemai (S#1014g, Mt 1:19). Je 31:3. Da 11:3. Mt 20:15. **Jn 1:12, 13. **Jn 3:3-5. Ro 4:17. +*Ro 8:29-31. 9:15-18. 12:2. +1 Cor 12:11. Ep 1:5, 19. 2:4, 5. Phil 1:29. Col 1:20, 21. 1 Th 4:3. *2 Th 2:13, 14. Titus 3:5. He 6:17. 8:10. *1 P 1:3, 23. 4:2. 1 J 4:10. begat. Gr. apokueō (S#616g, ver. James 1:15). T#1114. Nu 11:12. Dt 32:18. Ps 7:14. 22:9. 80:18. 87:4-6. 89:26, 27. +*Ps 119:50. Mt 13:38. Mk 4:8. Ro 8:14. 1 Cor 4:15. Ga 4:19. *Titus 2:14. *Titus 3:5, 6. *1 P 1:3, 23. 2 P 1:4. 1 J 2:29. 3:9. 5:1, 18. with. ver. +*James 1:21. *Is 55:11. 1 Cor 4:15. Ep 1:12. **1 Th 2:13. +*2 Tim 3:15. **1 P 1:23. *1 J 3:9. the word of truth. ver. James 1:21, 22, 23. 1 S 9:27. Ps 17:4. 19:7. +*Ps 119:43, 160. *Ec 12:10. Da 10:21. Mt 4:4. Jn 6:63. 17:7, 8, 17. **Ro 10:17. 2 Cor 6:7. Ep 1:13. 5:26. Phil 2:16. **Col 1:5. 2 Tim 2:15. *He 4:12. 10:26. 1 P 1:23, 25. that we. Ep 1:12. +*Ep 2:12. firstfruits. Ex 4:22. 22:29. 34:26. +*Le 23:10, 17. 27:26. Nu 15:20. 18:12. 28:26. Dt 18:4. 26:2, 10. 2 Ch 31:5. Ne 10:35. Je 2:3. Ezk 20:40. 44:30. Am 6:1mg. Ro 8:19-23. 11:16. 16:5. 1 Cor 15:20, 23. 16:15. *He 12:23. *Re 14:4. of his creatures. Nu 8:17. Ps 8:5, 6. Ro 8:16-21. 1 Cor 6:2, 3. 1 Tim 4:4.

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