Monday, December 22, 2014

Advice on reading the Bible

The first lesson we get in reading the Bible is this one: Look to Jesus as its central Story. …

Second lesson in Bible reading: looking to Jesus means following him and through him the Torah. …

Third lesson in Bible reading: following Jesus really means following Jesus, and it matters eternally. …

Fourth lesson in Bible reading: we are challenged to be better than nonfollowers. Followers are marked by a greater righteousness or by more righteousness.— Sermon on the Mount, pages 68, 69, 70-71

<idle musing>
Following this simple advice would prevent a lot of strange interpretations. And, yes, Jesus really does want you to obey him! But not on your own strength; it's called synergism—God and man working together. You obey, he empowers the obedience.

Too simple, isn't it? You don't obey to placate God or pay him back for all he's done. You obey by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. That's it.
</idle musing>

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