Many people are under the mistaken impression that
what the Bible says is just a matter of opinion. However, the proper
way to study Scripture is to begin with those truths that are so
clearly stated in Scripture that there is no debate as to the fact that
they are in the Bible. I am not saying that everyone will accept them,
just that no one will be able to dispute the fact that they are in the
Bible. For example: While there are many who reject what the Bible says
about a six-day creation, no one can deny the fact that the Bible says,
“For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that
in them is” (Exodus 20:11). Likewise, no one can deny the fact that the
words “the evening and the morning” are used in connection with each
one of the creation days (Genesis 1:5,8,13,19,23,31). Those truths are
beyond dispute because they can be verified by anyone willing to look
up the references.
In the same vein, no one can dispute the fact that
the Bible says, “We are the clay, and thou our potter,” and “Hath not
the potter power over the clay?” Yet, both of those statements reveal
the spiritual significance of creation in regard to our relationship to
God (Isaiah 64:8, Romans 9:21). In addition, the words, “I suffer not a
woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in
silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve,” tell us the significance
of creation in regard to the roles of men and women (1Timothy 2:12-13).
The words, “And hath made of one blood all nations of men,” tell us the
significance of creation in regard to our relationship to other races
and nationalities (Acts 17:26). And, the words, “He which made them at
the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall
a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they
twain shall be one flesh… What therefore God hath joined together, let
not man put asunder” tell us the significance of creation in regard to
marriage and divorce (Matt 18:4-6).
However, the fact that God created the first man and
woman in His “own image,” makes it clear that God is not responsible
for sin, and that He is fully justified in condemning our sins (Genesis
1:27). We are told that God “Made man upright,” that everything He
created, including man, was originally, “Very good,” and that there was
no sin in the world prior to Adam’s transgression (Genesis 1:31,
Ecclesiastes 7:29, Romans 5:12).
The spiritual significance of Adam’s fall into sin
is revealed by such words as, “There is none righteous, no, not one, //
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked, // By
one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death
passed upon all men, for that all have sinned,” and we are “By nature
the children of wrath” (Romans 3:10 and 5:12, Jeremiah 17:9, Ephesians
2:3). Furthermore, just as these passages relate to the fall because
they reveal our fallen nature and need of a Savior, the entire law of
God relates to the fall, because it too reveals our fallen nature and
need of a Savior. [Romans, chapter five, contains a number of verses
that deal with the spiritual significance of the fall.]
The fact that Christ is called, “The mighty God”
(Isaiah 9:6), “The Son of God” (Luke 1:35), and, “God with us” (Matthew
1:23), all in connection with His virgin birth, reveals the intimate
relationship between His birth and His deity. Therefore, everything
that the Bible says about His deity relates to what it says about His
birth. Furthermore, since everyone born in the normal way is a sinner,
the fact that He was “without sin,” reveals the relationship of His
unique birth to the sinless aspect of His nature (Romans 3:10, Hebrews
4:15). Finally, the fact that He, “Came into the world to save
sinners,” reveals that the very purpose of His birth was our salvation
(1Timothy 1:15).
[NOTE: In regard to His birth, we are also told that He is, “From
everlasting” (Micah 5:2), that He existed, “From the beginning” (Isaiah
48:16), and that, “All things were made by Him” (John 1:3,14).]
The Bible reveals the spiritual significance of
Christ’s death when it tells us that He was, “Wounded for our
transgressions” (Isaiah 53:5), “Offered to bear” our sins (Hebrews
9:8), and, “Died for our sins” (1Corinthians 15:3). It goes on to tell
us that we are cleansed, “From all sin”, “justified”, and, “Made
righteous”, “By His blood” (1John 1:7, Romans 5:9&19). Moreover,
the fact that His death is described as a “sacrifice,” an “atonement,”
a “propitiation,” and a “redemption” further reveals the meaning of His
death, while telling us what that death accomplished in regard to our
own salvation (Hebrews 9:26, Romans 5:11, 1John 2:2 and 4:10,
Colossians 1:14).
Words such as, “If Christ, be not raised, your faith
is vain; ye are yet in your sins,” or “Who was… raised again for our
justification,” reveal the spiritual significance of Christ’s
resurrection, (1Corinthians 15:17, Romans 4:25). By rising from the
dead Christ revealed to the world His victory over death, and His
victory is the basis of our assurance that He will raise us up. That is
why Peter said, “God… hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” and why Paul devoted much
of First Corinthians fifteen to the hope of the resurrection (1Peter
1:3). In short, Christ was raised from the dead that we might have
faith [hope], and through faith, justification, new birth, and
deliverance from our sins. [It is worthy of note that all three persons
of the Trinity had a part in Christ’s resurrection (Galatians 1:1, John
10:18, 1 Peter 3:18).]
The spiritual significance of Christ’s ascension
into heaven consists of three things. First, it is only because Christ
ascended into heaven that the Holy Spirit was sent into the world (John
16:7-13). Second, since Christ sits at the right hand of God, He is our
“advocate with the Father,” and as our advocate [lawyer] makes
“intercession for us” (1John 2:1, Romans 8:24, Hebrews 7:25). And
third, because Christ ascended into heaven, we are assured that He will
return in glory to judge both the living and the dead (John 14:3,
2Timothy 4:1, Colossians 3:4).
The spiritual significance of Christ’s return is
revealed in the fact that all men will be judged “according to their
works” (Revelation 20:12-13). However, what all too many fail to
realize is that because “the blood of Jesus Christ… cleanseth us from
all sin,” (1John 1:7) those who trust in Christ, “shall not come into
condemnation”(John 5:24), for there is “no condemnation to them which
are in Christ Jesus”(Romans 8:1). Therefore, for a Christian, the
spiritual significance of Christ’s return is heaven and eternal life;
while for an unbeliever, it is condemnation, separation from God, and
eternal torment (Mark 16:16, Revelation 14:11).
In regard to the day of Judgement, the Bible tells
us that Christ will judge both the, “living and the dead” (2Timothy
4:1), both believers and unbelievers (Matthew 25:31), on the day of
“His appearing” (2Timothy 4:1). We are also told that judgement shall
take place on “the last day” (John 12:48), and that on that day, “all
that are in the graves shall hear His voice, And shall come forth”
(John 5:28-29). “The elements shall melt with fervent heat” (2Peter
3:4&12), and there will be a new heavens and a new earth (2Peter
3:13) wherein all who trust in Christ will dwell with Him in His,
“everlasting kingdom” (2Peter 1:11, John 18:36, 2Timothy 4:1).
I began by pointing out that in studying Scripture,
we must begin with those truths that are so clearly stated in Scripture
that there is no debate as to the fact that they are in the Bible. Once
we have learned those truths, “line upon line, line upon line; here a
little and there a little,” we are then able to straighten out our own
thinking by judging and rejecting every interpretation, conclusion,
assumption, idea, philosophy, or opinion that contradicts what the
Bible clearly and explicitly says (1Corinthians 11:31, Isaiah 28:10 and
8:20, 2Corinthians 10:5).