Important Note To Students And Teachers
Too often Christians approach Bible study defensively and negatively. Too often Christians approach Bible study with only a selective focus that notes differences between the Old and New Testaments. Too seldom do Christians approach the Bible with a desire to see God's unity of emphasis in addressing His chosen people in both the Old and New Testaments.
Christians should approach every study of the Bible with "eyes" and "ears" wide open. As individual Christians grow spiritually and mature in understanding, they "see" and "hear" truthful, accurate divine emphases that escaped their attention previously. It is extremely important for spiritual maturing through spiritual development to occur. Twice New Testament writers state that those who first received their letters were incapable of understanding things the writer wanted to share (1 Corinthians 3:1-3; Hebrews 5:11-14).
If you wish to gauge your own openness to spiritual growth in the direction of God's holiness and completeness, ask yourself four questions.
Question 1: "Do I feel constrained to force everything I study from the Bible to 'fit' inside the boundaries of my personal, predetermined belief system?" An attempt to force everything in God's Word to "fit" conclusions held before a study began often closes our "eyes" and "ears" as we approach the study.
Question 2: "Do I feel the necessity [urgency?] to reject clear Bible teachings when those teachings disagree with my belief system?" When Christians feel compelled to disregard a Bible teaching [studied and understood within its context] because it conflicts with personal beliefs, they may be listening to themselves and their religious history, not to their God.
Question 3: "Is my belief system founded on fear or faith?" The fear in this question is the fear produced by terror, not by reverence. Faith in God opens a Christian's "eyes" and "ears." Fear terrorizing a Christian closes his or her "eyes" and "ears."
Question 4: "As I 'look' at God, do I conclude God is pleased by inactivity that 'takes no chances' instead of activity that seeks God's purposes?" Read Matthew 25:14-30. Note the servant who followed this conviction in fear. Note he returned to his master precisely what he received from his master [the master sustained no loss]. Note how upset the master was with him. Note the master classified him as worthless.
This quarter's study will focus on God's concept of godly character and integrity in the lives of people devoted to God. Hopefully, this study will increase your awareness of God's unity of emphasis as He revealed and stressed godly character and integrity to His people in both the Old and New Testaments. Hopefully, this study will cause your basic concepts of godly character and integrity to grow toward the holiness and purity of your God and Savior.