Studying something is a personal process. What works for one does not
necessarily work for another. Beyond doing what works best for you in the
process of studying the Bible, I have two important points to share
regarding your study journey in the Word of God. Both these points are spoken
of and confirmed within the Bible and is advice that is critical to note and
adhere to.
Point #1
Scripture is inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21); it is God's words and God's plan. Anyone can pick up the bible and read it and learn some facts, BUT unless you have the Spirit of God within you** you will never truly know and understand the underlying heart of the Word, and you'll never really connect with the deeper revelations within it.
**How does one get the Spirit of God? This happens at the moment of salvation when one responds in faith to the gospel of the grace of God; believing that Christ's death and burial is for the forgiveness of one's sins, and that by His resurrection one is justified before God, (see 1 Cor.15:1-4; Rom.4:25).
Notice what is written below to confirm Point #1,
1 Cor.2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
It is interesting to note that the salvation message has the power to save a lost soul, Rom.1:16. The gospel is the only portion of scripture that is laid open and made plain to everyone. However, the mysteries of the Bible will never be understood until one's spirit is quickened by the indwelling Holy Spirit at salvation.
So, if you really want to study the scriptures and delve into the mysteries of God's heart and wisdom, you have to FIRST come to God and receive His Spirit by means of the cross-work of His Son.
Point #2
The second, and absolutely necessary thing to know before studying the Bible is that it is not all written (or addressed) to you. The 66 books of the Bible were written by about 40 different writers, over the period of about 1500-years, who lived in different countries, spoke different languages and came from different backgrounds. They didn't all address their writings to you and for you. Most of the Bible is written to a special and called out group of people called, the Jews (Exo.19:5–6), and contains law and prophecy for a program (or dispensation) based on how God chose to use them to bring salvation to the Gentile world. (During this period of the Jews, salvation was of them, John 4:22). The laws, instructions, practices, rituals, ordinances, and traditions of the Jews do not apply to us today! Why? Because we are under a different program (or dispensation), Gal.3:28. Our dispensation today is not by the Jew, but by grace, the grace that God provided by the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, for your sins.
So, to summarize point #2; although ALL the Bible is for our learning and understanding, to gain knowledge of the greater plan of God for our salvation, we need to find out and study that which is written in particular to us. We can learn of the Jews and their customs and relationship with God, but that will not help us to understand and live what God requires of us today. God has a different format of living for us, which is by faith in His Son and by the instruction of His Spirit within us. Living by the laws and ordinances of the Jews will not bring us closer to God today! Paul says the following,
Phil.3:7 7 But what things were gain to me [the law and the ordinances of the Jews], these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;
Paul was a Jew, but when He was called by God to start the dispensation of grace (a dispensation which provides salvation outside of the means of Israel), Paul tells us that what was good and necessary in the previous dispensation is now of loss and of inconsequence in this new grace dispensation. It is not laws and ordinances that will save by means of Israel, but now it is faith in Christ alone.
When we study the Bible now, we must take this into account. We must divide that which is for the Jew and set that aside in order to focus on that which is of relevance to us today. Because Paul was called to be the apostle of the Gentiles (Rom.11:13), it is his writings, his epistles, that contains the information that is administered to us today. We must study and apply the content in Paul's letters so that we can live in the way God requires of us today.
2 Tim.2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
If you choose to study the Bible, use the techniques and comforts that work for you. However, before you get to that point, you must make sure that you have the Spirit of God within you, who will interpret the scriptures for you, and teach you of its deeper heart and mysteries. In addition, study the right parts of scripture. Learn for the whole of the book, but put into practice only those parts that are specifically addressed to you.
God bless you on your journeys through the inspired Word.
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