"Does The Bible Say..." (2)

Exegesis vs. Eisegesis

Eisegesis = The practice of reading meaning into the biblical text, as opposed to the drawing out the meaning that is already there.

Exegesis = The obtaining of meaning of a passage by drawing the meaning out from, rather than reading it into, the text.

When one reads into the text, one proclaims the text is not adequate as it is written.

Think about the implication of God needing the input of man as though He was not adequate.

John 1:1 (ESV)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Jesus is the Word.

The Word incarnate.

The Word present.

The Word immaculate.

The Word forever True.

The Word sufficient.

If Jesus is sufficient, then the Word is sufficient.

A secondary implication of reading into the text is the creation of false doctrine.

Where do most Cults begin?

Before we answer…we should know that cults have been so prominent that even Teen Vogue has written articles on them as late as April of 2023.

Most cults begin with a mis-interpretation or mis-representation of Scripture.

Can two interpretations of the same passage be correct at the same time?

There answer is a resounding: NO!

So is all scripture open to our interpretation? Does it matter what “it means to me or you” if it meant something different to the one who authored it?

There answer is a resounding: NO!

Let’s Dive into tonight’s passage.

Galatians 6:7 ESV

7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.

Our passage is one that is often read and often misquoted, misinterpreted, and misrepresented.

When people read this passage they also read:

Proverbs 22:8 (ESV)

8 Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity, and the rod of his fury will fail.

and

Luke 6:38 (ESV)

38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

The most common mis-interpretation of these passages call it Christian Karma.

Christian & Karma— Do these words go together?

Christianity and Karma are conversely connected to one another.

Karma — “The force generated by a person’s actions held in Hinduism and Buddhism to perpetuate transmigration and in its ethical consequences to determine the nature of the person’s next existence.”

In sanskrit the word Karma means: “To do or act.”

The law of Karma “is more than merely the idea that one reaps what one sows. 

It teaches that every thought or deed, whether they are good or bad, will have consequences that will determine how an individual will be reborn in another life and what will happen in their next incarnation on earth.”

Even if one though this to be consistent with some teachings of the Bible, it would be in opposition to others.

Think of our message last Sunday.

Are we earning salvation?

Are we receiving righteousness based on our works: good or bad?

Galatians 2:16 (ESV)

16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

The Answer is: NO!

What does Christianity teach?

Galatians 6:7 (ESV)

7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.

Out of context and with a misunderstanding of Karma this verse seems connected to the idea.

But what is our context and what does the verse mean?

Context:

Galatians 6:1 ESV

1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

The idea here is a person taken by surprise, over taken, or detected.

Being that the word caught is in passive voice we can posit that this, though it may be a grievous sin, is not a lifestyle of sin.

Paul is exhorting along the lines of restoration .

Galatians 6:2–6 (ESV)

2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor.

5 For each will have to bear his own load.

6 Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches.

Paul exhorts:

bear one another’s burdens

be sober in thought

reciprocate in the Word

Paul says in vs. 1, “you who are spiritual”:

restore

be aware

Outflows:

Hold fast to truth

Actions have and earthly consequence

Walking Away, But In...

We have a consequence for our actions, but it is temporal

Our eternity does not rest in the good we do now.