Principles for Bible Study: Consistency

Intro: The Bible is constant, never in disagreement with itself. So, whenever we come across a text that has us confused, and wondering does this disagree with another passage, the answer is always? __________. My understanding is what at the moment disagrees… That is why we use principles for Bible study to help us as we seek the Lord through His word!

Standards: Standards are meant to remain constant. Here in America we use the imperial measurement system which is our standard for measurements. Could you imagine if the standard was constantly changing. It would create a state of chaos…

Hebrews 13:8 KJV 1900

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Malachi 3:6 KJV 1900

For I am the Lord, I change not; Therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

Psalm 119:89 KJV 1900

LAMED. For ever, O Lord, Thy word is settled in heaven.

Isaiah 40:8 KJV 1900

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: But the word of our God shall stand for ever.

Matthew 24:35 KJV 1900

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

1 Peter 1:25 KJV 1900

But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

When we misinterpret the Bible, we are the ones who put in inconsistencies.

Example: Grace…

The very first place in the Bible we see the word grace used is

Genesis 6:8 KJV 1900

But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

Some today would teach that the grace that Noah recieved from God is different than the grace that you and I receive but wouldn’t that be an inconsistency?

Read: Genesis 6:8-14.

Now did the grace that Noah receive from God do something different than the grace that we receive from God?

Titus 2:11–14 KJV 1900

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Salvation - that appeared to all men. 2 Peter 2:5 “And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;”

Teaching to deny ungodliness and worldly lust 2 Peter 1:2 “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,”

Teaching to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.

Looking for the blessed hope. 1 Peter 5:10 “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”

That HE might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Hebrews 12:28 “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:”

We could summarize this teaching of grace as bringing salvation and then teaching us and producing a walk that is pleasing to the one who saved us all while, looking for Christ our blessed hope.

Ephesians 2:7–10 KJV 1900

That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

1 Corinthians 15:10 KJV 1900

But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

1 Corinthians 3:10 KJV 1900

According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

Now is this the same grace that Noah found? The Bible tells us in Genesis 6:9 “...and Noah walked with God.”

Hebrews 11:7 KJV 1900

By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

The grace that God showed Noah, saved him, taught him, lead him to walk with God, and caused him to look for that blessed hope...

Hebrews 11:13–16 KJV 1900

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

Closing: We live in a time where the word grace is used with much inconsistency. Not because God uses it inconsistently but because man interprets it in his own understanding. Jude 4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Satan uses the Bible against those who believe the Bible… By using the very thing that saved them, and tweak the meaning just a little bit, to make it about them, and in turn actually denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. That is done when grace of God becomes a work that men claim allow them to sin...

Romans 6:14 KJV 1900

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

It is enough! 2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Jesus is speaking to Paul and the reason that the grace of Christ was sufficient was because it was Christ! Any form of grace that goes against who HE is, is not of Him! To add to grace is to deny the sufficiency of grace and therefore is to deny Christ! That is what Paul means when he says to the Galatians, ye have fallen from grace...

2 Corinthians 9:8 KJV 1900

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

Acts 11:23 KJV 1900

Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.

Acts 13:43–44 KJV 1900

Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.

King James Version 2 John

2 John 3

3 hGrace be with you, mercy, and hpeace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.