The Art of Understanding God’s Word

Before we begin our Biblical Journey of Discovery, it’s important to establish what we’re preparing to do here.

We want to know God, and in Where in the Word is God Hiding?, we learned that God has hidden Himself in His Word. That means to find God, we must look for Him in His Word.

However, simply reading the Bible like a storybook isn’t going to achieve our goal because, being seekers of God of Jacob, we understand that there is more hidden beneath the surface of what we see with our naked eyes.

The Prophet Isaiah guides those who seek knowledge and understanding of biblical doctrine when he says:‬

Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: or with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

‭Isaiah 28:9–13 KJV

And the Apostle Paul explains the need to be weaned from spiritual milk when he says:

For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

‭Hebrews 5:13–14 KJV‬

You must drink spiritual milk before you can eat spiritual meat.

What Paul means by this is that those who do not yet understand the fundamental concepts of doctrine, cannot expect to be able to grasp the more advanced aspects of God’s Word because they will struggle to discern the truth of the Word from a deception they conceived in their mind as they wrestle with Scripture for understanding.

This is the case because Isaiah tells us: “Precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little”. A discerning spirit that is developed over time with practice is required to accurately and appropriately piece together the jigsaw puzzle that is the Word of God.

A complete understanding of Biblical concepts is only obtained by finding multiple verses and passages in God’s Word that all speak of the same concept or topic. As you search the Scripture and continue to find new pieces, it is easy to come to false conclusions because of what some verses seem to imply on their own, but when they are viewed holistically in the proper context by one who has an experienced spirit to discern the right from the wrong, a completely different conclusion may become evident.

Paul goes on to explain what spiritual milk is when he says:

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit.

‭Hebrews 6:1–3 KJV‬

According to Paul, the principles of the doctrine of Christ are:

1. Understanding Repentance from Dead Works,
2. Understanding Faith in God,
3. Understanding Baptisms,
4. Understanding the Laying on of Hands,
5. Understanding the Resurrection of the Dead, and
6. Understanding Eternal Judgment.

He refers to them as: “the principles of the doctrine of Christ” because these were the things Christ taught His disciples while He was with them. All of these principles are the spiritual milk that every disciple of Christ must understand before they can “go on unto perfection”, which is to know God and to be known by Him.

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. ‭

1 Corinthians 13:12 KJV‬

So in simple terms, we just need to learn the Six Principles of the Doctrine of Christ before we go on to finding God.

Let‘s do this!

Thank you for taking the time to read this study.

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Here’s a convenient link to the next study in this series:

Principles of the Doctrine of Christ Series — Pt.1: Repentance from Dead Works