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October
Some use Sunday to catch up on Bible reading missed during the week. Others prefer to double up on their reading on Saturday in order to set aside the Sabbath for church and fellowship. Either way, if you consistently read Scripture in the 15 or 20 minute increments shown above for an entire year, you will read all of Scripture in just one year.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
This Month’s Reading
The January through September issues of All Scripture Advocate provided a guide for the systematic reading of the Old Testament. The October through December issues will provide a systematic guide through the New Testament. This month’s reading includes the first three gospels: Matthew, Mark and Luke.
Misusing Scripture
Scripture always represents the truth. But, Scripture not viewed in the context of all of Scripture can be misused to support untruth. When Jesus was led into the wilderness after being baptized by John the Baptist, Satan tempted Jesus:
“If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you and in their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone’” (Matthew 4:5-6).
Satan quoted Psalm 91:11-12 in his attempt to tempt Jesus. In context, Psalm 91 exhorts us to trust God. Out of context, Satan attempted to use the truth of Scripture to replace trust with a test.
Jesus responded to Satan’s incorrect use of Scripture with the correct use of Scripture, by quoting Deuteronomy 6:16:
“it is written again, you shall not tempt the Lord your God” (Matthew 4:7).
How do we recognize whether Scripture is being used correctly or incorrectly? Hopefully, readers of All Scripture Advocate will by now be able to quickly answer this question: “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Two Testaments, One Bible
As we read the New Testament, let us not forget the foundation laid by the Old Testament. Let us also remember that the New Testament completes, not replaces, the Old.
By encouraging the systematic reading of all of Scripture, All Scripture Advocate seeks to equip the saints with the knowledge necessary to recognize the difference between a lie, even when “supported” by Scripture, and the truth.
A Lie We are no longer “under the law but under grace” (Romans 6:14). Whereas the Old Testament delineates God’s law, the New Testament presents God’s grace. In short, the Old Testament (specifically the Law) no longer applies. ).
Those that hold this position are, in effect, asserting that New Testament grace destroys (supersedes) Old Testament law. Jesus succinctly corrected this erroneous view:
The Truth “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you,till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled” (Matthew 5:17-18).
The lie that the New Testament replaces the Old Testament is expressed by some who hold the position that the God of the Old Testament was a God of justice (wrath) and the God of the New Testament is a God of mercy (love). Those who maintain this view forget two things:
1) Jesus Christ is the same yes- terday, today and forever”
(Hebrews 13:8);
2) Jesus defines love in the New Testament by referring to the commandments of the Old Testament: “if you love Me, keep my command ments” (John 14:15).
Anyone who pictures God as either a God of justice or a God of mercy rather than a God of justice and mercy will have a distorted view of the God of the Bible.
Jesus Use of Parables
Jesus taught primarily by way of stories with a spiritual message or principle (parables). “And with many such parables He spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it. But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples” (Mark 4:33-34).
Will all who read the parables of Jesus contained in the Gospels comprehend the message of those parables? Jesus provides the answer to that question in the Gospel of Mark:
“To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables, so that seeing they may see and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not understand; lest they should turn, and their sins be forgiven them” (Mark 4:11-12).
To those “who are outside,” a parable is a riddle which obscures Scripture from their understanding as prophesied in Isaiah 6:9-10, which Jesus quotes in Mark 4:12 above (see italics). To those called of God, a parable becomes divinely inspired truth and the source of all wisdom.
As we read the parables of Jesus Christ with understanding, we should “know that the Lord, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves . . . be thankful to Him, and bless His name” (Psalm 100:3-4).
Prayer
The Gospel of Luke stresses the importance of prayer. We see Jesus praying before crucial moments in His ministry. The Gospels record nine of the prayers of Christ to His Father, seven of which are found only in Luke. Parables about prayer are also found throughout Luke. In Luke, Jesus provides us with a model prayer:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one (Luke 11:2-4).
As familiar as this model prayer may be, we would each greatly benefit by meditating on the key elements of this prayer:
Our Father in Heaven - Jesus establishes immediately that we can approach His Heavenly Father, the King of Kings, as children would a father. What an awesome privilege?!
Your will be done - Here we read the bottom line to any petition we put before our Father in Heaven.
“. . . if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him” (1 John 5:14-15).
Give us this day our daily bread - God shall supply all of our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).
Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us - “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteous-ness” (1 John 1:9). Here God is also telling us that if we do not forgive others, we are not in a condition to receive forgiveness.
Lead us not into temptation - God will provide a way of escape for any temptation which comes our way and not allow temptation beyond which we can bear (1 Corinthians 10:13).