Good Morning, Taafe,
I woke up this morning around 4 a.m., and for some reason, when you asked about studying the Word, it stayed in my heart. When I see or hear someone saying they are hungry for God's Word, I recognize what an awesome opportunity this is. The Lord Jesus said in Matthew 5,
"He that hungers and thirsts after righteousness shall be filled." The only way we can truly know about righteousness is through God's Word, and the infilling of His Spirit.
You said:
Please allow me to share with you a simple way of studying the Word of the Lord that will help you
keep Scripture in context—which is vitally important. If we don't keep Scripture in context with what we are studying, we can make it say whatever we want it to say. I can comment more on that later, but for now, I want to share with you some key perspectives on studying the Word of the Lord.
An Overview of the New Testament and How to Study It
1. The Old Testament as an Example for Us
When reading the Old Testament, we see examples of what happened when the children of Israel
obeyed or disobeyed God. Paul, when writing to the Corinthian church, said it this way:
The Apostle Paul, when teaching the Corinthian church, referred to the Old Testament writings and said these events happened as
ensamples. What does that mean? It means that when the children of Israel
obeyed God, they were blessed; when they
sinned, they were judged. Then Paul added that these things were written for
"our admonition"—in other words,
obedience to God is still required. Holiness, righteousness, and godliness are still God's standard.
2. The Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) – The Life of Christ
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are called the
Gospels of Jesus Christ. In these books, we learn about:
- The birth of Jesus Christ
- His ministry
- His death, burial, and resurrection
Each Gospel presents a unique perspective of the Lord:
- Matthew – Presents Jesus as the Messianic King, the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. Written primarily for a Jewish audience, it highlights Jesus as the Son of David and the rightful King of Israel.
- Mark – Portrays Jesus as the Suffering Servant of God.
- Luke – Shows the Lord Jesus as the Son of Man, emphasizing His humanity and compassion.
- John – Presents Jesus as the Son of God, and as the Word in Flesh, focusing on His divine nature.
This order gives a full picture of Jesus:
King, Servant, Man, and God—the fullness of His divine and earthly mission.
3. The Book of Acts – The History of the Early Church
The
Acts of the Apostles is a
historical book that details:
- The birth of the early Church
- The doctrine that was established
- The ministry of the Apostles
- The persecution of the Church
- The conversion of Saul (who became Apostle Paul)
- The spread of the Gospel to the Gentiles (Acts 10)
In
Acts 2:38–39,
Peter laid the foundation for the Church, preaching repentance, baptism in Jesus’ name, and the infilling of the Holy Ghost, and how it is for us today.
4. The Epistles (Romans – Jude) – Letters to the Churches
The Epistles were
letters written to churches and individuals. These letters were written to:
- Instruct the Church
- Reprove the Church
- Correct the Church
- Guide the Church
These letters were written
to believers who had already repented, been baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ, and had received the Holy Ghost.
5. The Book of Revelation – A Prophetic Book
Many people like to start reading
Revelation, but they become confused because they don’t understand the
symbols, signs, seals, and trumpets. I don’t recommend new believers start here, as they may become disheartened.
While many enjoy studying the
Epistles, it is important to remember that they were written
to the Church—for instruction, correction, reproof, and guidance. You will
not find the
Plan of Salvation in the Epistles; because
it was already established in the Book of Acts.
Where the Churches Began in Acts
When studying the Book of Acts, we find where several churches were founded:
- The Corinthian Church – Began in Acts 18
- The Thessalonian Church – Began in Acts 17
- The Ephesian Church – Began in Acts 19
A Structured Approach to Studying God's Word
Taafe, if you learn to read and study in the format laid out here, it will help you keep your thoughts in perspective and keep God's Word in context, as you journey through this beautiful Christian lifestyle and study the Word of God.
- You will not find the Plan of Salvation in the Epistles.
- You will not find the Birth of the Early Church in the Gospels.
- You will not find the Prophecy of the Seven Seals and Seven Trumpets in the Book of Acts.
The
first thing we need to focus on when reading or studying God’s Word especially if we are new converts is
whether the doctrine we have been taught about salvation is correct. Many churches today have adopted the doctrine of simply
confessing with your mouth that you believe in Jesus Christ as the means of salvation. They cite
Romans 10:9–10 and
Ephesians 2:8–9, which state that we are saved by faith and not by works. Faith is not the complete work of Salvation it is the beginning.
However, when Paul wrote these letters, he was addressing churches that had
already repented, been baptized in Jesus’ Name, and had received the Holy Ghost. He was not introducing a new doctrine apart from
Acts 2:38–39 but rather reminding them that
faith was the beginning of their foundation, Repentance, water Baptism in the Name of Jesus Christ, and Baptism of the Holy Ghost would follow. This is the Born-Again Experience: This is our Foundation that we will build our Spiritual House upon.
I hope this structured approach to studying the Word helps bring clarity and perspective to your journey in growing deeper in
the truth of God's Word. Let me know if you have any questions!
Blessings,
Jim Tucker
