You Can Understand The Bible!
by: Ivie Powell
Misunderstandings occur every day. The reason is either on the part of the one speaking or the person or persons receiving the information. For an example, a preacher went to conduct a memorial service at a funeral home. A man walked up and whispered, "I’m a pallbearer". The preacher replied, "Paul, I’m glad to meet you", "Naw", said the man in impatient disgust, "I’m not Paul anything! I’m a pall-bearer. I’m supposed to help carry the casket. Where do I go?" Yes, sometimes human beings just do not quite understand one another.
On the other hand, God who cannot lie (Tit. 1:2) can be clearly understood! In John 8:32 Jesus said, "and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32). As to the question, "What is truth?" God has given us the answer, "Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth" (Jno. 17:17). Only the doctrines of men cause confusion not God’s word!
On the day of Pentecost, having heard the gospel preached, the Bible says, "Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit…Then they that gladly received his word were baptized, and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls…Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved" (Acts 2:37, 38, 41, 47).
You too can understand the same message, if you will, "…receive the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls" (Jas. 1:21). Luke records, "But when they believed Phillip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women" (Acts 8:12). Beloved, when you believe as they believed, then you will do as they did! Yes, the Bible can, and is meant to be, understood and obeyed!