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The Truth Of The Matter Is - Episode: 145 Bible Study Reflection Solo or W/Friends- Solo Psalms 86:5 (Letting Scripture Interpret Scripture)
27 Plays7 months ago
Bible study reflection solo or with friends is an inspirational segment for Johnathan as a result of getting together for bible study with friends Erik and Jennifer and still having more to say. Thus far, the segment is about unpacking different passages of scripture read in bible study and feeling the need to explore it even more deeply. This week on the segment Johnathan takes the time to introduce something he applies when reading scripture. That is the idea of letting Scripture interpret itself. Rather being philosophical he allows the Word to speak for itself and defend itself. Tune in to see an example of that and decide if you agree with the method. The passage is Psalms 86:5.
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Transcript
Introduction and Podcast Overview
00:00:00
Speaker
This is the Truth or the Matters podcast. Welcome back to another edition of Bible Study Reflection, Solo or with Friends. This is episode 145. I am your host, Jonathan, and for those who are unfamiliar with this segment, let me give you a quick background story to it. It was inspired by a Bible study that I had with two of my friends that we did once a week. Basically, we would choose a book
00:00:29
Speaker
within the Bible to unpack together, choose two or three chapters within that book, read them individually, and then see what we will learn by ourselves. We will come together, fellowship with one another, and learn about what we believe God has revealed to us.
00:00:54
Speaker
individually. Remember, Scripture says, anytime two or three are gathered, there am I in your midst.
Invitation to Join the Bible Study
00:01:03
Speaker
The Lord. What I concluded with these talks that I would have with them is that I will still be full of information. And that made me curious to learn a lot more things. So I decided to create this segment, give you a taste
00:01:22
Speaker
of what it is to reflect or for Bible studies that I would have by myself or with friends. The goal here ultimately is to grow into fellowship with others. Now, if you are open to that fellowship with me on the next Bible study reflection episode, you can reach out to me on TikTok or Instagram. The handle is TheTruthOfTMIS. Again, it's TheTruthOfTMIS.
00:01:53
Speaker
You can also reach out to me on our Facebook group. The handle for that is, I'm a believer. The game is called, I'm a believer. And finally, there's an email. You can reach out to me at speeded83 at gmail.com. Speeded83 at gmail.com. And I'm looking forward to hearing from some of you if you're interested.
00:02:18
Speaker
The first thing I want to say is I want to say thank you to each and every one of you who decided to press play today.
The Role of Community in Spiritual Growth
00:02:25
Speaker
Truly appreciative, grateful, and hope what I have to share for you today is a blessing. Hope something that I share with you today is helpful. I don't know how much
00:02:38
Speaker
what I share is a blessing but I believe it is influential and helpful because it is and of course I think it's important to understand that the desire to study God's Word is a passion of mine opens a passion of yours and growth doesn't always happen
00:03:08
Speaker
and isolation happens in the community and this to me I would love to treat it as a community an opportunity where ideas get shared
00:03:22
Speaker
potentially embraced and hopefully applied. And this is a place, an old judgment zone, where if you were to come on, if you would like to take the opportunity, you're welcome.
Finding Blessings in Challenges
00:03:39
Speaker
And the goal is just to find truth, truth in Jesus Christ, truth in his word. And that's ultimately what I aspire to provide, assist in
00:03:50
Speaker
lead people to. And it's a great reminder for myself, because there's a saying that if you could teach it to somebody else, then you really grasp the concept any idea of what it means. And I think ultimately, when it comes down to it, the challenge I think all believers face is the applying of the word.
00:04:16
Speaker
It's not necessarily the hearing of it, but the applying of it, I think is the most challenging thing. And truth be told, I think we're all still working on that possibility of applying every ounce of God's word intentionally. So.
00:04:33
Speaker
moving past that of course something we do here on the truth of the matter is podcast is we inspire and motivate people to share at least one to three ways of how we believe that we've been blessed it gives us an opportunity to reflect on how the lord has been with us throughout the week and normally you pick those things up after you reflect and it's usually within the details how god has shown up for you and i'll share with you two ways for me
00:05:03
Speaker
and then we'll get started. So the first way is I was shopping for a customer doing Uber Eats and one of my earpieces that belonged to my headset fell out. Interesting enough, it bounced off the ground and got stuck behind the shelf of a supermarket where cans are displayed. This of course happened when I reached to grab a can of Goya beans.
00:05:34
Speaker
instantly, I was flustered because I put my hand underneath and I couldn't find it. So I told a couple workers. This actually was a supermarket that was predominantly Hispanic. And therefore some of them didn't understand what I was saying. But
00:05:59
Speaker
This is actually a location that I've done quite a few deliveries at. So some of them know me by face and I know them by face. We might not communicate it. And some of the employees that work at the cash register are familiar with me and I've befriended some of them. Now, I spoke to some of them and they had no desire to help me. When I spoke with management,
00:06:30
Speaker
Management actually decided to help me and when I saw the process it took to get my headset, right? They had to take everything off the bottom shelf Pull back a cover at the bottom and Then reach and look for the headset. Thank God. They located the earpiece and Returned it back to me now
00:06:56
Speaker
I was thankful because one of the employees showed interest in their desire to return it back to me. And what I learned from that situation is that there are always going to be some people who are willing to help you when you ask for help. And there are going to be some who don't have an interest or they don't want to. And
00:07:24
Speaker
This is just things that happen in life, right? You're going to come across people that have an interest to help people who don't have an interest to help. Of course, the gentleman that took his time to actually help me.
00:07:37
Speaker
He took the initiative. I gave him a tip. I tossed him something. And that was for my gratitude and appreciation. What I find interesting now since that event occurred, he doesn't even remember me when I walked into the supermarket. So this is interesting. Maybe he had a desire to help me in a moment because he realized how much relatable would have been if he was in that predicament.
00:08:01
Speaker
but it just goes to show you kindness and generosity can show up in a moment's time and then a couple days later with so many things going on that same person that shows you gratitude and appreciation might not even remember you anymore and I guess that's the name of the game as well and I suppose when somebody's showing you generosity and kindness take it for what it is
00:08:27
Speaker
But of
Consistent Kindness as a Christian
00:08:28
Speaker
course, as believers, our goal should be to desire to be loving, caring, no matter who it is on a regular basis. That's what we're called to actually be, to be light in the darkness, to be sought in the earth.
00:08:45
Speaker
And I try to do that myself. I try to be helpful, generous and kind. And in fact, if I've helped them in the past and I run into them, more or less I'm going to remember you because that act of kindness is not just because I felt like doing that on that day. It's something regularly that I want to practice.
00:09:07
Speaker
Interesting enough scripture talks about that. You never know when you're going to be entertaining angels You just never know that and for every time you do something Solid good you've done it for the Lord, right? He talks about if someone's in prison you want to see them somebody's hungry and you fed them someone is In hospital you want to go see them. I believe he was in jail You want to go see them did forever you've done to the least of these these you've done them for me
00:09:37
Speaker
And in this case I take pride in doing that Not just so that they could say a person could say I've done something good But I think it's just a way of life a way of life of living a Christian difference So that's the first way I felt like it was a blessing because it gets you to see the ugly side and the good side of individuals and the consistency of some individuals and
00:10:00
Speaker
the ups and downs of people, behavior, and the way they approach circumstances and situations. These things can be ultimately, I believe is helpful. It gives you a temperature of the world and what you are inhabited in. So, I hope that helps. Excuse me, by the way, a little bit congested. Been dealing with that ever since algae started acting up. So excuse me for time to time.
00:10:31
Speaker
second way I was blessed this actually happened yesterday I was actually doing a drop off to a customer and right in front of me an accident occurred where a car slammed in the back of another car and it looked like the gentleman who actually crashed into the back of the car they didn't keep enough distance to space in between himself and the driver ahead of him and this is interesting enough this is something they teach you
00:10:59
Speaker
when it comes to taking a driver's defense course and also something they tell you if you ever taking lessons at driving. The whole purpose of keeping distance is to take a consideration of the elements, right? The elements play a huge role because if it's raining out and you're too close, you're not accommodating for the percentages of the likelihood that you'll crash. So you have to be very careful, right?
00:11:29
Speaker
This driver did not have enough distance to space it between himself and the driver ahead of it. As a result, he stepped on the brake and when he accelerated, he accelerated to the degree that it hit the car riding force in front of him. The force was amazing. It was almost like as soon as I stepped out to do delivery,
00:11:47
Speaker
immediately i felt the impact right it felt like the impact hit my joints how hard he hit that car and i guess you're wondering is how is this a blessing well it's a blessing because it's a learning experience when you get behind the wheel the details matter okay the inches around us are everywhere right if you ever watch every given sunday
00:12:12
Speaker
You know, Al Pacito talks about that, the football coach talks about that. Inches matter, especially football, because you got first to 10, you got first to 15, you got first to go. And every inch matters, right? Every loss for a play matters. Every fight for a yard matters, because that's how hard it is.
00:12:33
Speaker
And in this case, I'm talking about this because there's a difference between mixed, there's a difference that happens where you could miss an accident or you could have an accident. It's itches. The circumference on where the dotted line is to separate two lanes or to have two opposite lanes on opposite sides is measured out based on the circumference of the street. And if you ever driven in Queens, New York,
00:13:03
Speaker
I would say Queens is more like this in any other borough within New York, right? That I've noticed is that the streets are very condensed. Streets are very condensed. So you have to understand whether one car could travel on that road or where it can't.
00:13:19
Speaker
Now I've seen over the years construction has been made where they've realized that this street should never be a two-way street. It needs to be one. And they've made changes to avoid accidents and I'm pretty sure the more accidents that are reported the more likelihood these streets should not be together. These are adjustments that have been made in order to create safety.
00:13:44
Speaker
I mention all of this because this is a great reminder. It's a reminder that you shouldn't text. It's a reminder that you shouldn't speed, right? You should obey the limits, the speed limits on local roads. You should consider these things when you're on the road at all times. You also have to be a defense driver.
00:14:09
Speaker
Patience is key right and for me and for those who drive left those who pick up customers that drop off packages When you're on the road for law periods of time you start to lose focus little things distract you You aren't as sharp as you were where you first started
00:14:33
Speaker
Being reminded helps because witnessing an accident right in front of your face is a reminder to be careful, to be cautious, to be reminded to be fundamental when you get back behind the wheel. And these are blessings because I think a lot of times when we aren't reminded of the obvious, those obvious stakes that you don't rebuy yourself of, kick in.
00:15:01
Speaker
when things occur and they happen. And, you know, I used to say this all the time when my mother, before I would head out, she would say,
00:15:11
Speaker
Be watchful, be careful, be mindful of people out in the world. And sometimes I will blow it off. But in actuality, we shouldn't blow those things off. The fact that someone's constantly reminding you each and every day, don't let it go through one ear and out through the other. Take heed to the reminders, the cautious comments that a person makes.
00:15:37
Speaker
Make sure you're praying when you're going out into the world that you're protected on the highways and byways make sure you're praying for your loved ones for your friends because tomorrow's not guaranteed and People that are out there that are moving without a pulse or in a selfish approach you have to be ready for what could potentially happen and
00:16:00
Speaker
I'm not telling you to walk in fear because we don't as believers God did not create us to have the spirit of fear but to have love and power to sound by but having a sound mind is taking heed to people that actually care about you that are reminding you of those things and it was a blessing to me because immediately when I saw that I said to myself okay when I get behind the wheel I need to make sure that I'm checking my mirror before I come out of a parking spot
00:16:30
Speaker
that I'm making sure I'm keeping enough distance between the 80 of the car. That if I have a free goal, don't run the speed limit past 25, right? Remind us, help you, because in some cases, we might get excited. Maybe this music will play and we accelerate faster than we need to be. And those are the mistakes that you make that could cost you.
Interpreting Scripture through Psalms and Genesis
00:16:52
Speaker
It costs your life, can damage your car, can ruin your lifestyle, can ruin, you know, things that you used to do.
00:16:59
Speaker
and i just want to speak that into you that the next time you get behind the wheel or you have a concerted friend or a family member or a wife or a husband please regardless of how you feel listen to them because it's going to help you and we need those reminders all people need reminders and on that note before we get into the verse for today and what i read in bible study with eric let's open with prayer
00:17:33
Speaker
Oh God in the name of Jesus, we thank you for another opportunity to be ambassadors and representatives of you. We thank you for another opportunity to be a light in a world full of darkness. Or we thank you for an opportunity to be an example to share the good news with all those who are willing to listen. It even knows whose ears are open because them hearing the truth, we believe your word holds them accountable.
00:17:57
Speaker
And even though they reject it, maybe in their lowest place, they'll remember the name Jesus. They'll remember the King of Kings, the Lord of Lord, the Messiah, and you will draw them near to you, Lord. So even those who pretend not to listen, but know your name, will they be saved? And will they have another opportunity at life?
00:18:24
Speaker
and that life in the sense of being free, being set free from sin, being set free from the change that they may have and struggle with more.
00:18:36
Speaker
Lord, as we go to your word today, I pray that this is a blessing to all who listen. I pray that we acknowledge that your word is foundational and it's the final authority for the believer. And I God, you and your word are one and should not be separated but treated as one in support of one another.
00:18:56
Speaker
Lord we see these things and hope that all who listen find this to be an agreeable statement. And more importantly see how an encounter with you would guarantee that your life would not be the same because it hasn't been the same for me and it hasn't been the same for all those who are confessed believers seeing the difference that it has made for them in their lives.
00:19:16
Speaker
With that being said, Lord, we say these things humbly, honestly, with surety and confidence. In your name, Lord, in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. So the passage of scripture we're going to be looking at today, I find fascinating because when I had this conversation with Eric and we discussed this passage, you know, there was so much there.
00:19:38
Speaker
that I felt was there. And I'm pretty sure he felt the same way. But there was something that I wanted to apply that's been helpful to me when it comes to reading the scriptures. And I'm going to share with that with you today. So we're going to look at this in two different translations. I'm first going to show you in the basic translation that we use. We use the ESV, the English Standard Version.
00:20:01
Speaker
And then I'm going to show you how it comes across in the amplified version. And the hope here is to set a precedent that you could apply and see how it could be helpful for you. And therefore, you'll see why a lot of times when I come here on a podcast, for one, I'm a student of God's Word. But more importantly, I come to share something to you that I feel confident about, and that if asked questions,
00:20:27
Speaker
I have no problem having a discussion about it because I come here with a heart that is open to learning, but also with a heart that wants to share what I believe God has shown me and what I'm thankful for. And I'm so thankful that I don't want to be the only one that has this information. I want other people to be blessed with this information.
00:20:50
Speaker
because God's word and the wisdom that comes out of it can help go a long way in the decisions and choices that we make in life and how we intend to live our life for Christ. Amen. So we're going to look at Psalms 86 verse five and we're going to look at this in the English standard version. I'm going to read the verse twice and then I'm going to proceed to tell you what I do in my individual time so it could be helpful to you.
00:21:17
Speaker
For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you. Excuse me. For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.
00:21:40
Speaker
Now there's something that I'm going to show you today that I do quite often in my own study. And that is, I allow scripture to interpret scripture. I allow scripture to interpret scripture. Meaning when I read a verse, there is a high likely chance
00:22:04
Speaker
that there are verses that support that verse which determines and makes that verse powerful and true and a keepable saying.
00:22:17
Speaker
What do I mean? Well, when I read a verse like this, there are certain indications about the verse that are true at glance from one who reads the word. Maybe one who does not read the word will be confused about that. Why are they confused about it? Because everything in the scripture supports itself. The more I read the scripture, the more I see how the book, the word of God is a complete book.
00:22:48
Speaker
For one person who has not read the scripture, they have questions about it. They're unsure about it. They start to question those sayings, more or less because they don't believe it or they don't see how it's true. Keep this in mind, the scriptures not only support your belief, but it builds upon what you believe. It strengthens your faith.
00:23:13
Speaker
This is the reason why I'm a huge proponent of reading the scriptures because for the believer it's the final authority. And the Holy Spirit confirms that because the Holy Spirit reminds you of the things that are written in the scriptures. Now, what do I mean scripture interpret scripture? There are scriptures that are going to support statements that are written in the scriptures. There are scriptures that will support other scriptures basically.
00:23:43
Speaker
So, allow me to show you what I mean. So we take the first half of Psalms 86, five, and we look at it. For you, O Lord, are good and forgiven. We're gonna start right there. For you, O Lord, are good and forgiven. So, two questions. How do we know God is good? How do we know he's forgiven?
00:24:13
Speaker
How do we know God is good? How do we know he's forgiven? So in order to get answers to those statements, we go into the scriptures to find answers to those statements.
00:24:25
Speaker
Why? Because the statement starts off, oh Lord, you are good and forgiven. For you, oh Lord, are good and forgiven. So, in order to support that verse, we need to know, are there scriptures that support that verse? Absolutely, there are scriptures that support that verse. Which means, as long as there are scriptures that support that verse, then that verse is true.
00:24:55
Speaker
It doesn't matter what anybody else says. It matters what the scriptures say because there are scriptures that support those statements. So, where do we begin? Let's address the good portion. How do we know God is good? Now, there are numerous verses that you can find. And as you continue to read God's word, you'll start to realize that. And there was an episode we did fill up your jar where I encouraged you that as you read the scriptures,
00:25:24
Speaker
to find verses that support certain things because what does that do? That's a reminder of truth and it strengthens your confidence in what you discovered to know that it's true. The issue is as believers, right?
Human Sinfulness and Need for Forgiveness
00:25:40
Speaker
When we hear things uttered from worldly comments that are made by people, we are shaken based upon the judgment and the statements that they make.
00:25:52
Speaker
Now they have their presuppositions about what they believe. The source that strengthens us is the Word. So what should be strengthened in us is the Word. The more you read God's Word, the more it strengthens your faith in Him. The less you read God's Word, the more swayed you are by outside information that has nothing to do with God's Word.
00:26:16
Speaker
So I hope you're following me. So let's address the statement. How do we know God is good? Let's look at Genesis 8 22.
00:26:26
Speaker
Genesis 8.22 says, as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night. How do I know God is good? Because as long as the earth remains, there's going to be planting and harvest. There's going to be cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night. God is so good.
00:26:56
Speaker
that he's placed these things into our reality, that whether or not you actually believe in him, these are givens that are provided for you to structure your life around, to structure time around, to function, and to be able to build a day based upon these things that you can rely upon. And we all rely upon these elements.
00:27:24
Speaker
That's how good God is. That these things are provided that are given to you without anything that you have to do in support and in love of him. That is what makes God good.
00:27:41
Speaker
to understand that you can plant a seed and have a harvest, to understand that there are seasons of cold, of heat, of summer, of winter, to have a day and a night, to see the sunrise and to see the sunset, to see how beautiful nature is.
00:28:02
Speaker
These are things that are given that makes God good. Can you imagine if you had no access to any of these things? How could you live life? How could you structure your life? So we take these things for granted, but what makes God good is that these things were provided. Now, why am I pointing that out?
00:28:23
Speaker
Because if you go to verse 20 through 21 of Genesis 8, you'll see that this all started with God flooding the earth, having Noah build an ark.
00:28:37
Speaker
And this has to do with the Nepalin and how the sons of God, the angels came messing down with the daughters and basically created a species that God not intended to happen. So he flooded the earth because the image that he intended us intended it to be was tainted.
00:29:00
Speaker
went in a complete different direction. And Noah does a sacrifice and it says the Lord was pleased with the aroma of the sacrifice. And he said to himself, I will never again curse the ground because of the human race.
00:29:19
Speaker
And then he goes on to make an essential statement. Even though everything they think or imagine is bent towards evil from childhood, I will never again destroy all living things. Now that's a topic in itself. But what it's speaking to is why is God good? Why is he the only one that's good?
00:29:43
Speaker
And if you read Genesis 821, in a different translation we'll go English Standard Version that says, I will never again curse the ground because of the human race, even though everything they think or imagine is bent towards evil from childhood. The English Standard Version says, for the intent of man's heart is evil from its youth.
00:30:09
Speaker
For the intent of man's heart is evil from his youth. So we start there. And we can go all the way back into the story of Genesis between Adam and his decision to disobey God and what opened the floodgates to sin being born.
00:30:31
Speaker
And from that time, because of Adam's transgressions, Christ in Genesis 3.15 has to be brought to solve this sin issue. And as a result of that, we go, whether it's Ezekiel 36.26 or Hebrews 8.10, God has to give us new desires.
00:30:50
Speaker
and a new heart. Because based upon the heart that most men have, or all men have, not most men have, all men have, there's a level of selfishness. You know, I don't forget, I was talking to a psychologist, and we were having this conversation, and I asked her, I said, by nature, are humans selfish? And she said no.
00:31:20
Speaker
And then I said, well, if that's the case, why do you have to teach a child how to share if they're not selfish? Why do children, babies cry for attention and continue to do so until they get what they want? It's because they're selfish.
00:31:40
Speaker
They're born into the world, desiring to be taken care of, to be pampered, and it's only once they start to grow up that you have to teach them something different. They have to be taught how to share, how to love, how to not think that the whole world is centered around them. It's like that for a very long time because that's how they've been treated. And I use this as an example to speak to the idea and the concept
00:32:09
Speaker
that by nature humans are selfish and we can go through first John and we could talk about so many different things but I want to point that out because the next couple of verses highlight exactly what we need to know if God is good then we have to understand why is God good but we also have to understand why he is only good
00:32:39
Speaker
So I'll take you to the next portion. So what I did for you is remember when I read Genesis 821, I think the first time I read it, I read it in the English Standard Version twice. My mistake. I wanted you to see it in the actually not English Standard Version. I read it in the NIV twice and I switched to the English Standard Version.
00:33:00
Speaker
The NIV said, I will never again curse the ground because of the human race, even though everything they think or imagine is bent towards evil from childhood. Then I want you to see the English Standard Version which says, that portion that I'm showing you is everything they think or imagine is bent towards evil from childhood. The English Standard Version says, for the intent of man's heart is evil from his youth.
00:33:27
Speaker
There's also a scripture that talks about the heart is deceitfully wicked above all things. So there's an issue with your heart and there's an issue why you shouldn't trust your heart. There's an issue why you shouldn't trust your heart. Now, I want to show you why
00:33:46
Speaker
God is the only one that is good. So let's check out Romans chapter 3 verses 10 through 12. Romans chapter 3 verses 10 through 12, where it says, as it is written, none is righteous. No, not one. No one understands. No one seeks for God. All have turned aside together. They have become worthless. No one does good.
00:34:16
Speaker
Not even one. This is Romans chapter 3 verses 10 through 12. This is the condition in the state of the human race. This is what Paul wrote. The scripture tells me that no human being is good, not one.
00:34:34
Speaker
So let's go to another supportive text that validates this claim. Now mind you, these are statements from the scriptures. And I understand that when we read the scriptures, not only does it hold us accountable, in most cases, there are scriptures that are hard pills to swallow. And I'm right there with you. There are verses that I read that are hard to process. And that hard process
00:34:57
Speaker
Wants me urges me to search even more to understand why? Because when I read something that I don't quite get it or I don't quite agree with it rather than reject it It's to my best interest to understand why and I may not understanding in a moment But I do have a desire to get comprehension and all that getting I need to get understanding right? That's past and province. That's what my pursuit is and if I don't have understanding I
00:35:27
Speaker
bookmark that until I get understanding. Now, let's go to Romans 3.23. Romans 3.23 says, for all have sinned and for short of the glory of God, for all have sinned and for short of the glory of God, meaning we all are subject to sin. Not some of us, not a few of us, not the majority.
00:35:56
Speaker
all are subject to sin. Sin, in fact, can make us a slave to it. As a result, God's standard is high, so high that we become short of it. Now I finish with this, Luke 18.9, Luke chapter 18 verse 19. And Jesus said to him, why do you call me good?
00:36:26
Speaker
No one is good. Except God alone. This is Luke 1819. And Jesus said to him, Why do you call me good? No one is good. Except God
00:36:45
Speaker
alone. So as you can see, every response that I've given you so far comes from what? The Word of God. I allowed scripture to interpret scripture. Because the Bible says a complete book, it defends itself, not needing anyone else to do so. So remember, the beginners of Psalm 86.5 says, for you, O Lord, are good.
00:37:15
Speaker
Based on that verse, we looked at, we know humans aren't good, but only God alone is good. The next word in the verse says, forgiving. For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving. So what does the word say about God being forgiven? Well, let's go to 1 John chapter 1 verse 9.
00:37:44
Speaker
1 John chapter 1 verse 9 says, if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. Now, the term in this verse begins with the word, if.
00:38:06
Speaker
The if matters here because it totally is on the individual and their desire to admit that they are a sinner in need of saving. Do you understand how hard that is for some people to admit? Very hard indeed.
00:38:27
Speaker
That is why people that won't admit it are arrogant to the extent that they don't think they need a savior. They don't think they're in that complex. And yet they can understand logically that if they don't have the capacity of doing something, they reach out to somebody who does. In fact, you have people who
00:38:54
Speaker
financially or well off, where they understand the complexity of their schedule, that they're willing to pay someone else to do something that they're not willing to do. And in fact, the question becomes, can they do it? Can they actually do it? Some of them can. Some of them will rather somebody else do it because it's about convenience. But if you can understand
00:39:22
Speaker
That you need help in some capacity, whether that is to elevate your way of life, whether that is to make connections, whether that is to get to a place that they want to be. It takes help. It takes trusting in someone else to get you to where you know to be. Across the board.
00:39:47
Speaker
And guess what? God knows how hard it is for us to admit things, to take accountability for things. This is why He has patience for us. And once we come to our senses, then guess what? What happens? Look at verse nine. He is faithful and just. Hear that? He is faithful.
00:40:12
Speaker
And just the rest of the verse says and will forgive us our sins and purify us for all unrighteousness You know, there's another amazing verse that speaks to god's character Let's go to second timothy chapter 2 verse 13 Second timothy chapter 2 verse 13 if we are faithless He remains faithful for he cannot disown himself
00:40:40
Speaker
If we are faithless, he remains faithful. For he cannot disown himself.
The Power of Scripture and Translation
00:40:51
Speaker
Amperweib version says, if we are faithless, he remains faithfully true to his word and his righteous character.
00:41:02
Speaker
If we are faithless, he remains faithfully true to his word and his righteous character. If we are faithless, he remains faithfully true to his word and his righteous character, for he cannot deny himself. So where are we so far? Psalms 86.5. We know that the Lord is good. We also know that the Lord is forgiving.
00:41:29
Speaker
And we allowed the word of God to support and interpret itself as it proclaims and shows us that's scripture interpreting scripture. I can possibly create philosophical answers to support that, but what makes it more or the more powerful is scripture doing it for me. And me pointing out the scriptures that support what the scripture says.
00:41:59
Speaker
Because guess what? That makes it all the more powerful.
00:42:04
Speaker
Okay, now the remaining portion of the verse says, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you. And we'll get to that. Now before we address the ending portion of this verse, I want to introduce the same verse in the Amplified version. And I'm going to tell you why I'm going to do that. So I'm going to read Psalms 86.5 in the Amplified version, and I want you to see
00:42:29
Speaker
how you can change translations, and you can still see the connections made, regardless of the translation. Now check this out. For you, O Lord, are good and ready to forgive our sins, sending them away, completely letting them go forever and ever, and abundant in love, kindness, and overflowing in mercy to all those who call upon you.
00:42:57
Speaker
That's the Amplified version. For you, O Lord, are good and ready to forgive our sins, sending them away completely letting them go forever and ever, and abundant in love, kindness, and overflowing in mercy to all those who call upon you. So let's look at the first half of the verse in the Amplified version. For you, O Lord, are good and ready to forgive our sins, sending them away completely letting them go forever and ever.
00:43:26
Speaker
So, what passes in the Word of God supports this statement. Remember, if we're letting scripture interpret scripture, there should be a verse that can support this interpretation in the Amplified version, right? Let's go to Hebrews 8-12. Hebrews 8-10. Hebrews 8, sorry, let's go to Hebrews 8, verses 10-12. Hebrews chapter 8, verses 10-12. Check this out.
00:43:54
Speaker
This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel. After that time, declares the Lord, I will put my Lord in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God and it will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbors or say to one another,
00:44:11
Speaker
Know the Lord because they will all know me from the least of them to the greatest I get this portion. I will forget their wickedness and will remember their sin no more For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins No more. The biggest thing is when we ask God for forgiveness When he forgives us
00:44:40
Speaker
He remembers, I will sin no more. Now look at what the first half of the Amplified Version says, For you, O Lord, are good and ready to forgive our sins, sending them away, completely letting them go forever and ever.
00:45:00
Speaker
and ever. And what does the ending of Hebrews chapter 8 verse 10 through 12 says? For I will forgive their wickedness and remember their sins no more.
00:45:14
Speaker
Now we look at the ending of Psalms 86 in the English Standard Version and the Amplified Version. There's not much of a difference in terms of its meaning. If someone were to ask me, what's the best translation? I would say, whichever one that would make you understand the story better.
00:45:35
Speaker
I'm showing you how it doesn't matter the translation because as long as you allow scripture to interpret scripture, the meaning doesn't matter. It's just written differently.
00:45:46
Speaker
Now there are some translations that people have an issue with and I completely understand it. But when it comes to discussing things with the masses, there are benefits that are much more fulfilling and honest and sincere and meaningful, which is why I'm a proponent of embracing quite a few translations.
00:46:09
Speaker
There are some translations that communicate something better, and whichever translation communicates something better to help me understand it, or to allow me to dive deeper into my comprehension of the text, I embrace it. As long as I can find scriptures to support that version of the interpretation that doesn't contradict it, then I don't see any harm in it.
00:46:33
Speaker
This is a suggestion that I'm making because some people are very fixated on just reading the King James Version. The question and the issue with that is because it's old English, not everybody understands certain versions of the old English. It can definitely make a mistake on misinterpreting it and letting that misinterpretation lead them down a line of operating and moving an error. And we don't want that.
00:46:56
Speaker
So if you're starting to read the Bible for the first time, then IV read something that's easy to understand. Once you understand the stories, then go back and you can check out the translations and see how maybe there are some translations in the ways phrase is much more meaningful to you. And you might remember it better in that translation. And I've learned to embrace
God's Love, Mercy, and Salvation
00:47:18
Speaker
that. And I want to share that with you now.
00:47:22
Speaker
I want to read to you the ending of Psalms 86.5 and the English Standard Version and the Amplified Version. The English Standard Version says, "...a bounding and steadfast love to all who call upon you."
00:47:34
Speaker
Amplified version says, abounding in loving kindness and overflowing in mercy to all those who call upon you. So God's love for us is shown in many ways in scripture. A verse that supports this claim is 2 Peter chapter 3 verse 9. And I'm going to read it in the NLT.
00:47:56
Speaker
The Lord isn't really being slow about His promise, as some people think. No, He is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. So God's love for us is expressed in time by His patience.
00:48:23
Speaker
And overall, because he understands the development of the human being. He understands the process of that. Another more supportive text. Let's go to Romans chapter 5, verses 20 through 21, NLT. Romans chapter 5, verses 20 through 21, NLT. God's law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were.
00:48:50
Speaker
But as God, but as people sin more and more, God's wonderful grace became more abundant. So just a sin ruled over all people and brought them to death. Now God's wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God, resulting in eternal life throughout Jesus Christ our Lord. So when sin increases, grace decreases all the more. Now you're going to tell me that's not a God.
00:49:20
Speaker
Who isn't showing mercy? Is that not a God who isn't showing love and kindness? Is that not a God who isn't caring, abounding in steadfastness and love to all?
00:49:36
Speaker
His definite cross is an example of that. Him addressing the sin issue isn't addressing of that. Him giving us grace, even though we don't deserve it, is addressing that. Him loving us, knowing that there are some that don't love him, is addressing that. Because he also understands that there are people that are in conditions where they may not love him due to ignorance and just not understanding or lack of
00:50:05
Speaker
you know information right we know in the book of hosea my people are destroyed for lack of wisdom when you lack wisdom then the feelings and emotions that you have towards something happens in a place of error happens in a place of ignorance when you don't know something and you assume things
00:50:23
Speaker
that assumption can lead you down a pit can lead you down a path of destruction so it's important to make sure that the things we do we shouldn't do it based off assumptions assumptions are the lowest level of knowledge that we have to arrive at conclusions that we draw it's about thoroughly coming to a consensus that whatever we're doing we should be sure about it we should
00:50:52
Speaker
search and search and search and make sure that the conclusion that we have came to satisfies our intuition. Now the next statement is going to cover pretty much the end of the verse in both translations. And that portion is to all who call upon you.
00:51:16
Speaker
That's very relatable to the English Standard Version and the Amplified Version. And we're gonna look at this passage in Romans chapter 10, verses 10 through 13. And we're gonna look at this in the English Standard Version, okay? For with the heart, one believes and is justified. And with the mouth, one confesses, is saved. For the scripture say, everyone who believes in him will be
00:51:43
Speaker
put everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame but for there is no distinction between jew and greek
00:51:54
Speaker
And for the same Lord is Lord, of all bestowed his riches on all who call on him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." So remember what the Amplified Virgin says and remember what the English Standard Virgin says, to all those who call upon you.
00:52:18
Speaker
to all those who call upon you. And when we look at the, we understand that God's desire to save is not just the Christian, but it's to all of those who call upon him, which means he hears it all. He heard the Israelites in Egypt when they were enslaved. He heard it then.
00:52:45
Speaker
He hears people who are suffering from misery, regardless of the circumstance, whether you're in jail, whether you're being slaughtered, he hears it all. He hears it, he knows. It's not based upon a certain category that he needs for you to be in for him to hear you.
00:53:14
Speaker
I read it one more time, Romans 10 verse 10 to 13 for with the heart one believes and is justified, which is very interesting because what it's talking about is remember, if you look at the interaction between God
00:53:36
Speaker
And I believe it was one of the prophets in choosing someone. He said, you know, God said, I don't look at the outward appearances. I look at the heart. I don't look at the outward appearances, but I look at the heart. Remember when it came to choosing Daniel, I believe not Daniel. When it came to choosing David, David didn't look like all the rest.
00:54:07
Speaker
He just didn't. But he looked at the heart. So that's why Romans 10 verse 10 to 13 says, for with the heart one believes and is justified. And with the mount one confesses is saved. In other words, whoever believes in his heart and confesses out of his mouth is saved. For the scripture says, everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame. Which means you're not gonna regret it. You're not gonna be embarrassed by it.
00:54:37
Speaker
For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek or Gentile, right? Which means when, in other words, like being a part of the body of believers as a whole, there is no special kind of person, right? Neither Jew nor Gentile were all but one in the body of Christ. So there is no distinction. There is no classism, right? None of that exists.
00:55:08
Speaker
for the same Lord as Lord of all. When he died, he died for the Jew and for the Gentile. He wasn't just king of the Jews. And his sacrifice wasn't just for the Jews. It is for all who placed their faith in him.
00:55:30
Speaker
Which is why this death that he did, right? It talks about this also in the Gospel of John. He said, there are the sheep of the playpen that I desired out of for me. That he's addressing. That belonged to him. It's not just reserved for one. It's the other people outside of that. So finishing it up. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
00:55:59
Speaker
to all who call upon you, O Lord, you will be saved by the name every time we'll confess that Jesus is Lord. In the end, that's what's going to happen. So I close by saying this.
00:56:19
Speaker
What makes me so confident in some of the things I think about is because the scripture, it confirms scripture. Scripture interprets scripture. And when I read something, and I've read something, numerous different chapters, and there's something that is said, and it confirms something that is said, then I'm confident in the conclusion that I'm coming to, because there are scriptures that are supporting what I'm reading. And if it's a complete book,
00:56:45
Speaker
by nature they're gonna other be they're gonna be books in the Bible that support it and The more you expose yourself to it the more more you realize that God is allowing you to see The supportive text he's allowing you to see the relatable and
00:57:05
Speaker
statements made. Regardless of the author of the time, there are some that work in unison to one another and co-echoing things that are said. But this is a very powerful discovery that I think can be helpful. And the more and more you study God's Word, the more and more you're going to see certain things that echo that sentiment. And I should build confidence in you.
00:57:32
Speaker
that you're on the right path, that your learning is growing and growing every single time you pick up that book. And you're growing closer and closer to the Lord because your relationship with God is getting stronger and stronger and stronger. And you become in one with His word. You're going to become a walking Bible one day if you continue down this path.
00:57:56
Speaker
Well, you may not need a Bible in hand to discuss things, but it'll be a part of your very nature.
Closing Prayer and Encouragement
00:58:02
Speaker
Your relationship with God's word will be there. The Holy Spirit will remind you the things you ought to say in support of it. And you'll be bold. You'll be bold to stand in the defense of the faith.
00:58:15
Speaker
And you'll be bold to stand firm in your identity in Christ. And I think that's what we all should be striving to do. So of course, we end with prayer. Heavenly Father, Lord and Jesus name, I want to thank you so much for this opportunity that you've given me to fellowship with those who are interested in just listening to the podcast. I want to thank you so much for giving me a platform in order to share this information and this insight that I've received from you.
00:58:43
Speaker
Lord, I pray for the safety and protection of everyone that listens to their family members, to their friends, to their acquaintances, to their enemies. Lord, each and every day we should live it to the fullest, not knowing what's going to come of it.
00:58:58
Speaker
but we should also value the importance of fellowshiping and also the value of your word. The closer we study your word, the more we desire to be just like you. We may not be able to be like our teacher, our master's, which is your word, but we can strive to.
00:59:15
Speaker
So I pray for the protection of all the listeners. I pray for the growth that they have with you within their own time and that they have. And I pray for the confidence as well as the awe for their desire to learn more and more about what you have to share in your word.
00:59:34
Speaker
let them search out truth and see that truth is not an idea concept it's a person and that person is a life and person of the of jesus christ we thank you we honor you we glorify you we lift you up
00:59:48
Speaker
We acknowledge you as King and King, Lords and Lords, the Messiah, Emmanuel, which is God with us. We thank you, we honor you. And we say these things confidently and honestly in hope that you continue to bless us, to watch all of us, to guide us.
01:00:06
Speaker
so that we can live more like you and be represented in the Bachelors. Lord, we say these things in Jesus name, we pray. Amen and Amen. And of course, before we depart, what another something that we're trying to do. And that is the truth of the matter's podcast audience. Until next time, be careful, be vigilant and watchful. In Jesus name we pray. Amen and Amen.