Bible: Are you even aware of how much you don’t know?
I by no means want to give anyone the impression that I’m a “know it all” about the Bible. I do know well that there’s a lot contained in it that I’ll never know in my lifetime here on Earth. In fact, the more I study it the more I realize how little I know and how much I still have to learn. But how much can anyone learn about it if they don’t work at it as a serious student of it, what the Bible calls a disciple.
Have you ever really thought about what a big book the Bible is? It has a total of 31,102 verses. There are 23,145 verses in the Old Testament and 7,957 verses in the New Testament. This gives us the total of 31,102 verses, which is an average of a little more than 26 verses per chapter and 471 verses per book. Is it any wonder that we’re told that studying the Bible effectively always takes diligence on our part. Here’s the apostle Paul’s command to us about that—
2 Timothy 2:15
15 Study [SPOUDAZO = Be diligent] to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. [Emphasis added]
My favorite passage about my subject for this article is found in the apostle Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. They were certainly a group of people who violated many, even simple but important principles of life, and Paul sternly rebuked them for it. We find there a whole chapter with one rebuke right after another concerning a variety of things. It is chapter six that is a great example of that. It is worth anyone’s time to read it and study it. Let’s look at the passage—
1 Corinthians 6:1-20
1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?
2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge [KRINO = judge, involved in a lawsuit] the world [KOSMOS = used here to refer to mankind]? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.
5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?
6 But brother goeth to law [court] with brother, and that before the unbelievers.
7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded [APOSTEREO = defrauded, robbed]?
8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous [a reference to unbelievers, the unsaved, non-justified] shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
This is to cite some of the sins practiced by unbelievers that should never be practiced by believers even though there are times when they are. We are not to imitate them by any such activities.
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed [by regeneration—Titus 3:5 and by the word—Ephesians 5:26], but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
For more information about these blessings that belong to every believer please see my articles about them—
Regeneration: Are people “born again” today?
Sanctification: What does it mean?
Justification: How does the Bible define it?
12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient [SUMPHERO = profitable or advantageous]: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
13 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.
14 And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.
15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.
These believers were guilty of all kinds of illicit sexual activity.
16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.
17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
Please bear in mind that the reason he tells them to “flee fornication” is that they were involved in it themselves as believers. What he’s really telling them here is to STOP fornicating.
19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. [Emphasis added]
One thing we all need to learn from the Corinthians is that there’s not even one sin that a believer can’t commit. And if you somehow think blasphemy is an exception to that, please see my article about it—
Blasphemy: Is this a sin for which you cannot be forgiven?
Some people who are legalistic in their beliefs would say that “a true Christian would never commit certain sins.” Weren’t these Corinthians mentioned here “true Christians?” All the sins mentioned in this chapter, as well as those mentioned in the rest of this epistle were ones these believers, these “saints” were committing. Please note how Paul addresses these people at the beginning of his letter to them. Yes, we all need to realize that the people who did these things were SAVED people! Please notice how he addresses them.
1 Corinthians 1:1-2
1 Paul called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
2 Unto the church OF GOD which is at Corinth, to them that are SANCTIFIED in Christ Jesus, called TO BE SAINTS [HAGIOS = saint, set apart as holy], with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their’s and our’s: [Emphasis added]
The words—“to be” in verse two are not found in the original text. Paul’s letter to the Corinthian church does not include these two words. Is it important for us to know that? It certainly is! Otherwise, we might be caused to believe these people still weren’t saints, saved believers in Christ. These words—”to be” were added to the text by the translators, something the translators had no right to do. These people in this church were already “saints,” meaning they were already a set apart people as one’s who had accepted God’s provision for their salvation. Furthermore, it is important for us to know that the word “saint” does not connote exceptional experiential holiness as some groups believe and teach, but it does tell us they were believers. No one has the authority to bestow this title of “saint” on anyone. It is a word God used in Scripture for all His people, believers, ones who had been saved by grace through faith in the merits of Jesus Christ and Him alone. These people weren’t saved because they’d given up sin; they were saved because they had accepted the provision God made through Jesus Christ for their sin.
2 Corinthians 5:21
21 For he [God the Father] hath made him [Jesus Christ] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. [Emphasis added]
We’re saved because we’ve been identified with His righteousness, not our own. Our own works of righteousness aren’t good enough to save anyone.
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by GRACE are ye saved through faith; and that [salvation is] not of yourselves: it is the GIFT of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. [Emphasis added]
These works that are unacceptable to Him for our salvation include our works to learn what’s in the Scriptures. A man like the apostle Paul when he was still unsaved could recite or quote many “Old Testament” Scriptures, but such never saved him or anyone. Note what he says about such things he was then thinking had given him all the credentials he needed for his salvation.
Philippians 3:4-6
4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. [Emphasis added]
Paul was indeed a “righteous” scholar of the Scriptures. He was truly what anyone might call “a good man.” But personal and/or “religious” goodness never saved anyone. Instead, people only get saved when they’re credited with the perfect righteousness of God. This has been true throughout history. Note what the Scriptures tell us about Abraham’s salvation.
Genesis 15:6
6 And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness. [Emphasis added]
Romans 4:2-4
2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Please note that it doesn’t say Abraham believed IN God; it says he believed God. It’s telling us he believed what God promised him.
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. [Emphasis added]
In our time no works are demanded as a means for us to manifest our faith. The apostle Paul had to spend time explaining this to a lot of people. The Galatian people serve as a good example of that.
Galatians 3:6
6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. [Emphasis added]
Unlike now, in times past and in the time of the coming 7-year period of the Tribulation, works of righteousness will again be demanded as a way to manifest one’s faith for salvation. But even in those times, it was and will later be again faith and belief in what God has said that is the fundamental requirement for salvation.
James 2:22-24
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect [TELEIOO = completed]?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. [Emphasis added]
We know this is what was required of them [the Israelites] then because James tells us such in his epistle to them.
James 1:1
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, TO the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. [Emphasis added]
When people don’t have a correct understanding of what is often called the principle of rightly dividing the Scriptures, they run all this together as if they’re all saying the same thing. Certain works WERE what was demanded as the way one had to manifest his faith then. But today, since the beginning of this which is called the Dispensation of the Grace of God, they ARE NOT demanded for salvation. Good works should occur as a result of one’s savlation, but they’re not the means or a requirement for gaining salvation.
Romans 4:4-5
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. [Emphasis added]
It was the apostle Paul who was given by special revelation that which is spoken of as our gospel and our means to salvation in our time.
Galatians 1:11-12
11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. [Emphasis added]
For more information about this revelation that was given to Paul for us, please see my articles about it. Here are the names of four of them—
Gospel: Which one is ours today?
Gospel: Which gospel did the 12 apostles preach after the ascension?
Gospel: Where did Paul get the one he preached?
Gospels: Did Peter & Paul preach the same gospel?
Conclusion—
I suppose you’ve heard the statement—“What you don’t know won’t hurt you.” Nothing could be further from the truth! You’ll find that there are many things on this website that most churchgoers don’t know. Not knowing and trusting in the gospel that was given to us through Paul will determine where you’ll spend eternity. Would not knowing or accepting that hurt someone? It has been my experience that most of the churchgoers I’ve known could not even give a clear explanation of the gospel message that must be understood and believed for salvation. I refer to this message about the means to salvation today many times on this website—
1 Corinthian s 15:1-4
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: [Emphasis added]
The explanation of what actually happened and what was accomplished through Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection is presented in a variety of places in the apostle Paul’s writings. But the one I refer to most often is this one—
2 Corinthians 5:18-21
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he [God the Father] hath made him [Jesus Christ] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. [Emphasis added]
Sometimes I’m asked why I so often list the above verses on this website. It is because so many churchgoers cannot give a clear explanation of this message. If you ask them how a person should prepare for eternity, you’ll hear quite a variety of answers with many of them being wrong. I discuss that subjecy quite thoroughly in chapter four of one of my books—
22 Key Promises You Can Count On.
There in that book I mention sixteen things as examples of what is often mistakenly thought to be the means to one’s salvation. The confusion on this abounds. And no, most people aren’t aware of how much they don’t know about this. I hope you’ll work to be a wonderful exception to that and even help some other people with it. Where people spend eternity will depends on it.
