Don't Miss the Message
It is possible to know the Word of God and miss its message! In Jesus’ day, the scribes studied the Law. They delved into the minutiae of the Law, but they never came to grips with the essential message of what God was saying. They were preoccupied with the Law of God and missed the will of God. How is that possible?
The short answer is: people come to the Word with preconceived ideas of what they think it says. For example, Paul says, “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?” (Rom. 6:3). When Baptists sees the word “baptism,” they automatically think of immersion in water. When Lutherans comes upon the term “baptism,” they see an infant being sprinkled with water. Both believe what they have been taught. Both believe they can “prove” their explanation with evidence that, in their opinion, should convince any “open-minded” soul. Both are so committed to their prejudgment, they cannot entertain the possibility that there is another meaning of the word “baptism”. Both are wrong. There is a spiritual baptism (1 Cor. 12:13)! It’s dry. There is no water involved, pourer or otherwise. Romans 6 is talking about spiritual baptism. It says that we were “baptized into Christ.” Spiritual, not water, baptism puts us in Christ (1 Cor. 12:13).
If it is so easy to miss the message of the Word of God, what is the solution? What do believers have to do in order to understand what God has said?
Believers must come to the Word with a desire to know the will of God. Paul prayed that the Colossians would “be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding” (Col. 1:9). Granted, the way to know the will of God is the Word of God, but it is possible to know the Word without seeing the essential message concerning the will of God.
Believers must come to the Word with a teachable spirit. James instructs us, “receive with meekness the implanted word” (Jas. 1:21). To receive the Word with meekness is to receive it with a teachable spirit. When we come to the Word, our attitude must not be to prove our point-of-view, nor to find material to confirm our convictions, nor to feel good because we did something spiritual. In order to discover the will of God in the Word of God, the attitude of believers must be, Lord, “Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law” (Ps. 119:18).
Believers must come to the Word with faith. The writer to the Hebrews says that the Exodus generation did not know God’s ways (Heb. 3:10). He explains that the Word of God did not profit them because it was not “mixed with faith” (Heb. 4:2).
Don’t miss the message. When you open your Bible, be bent on seeking and finding the will of God. When you find it, believe it. When you believe it, do it. Then, share it.
© G. Michael Cocoris, 12/31/2006
The short answer is: people come to the Word with preconceived ideas of what they think it says. For example, Paul says, “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?” (Rom. 6:3). When Baptists sees the word “baptism,” they automatically think of immersion in water. When Lutherans comes upon the term “baptism,” they see an infant being sprinkled with water. Both believe what they have been taught. Both believe they can “prove” their explanation with evidence that, in their opinion, should convince any “open-minded” soul. Both are so committed to their prejudgment, they cannot entertain the possibility that there is another meaning of the word “baptism”. Both are wrong. There is a spiritual baptism (1 Cor. 12:13)! It’s dry. There is no water involved, pourer or otherwise. Romans 6 is talking about spiritual baptism. It says that we were “baptized into Christ.” Spiritual, not water, baptism puts us in Christ (1 Cor. 12:13).
If it is so easy to miss the message of the Word of God, what is the solution? What do believers have to do in order to understand what God has said?
Believers must come to the Word with a desire to know the will of God. Paul prayed that the Colossians would “be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding” (Col. 1:9). Granted, the way to know the will of God is the Word of God, but it is possible to know the Word without seeing the essential message concerning the will of God.
Believers must come to the Word with a teachable spirit. James instructs us, “receive with meekness the implanted word” (Jas. 1:21). To receive the Word with meekness is to receive it with a teachable spirit. When we come to the Word, our attitude must not be to prove our point-of-view, nor to find material to confirm our convictions, nor to feel good because we did something spiritual. In order to discover the will of God in the Word of God, the attitude of believers must be, Lord, “Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law” (Ps. 119:18).
Believers must come to the Word with faith. The writer to the Hebrews says that the Exodus generation did not know God’s ways (Heb. 3:10). He explains that the Word of God did not profit them because it was not “mixed with faith” (Heb. 4:2).
Don’t miss the message. When you open your Bible, be bent on seeking and finding the will of God. When you find it, believe it. When you believe it, do it. Then, share it.
© G. Michael Cocoris, 12/31/2006