Understanding the Scriptures
Author Unknown
Text: Luke 24:45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
Introduction: There were people in Jesus’ day that believed on Him, but they allowed the Pharisees and other things to keep them from confessing Him as their Lord and God.
John 12:42-43 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: 43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
A. Could this happen to you?
Mark 8:37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
B. If I could show you, verse by verse, how the Disciples obeyed what Jesus commanded, which is written in the Bible, would you obey it and could you make the changes necessary to comply as they did?
C. Who do you really want to please, Jesus, your peers or people that believe like you do?
I. How the Disciples understood Jesus’ command:
A. Is it fair to say, if we understood the scriptures like the Disciples of Jesus did, we would have the right understanding?
B. Even the Apostles Paul, wanted to compare what he had learned from Jesus in the desert!
Galatians 2:2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.
C. Are you willing to compare what you believe?
D. With this in mind, we do not want to reject the Bible teaching on any subject just because of the influence of others.
E. And we do want to obey the Bible just like the Apostles did and preach the same message that they proclaimed.
II. A key to help us to understand like they did:
A. He opened their understanding that they might understand the Old Testament.
1) About the fulfillment of the Old Testament scriptures concerning Him.
2) After the crowd gathered, Peter preached to them the first Gospel Message of this new-formed church that Jesus said that he would build.
3) After his message the people responded: Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
4) Peter, with the rest of the apostles, gave them the answer to their question and obeyed the command of Jesus: Acts 2:38 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 Ghost.
a. Note that the writer, Matthew and the other 9 apostles were there and did not correct Peter’s understanding of Matthew 28:19.
5) Peter told them to:
a. Repent:
b. Be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.
c. That they shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
d. Then he told them who this was for:
e. Acts 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
B. Jerusalem was to be the starting place, but it was to go from there to Judea, Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth.
C. For the promise is unto all that will accept it!
IV. Going from Jerusalem:
A. Philip, a deacon, took “The Gospel Message” to Samaria:
Acts 8:12-But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. 14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: “(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
B. Again, a man who was not with the disciple when Jesus gave the command to baptize, baptized the people with the same understanding that Peter and the rest of the apostles had in Jerusalem.
Acts 2:38 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 Ghost. (Lev 17:11 and Gen 9:4)
F. Through the name of Jesus, our sins are washed away:
Acts 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
VIII. The name of Jesus means:
A. Yahweh – Saviour
B. Yahweh is Salvation
C. Yahweh will save
D. English – Jesus
E. Greek – Jesous or lesous
F. Hebrew – Yehoshua or Yeshua
G. Lord = Yahweh = Jehovah
IX. God has made Jesus both “Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36). In this context, it is extremely significant that we confess Jesus Christ to be Lord – Yahweh (Deut 6:4). So, for the Hebrews and for Gentiles as well, the confession that Jesus Christ is Yahweh is the ultimate confession of His deity. It is, in essence, a confession that Jehovah Himself is incarnate in the person of Jesus Christ. The confession that Jesus Christ is Lord glorifies God, for it identifies the Messiah as Himself the Almighty. God so loved His creation of humanity that He willingly suffered the ultimate humiliation by participating in the limits of that creation to provide redemption for all.
A. Salvation in the name of Jesus.
B. Healing in the name of Jesus.
C. Calling on His Name:
Joel 2:32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.
Acts 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of Lord shall be saved.
Acts 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
1 Corinthians 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
D. Called by His name:
a. The wonder has depth, not a shallow emotion, nor is it based upon a passing wave of excitement.
b. This is true wonder, and when affected with it, it is a deeply and enriched experience.
c. To consider his handiwork’s, the heavens, the earth and all that he has made, causes one to wonder at His magnificence.
d. God is a Spirit
e. God is Light
f. God is Love
2. Teaching:
a. Wonderful teaching
b. Wonderful Example
3. Living:
a. His Holiness
b. His unselfishness
D. Counselor: The need for one to analyze the situation and give proper advice. Jesus is the greatest Counselor.
1. One who advises:
a. Safety in counsel. Every one needs a counselor.
* A writer has an editor.
* An employee has a supervisor.
* A ball player has a coach.
* A child has parents.
* Families have pastors.
* Every believer has Jesus Christ who cares for us like no one else can.
2. One who admonishes.
a. We need someone to correct us.
b. Someone to tell us when we are wrong.
3. Resolving conflicts in our life.
a. Go to the source and try to correct it.
b. Get someone else to try to help.
c. Turn to the whole church for help.
d. Inner conflicts: Confess sins and turn it over to Jesus.
E. The Mighty God: Power
1. Power over elements:
2. Power over death:
3. Power over sickness:
4. Power over the devil:
5. Power over sin:
F. The Mighty God: Works
1. Creation:
2. Incarnation:
3. Redemption:
4. Rapture:
Bethel United Pentecostal Church
Pastor Franklin (Frank) D. Simmons
250-763-7898 or 763-0725
1408 Ethel Street – PO Box 996
Kelowna, BC V1Y 7P7
The above article, “Understanding the Scriptures” was written by Author Unknown. The article was excerpted from Bethel United Pentecostal Church. Used by permission.
The material is copyrighted and should not be reprinted under any other name or author. However, this material may be freely used for personal study or research purposes.
