What Does It Takes to Understand the Bible? (Part 3)

What does it take to understand the Bible?

First, it takes hard work. And by that, I mean your hard work.

To benefit from time in the Word . . .

Human Diligence Is Essential
The slothful need not bother, because beneficial time in the Word requires effort. There’s no shortcut. It doesn’t happen magically or automatically.

People who understand the Bible work at it. As Paul said to Timothy, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

But self-discipline is not enough. Second, it takes supernatural work. By that, I mean God’s work, because to benefit from the Word . . .

Divine Power Is Necessary
Do you have any understanding of the Bible? Does any of it make any sense to you at all?

Now I know some passages are difficult to comprehend. I’m not asking if you have a perfect understanding of every verse of the Bible. Even Peter said that Paul’s letters “contain some things that are hard to understand” (2 Peter 3:16). I find much comfort in that verse!

But generally speaking, when you read the Bible or listen to a sermon, are you able to say, most of the time, “Yes, I understand the meaning of that passage. It resonates in my heart and mind, and I get it.”

If that is your experience, then you have been the recipient of a divine miracle. If you have any comprehension of the spiritual truth taught in Scripture, it is because God gave it to you.

Yes, you put forth time and effort. And God provided the understanding.

On the day Jesus was raised from the dead, He told the apostles, “⁴⁴This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms. ⁴⁵Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. (Luke 24:44-45).

Like the apostles, we cannot make sense of the Bible unless Jesus opens our minds and by the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit, grants us the gift of understanding.

As Paul wrote: “What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us” (2 Corinthians 2:12).

Forsake Pride, Embrace Humility, Plead for Help
As we open the Word and seek to understand it, we should take time to confess and repent of any pride that resides in our souls. I write these words to myself first because I was raised to believe that “If it is to be, it’s up to me.” That’s the devil talking. The idea that “I can do this all by myself” has no place in the Christian life, and so it has no place in God-honoring Bible study.

Jesus said, “Apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Let’s take those words to heart and remember them every time we read and study the Word.

Apart from the power of Jesus, we can have no understanding of the Word.

Every day, and every time you open the Word, cry out to God, “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law” (Psalm 119:18).

Pray for yourself what Paul prayed for the Ephesians, “that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe” (Ephesians 1:18-19).

These are prayers that God loves to answer.

NOTE: For more on this topic, check out these posts . . .

What Does It Take to Understand the Bible (Part 1)
https://godwrotethebook.com/what-does-it-take-to-understand-the-bible-part-1/

What Does It Take to Understand the Bible (Part 2)
https://godwrotethebook.com/what-does-it-take-to-understand-the-bible-part-2/