Have you ever tried to explain a Bible verse and use the wrong verse to explain it. I know of many Bible teachers who do this occasionally. One Bible teacher I heard a year ago used a passage in the first half of 1 Samuel about the Philistines carrying away the ark. He said that it was Saul’s fault even thought Saul wasn’t even king yet. Saul wasn’t even mentioned until several chapters later. That I’m sure was very embarrassing. What do we do when we mistakenly confuse Bible passages and get wrong interpretations? We admit we are wrong and apologize. How do we avoid that?

1. Read the Bible regularly in it’s context.
2. Look at a concordance to look at similar passages that use the same words and see what Bible passages we are confusing.
3. Consult your pastor.
4. Consult a concordance.
5. Don’t assume that you are speaking about the right Bible passage. Look it up yourself.

I’m writing this because I made a mistake in my last post https://usinghermeneutics.org/2019/06/05/abandon-abortion/ . I quoted from 1 Corinthians 8:7-13. I just assumed that I had the right context. I should have quoted from 1 Corinthians 10:27-33. They talk about similar subjects but 10:27-33 actually talk about the situation of an unbeliever inviting you to their home and you refusing to eat meat sacrificed to idols so that you don’t offend your brother in Christ. I application was spot on but not for the passage that I quoted. I’m sorry for making this mistake. It would have been not an issue if I actually fully read the book of 1 Corinthians right before I wrote on that passage. Learn from my mistake. Read the Bible in its context fully before interpreting it for others.

I hope that this has blessed you. Please feel free to comment in the comment section. Please no cursing for pornography. Also feel free to share this post to your friends who need it, or like it. If you want to contact me, you can contact me at josiah.rob.nichols@gmail.com with any question you want. Also please feel free to look at the resource page to look at The Using Hermeneutics Series. The book series is designed to teach you biblical interpretation through demonstration. Lord bless you.

You hear it in the news everywhere. This company and that company are abandoning Georgia because they passed an abortion law that restricts the killing of innocent lives as soon as a heartbeat can be detected. In response Christians are considering whether or not they should support these companies anymore now that they are taking such a stand for the taking of innocent life. That is a matter of conscience. What Christians should be asking is whether or not the Bible supports abortion. In a previous blog I already answered that question with a big no.

1. God views the unborn as human. Psalm 139:13-14.
2. God was angry with people killing their babies to sex gods. Leviticus 18:21
3. God punished men who accidentally killed the unborn. Exodus 21:22-23

What do we do with companies who take a stand for something that God is clearly against? May I humbly suggest, if you can avoid it, don’t support them or at least write to and share the gospel with them. Urge them to repent of their sin and trust in Jesus as their savior. Present the truth that their consciences are suppressing.

I take my argument from 1 Corinthians 8:7-13:

“However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols?  And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died.  Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.” (ESV)

The situation is you and another Christian are eating at an unbeliever and you follow Paul’s advise to eat whatever is put in front of you. Then you are told that this meat was sacrificed to idols. You stop eating for the sake of your brother because of your new found knowledge and you don’t want to cause him to stumble.

How does this apply to companies who support abortion. Let’s say that you enjoy watching the latest Disney movie and you find out that the proceeds will go to support abortion. You don’t go and support the Disney movie by watching it in theaters or buying it on DVD. Here is why: 1. you don’t want to cause other Christians to stumble, 2. you don’t want to support what God hates, 3. you will prove that you believe abortion is wrong. You can go further and write Disney, Netflix, or etc. a letter explaining biblically why abortion is wrong and share the gospel with them. Maybe they will be saved and not continue to do these evil things. Bottom line let’s abandon the abortion industry and preach the gospel.

I hope that this has blessed you. Please feel free to comment in the comment section. Please no cursing for pornography. Also feel free to share this post to your friends who need it, or like it. If you want to contact me, you can contact me at josiah.rob.nichols@gmail.com with any question you want. Also please feel free to look at the resource page to look at The Using Hermeneutics Series. The book series is designed to teach you biblical interpretation through demonstration. Lord bless you.

“so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.” Hebrews 9:28

Interpretation is all about Context! Context! Context! We cannot just take one verse and build a theology around it without determining what it means in its context. What does it mean that Jesus will not deal with sin at His second coming? Do not other scriptures that He will judge people for their sin? What does this verse mean? Lets look at the context.

The author of Hebrews is proving that Jesus is a better King, priest, and mediator of the new covenant. The surrounding verses show that the ceremonies and the temple practices of the Old Testament were just the copies of the heavenly realities. The priests were not sinless so they had to make sacrifices for them selves and the sacrifices were of lambs, not their own bodies. They also had to do this continually. Jesus once for all paid for the sin of His people on the cross so there is no need for further sacrifice. When he comes again He will not have to pay for his people’s sin again but save them from this sinful world. This passage does not say how He is going to save us from the world, but other passages show that he is going to save us by judging the world for its sin and casting the ungodly, sin, Satan, and death into the lake of fire.

What are some points of application for this passage?

1. Jesus does not have to continually pay for our sin by being re-sacrificed. Therefore the Mass where they believe Jesus is sacrificed again for their sin is gross and wrong.
2. Jesus is coming back to save His people from this sinful world. We can reject any end times theology that denies this.
3. Jesus’ sacrifice will keep us saved to the end. We cannot lose our salvation because Jesus has dealt with our sin.

When we read the Bible in its context, we can be sure of the salvation of Jesus Christ. We can be sure of His second coming and we can eagerly long for our salvation from this world. Come quickly Lord Jesus.

I hope that this has blessed you. Please feel free to comment in the comment section. Please no cursing for pornography. Also feel free to share this post to your friends who need it, or like it. If you want to contact me, you can contact me at josiah.rob.nichols@gmail.com with any question you want. Also please feel free to look at the resource page to look at The Using Hermeneutics Series. The book series is designed to teach you biblical interpretation through demonstration. Lord bless you.

One reason that people do not read their Bibles is that they think that they do not have the time. Bible reading must become a habit. You don’t have to wait for a sunny day when you are all alone in the park sitting on a rock. There are plenty of times and places you can find to read the Bible.

1. When you first get up. Many people don’t realize how much time they have before they start their day. When I get up out of bed, I have my Bible right on my night stand. I spend about 1 hour reading my Bible right when I get out of bed. Other people could cut 15 minutes out of their day to read the Bible. That is three chapters worth of reading. Your morning coffee takes at least 15 minutes to brew before it is ready. You could read three chapters in Luke before your coffee is ready to pour.
2. When you wait in line. People spend a long time in lines. To speed things along you could whip out your smart phone, pull up your Bible app, and read as you move along to the casher, DMV person, or your person taking orders for you at Chick-fil-a.
3. When you are in the waiting room at the doctors office. It can take 15-30 minutes at the Doctors office. Instead of picking up the Time magazine read the latest trend, you could pick up your Bible and read about Jesus dying to save sinners from their sin.
4. When you are on your lunch break. The average lunch break at work is about 15-30 minutes. You can pick up your Bible while you are eating your turkey sandwich and feed your body and your soul.

I hope that this has blessed you. Please feel free to comment in the comment section. Please no cursing for pornography. Also feel free to share this post to your friends who need it, or like it. If you want to contact me, you can contact me at josiah.rob.nichols@gmail.com with any question you want. Also please feel free to look at the resource page to look at The Using Hermeneutics Series. the book series is designed to teach you biblical interpretation through demonstration. Lord bless you.

Many people wonder what to do if someone asks you a question when you are witnessing to someone that is not related to the gospel. My answer to that problem is to just be honest about the question and get back to sharing the gospel as soon as you can.

Recently I was asked a question about tattoos in a witness encounter. I said that the only place that the Bible prohibits tattoos is in Leviticus 19:28, ” You shall not make any cuts on your body for the dead or tattoo yourselves: I am the Lord.” It is not mentioned in the New Testament. God wanted this chosen people Israel to be different from the nations surrounding them. Idolatry was also associated with idolatry and pagan witchcraft. I said as long as your tattoo glorifies God , don’t worry about it.

Then I transitioned to that like tattoos we are created in the image of God. That when we sin we are not correctly representing God. Then I went through the Ten Commandments to show that we are sinners who are guilty of sinning against a just and Holy God. That we deserve to go to Hell. But God in His mercy sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross to pay the penalty for our sin. What we have to do in response is repent of our sin and trust in Jesus as our Lord and savior. Then He will save us tattoos and all.

I was honest about tattoos, but I didn’t stay there. I went to the heart of the matter. That is how we do honest evangelism.

I hope that this has blessed you. Please feel free to comment in the comment section. Please no cursing for pornography. Also feel free to share this post to your friends who need it, or like it. If you want to contact me, you can contact me at josiah.rob.nichols@gmail.com with any question you want. Also please feel free to look at the resource page to look at The Using Hermeneutics Series. the book series is designed to teach you biblical interpretation through demonstration. Lord bless you.

Most professing Christians do not take the time to read, much less study their Bibles. That is a sad and sorry state. Christians are supposed to be people of the Word. The most common reason for people not studying the Bible is because they believe it is boring or it is too hard to understand. Some people get overwhelmed with different interpretations of the sacred writings that they do not take the time to read the Word of God for themselves. So as an avid Bible reader and studier here are Seven Stimulating Scripture Study Steps to drive people to study the Bible more.

1. Get Saved. If you are not drawn to want to understand the Word of God, something is wrong with you. Most likely you do not have the Spirit of God residing in you to draw you to the words of the Father and the Elder brother. Children of the Devil will seek the things of the Devil: worldly lusts, possessions, and entertainment. The child of God will seek the things of God: love for the truth found in the scriptures, the fruit of the Spirit, and love for the brothers and sisters in Christ. If you are drawn to the things of the World, repent of your sin, and trust in the sacrifice of Jesus to save you from your sin. Then you will be sealed with the Holy Spirit who will draw you to the Scriptures and understand them.
2. Start small. You cannot become a scholar overnight and you will not be able to get a routine of regular Bible reading in a day. You are going to have to figure out how much time you have in your day. I suggest reading the Bible 10 minutes a day starting with the New Testament and then going to the Old. Maybe all you can do in a chapter. But the more you read it, the more you will want to read it. The more you want to read it, the more you will do it. Eventually try to work your way up to an hour. As you grow in your Christian faith, you will replace more of your leisure time with Bible reading/study time.
3. Read a book at a time. Interpretation is best done in context. So the more you spend time reading in order the book and its context, the more you will understand it. You should be able to know what is in the book by your third reading of it. The more you know what is in the book, the better you will be able to make sense of it in its context. I read the book of Romans 100 times in 3 months before I wrote a book on the first seven verses on it.
4. Study the Biblical geography. Scripture comes alive when you start seeing where these events took place. The MacArthur Study Bible[1] has several maps that show major cities, countries, landscapes, routs that significant people took in their travels. Rose Book of Bible Charts and Maps[2] is another good resource for maps of Bible.
5. Study ancient cultures. The Bible was written in history. The more you know about the history of the cultures in ancient biblical times, the more you understand the message the Bible had to its original readers. The Bible Almanac [3] by J.I. Packer is an excellent resource to understand the ancient cultures of the time.
6. Study the original languages. The Bible was originally written in Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic. Translations are good for personal Bible reading but they are not perfect. That is why we need Bible teachers and good commentaries to help us better understand the Bible. The best way to see if the commentaries and Bible teachers are staying true to the Word of God is to know a little about the languages yourself. Todd Friel has and excellent resource on teaching the basic’s on Biblical Greek called It’s Not Greek to Me.[4] It is an excellent source for teaching the average Christian enough Greek to be dangerous to false teachers.
7. Share the Gospel. Jesus commanded the church to make disciples of all nations teaching them to do all He commanded us (Matthew 28:18). The more you share the gospel, the more questions and attacks on scripture the world and the devil will throw at you. To combat that you will need to study the Bible. The more you study the Bible, the better prepared you will be to answer those questions.

I hope that this has blessed you. Please feel free to comment in the comment section. Please no cursing for pornography. Also feel free to share this post to your friends who need it, or like it. If you want to contact me, you can contact me at josiah.rob.nichols@gmail.com with any question you want. Also please feel free to look at the resource page to look at The Using Hermeneutics Series. the book series is designed to teach you biblical interpretation through demonstration. Lord bless you.

[1] https://www.gty.org/store/bibles/44NKJ20HC/nkjv-macarthur-study-bible-twentiethanniversary-edition

[2] https://www.amazon.com/Rose-Book-Bible-Charts-Lines/dp/1596360224/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?keywords=roses+bible+charts&qid=1558323897&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1

[3]https://www.amazon.com/Old-Time-Gospel-Hour-Bible-Almanac/dp/B000F6P7X4/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?crid=2EZOGWXSCOS9O&keywords=the+bible+almanac+packer&qid=1558325293&s=gateway&sprefix=The+Bible+Almanac%2Caps%2C220&sr=8-1-fkmrnull

[4]https://wretched.givecloud.co/product/its-not-greek-to-me/its-not-greek-to-me

Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Proverbs 31:30 ESV

For many years I looked for a spouse, which is a good thing. Yet, like most young men, I looked for it in the wrong places. I was looking for the super Christian woman. I was looking for someone who looked like Haley Berry and acted like a daughter of God. For many years I was hopeless, until I started rightly reading the Bible.

Proverbs 31 is a passage that looks like the perfect wife. She is beautiful, wealthy, raises her children, is better than gold. She has servants. She is so outstanding that people know her husband in town by so and so’s wife. Yet, I got to tell you, it is not because she does all of these things she is so outstanding. She does all of these things because of our Bible passage. She fears the Lord.

No my wife does not look like Wonder Woman or Haley Berry. She is better. Her beauty comes from studying and explaining the scriptures to our two year old. Her beauty is in how she submits to and respects me. My wife is outstanding in that she prays and reads scripture with me. She is forgiving. She has forgiven me more than I ever deserved for things I wouldn’t have used to forgive others for. She models the gospel and what it means to be a Christian. That makes me want to die for her like Christ died for me.

She is certainly not the perfect woman; but, she is a new creature in Christ Jesus, a daughter of God, a lover of the Word, and an excellent mother. She drives me to be a better Christian. Thankfully this severely imperfect man was blessed with her.

Guys when you are looking for a wife, look for one that the scriptures say should be praised. You will be saddened if you marry someone for their looks. They will drag you down to death and away from the God who gives you life. They also lose their beauty when they get older. Look for a woman:

1. who loves God
2. who is redeemed
3. who studies the Bible
4. who loves children
5. who is wise in following the Bible.

If you marry a woman like that, you will do well. Seek righteousness, the preach the gospel, love Jesus, and study the Word. God will give you the superhero wife if you seek His kingdom and His desire for you is to be married.

I hope that this has blessed you. Please feel free to comment in the comment section. Please no cursing for pornography. Also feel free to share this post to your friends who need it, or like it. If you want to contact me, you can contact me at josiah.rob.nichols@gmail.com with any question you want. Also please feel free to look at the resource page to look at The Using Hermeneutics Series. the book series is designed to teach you biblical interpretation through demonstration. Lord bless you.