FAQ's
WHY IS THE GOSPEL GOOD NEWS?
The Gospel is Good News because God is Holy...and we are not. Because He is Holy, He is Just, Loving and Righteous. The Gospel is Good News because He has given us His Righteousness, His Love, His Justice and His Holiness in the person and work of Jesus Christ; while we were yet unrighteous, unjust, unloving, unholy, and totally deserving of His wrath. This act was NOT just an act of love, though love towards us. It was an act of Justice, of Love, of Righteousness, and Holiness...for the Glory of His unending and perfect attributes. It can thus be said that a correct rendering of the Gospel should begin with...God is Holy. He is SOOO Holy, we cannot stand in His presence drenched in our sin. The Gospel is good news, because He is Holy and we are filthy! But through the Gospel He takes our filthiness and wipes us clean with the blood of Jesus dressing us in His Holiness.
HOW ARE WE TO READ THE BIBLE?
Because the days are evil, I thought it helpful to provide this really quick lesson into how to read scripture correctly. The bible warns us that there would come false teachers and so it's helpful to remember these two processes of reading scripture to discern what is true from error.
Exegesis=Implies "drawing out" from the text of scripture or reading it as it is written within the context it's written in.
Eisegesis=Implies "drawing into" the text of scripture or putting your own ideas into what is already written. Literally this means "misinterpreting" a particular passage or verse of scripture.
Question 1: Which process would likely cause error in interpreting scripture?
Question 2: Which process does your pastor use? Observe, and question him!
(Disclaimer: This is not a reference or jab at any particular pastor, rather an appeal to get people to think for themselves and study the bible to show themselves approved. Pastors are good and necessary for the church in shepherding the flock of God but it's a gross offense when they mislead the flock by introducing their own ideas and forcing them into verses where they don't belong.)
