Php 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Php 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
Php 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Php 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
(Php 2:13) For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Php 2:14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
Have you ever thought something meant one thing and it actually meant another?
I used to believe some things that were not Biblical, because I allowed the world around me to educate me about Jesus. I also have been a Christian for
over twenty years and have heard a lot of preaching and teaching. Some good
and some lacking but a lot of preaching and teaching nevertheless.
I used to believe that the three wise men were really at the manger scene when Jesus was born. One time in a live nativity I put on a costume and helped reenact that scene but it was not truly done Biblically.
The Bible says they came to a house.
Mat 2:11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
Herod actually had baby boys killed ages two and younger when the wise
men did not return. He based his reasoning on the amount of time that
the men had related the star had been sighted.
Matthew 2:7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
When he set out to kill Jesus he used this information.
Mat 2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.
I also thought that the Bible said Adam and Eve ate an apple when in fact
the Bible says its fruit. It never describes an apple at all. The pictures
we see in childhood books show an apple usually. Apples have never given
me discernment.
Gen 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
The story of Jonah usually shows a whale swallowing Jonah. The book of Jonah
says a great fish. The book of Matthew however does say whale.
Mat 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
I recently read a chapter of a book by a well known Apostolic author. He used
one of the above scriptures in Philippians to support a theory that he was trying to express. He misunderstood the text though, and honestly we can do the same unless we
really read it and comprehend what we read. He penned the words that one
day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is
Lord. He then on went to describe how even old knees are going to be made
to bend to revere that name. He is wrong in his theology. This is not what the
Bible says. How many times have we all been guilty of this? I am not just typing this to insult the man for misquoting the Scripture. I have heard it preached in various assemblies among various denominations just as he stated it. It does not
though mean its Biblical. When studying the chapter you come to understand that its
talking about how He did not come to earth giving himself honor but took on the
form of a man. The Bible says that all things 'SHOULD'bow the knee in honor and respect to His Name. He came and showed us that it can be done. We can live for Jesus
without sin and walk in obedience by His example, and being filled with His
Spirit. He gives us the overcoming power.
We need to be careful with the Scriptures, and make sure we are not using them
to support our theories. The Bible says only what it says. We cannot over spiritualize it nor can we deny truth. We have to rightly divide the Word.
I have many times heard that same passage of Scripture used to prove that
at the end of all time the devil and his evil angels and all the enemies of
mankind are going to bow and say, Jesus is Lord! I don't see where it says
that in Philippians. It does say however to work out your own salvation with
fear and trembling. It speaks of having a right spirit and right attitude
not seeking glory or self, just as Jesus did.
I hope today this has helped someone to really look at the Bible. I don't
claim to know it all but do claim to be trying to better understand
the Bible. I have to stand before Jesus one day and give an account for my life.
I don't want to be trying to use excuses with the Lord but want to hear well
done my good and faithful servant. Today I challenge you to really read a chapter of the Bible in its context and consider how to apply those passages to your life.
You will be better for having done so.
In Jesus,
Dana Klein
