God’s revelation belongs to man

“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.

– Deut 29:29

I’ve heard this verse several times, and even discussed it on occasion, but just tonight I heard it on a Francis Chan audio and something struck me…

I don’t believe this merely means that God reveals to us what he will, hides what he will, and that we’re not meant to know about the hidden things of God but should acknowledge what’s been revealed; rather I think this verse implies we are to take ownership of God’s revelation – general and specific revelation, in particular the gospel.

I can hear right now some saying “You are taking that verse out of context!” Context is very important when discussing Scripture, and here’s my thought on this verse — I believe it is as true now as it was when revealed to Israel. Plus, I believe Scripture bears this out:

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

– Hebrews 4:12 (ESV)

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

– James 1:22 (ESV)

I think “belong to us” in Deut 29:29 is especially telling in this sense. What do you do with the things that belong to you? Do you merely admit to owning them, having only a pure knowledge that they belong to you, or do you take full possession and ownership of them? For example, if you have a car do you leave it parked at home every day, merely keeping it in your possession. Probably not. You probably also drive it, put gas in it and repair it if needed.

Similarly I don’t think the revealed things of God are just ours to have a head knowledge that He’s revealed them to us, but also we are to take ownership. Or, as James might put it..

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

– James 1:22

Reading the Bible

AUTHOR: D.A. Carson, Must I Learn How to Interpret the Bible?

But the process can be accelerated by reading meditatively, self-critically, humbly, honestly, thereby discovering where the Word challenges the outlooks and values of our time and place. It is accelerated by the right kinds of small-group Bible studies (e.g. those that include devout Christians from other cultures), and from the best of sermons.

1 Corinthians verse 1 – Personal Bible Study

NOTE: This personal Bible Study, as I read and think through 1 Corinthians 1, is study not be be taken authoritatively.

Having read some of the Introduction in my ESV to 1 Corinthians, the book seems to start out with a greeting tht seems to double as a call for unity. The introduction notes pointed out that the Church at Corinth was going trhough some divisiveness.  1 Corinthians begins:

1 Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes,

2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians ESV Bible (online)

Notice how the first 3 verses point to God? For me, having read the ESV Study Bible’s introduction saying that the Church at Corinth was suffering through division caused by more arrogant members this greeting subtly says “Stop arguing amongst yourselves and get back to God”, or possibly “Stop worshipping yoursleves and get back to worshipping God!”

Next, in verses 4 through 9 Paul gives thanks as he again seems to be reminding the Corinthians from where eveything flows. Love and affection is apperent in the vocabulary chosen, he is not being harsh.

Verses 10 through 17 Paul gets right to the root of the reason for this letter, the divisions amongst the members at Corinth. These verses do contain some sarcasm and slight agitation. Again he reminds them, however that they are to be followers of Christ, not man and to stop looking in amongst themselves and to look heavenward.

Verses 18 to 31 serve as a reminder that  Christ is power and wisdom and the one through whom all flows – creation, power, wisdom and that God calls all to him. The message of Christ crucified is the power of God for his chosen, and dually a reminder that to those who are not saved this word is nonsense.

SUMMARY: Don’t be arrogant, and don’t follow man. Depend on and follow Jesus because it is his work that has become your salvation.