How To Read Scripture, Part 7

We have seen that the Word has much to offer as we ascend to its heights. It would be unfair, however, to make the climb seem easy. The Word is stubborn in yielding its secrets. “It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter” (Proverbs 25:2). God wants us to dig, labor, and toil in the areas of reading, studying, memorizing, and meditating. I believe that as we exercise these related disciplines, much fruit will be harvested. We must not be discouraged as we encounter difficult passages. Revelation comes by degree and the process may cause frustration until we understand what the Lord says about His Word. A simple definition of revelation is what God wants man to know that man could otherwise not know. From my own study of the Scriptures, I have come across six degrees of revelation that the reader must keep in mind.

We must understand the mind of God regarding His Word. When we hear people say, “The Bible has the answer to all questions,” we will become disillusioned when we find that there are issues on which the Scriptures are silent. I have labeled these issues with degrees of revelation, so as difficulties arise I can assign the appropriate category of revelation ranging from 1-6, with 1 representing no revelation to 6 representing personal revelation. For example, “Why did God create Adam and Eve if He knew from eternity past that they would fail the test?” Answer? The Scriptures don’t tell us. This falls into category number 1, which is classified as “secret.” “The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law” (Deuteronomy 29:29). Scripture reveals that there are some issues the Lord keeps to Himself for His own reasons. We must learn to trust Him.

The second category is defined as “hard to understand.” “As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction” (II Peter 3:16). The Bible tells us that some revelation is hard to comprehend. Each person has his own area that may fall under this heading. It is not a secret--these passages are clearly revealed but difficult to accept. Perhaps you know that Scripture teaches Christ to be the only way to heaven. This is a very clear teaching, but you might feel it’s unfair. After all, there are many who have never heard of Christ. Although the first chapter of Romans may help us better understand God’s plan, for many, it does not erase feelings of unfairness. Thus it is “hard to understand.”

The third area deals with revelation that is “partial” as we read in I Corinthians 13:12: “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face; now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” Here we have biblical revelation that leaves out some details. We know that heaven is a perfect place with no more pain or sickness, and my assumption is that human language can’t describe it, so we are given partial revelation on this subject.

Fourth, we have revelation based on “maturity and need.” Jesus told his disciples, “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now” (John 16:12). Revelation is often based on obedience and maturity. As we grow in our knowledge of the Lord, the Holy Spirit as our interpreter and illuminator will expand our capacity to understand the deeper truths of His revelation. Psalm 25:14 Type Out.

Our fifth point can be labeled as “clear.” Clear revelation is just that. These five degrees of revelation are based on the fundamental doctrines of the faith that have stood the test of time. I believe the sixth and final degree of revelation is perhaps the most important--personal revelation, which we will look at tomorrow. That's the way I see things.