The Lion's Forums

The Apostle Paul had much that he yearned to teach the Hebrew believers...wonderful truths that would have thrilled their hearts...but these truths were "hard to be uttered," or difficult to explain to them, since they were "dull of hearing." Now, the word "dull" in Hebrews 5:11 really means "slothful," or indifferent (as in Hebrews 6:12). They were not merely hard of hearing, as we say, but were too lazy, too indifferent, spiritually, to pay attention. They were not really sufficiently interested.

This is always a serious condition in the light of the fact that "God hath spoken," and that disobedience to His Word will be judged (Hebrews 1:1-2; 2:1-3). Yet, alas, this is the condition of the professing "church", what we CALL the "church" today. The great majority of religious people are not sufficiently interested in what God has said to engage in diligent, prayerful study and, like those of the Apostle Paul's day, still have to be taught "the first principles" of the Bible. They have remained babes, spiritually, unable to digest anything but "milk," and so remain "unskillful in the Word of righteousness" (Hebrews 5:12-14).

What has brought this condition about? Is it because our Bibles are being burned and the Church persecuted for reading it? Is it because God is unwilling to lead us further into His truth? Of course not! Don't be ridiculous! It is because so many men of God in high places no longer have the single passion to know God's Word and to make it known. They could be as greatly used of God in teaching the Scriptures as their predecessors were, but they are "slothful of hearing" and hence can present their hearers with little that is of true value.

This, in turn, is reflected in the religious masses. They "love" their Bibles, but not enough to study them diligently and become workmen whom God can approve. Let us not be numbered among these. Rather, let it be our one great desire to gain a clear understanding of God's Word, rightly divided...for His sake, for our own sake and for the sake of the needy souls around us.

" Rather, let it be our one great desire to gain a clear understanding of God's Word, rightly divided...for His sake, for our own sake and for the sake of the needy souls around us. "

All I can say here is WOW! Yes, look for the TRUTH!

I love this post, Pastor David! Yes, it is true that people "love" their Bibles, but do not give themselves to studying them. One thing that I think has contributed to this lack of study is the fact that there are so many translations. I've heard people state how they like the way one version interprets a verse over another one. They use their various versions so that they can pick and choose what suits them best, rather than digging deep into the Scripture's meaning and asking the LORD to reveal His truth to them. We in America have become very lazy preferring to be fed and entertained rather than to feed ourselves and perhaps be challenged to deny our flesh in exchange for what is profitable to our souls. Thank you for continuing to challenge us to dig deep into God's Word!

Most denominational churches want to bring people to a feel good get happy feeling so the people will return each Sunday for another ‘fix’ of feel good.

Every denominational bible lesson study I have ever attended hardly opened a bible, but rather proffered pamphlets or booklets that espoused ‘love’ and ‘kindness’ and ‘Christian attitudes of bubbly feel good mentality.

The Bible needs to be read and studied and understood from a perspective of who the writer is, whom he is writing to and for what purpose. No one will understand the dispensation of the Grace of God without that careful consideration.

Consider that God is the same, yesterday, today and tomorrow, but realize that how he deals with mankind at different times does indeed change. It’s easy to see that in just a few examples: God promised Abram (Abraham)

Gen 12:1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
Gen 12:7 And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.

Abraham truly believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness.

Now consider what God says to his church, the Body of Christ,

Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

So God, the same God that told Abraham that the land he showed him would be his and his offspring also told the Church the Body of Christ to set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Let’s consider one more example of how God deals differently with different people at different times in history.

Gen 1:29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.

Just a reminder here – this was at the sixth day of creation.

Yet later, God told Moses and Aaron to tell the children of Israel –

Lev 11:3 Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat.

Still later yet consider what the Apostle Paul tells of God’s dealing with things to eat:

1Ti 4:3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
1Ti 4:4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
1Ti 4:5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, but how he deals with mankind does indeed change, and the holy word of God proves that.

This is the cause of much confusion in denominational religious churches today. They fail to study the Bible in the context of who is speaking to whom and for what purpose.

Today in the dispensation of God’s Grace we must rightly divide the word of truth to understand what God’s plan for us is or we miss some valuable and soul saving information.

My prayer is that all men will come unto the knowledge of truth, will you take the time to discover in God’s holy word what is sound doctrine for the church which is his body? A wonderful place to begin is the epistles of the apostle Paul, most notably Ephesians, Colossians and Philippians.

The grace, mercy and peace of our Lord are with you.

Dear Brother Les (HomeCamp), wonderful post! Amen to all of it!

Brother Homecamp, I echo Pastor David's response: Wonderful post and AMEN! Thanks for sharing with us!