Learning from the Bible

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

Romans 15:4

God has given us the Bible with both the Old Testament and New Testament. The manual for Christian living and church life is found primarily in the New Testament as the books of Matthew and Revelation reveal the heart of God regarding our sin, our salvation and our eternal life in heaven. But Paul highlights that the Old Testament is just as inspired, as helpful and as profitable for edification and our growth in learning.

He tells that the “the things were written aforetime.” This refers to the Old Testament Scriptures: the creation of the world the fall of man, the hatred of Cain, the righteousness of Abel, the rapture of Enoch, the judgment of the Flood, the incest of Lot, the sin of drink, capital punishment, the call of Israel in Abraham, the Exodus, the law of Moses, the sacrificial system, the spiritual adultery of Israel, the call to repentance by the Prophets and the coming Savior. These were written for our learning. The increase of our knowledge aids our understanding of the past, assurance in the presence and confidence for the future.

Paul then teaches that it is through understanding of the Scriptures that we may obtain hope through patience. The trials which each one experiences, and the experience of the consequences of our doing the right thing (when men revile and curse us when we do right) can be borne with the correct understanding of the things written aforetime. Many fall by the wayside or get discouraged because they do not understand that the Bible teaches that we will go through persecution and that we will suffer wrong for the sake of the right. (Matthew 5:10 – 11)

Paul also notes that this hope is sustained as we go through the trials by the comfort that comes from the Word. The Bible instructs in the way of salvation but more than this, it gives comfort to the weary soul, strength to the heart and hope to the discouraged. This is comfort to the tired and downcast.

Dear believer, are you in the Word of God?  Do you learn from your Bible reading? Are you patient as a result of your understanding of God’s Word and do we receive comfort from the scriptures? God wants us to gather the gems in His word, that we may decorate our lives with the light of His Word for us to grow in Him and for others to see Him in us.

Written by: Pastor Johnny Tan
Edited by: Timothy Lee