Line Upon Line

How To Teach A Bible Study: Line Upon Line

In the last class we learned some very important points about line upon line and precept upon precept. We focused on line upon line which is having the ability to open the Bible and stick with one chapter and flow with each verse. Sometimes we tend to jump around the scriptures. We do that because of our knowledge on a given topic. People who are listening do not always know how we arrive at such revelations. That is precept upon precept study and it has its place.

However, we should also be able to teach line upon line. When we show that a particular verse is saying something, then the context or passage from which that verse was taken, should also be saying the same thing. There should be no verse in that scripture that contradicts what it is saying.

We saw that when we went through Romans 7 which is a chapter of controversy. Many people believe that Romans 7 is speaking to the Church but those that know the truth, understand that this chapter is speaking to an unsaved man.

We have to acknowledge that if there is a false doctrine, there is usually a reason or a reasoning behind it. If that false doctrine is based on scriptures, we should be able to go to those very scriptures and show that they are not going to contradict other scriptures. The truth of God’s heart will be revealed there in the context of the chapter. This is a skill set that comes through personal study which brings us to a place where we are comfortable.

Today, we want to teach Bible study from a position of actually having Bible study.

One of the false doctrines that is prevalent today is the confusion between who God is talking to and what He is talking about concerning Israel and the Church. They are two different people. There are places in the Bible where God is talking to Israel and places where He is talking to the Church. The misunderstanding of this is the reason why many false doctrines are taught to the Church. They speak to the Church as if it is Israel and take those things that God has spoken exclusively to Israel and adopt them for the Church.

Side note: Never disregard the necessity of unpacking the word of God in preaching. Your preaching is a form of teaching. Declare the word of God as you are led, but be sure to refer to scriptures or break down the word so people can learn the heart of God. Never be okay with people patting you on the back and say how well you preached, if you do not preach from scripture. Use supporting scriptures to bring home a point. Those scriptures should be cohesive as it relates to delivering the point.

There is a belief that Deuteronomy 28 was written to the Church. However, the chapter was written for the Church to understand the operation of God in that particular time. Deuteronomy is part of the Old Testament, which is a schoolmaster.

Definition (The Bible Teacher App): A schoolmaster in the context of the Bible refers to a teacher who instructs others in the ways of God and helps them understand His principles and statutes. The Old Testament serves as a schoolmaster for believers, allowing them to understand the spirituality of the New Testament.

The point I want to make is that the things mentioned in the Old Covenant are not always applicable to the Church, but are for our understanding, so that we may learn from them. When reading the Old Testament in our Bible study, we must be open to the possibility that what we are reading is not for present-day application because much of the Old Testament deals with the law. The Church is not under the law.

When we are referencing Deuteronomy 28, we have to keep those principles in mind. One may ask, “how do we determine those scriptures are not applicable to us?” False doctrines arise from taking the scriptures out of context. They were not read in chronological order. We know that Deuteronomy 28 is not speaking to the church because of this verse:

Deuteronomy 27:9

9 And Moses and the priests the Levites spake unto all Israel, saying, Take heed, and hearken, O Israel; this day thou art become the people of the Lord thy God.

It was established in chapter 27 that Moses and the priests were speaking to Israel. They were not speaking to the whole world or the Church. They went further to tell Israel to hearken. The words ‘this day’ establish time. This is how Bible study is done. We explain line upon line. Moses was talking about a particular day and in that day, Israel were the only people on the planet considered to be the people of God.

We just learned from the schoolmaster, the Old Covenant, that the promises in Deuteronomy 27 and 28 were given to Israel.

Let us now go to the New Covenant and read the letter to the Galatians.

Galatians 3:23-28

23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Line upon line and precept upon precept establishes a time of events. The law, our schoolmaster, brought us to Christ. God never intended for us to stay under the schoolmaster.

Israel became the people of God because they are the seed of Abraham who were given a promise. Simply nature and seed qualified them. We are justified by our faith in Christ Jesus. This is what brought the Church into God.

25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

There is a difference between being the people of God and actually being His children. The Church is the children of God by their faith in Jesus Christ, while Israel was referenced in scripture as God’s chosen people. That is the difference between the Church and Israel. This is why we continue to pray for Israel, as they are still the people of God.

27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

As many that are saved have now put on Christ.

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Deuteronomy 27:9 reminded us that Israel is the people of God based upon being Jews. The importance of that day is not the same because it does not apply. Because of Christ it has been done away with. That exclusivity that the Jews had is done away with. The people of God are the children of God by way of Christ Jesus. This makes it ludicrous for us to take on the promises made to Israel and apply them to the Church. The exclusiveness of Israel does not exist in Christ. The Israelite is just like the African if both are in Christ.

Because we are one in Christ Jesus it is not good for us to adopt the blessings that were exclusively given to one race of people and give them to the Church. If we take on the blessings of Israel, we will have to take on their curse. We cannot remove ourselves when the fate of Israel comes into play.

Let us see what God indeed promised the Church.

Ephesians 1:3-10

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

It is the Church or the Body of Christ that has been blessed with all spiritual blessings. The blessings in Deuteronomy 28 are natural. God promised the Church all spiritual blessings.

4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Many persons do not see that Paul has already stated what spiritual blessings are. They do not discern that being holy is a spiritual blessing. Some of us understand the grief that we once felt when we were sinners and wanted to be holy. To be free from that sin and to know that freedom did not come by way of our own strength or willpower but it was simply given to us through the gift of holiness. This is one of the spiritual blessings that God has given to the Church. That was not a spiritual blessing that He gave to Israel because they were Abraham’s seed. Many times, Israel continued to sin. God, however, gave the Church the spiritual blessing of holiness. Paul said, “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God…” (Romans 7:25). In other words, he could execute holiness because he was set free by the law of the life which is in Christ Jesus. So, one of the spiritual blessings is to be holy and without blame.

The first spiritual blessing here is to be chosen. It says we were chosen in Him before the foundation of the world. Before the world was, God chose us to be in Christ. God selected us that we would be saved from our sins. What a blessing! The wages of sin is death which leads to hell so being saved is indeed a blessing. Once again, this blessing was not given in Deuteronomy 28.

5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, Predestination to adoption by Jesus Christ is another blessing. We were not deserving of it but because of the good pleasure of His will.

6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Acceptance in the beloved, redemption through His Blood, and the forgiveness of sins are all spiritual blessings.

8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; These are the riches of His grace.

9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

He has caused us to know the mystery of His will. This was given to the Church. It is a mystery to the atheist but the veil has been removed and the Church can see the revelation of God’s will. Even when we cannot articulate it, the Holy Spirit is letting us know how God is leading and guiding.

It is important to compare the blessings of Deuteronomy 28 to the blessings in Ephesians. Paul uses the word ‘riches’ which infers ‘treasure’. The blessings that Israel got would make them wealthy. They would be blessed in all natural things. The riches that we have received is the grace of God that has made us His children and sons. That grace saved and changed us. That is our portion.

10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

Side note: One of the skills of Bible study is knowing when to cut off when a point has been made.

There is a distinction between what God promised Abraham's seed and what He has promised the Church. We have been given grace. Abraham's seed was under the law. They were given natural things because they were a natural people but the Church is spiritual. God said He is the father of spirits (Hebrews 12:9). Christ said that those who worship must do so in spirit and in truth.

These are the spiritual things we were given:

• We were chosen to be in Him before the foundation of the world.
• We were accepted in the beloved.
• We were given holiness and righteousness. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled.
• We were made known the mysteries of His will. We will know what He wants.
• We were predestinated unto the adoption by Jesus Christ.
• We are without blame and corruption.
• We are pure and without impurity.

These are the promises that were given to the Church according to His good pleasure and that we would be the praise of His glory. There will be no more condemnation.

These cannot be preached to the natural man for them to find excitement in it. It does not resonate with them. They cannot identify with it because they have not experienced it.

Be reminded that one chapter or several verses are compacted with a lot of information but we must exercise discipline, temperance, and focus and not be carried away by other points that are in a chapter. Stay on path. Others are listening to and following you. God is entrusting us to take our time and go line upon line and precept upon precept.