Sample Bible Studies | Knowable Word

How can you know the will of God?

July 19, 2012 By Tom Hallman

If you’ve been a Christian for more than approximately 37 seconds, you’ve probably been in a conversation about how you can know the will of God. In my experience, most of these conversations quickly become debates about whether and how God speaks to individuals about specific decisions they’re facing. The answers to those questions are significant and are often correlated with denominational lines, so I won’t presume to give God’s authoritative answer on those questions today.

However, if we go back to the original question of how we can know the will of God, we are indeed able to to speak authoritatively! The Bible tells us plainly in several places. Let’s look at two of them together, found only a few verses apart:

[1] Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. [2] For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. [3] For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; [4] that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, [5] not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; [6] that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. [7] For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. [8] Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. (1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 ESV, emphasis mine)

[16] Rejoice always, [17] pray without ceasing, [18] give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV, emphasis mine)

Therefore, here are several things the Bible very plainly says are God’s will for us:

Abstaining from sexual immorality (4:3)
Self-control of our bodies, in holiness and honor, and not in passions of lust (4:4-5)
That we not transgress and wrong our fellow Christians regarding the items above (4:6)
Rejoice always (5:16)
Pray without ceasing (5:17)
Give thanks in all circumstances (5:18)

Honestly consider that list. Are you abstaining from sexual immorality, including keeping yourself from adultery, fornication, visiting sexually explicit websites and the like? Do you run to the Lord in prayer so often that it seems to you and others that you pray ceaselessly? Do your friends marvel that you are constantly rejoicing and giving thanks in all circumstances, even the ones that leave others shaken and panicked?

If you’re anything like me, there’s certainly room for growth even in that short list! Praise God that Jesus died so that my hope – and yours – is not in a perfect list, but in a perfect Savior!

So, while it is appropriate to ask whether God gives specific direction in regard to His will, it is still more appropriate to recognize that He is very clear with us on what following His will looks like according to 1 Thessalonians. If we desire to know more of His will, let’s agree to at least start with what is already plain in His knowable Word (1 Thess 4:2!)

Difficult texts: Genesis 3:16

July 3, 2012 By Tom Hallman

So there you are, emotionally reading through Genesis 3…

You boo as the serpent comes on the scene, eager to destroy God’s good creation. You cry out to the woman to not listen to him! You cringe as she takes that terrible, terrible bite of the forbidden fruit. You tremble with the first two humans as they try to hide from God as He approaches. You hang your head with them as God questions what they’ve done. For a moment, you feel immense joy and cheer as God pronounces the curses on the serpent and makes the first promise of a coming Messiah (Genesis 3:15). But then something strange happens…

To the woman [God] said,

“I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing;

in pain you shall bring forth children.

Your desire shall be for your husband,

and he shall rule over you.“

(Genesis 3:16 ESV, emphasis mine)

You mourn but nod as you understand the reasoning for childbirth being painful. But then suddenly God seems to say, “And now for the worst part… woman, you’re gonna desire your husband!”

Ummmm… right.

Thankfully, you’re a faithful Knowable Word reader, and you’ve just got done looking at the difficult text of Colossians 1:24. There you saw that even though Paul’s words were initially tricky to understand, you could look at another passage of Scripture (Philippians 2:25-30) that used the same words to help determine Paul’s meaning back in the Colossians passage. So you wonder, “Could a similar technique be used to clear up this odd verse?”

I’m glad you asked.

In this case, you only need to read a short distance further, to Genesis 4:

Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the LORD.” And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. The LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.” (Genesis 4:1-7 ESV, emphasis mine)

Note God’s warning to Cain (which he doesn’t heed). He portrays sin as a predator crouching just outside Cain’s door. It desires him, all right, but not in the way a man desire a woman or vice-versa. Rather, this desire is more like the way that a lion desires a sheep. God is telling Cain that despite the ferocity of that predator, Cain must rule over it. The image here is of a lion tamer – at any moment, he is mere moments from catastrophe, yet he commands authority and the beast is subdued. Cain had that very option before him, but he did not “do well”.

So, with that lesson in mind, let’s return to Genesis 3:16. When God tells the woman that her “desire shall be for [her] husband, and he shall rule over [her]”, He isn’t saying that her curse is romantic desire for her husband, but rather that she will find herself, like the predator at Cain’s door, ready to “attack” or “master” her husband, but instead he will rule over her.

Now, that interpretation itself needs further interpretation, and indeed there are a number of views on what that means practically. I think the simplest conclusion is this: the husband and wife in the garden, as well as today, tend to enter power struggles with each selfishly seeking to rule the other. Thankfully, the Scriptures also point us to hope in Christ, the perfect husband who rightfully rules over us, His bride, but doesn’t do so in a harsh or condescending manner; rather, He is the Husband who laid down His life for us, taking on Himself the full punishment that we deserved. Sin was crouching at our door, yet He was the one who went out to do battle with the beast in our place. What sacrificial love!

For further reading on the right role and role model for husbands and wives, consider Ephesians 5:21-32. God is far from silent on the topic of marriage, and He deeply desires that we know Him – and our spouses – still more through His knowable Word.

Sometimes the Point is Clear

June 30, 2012 By Peter Krol

Some Biblical authors are very clear about why they wrote their books. When you study these books, don’t feel the need to be particularly profound. If you don’t get to the stated point, you’re probably missing something.

Proverbs – to know wisdom, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction, to give prudence, to understand a proverb (Prov 1:1-6).
Luke – to give an orderly account, that we might have certainty concerning the things we have been taught (Luke 1:1-4).
John – so you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, and have life in his name (John 20:30-31).
1 John – so you may know you have life (1 John 5:13).
Jude – to encourage us to contend for the faith (Jude 3).
Revelation – to reveal Jesus Christ and show his servants the things that must soon take place (Rev 1:1).

Please feel free to comment if I missed any.

Why Book Overviews Matter

May 31, 2012 By Peter Krol

When we began the process of adopting our twin sons, the U.S. State Department required numerous criminal background checks. First, the Pennsylvania State Police cleared us of any misdemeanors or felonies. Second, the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare cleared us of any history of child abuse. Third, the FBI cleared us of any federal offenses. In addition, despite our spotless history in the United States, the Ugandan magistrate also required a background check from Interpol. Once again, our records were so clean you could have disinfected a toilet with them.

Why did they require such thorough investigation into our history? I imagine it was because we were pursuing a lofty objective with weighty consequences. How could they not examine every corner of our lives to make sure these precious boys would have a good home with us?

When we study a book of the Bible like Proverbs, we must likewise investigate its background. Therefore, over a few posts we’ll examine four topics that are foundational for understanding this book: the genre, the author, the audience, and the author’s intentions for his audience.

Stay tuned!

Finding Joy In What Isn’t There

May 17, 2012 By Tom Hallman

One of my favorite verses in all the Scriptures is one I didn’t even notice the first half-dozen times I read it.

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1 ESV)

Do you see what that short verse is saying? If so, you’re way ahead of where I was for quite a while. The first times I read that verse my brain somehow translated it into, “Jesus is cool.” Actually, most of the time when I read a verse and don’t think about it much, it gets translated as, “Jesus is cool.” Thankfully, that’s a better statement than what used to enter my head before I was a Christian (which was something like, “Jesus, blah blah blah”), but it’s still not all that helpful.

So how do you go deeper? How do you learn to appreciate this verse, and all the very rich verses of Scripture for that matter? It’s what I call, “finding joy in what isn’t there.” It’s simple, really. I just ask questions about what the text doesn’t say. For example:

What if there were condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus?
What if there were no condemnation for those who just followed all the rules, regardless of their relationship with Christ Jesus?
What if there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus… unless you are seriously messed up? (That is, remove the “therefore” and the context of Romans chapter 7.)

Take a few moments and consider the answers to those questions! The implications would be devastating for us! As you consider each answer, you ought to erupt with thankfulness and praise to the One who caused Paul to pen Romans 8:1 just as it is written so that we know exactly how God has designed things.

There is absolutely, positively ZERO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus! If you are a Christian, you needn’t fear this ever changing. There is quite literally no way you could be condemned.
This joyful life devoid of condemnation is not based on our observance of rules, but rather in the person and work of Christ Jesus. This also means that if we are not in Christ Jesus, then condemnation remains for our sin.
Furthermore, even if we find ourselves in the position of the man in Romans 7 – thoroughly convinced that we are seriously messed up and without hope to change apart from our savior Jesus – then in THAT we find ourselves uncondemned. In other words, Jesus accepts busted-up people, not those who think they’re doing just fine.

The implications are a LOT more than “Jesus is cool”!

Now it’s your turn. What “isn’t there” in your favorite verse?

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