TOPIC: CONSIDERING COHERENCE OF THE TEACHNGS
INTRODUCTION
The
Bible is a book which contains so many tenets (beliefs or doctrines) that are
generally held to be the true inspired teachings from God. Majority of the
tenets are central (of primary importance) to THE FAITH of the church. It is
therefore necessary to consider the coherence of the various subjects and
tenets of the Bible when one is learning to understand or interpret the Bible.
The Nature of Coherence of teaching.
(1)
Coherence of teaching is the art of analyzing related subjects in order to
determine their common and essential agreements. If various subjects or tenets
that are related at some points are interpreted to the exclusion of the other
subjects or tenets, it leads to confusion, contradiction and errors.
The
Sadducees do not believe in the existence of the spirits and resurrection
because of their lack of coherent interpretation of scriptures. Jesus told them
that they were in error; and He even from within the five books of Moses, which
they (Sadducees) held unto in their denial of the existence of spirits, to
demonstrate the existence of spirits and the resurrection. See Matthew 22:23-33;
Acts.23:8; Exo.3:6, 15-16; Heb.11:16
(2)
Considering the coherence of Bible subjects or tenets is to find out,
understand and interpret them consistently – showing their conformity.
If
a particular subject or tenet is not understood or interpreted consistently
with other related subjects or tenets, it leads to disagreement with the truth;
disagreement with one another; disorder and disunity with different schools of
thought in the body of Christ.
For
instance, the subject or tenet of the forgiveness of sins.
·
Some interpret and teach that one is forgiven and save at the
point of repentance. Repent therefore, and turn back, that
your sins may be blotted out. (Acts.3:19)
·
Others interpret and teach that one is forgiven and save when
he confess his sins. If we confess our sins, he is
faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
(1 John1:9)
·
There are those who understand the coherence of the subjects
or tenets and interpret that forgiveness of sins in agreement with repentance,
confession and baptism. …Repent
and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness
of your sins… (Acts2:38)
In the above three instances, the primary or
root issue (subject or tenant) of coherence Bible teaching is the forgiveness
of sins.
It is incoherent to interpret and teach that
forgiveness is either by repentance or confession only. Considering coherence
of Bible teaching, one has to understand and interpret the subjects or tenets
(repentance, confession and baptism) together; then, it could be logically
concluded that, it is when one repents, confess and is baptize that his sins
are forgiven.
(3)
In considering coherence of Bible teaching, one must understand any precept of
Christian doctrine by a careful study of ALL the Bible teaching upon that
particular tenet, taken together and considered as a unit, as complementary
parts of a whole. Take, for example, the disputed tenet of baptism: baptism is
either spoken of directly, or referred to in the following passages of
scripture, and by studying them all together one can learn both the form and
the purpose of Christian baptism beyond any doubt of a logical and honest mind:
Acts 2:37,38,41; 8:12,13,35-39 10:47,48;
16:15,33; 18:8;22:16: Romans 6:3,4; 1 Corinthians 1:13-16; 10:2; 12:13:
Galatians 3:27; Ephesians 4:5: Colossians 2:12; 1 peter 3:21 John 3:3-6. John the baptizer’s baptism is not included in
these scriptures.
Applying
the first two models and the doctrine of baptism as touched upon here, will
help every honest student have a full understanding of any tenet in God’s word.
It is necessary to reiterate that in considering coherence of the teaching of
the Bible, it must be approached in exactly the same manner as shown here in
the above three models.
Yet
there are some group of people who disregard this simple principle of considering
the coherence of Bible teaching which has led to the balkanization of Christianity.
A
few examples will add more light to the above.
Salvation through believe in the
gospel alone regardless of baptism
So
many Bible students do not believe that one needs to be baptized to be saved. They
believe and teach that one can be saved by believing and exercising faith in
Jesus Christ and would save without baptism. The following are some the
scriptures and points they quote to advanced their claims.
(1)
Romans 1:16 says, For I am not ashamed of the
gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes,
to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
(2)
1Corinthians 1:17 says, For Christ did not me to baptized but to
preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of
Christ [the preaching of the gospel of Christ’s death for sins] be emptied of
its power.
(3)
1Corinthians15:1-2 says, Moreover,
brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which
also ye have received, and wherein ye stand. By which [gospel] also ye are
saved, if ye keep in memory what I have preached unto you, unless ye have
believed in vain.
(4)
John3:1 says, For God so loved the world that
he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but
have eternal life [be saved]
(5)
John 6:17 says, Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.
The
above five scripture passages and the understanding of those who advance this
view of interpretation shows that they do not consider the coherence of Bible
teaching. This is one of the reasons for the balkanization of Christianity.
Those who teach salvation through gospel alone separate their followers from
those who are trying to advocate coherence Bible teaching on salvation.
Example of coherence Bible teaching
on believe, baptize and salvation
It
is instructive to know that those who are ignoring the principles of coherence
of Bible teaching when it comes to believe and baptism, do not understand what
the Bible means when it says that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation
to everyone who believes.
(1)
The only commission with the word gospel, makes the fact clear. And he said to them, ‘go into all the world
and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes
and is baptized will be saved,… (Mark. 16:15-16).
(2)
We see in Mark 16:16 as underlined above that it is only those who hear and
believe the gospel, and are baptized that are saved.
(3)
Acts 8:12 tells what happened in Samaria when Philip preached the gospel there
that when
they believed Philip as he preached good news [gospel] about the
kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both
men and women.
(4)
In the same Acts. 8:30-38, we read of Philip preached the gospel to the Ethiopian
Eunuch, who, when he saw water, requested to be baptized.
The
passages in Acts of the Apostles show how the principle of coherence in
interpreting the Bible can be used to establish that a person is not saved by the gospel as power
unto salvation or believe alone, but rather is being saved as he believe the
gospel and is baptized. The words of first epistle of Peter may add some
lights.
1
Peter. 3:20-22 … only eight people were
saved from drowning in the terrible flood. And that water is a picture of
baptism, which now saves you.
Just as those eight people who
believed God’s warning entered into the ark and were saved, those who believed
the gospel of Jesus and are baptized are saved. This is how one should learn to
interpret or understand the Bible with the principles of coherence of teaching.
The tenets of believed and confession
to be saved.
Another
wrong approach of interpretation which violates the principles of coherence of
teaching is those who hold that one is saved by believing in Jesus Christ and
confessing Him as Lord and Savior. They often quote Romans 10:10 ‘ for
with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses
and is saved’ see Rom. 10:9-13
The
following are some of the passages that are used without considering the
principle of coherence of teaching.
(1). Joel. 2:32
and it shall come to pass that everyone who [confesses] call on the
name of the LORD shall be saved…
(2).
Acts 2:21 and it shall come to pass that everyone who
[confesses] calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.
(3).
Romans 10:12-13 for there is no distinction
between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches
on all who [confesses] call on Him. For ‘’everyone who [confesses] call
on the name of the Lord will be saved’’.
Coherent interpretation of believe,
confession, baptism and salvation
When
interpreting the tenet of believe or confession as a means of salvation, one
must carefully consider all the Bible teaching concerning believing and
confession as steps toward salvation. This approach will help a student of the
Bible to get and understand the complete picture of what the Bible really teach
about being saved by believing from the heart and confession of mouth.
(1)
Acts.8:35-38 show how Philip preached Jesus to the Ethiopian Eunuch. When the
Eunuch saw a stream of water, he requested to be baptized. This passage brings
to view a complete picture of the Bible teaching of salvation by believing from
the heart, confession of mouth and being baptized.
·
And as they went on their way, they came to certain water:
·
and the eunuch said, See, here is water what does hinder me from being
baptized?
·
And Philip said, if you believe with all your heart,
you may.
·
And he answered and said, [confessed] I believe that Jesus is
the Son of God.
·
And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went
down both into both Philip and the eunuch the water; and he baptized him.
We
see in Acts 8:36-38 that the eunuch was asked to believe with all his heart. He
believed and confessed it with his mouth; and then he was baptized. This is not
a by chance account but a demonstration of coherence of Bible teaching which
anyone who seeks to understands or interprets the Bible must put into
consideration when studying the Bible.
(2)
Acts 22:16 is another scripture that shows that confession of faith or calling
on the name of Christ for salvation is not in isolation but is accompanied by
baptism. And now why do you wait? Rise and
be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on [confessing] his name.
(3)1
Peter 3:21 also pointed to the same fact that salvation is received through the
simultaneous process baptism and confession of one’s believe from a sincere
heart. The like figure whereunto even baptism
does also now saves us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but
the answer [confession] of a good sconscience [believing heart]
toward God,)
The tenet of infants baptism because
household were baptized
There
are those who claim that because it is recorded that entire households were
baptized, and infants are part of household, infants were therefore among those
baptized.
The
following are some the passages.
(1)
Cornelius and his household Acts.10:1-48
(2)
Lydia and her household Acts.16:14-15
(3)
The Philippian Jailor and household Acts.16:31-34
(4)
The household of Stephanas 1 Cor.1:16
The coherence of Bible teaching on
household baptism
A
careful study of all the passages of household being baptized show that there
was no infants’ baptism. The context show that all who were baptized were
matured enough to hear and believe the gospel.
While Peter was
still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. Acts.10:44
And they
spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them and
wash their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and his family. Acts.16:32-33
Crispus
the ruler of that synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire
household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were
baptized. Acts. 18:8
The
above passages show that all who were baptized in the households, heard the
word of the gospel preached, believed and were baptized.
This
is the coherence of Bible teaching which we should learn to apply in seeking to
understand and interpret the Bible.
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