RULE ONE: PROPERLY DIVIDE THE BIBLE.
RULE TWO: STUDY THE CONTEXT OF EACH PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE
AND INTERPRET EACH DIFFICULT PASSAGE IN THE LIGHT OF EASILY
UNDERSTOOD PASSAGES.
RULE THREE: STUDY ALL THE BIBLE TEACHES ON EVERY SUBJECT.
AN APPLICATION:
WE ARE SAVED BY:
TO BE SAVED, WE MUST:
"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15. The Bible is divided into two major divisions - the Old Testament and the New Testament. (The word "testament"
means "covenant" or "will".) The Old Testament is a history of man's fall into sin and God's carring out His promise to send a Redeemer. The New Testament is the fulfillment of that promise and the law of Christ for you and I to live by. The Mosaic law, which began with the ten commandments, was given only to the children of Israel (Deuteronomy 5:1-3). The Mosaic law was fulfilled by Christ and was nailed to the cross (Colossians
2:14). The Old Testament, as such, is no longer binding upon man. The New Testament is God's law for men today. See John 1:17; 6:68; 12:48; 14:6; Hebrews 1:1,2; 8:6,7.
The Bible is truth and truth agrees with itself, so do not place an interpretation
upon one passage which contradicts another passage.
Consider all God says on a subject before drawing a conclusion. Failure to do this
will lead to a misunderstanding of Bible truths.
When we apply these rules to the question: "What must I do to be saved?", we find our salvation depends upon several things, not upon one alone.
GRACE Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 2:11.
FAITH Romans 5:1,2; Galatians 3:26,27.
OBEDIENCE Matthew 7:21; Romans 6:16-18; Hebrews 5:8,9; James 2:17-26.
BELIEVE ON JESUS Mark 16:16; John 8:24; Hebrews 11:6.
REPENT OF SINS Luke 13:3,5; Acts 2:38; 17:30.
CONFESS FAITH IN CHRIST Matthew 10:32; Romans 10:10.
BE BAPTIZED Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38: 8:38,39; 22:16; Romans 6:3,4;
Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:12; 1 Peter 3:21.