Post by Zac Loh on Dec 4, 2008 10:30:25 GMT -5
Key And Template
In bible study, we need key and template from God.
Key – connects and synchronizes everything together i.e. the missing link i.e. the remaining piece of the jigsaw puzzle that fits into the hole.
Template – the systematic pattern, the big picture that fits everything together i.e. the picture of the jigsaw puzzle to help us put together the pieces (we constantly look at the picture of the jigsaw puzzle when we try to assemble the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle together, don’t we?)
If you observe Dr. Paul Tan’s teaching, you will notice that God gave him keys to unlock and understand certain hard things of the bible, and templates such as a systematic sequence that make everything about the end-time fit together.
Key: First Option
There are 3 groups of gifts mentioned in the epistles written by Paul.
They were clustered in 3 places i.e. Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:7-10 and Ephesians 4:11.
Paul wrote the letters i.e. Romans, 1 Corinthians and Ephesians at different dates: 55 AD, 54 AD and 60 AD respectively.
It is safe to say that because of different timing of the writings of each letter plus geographical distances plus none of today’s technology i.e. postal, faxes and e-mails:
1. the Corinthians did not have the letters to the Romans nor the Ephesians when they read their letter because the other two letters were not written yet.
2. the Romans did not have the letter to the Ephesians because it was not written yet.
If Paul wanted the readers to compare them together, he would have given them instruction to do so and asked them to wait for the others. Paul would have asked that each wait until they get a copy of the others. Paul wouldn’t want to take them on a wild goose chase.
So now, we can consider the First Option of approach i.e. that each of the 3 groups of gift could stand alone meaning that they could be understood without looking at the other 2 lists of gifts.
Therefore, my point is that, the approach to the study of the gifts by the practice of cross referencing all the gifts together, by taking all the 3 groups and lump-and-mix all together, should not be the First Option of approach.
The best and safest approach as our First Option is to take the 3 groups separately. This is what we should do first before any other methods. This should be our First Option.
When I treat each of the 3 groups separately as my First Option, I found that everything fits together.
This First Option approach is what many teachers had missed. Instead, they had skipped this first Option, and start by mixing all together, and do not see what I see: the template of the 3 groups.
Template: The 3 Groups: The 3 Levels
Every Believer
Romans group of gifts level
1 Corinthians group of gifts level
Ephesians group of gifts level
Every believer is a prophetic person because the testimony of Christ is the spirit of prophecy. We are all end-time people looking towards further fulfillment of Bible prophecies and the second coming of Christ.
But you discover that prophesy or prophets are in all 3 groups: Romans, 1 Corinthians and Ephesians.
So, we DO NOT put them together to say that any of each of them is the same. Romans gift is higher than the prophetic edge that every believer of Christ has. 1 Corinthians is higher than Romans, and Ephesians is higher than 1 Corinthians.
They are of different levels.
Let me say that no matter what level our gift(s) is/are, each is of equal value to the kingdom of God.
Let me also say that we are rewarded in heaven not by our gift(s), but by our faithfulness in using our gift(s).
The Best Way To Learn
Experience + Exegesis (study of scripture) + Exchange (share & compare with others) = Exactness (towards being exact).
We will never really understand a truth unless we experience it. But our experience is never complete or perfect. We cannot depend on experience alone.
We compare our experience with the study of the bible. Not just surface knowledge, but an in-depth comprehensive study.
But our rational capability is limited in understanding the things of God. Can logic explain the miraculous? Can science explain how God created the universe by the word of His mouth? So the study of scripture is never accurate and correct without experiences from God.
Yet, we cannot determine our beliefs by experiences only.
With our experiences of the things of God and our knowledge of the Bible, we are still not there because we can only be better together with each other, and share and compare our experiences and knowledge.
Somebody asked me: is this in the bible, is that in the bible?
Pulpit and pew is not in the bible. Altar call is not in the bible. The title `senior pastor’ or `reverend’ - is not in the bible. In fact, nobody I know in the bible is called `Pastor so-and-so’ but it is common that we call this person Pastor _______. We can go on about this, on and on.
A professor, I heard of, was lecturing the bible in a recognized secular university. But this professor declared to his students that he doesn’t believe Jesus is the messiah. Can bible knowledge alone, itself, save a person?
As mentioned, we cannot determine by the bible alone in itself, but:
Experience + Exegesis + Exchange = Exactness.
These Are God-Given Spiritual Gifts
Like to clarify that these are God-given spiritual gifts.
These are not self-cultivated gifts such as talent in sports or flair for writing, even though these natural qualities can be very good, and can be used for God’s glory.
I can write better than many people but it is not a spiritual gift. It took lots and lots of reading and writing since I was young. I have a great appetite and interest to learn how to write. It is honed through sheer hard work and many years down the road.
The difference of the 3 levels is the way/scope/level of the anointing.