It's 2019. It Doesn't Still Apply.
“But, it’s 2019.”
How many times have I heard this? People often pick and choose which Bible teachings they want to follow, as “it doesn’t pertain anymore.” Why does society do this?
Because, they want to.
Sometimes, it is way more fun to choose the way of sin and temptation over what the Bible says. It is EASIER, at times, to ignore the portions of the Bible that don’t fit our plan or situation.
Is the Bible still true for 2019? The short answer is, yes.
I really don’t care that the Bible was an ancient book written at a time when “things were different.” The Bible is a book about GOD. It is to teach people. It is not a book about people, though people play a part in telling God’s story. It is whole, and unchanging.
When we look at the Bible, we have to believe that the entirety of the book is true … or we must believe none of it is true. Even the parts we don’t want to believe are true … they are true. Yes, Jesus Came To Fulfill The Bondage Of The Old Testament Law. He came to set us free from sin, the sin that we all face. Jesus also came to teach us the way to act, the things to do, what to set our hearts on, and how to love.
He did NOT says, “It’s okay. This only applies to now. Later on you can choose how you want to act.”
1 Peter 1:25 says, “but the word of the Lord endures FOREVER. ‘And this is the word that was preached to you.’” FOREVER is not a flippant word you can interpret many different ways.
Thesaurus.com shows some synonyms (words that mean the same as) for FOREVER to include: always, endless, eternal, and permanently. These words are pretty conclusive. Antonyms (words that mean the opposite of) include: brief, ceasing, ending, and temporary. Yet, when it comes to the Bible, people like to interpret FOREVER to mean “for that time in history only. It doesn’t apply to now. That would be crazy.”
So why do some people do this? Why do they interpret the Word as changing through the ages?
BECAUSE, THEY WANT TO.
Psalm 119:89 says, “Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.”
Again, ETERNAL is not a word that is changing.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
It does not say, “useful for teaching for this time in history only.” It says it “is God-breathed.” And God is unchanging. Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
The Bible can sometimes say some uncomfortable things. It does not always speak popular opinion. This doesn’t mean the message has somehow changed through the ages. It was true then, and it is also true now.
How can we know this truth that Jesus preaches? Open your bible. Do not rely on your preacher to teach you a scripture every week. Do not rely on someone interpreting it for you. Open the pages, and read it for yourself. It sounds cliche, but live in the Word.
I am by no means saying the interpretation by your pastor is incorrect. What I am saying, read it for yourself. The more you read it, the more you will understand it. Don’t just pull this dusty book out every Sunday out of habit or because it’s expected. Read it. Believe it. Follow it. Live it.