Do "EMOTIONS" lead to stability in the faith, or Does "STUDY?" What does God say

Slothful Christians often consider themselves quite spiritual merely because their EMOTIONS are easily aroused. They boast of their contentment with "the simple things" while they should be ashamed of their indifference to the written Word of God. They claim great devotion to God, yet neglect the one great means of knowing Him better. They profess fervent faith in Him, yet scarcely trouble themselves to find out JUST WHAT HE HAS SAID. They do not, like David, mediate upon God's Word day and night nor, like the prophets INQUIRE, AND SEARCH DILIGENTLY (1 Peter 1:11) as to it's true meaning.

The results of this attitude toward the Word of God are appalling, for such may trust Christ for salvation, but beyond this they exercise, in most cases, a blind, superstitious faith that cannot but DIS-honor God. FEELINGS are taken for FACTS and their own WISHES for God's WORD. They go into wrong paths, saying, "But I prayed very earnestly about it and now feel perfectly at peace." They say, "The Lord spoke to me," and refer to some FEELING rather than to some passage of Scripture consistently applied. Thoughtlessly they say, "If it is in the Bible, I believe it," yet as they read the Bible they take to themselves only what warms their hearts and leave the rest un-applied, not knowing exactly why.

But those who boast of their contentment with "the simple things" and oppose dispensational Bible study on the ground that all the Bible is for us, have certainly missed the fact that a Scripture was given that the MAN of God might be PERFECTLY FITTED AND FULLY EQUIPPED FOR HIS WORK (2 Timothy 3:17).

There is a great difference between the "Child of God " and the MAN of God." How can one who remains an infant in the truth be approved as a WORKMAN for God or as a SOLDIER of Jesus Christ, when the workman God approves must know how to rightly divide the Word of Truth and the soldier He honors must know how to wield the Sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17)?

We can sympathize with those who have BEGUN to study the Bible dispensationally and have found it confusing. The study of almost any subject is confusing at first, but as we preserver we begin to UNDERSTAND and to reap the fruits of our toil. Indeed, to any thoughtful person the Scriptures must continue to be confusing until he learns to rightly divide and so to UNDERSTAND them. And what joy can compare with that of coming into a fuller understanding of God's Word?

Studying the Bible dispensationally may seem confusing at first but actually it dispels confusion, ex plains difficult problems, reconciles seeming contradictions and lends power to the believer's ministry.

If I should step inside a modern U.S. Post Office, all would doubtless seem very confusing to me. But it would be a mistake to suggest piling all the mail neatly in one corner and handing it out promiscuously to all comers as some would do with the Bible. The postal employees must "rightly divide" the mail so that each person receives what is addressed to him. What seems like confusion to the novice is really a simplification of the work to be done in getting each person's private mail to him

It is granted that in the Bible even that which was addressed to those of other dispensations is given to us for our learning and profit, but we must not confuse this with our own private mail or make the mistake of carrying out instructions meant particularly for others.

Thus all the Bible is FOR us, but it is not all addressed TO us or written about us, and if we would really understand and enjoy it; if we would really know how to use it effectively in service for Christ, we must be careful always to note who is addressing whom, about what, and when, and why.

One of the first lessons the Bible student should learn is the difference between the principles and the dispensations of God.

The opponents of dispensationalism have often charged us with teaching that under the Old Testament men were saved by the works of the Law, whereas today they are saved by grace through faith.

This charge is at least misleading, for no thinking dispensationalist would teach that the works of the law IN THEMSELVES could ever help save, anyone.