In Isaiah 28:9-13 we find the Lord’s Rules For Bible Study laid out plainly–twice. Read these instructions from the Lord carefully. Notice the first words: “To whom can God teach knowledge?” Isaiah then goes into detail as to how Scripture-loving Truth-seekers approach anything relating to God’s Word which is His will in printed form. Jesus of Nazareth was God’s will in human form, making Him the perfect example for fulfilling God’s will, which is His commands to those who love Him.

Note that Isaiah repeats the instructions, which has important Scriptural significance. We learn this from the Old Testament by turning to the Book of Genesis where we find Jacob’s son Joseph telling the Egyptian Pharoah who has had two dreams that when God tells us something twice, that means that it is set and unchanging (Gen. 41:32). Note throughout the Scriptures how many times Jesus tells us to OBEY GOD’S LAW. A few examples are: John 8:31; 14:15; 15:10; 1 John 2:3-5/ Matthew 19:17. If those verses do not convince you, you are Spiritually Dead From The Neck Up. Incredibly, most professing Christians are SDFTNU.

As is the case with everything the Lord tells us to do, He has rules that must be obeyed while doing those things. The Holy Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation comprise the Lord’s divine covenant which those who seek to live eternally with Him and His Son. By agreeing to do the things he is commanded to do, the way he is commanded to do them, man spiritually “signs” the covenant. IF the believer obeys the covenant he/she will receive all of the promises God has made him/her in His Holy Bible–His HOLY LAW (Rom. 7:12)–which He enters into with those who, by obeying His Law, walk (live) in a state of holiness/righteousness throughout his/her post-conversion life. Those promises involve the saint’s present and future life. The key factor is the Word: IF. In the series that discusses the process of salvation it is revealed that faith in Jesus Christ and accepting Him as ones’ Savior is only part of the process. Read about the process using the key word–Process.

A covenant is a contract between two or more parties. Each party has specific tasks to perform in order to fulfil his/her part of the covenant. On the worldly level, a social contract is legally binding on each participant in a court of law. The signatures at the bottom of such a contract require each participant to fulfil his/her part of the agreement. If one of the signatories fails to do so, the contract is nullified and the other signatory is not obligated to fulfil his/her part. The same holds true in the spiritual realm relative to the spiritual contract/covenant the Lord offers to those who seek His promised blessings in both this life and throughout eternity. Of course, the ultimate promise is eternal life in paradise. Again, the optimum word upon which the entire Bible rests is IF–the most hated Word found in that Holy Tome.

God’s covenant with man is binding on both Himself and the one who agrees to abide by His Rules of Engagement. If one does not obey His instructions the Lord is not obligated to fulfil His promises. This presents a two-fold problem. The foundational problem concerns the fact that only a minutely few people know what is written in that mutually-binding agreement known as The Holy Bible. Like any contract, one should understand the specifics of the document before “signing” it, which is a declaration that one knows what the agreement contains and agrees to fulfil his/her part of it AS WRITTEN. In the social world we know to always carefully read a contract before signing it. An important part of any written agreement is what is known as the “fine print.” The expression that “The devil is in the details” is a good lesson to learn on the human level. On the spiritual level, GOD IS IN THE DETAILS, about which 99.99% of professing Christendom knows nothing. And the devil smiles, knowing that his ministers have unwittingly fulfilled that part of their assignment. Having also been deceived by the “god of this world” (2 Cor. 4:4), they believe that they are serving the true God. Which brings up problem number two.

The second part of the problem is encountered when one reveals to church people “the rest of the lesson” God teaches in His book of instruction. The reaction I receive 99.99% of the time when I show deceived people the Gospel Truth can be summed up in one word–REJECTION. The fact that they did not know that such statements were in the Bible means that it is irrelevant. Even when I point out what Jesus said as recorded in Luke 10:16. Due to a combination of pride and fear, such “Fine Print” (detail)is summarily dismissed.

Therein lies a severe, even deadly problem which, with extremely rare exceptions, afflicts the entirety of professing Christendom. CHURCH PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS IN THE COVENANT THEY HAVE AGREED TO OBEY. This in spite of God’s command to “Study to show yourself approved of God” (2 Tim. 2:15). That verse fits in with 3:15-17 where we are told that, “ALL SCRIPTURE IS INSPIRED BY GOD and is profitable for formulating doctrine, for reproof (identifying error), for correction (supplying God’s Truth) and for INSTRUCTION IN RIGHTEOUSNESS (achieved by obeying God’s holy Scriptures), wo that the salvation seeker will be perfect and prepared for every GOOD WORK.” In verse 15 we are told that the Holy Scriptures are “ABLE TO MAKE ONE WISE UNTO SALVATION THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS.” Note that the Holy Scriptures are ABLE to produce salvation and will do so IF AND ONLY IF ONE BELIEVES (FAITHS) THEM AND OBEYS THEM. What the Holy Scriptures are ABLE to do for the believer and what they ACTUALLY DO for him/her depends on that tiny, despised Word: IF–the Word no one knows about. It has been replaced by “only believe.”

IF is a perfect example of God’s “Fine Print.” This ministry is a “Fine Print” ministry that God is sending to the end-time church. His “Fine Print” is like a magnifying glass that enables one to see what believers read physically but do not see spiritually. When making a cake, the word that begins with “s” on the jar might not be the first letter in “sugar”–the word might be the first letter in “salt.” Therefore, we must read the sign carefully. Whether the cake will be consumed or discarded depends on using the right ingredients. In the same way, spiritual success or failure will be determined by the salvation-seeker’s attention to detail. “But that’s not what I’ve always been taught” will land on deaf ears on Judgment Day.

With those statements in mind we will begin our examination of God’s RULES FOR BIBLE STUDY which of necessity begin with emphasizing the “Fine Print” messages He placed throughout His Holy Word. Those universally-ignored nuggets of information were ordained by the Almighty in order to separate church sheep from church goats, church wheat from the church tares, church good fish from church bad fish, church good fruit trees from church bad fruit trees, false christians (CINOs–Christians In Name Only–Law rejecters) from true Christians (saints–“holy ones” who are made holy by obeying the Law–1 Jn. 3:4). VERY FEW OF THOSE WHOM GOD CALLS “MY PEOPLE WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME” ARE TRUE CHRISTIANS. THE VAST MAJORITY ARE CINOS. Read Who Are God’s People? and “My People Who Are Called By My Name.” Key words–People and Called respectively. In Isaiah 2:20,26; 3:20 and Romans 8:4 we are told that righteousness/holiness and obedience to God’s Law are ONE AND THE SAME. In Romans 5:21 and 6:22 the Apostle Paul tells us that THE END RESULT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HOLINESS IS ETERNAL LIFE. As Jesus tells us in Matthew 10:22, SALVATION WILL BE AWARDED ONLY TO THOSE WHO ENDURE PERSECUTION FOR THEIR RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HOLINESS UNTIL THE END OF THIS LIFE. Faith is the BEGINNING of the SALVATION PROCESS. Read about the process of salvation. Key word–Process, which is possibly the most important series I will ever write.

Relative to the part FAITH plays in the salvation process, the Lord tells us in the Book of James (2:10,14,17,18,20,24,26) that faith without works (obedience to all of His Words) is dead faith, which produces a dead believer, which produces a spiritually dead believer who believes that he/she is spiritually alive. This explains why the promises God makes to His people are rarely, if ever, fulfilled in the modern church. Relative to this series, fulfilling one’s part of the covenant is necessary in order for its promises to become reality. Read Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28 for a perfect presentation of the covenant God presents to mankind. “He is the Lord, He does not change.” “He is the same yesterday, today and forever.” Everything He promised anciently (both positive and negative) remain true today for those who are part of today’s end-time church which He describes in Revelation 3:14-18. Notice that His sowing and reaping Law works both positively and negatively. What we sow, we receive in return, only more of it.

For those who believe that the Old Testament does not apply to the New Testament Church, let us not forget that the early apostles taught the church out of the Old Testament. The New Testament did not exist for the first 60 years of church history. Read Ephesians 2:20/ 2 Timothy 3:1-16/ Isaiah 42:21/ 1 John 3:4/ Romans 2:13; 7:12/ 2 Peter 1:21/1 Corinthians 10:11/ Matthew 7:21-23; 15:9; 19:17 and John 15:10, 13,14. The God who spoke the Law into existence from atop Mt. Sinai is the same God who walked the earth as Jesus of Nazareth, who is now the Head of God’s true church. Read The God of the Old Testament. Key word–Old.

Relative to God’s “Fine Print,” note that in 2 Timothy 2:15 Paul stresses the necessity of gaining GOD’S APPROVAL, not man’s approval which is received by obeying man’s “truths” found in church doctrine–man’s wishful thinking about God’s Truth. The Truth is, if the religious world approves of us, God does not. If we obey Him the church world will hate us (Lk. 6:22/ Jn. 15:18). The nonchurch world does not care what we do, say, think, believe, etc. Recall that it was a segment (the Jews–tribes of Judah and Benjamin) of God’s chosen people (the tribes of Israel) who killed Jesus and the apostles (1 Thes. 2:14,15). As I have written in previous series, the Institutional Church will lead a world-wide persecution of God’s true saints in the lead-up to the Tribulation Period, which I believe will begin within four to six years, possibly sooner. Read Matthew chapter ten where Jesus warns those who will remain true to His Words, including his “Fine Print,” about what is soon to come upon them. Read the three Pearls of Great Price series, specifically the third series. Key word–Pearls. L.J.