The first rule

All the Bible is for us to learn, which includes reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness. Doctrinally, Romans to Philemon are for Christians. However, this does not mean that we cannot learn anything out of the rest of the books in the Bible. A Christian can learn something from animal sacrifices in the Old Testament. We learn how important blood, meticulous rituals, and innocence are to God.

2 Timothy 3:16 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”

The second rule

Any verse contradicting Christians is “out.” For example,

1 Corinthians 10:1-2 “Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;”

This is the first occurrence of baptism, which was the Israelites crossing the red sea. When we apply the two basic rules, we can see that:

  • Rule #1: Christians learn that it is important to get baptized. 
  • Rule #2: This Red Sea baptism does not apply to Christians.

1 Corinthians 10:5-6 “But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.”

According to Rule #1, God also gave us another lesson in the passage, not to lust after evil things because God can overthrow us. However, will Christians lose their salvation as the Old Testament saints would (Rule #2)? No, they will not. 

Another example that contradicts Christian doctrine is from 1 John 5, which is not supposed to be doctrinally applicable to Christians.

1 John 5:13 “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”

  • Rule #1: Christians learn that they have eternal life by believing in the name of the Son of God.
  • Rule #2: This applies to the Christians.

Another example from Psalm 23, 

Psalm 23:1-3 “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”

  • Rule #1: The Lord is our shepherd, also in the New Testament.
  • Rule #2: Doctrinally, this is also for us.

Psalm 23:4-6 “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.”

  • Rule #1: We can learn something from David.
  • Rule #2: David has been blessed by God where God exalts him in the presence of his enemies. This is contradictory to the Christian doctrine because we are to expect persecution in the current age. 

The third rule

It is important to know the Pauline epistles so that we fully understand Christian doctrines and we will know what is contradicting.

Every verse in the Bible will be a blessing if we apply both the first and second rules.

Romans 15:4 “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”