The idea of putting a puzzle together seemed to fit this study. I’ve seen five-thousand-piece puzzles that have no picture on them, but each piece is white. Frankly, it would seem that putting them together could result in the loss of one’s sanity. So, I chose a puzzle with a picture of Mickey Mouse on it that had a total of 48 pieces. I read somewhere that a five-year-old should be able to assemble a puzzle with as many as 70 pieces, so I figured this 72-year-old could handle a 48 piece puzzle.
The process I remember about assembling a puzzle from four or five decades ago was to:
find the puzzle’s four corners (since they have two flat sides),
find all the perimeter pieces (since they have one flat side),
construct the perimeter,
work toward the middle (studying the puzzle’s picture on the box with a magnifying glass) until the puzzle is complete,
take great pleasure in the speed with which the last four pieces are assembled,
and protect the finished product with one’s life (just kidding).
I’m fairly certain a five-year-old could have assembled in fifteen minutes the puzzle it took me an hour to do.
Why am I sharing this humiliating story with you? As I was assembling the puzzle it made me reflect on how certain Bible studies should be taught. Often, the preaching and teaching of God’s Word seems to follow more of random pattern – a topic here and a topic there. However, there are times when a group of topics should be covered in a specific order in order to present a coordinated, effective picture. Such is the case with the following study. The fundamental principles in this study are ordered so that one principle flows into the next. The BELIEVER who implements it daily should experience amazing spiritual growth (sanctification) and power.
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE #1
Testing
I Thessalonians 5:21-22
“…but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.”
Yes, test everything. How? With God’s Word (II Timothy 3:16-17). As we test everything with God’s Word, we will discover the good God would have us to do and that we are doing by God’s grace. Cling to it; don’t let it slip away. As we test everything with God’s Word, we will discover what is evil around us and the sin we are committing. The evil around us is to be avoided; the sin we are committing is to be rejected.
Are you actively testing everything?
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE #2
Contrition
Psalm 51:17
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.
Isaiah 66:2b
But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my Word.
Contrition, by definition, is heartfelt sorrow for sin. The person who loves God more than anything or anyone will experience heartfelt sorrow (contrition) when personal sin is discovered through testing. No one wants to hurt their first love.
Did you experience such sorrow (contrition) over a sin yesterday?
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE #3
Confession
I John 1:9 2667
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Please note that we are to confess our sins and not just our sinfulness. Testing produces this essential knowledge. It is not just our sinfulness that is offensive to God, but also our specific, individual sins. As many as can be identified should and must be confessed. Obviously, those we don’t know can’t be confessed (which is different from sins that are unknown because we don’t look for them). Please note, this verse is conditional – if we confess our sins, then the outcome (forgiveness/cleansing) happens because of Christ's atonement and the faithfulness/justice of our Heavenly Father.
What role does the confession of specific sins play in your life? When was the last time you confessed a specific sin?
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE #4
Absolution
I John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
What a promise – to know the guilt and punishment we deserve for the sins we just confessed to God are consumed by the forgiveness bought with the blood of Jesus and we have been actually cleansed from all unrighteousness.
Are you experiencing this overwhelming relief and joy every day?
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE #5
Agape (love) Growth
Luke 7:47 2128
Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”
The context for this verse is the criticism of Jesus' Pharisee dinner host against Him for allowing a prostitute to touch Him, wash His feet with her tears, anoint Him with expensive oil, etc. So, Jesus told him a parable in which a lender forgave two of his debtors their debt: one had a debt ten times the size of the other (Luke 7:41-43). He then asked his host which debtor would love the lender more. The Pharisee rightly said the one who was forgiven the bigger debt. Jesus then explained why the prostitute showed greater love and respect for Jesus than His host - the Pharisee didn't understand the size of his sin debt while the prostitute clearly understood the magnitude of hers. Love for the Savior is directly proportionate to the amount of forgiveness the individual is aware he/she needs and has received. As we identify and understand how much we need God’s forgiveness, the more we will appreciate and love the Savior. Confession and absolution are fundamental to a growing love of God.
Is your love for God growing because of your incresing understanding of the forgiveness you are receiving?
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE #6
Change
Proverbs 28:13
Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy
Hebrews 10:26
For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
The only appropriate response to being forgiven is to change. True contrition, heartfelt confession, and realized absolution WILL produce in a repentant sinner an intense desire to abstain from, to forsake sin. These verses are clear – those who say they are sorry for their sins, but refuse to forsake them, will NOT receive mercy from God.
What changes are you in the process of making by the power of God’s Word and Spirit?
This is group of Biblical principles that flow from one to the other and should consciously be an ongoing part of each believer’s day. If they are, the outcome will result in extraordinary growth and Kingdom fruit, as well as a growing glorification of our awesome God.
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