The third step in learning to study the Bible is: APPLICATION, that is what does the Scripture mean to me?

Why do we study the Bible? The Goal of Bible study is not to do something to the Bible but for the Bible to do something to us.

Most Christians are like Photographs - overexposed or underdeveloped. The question we need to answer is not whether we've been through the Bible but whether the Bible has been through us. Bible study is never complete without application. Why? Well -

What happens when we fail to apply? Or better how do we read or hear the truth and fail to apply it?

1 We substitute interpretation for application. Bible study provides us the opportunity for self-evaluation. But it's possible for us to become like people you read about from time to time, perhaps on the streets of a big city who watch someone being robbed and killed and do nothing about it. They know what to do but don't. We do the same thing spiritually. We read the Bible or hear it preached or taught and know what it says and means, but stand by and don't obey. And we basically ignore application. Many people do this. We become satisfied to know what it says and what it means but never get any further. Why? Well for one thing application requires action and specifically it requires change.

2. We apply truth in areas we are already practicing. Example? If I preach on honesty, someone might say, "Oh yes I'm honest in this area or that area", but they don't allow it to penetrate into the areas where they're not honest. (You make the application there.)

3. If he does think of an area where he is not honest (or whatever the principle is) he rationalizes it and remains the same. Example? I knew a preacher who broke wild game laws on his land. His rationalization was that it was his land and he paid taxes on it and so the wild life belonged to him.

4. We substitute and emotional experience for a volitional decision. Example? The pastor preaches on witnessing and draws a vivid picture of people going to hell and so you cry or feel bad or guilty. But after the message is over you feel better so you don't obey. Being convicted by the truth and being changed by the truth are not the same.

Hindrances to Application: What makes application difficult.
1. Differences of opinion among Christians about what is right or wrong. Rom. 14:4-5. "Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind." (Grey Areas) Examples - Celebrating Christmas, Alcoholic Beverages, Worship - Sabbath or the Lord's Day. Some things are not simple. Most Christians can't handle that. They want a list of what is right and what is wrong...

2. Paradoxical Statements. (Seemingly contradictory statements that may never-the-less be true) Eph 5:21-22
(21) Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
(22) Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.

Liberals use this all the time say that the Bible doesn't teach the submission of the wife in the Home.

But there is no contradiction. The whole passage is talking about Christ's relationship to the Church. The context is the church. Look at verses 19-20 "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Look at verses 23-24 "For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything."

In the home as in the church there is to be an attitude of mutual submission. But when it comes to the final authority the husband is to be the head of the home as Christ is the head of the Church. The emphasis is on Christ's relationship with the Church. The truth spoken about the husband wife relationship = while it is truth is not the major consideration.

So what about application? Are husbands and wives to submit, yield to one another? Yes. Is the wife to yield to the husband as the head of the home? Yes. There is no contradiction.

3. Pressures from Culture. I Thess. 4:3 "It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality;" Culture can influence application. Example - Today many people define monogamy as having sex with one person at a time for a given period of Time.

We must not even allow our application to be influenced by the pattern of the Christian community - ONLY BY CHRIST. The Bible says that homosexuality is an abomination yet today if you even as a Christian oppose homosexuality you are in the minority.

4. Prejudice and Biblical Truth come into conflict. The Bible says that I have to forgive any offense as many times as I'm asked...

James says that any respect of persons is sin so what happens to application when a church rejects people based on race, length of hair, dress?

Five Steps to Application.

1. Know the Interpretation. Wrong interpretation leads to wrong application. I Tim. 3:2 "A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;" From the Greek (aner mia gune) Literally (One Woman Man.) This is talking about a man who has a present tense commitment to one woman to which he is currently married. It doesn't mean a man who has been divorced. It doesn't mean a man who has had more than one wife. It doesn't mean a man who is unmarried.

Now if you don't have the right interpretation, you will have the wrong application.

2. Know the application situation. Know yourself, when you can study most effectively and not get drowsy. Know when you think most clearly - (Late at night - First thing in the morning).

3. Look for the application in the form of a principle. Matt. 8:5-10, 13. "When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. "Lord," he said, "my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering." Jesus said to him, "I will go and heal him." The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go! It will be done just as you believed it would." And his servant was healed at that very hour."

There is a principle of spiritual authority here. That is that you can't be over unless you are willing to be under. The centurian only had authority because he was under authority. All authority is like that. The reason many wives have not authority over their children is because they are in rebellion toward their husbands authority.

Some Properties of a Principle:
A. It should be contemporary. How does it apply to day. Application in the first century is interpretation.
B. It must not contradict another passage. God will never tell you to do in one place what he forbids in another.
C. It must be specific enough for a course of action. Remember, you have not applied until you have practiced.

4. Brainstorm in Relationships.
A. Probe a passage with questions. How would this relate to my home? cf. Principle of spiritual authority. How would it relate to my job... And make it personal - not how could my wife or husband apply this.
B. Let your mind run free. Think of as many ways to apply the passage as you can. We limit the affect to our lives if we confine the application to the first area that comes to mind.

5. Once you have identified the areas of application, formulate a plan of action. Decide what you are going to do and do it. Don't say, "Well I need to do that - someday". Decide at that moment how and when you are going to apply it or incorporate that truth into your life and then do it.

If you use it, this form of Bible Study - Observation, Interpretation, and Application will change you life.