Line Upon Line, Precept Upon Precept – Introduction

Introduction
1. You’ve heard it said that God’s Word is line upon line, precept upon precept. What does this mean? Where did this concept come from? Who spoke this into existence? How important is this concept when sharing God’s Word with others? We’ll talk about these things and more in this message about line upon line, precept upon precept.
Where did this concept come from?
1. In Isaiah 28, God is speaking through the prophet Isaiah to people who don’t know His Word and His ways. Just like many of us today. You and I have the complete Bible, the Word of God, and yet many of us don’t take time to study it and get to know who God is. Let’s look at a few of these verses.
2. Isaiah 28:9-10:Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

Who spoke this into existance?
1. This concept is from God. God has something to say about every area of our lives, and the more we delve into His Word, the more we are prepared for what is in store for us, and what God has planned for us. To get a better understanding of this concept, let’s look at a few other translations of verse 10.
2. New International Version: For it is: Do this, do that, a rule for this, a rule for that; a little here, a little there.”
3. New Living Translation:He tells us everything over and over— one line at a time, one line at a time, a little here, and a little there!”
4. Berean Study Bible: For He says, “Order on order, order on order, line on line, line on line; a little here, a little there.”
5. Good News Translation:He is trying to teach us letter by letter, line by line, lesson by lesson.”

Why Can’t We just pick Up the Bible and Read It?
1. God wants us to study His Word, to get to know Him, His Will, His Ways. He wants us to do this for ourselves, but so we can share His Word with others.
2. 2nd Timothy 2:15: Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
3. We see here that as we study God’s Word, line upon line, precept upon precept, we are approved unto God. He is pleased with us.
4. When we study the Word, and share it with others, we need not to be ashamed, because we are rightly dividing the Word, not just making a complete doctrine out of one section of scripture.

Is it true that when a statement is made in the Bible that other passages relate to it between the Old and New Testament?Yes, here are a few examples.
1. We learn that Jesus was a descendant of Abraham by looking at these 2 verses:
  1. Matthew 1:1: The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
  2. Genesis 22:18: And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
2. Throughout the Old and New Testament, we see passages telling and foretelling of how Jesus would give His Life to save you and me from our sins.
  1. Isaiah 53:5: But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
  2. Matthew 20:28: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

1 Peter 2:24-25:Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

2 Corinthians 5:21: For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

The apostle John, and the prophet Isaiah both had a vision of Heaven, and Jesus sitting on the throne.
1. Revelation 4:2-3: And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
2. Isaiah 6:1-2: In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.

Is this Line Upon Line old testament only, or is it New Testament also?
1. As we’ve seen with these examples, we can use Bible cross references to go between the Old and New Testament, often gaining deeper insight into what God is saying by digging a little bit deeper, than just the one passage we might be looking at.

When Explaining God’s Word to someone, how important is this concept?
1. 1 Peter 3:15-16:But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
2. In this world, there are many voices, with many different messages, often contrary to the Word of God. If you study the Word, line upon line, precept upon precept, using the Old and New Testament, you are more equipped to give an answer, and share what God has to say about Himself, and the issues of the day. There are many who say they speak from God but their knowledge of the Word is extremely limited.

Is this a tool made for winning souls?
1. Those who profess to receive and believe the truth are to be shown the deadly influence of selfishness and its tainting, corrupting power. The Holy Spirit must work upon the human agent, else another power will control mind and judgment. Spiritual knowledge of God and Jesus Christ whom He hath sent is the only hope of the soul. Each soul is to be taught of God, line upon line, precept upon precept; he must feel his individual accountability to God to engage in service for his Master, whose he is, and whom he is required to serve in the work of saving souls from death.

How can this help us in the complete study of all 66 books? Here are some guidelines for studying the bible line upon line, precept upon precept.
1. Begin with Scriptures that are easy to understand.
2. Let the Bible interpret and prove the Bible. Don’t look for what you want to prove – look for what the Bible actually says.
3. Understand the context—the verses before and after, and the chapters before and after. Does your understanding of a particular verse harmonize with the rest of the Bible?
4. Ask: What does the Scripture clearly say?
5. Ask: What does the Scripture not say?
6. Ask: Who was the book written to?
7. Ask: Who wrote it and who said it?
8. Understand the historical time frame in which the book was written.
9. Do not allow personal assumptions or preconceived ideas to influence your understanding and conclusions.
10. Do not form conclusions based on partial facts, insufficient information, or the opinions and speculations of others.
11. Opinions—regardless of how strongly you feel about them—don’t necessarily count. Scripture alone must be your standard and guide.