Take Off the Training Wheels

Taking a trip down “memory lane” can be quite the trip, indeed.  Sometimes that trip can be good.  Sometimes bad.  We’ve all been down that road before. 

One such trip is going back to a time of learning how to ride a bicycle.  To make thkngs simple, we’ll look at three phases:

The Tricycle

With Training Wheels

Training Wheels Removed

I don’t know a single person that has ever begun riding without the tricycle, training wheels, or both.  I would even venture to say that even Olympic champion bicyclists didn’t immediately begin with only two wheels!

The Tricycle Phase

Theologically speaking, I think every believer began in the “Tricycle Phase.”  One comes into salvation through faith alone, possibly knowing only the most important thing – that Jesus Christ died, was buried, and rose again.

This is fundamental in the fact that one has the absolute base on which to stand – the faith of Jesus Christ.  This is a faith that will not, or cannot fail!

But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. – Romans 3:21-27

The problem with this stage is that the person has zero confidence in the faith.  He, or she, has believed the Gospel, yet is a babe in Christ.

And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. – 1 Corinthians 3:1

Notice that the Apostle calls the Corinthians “babes,” but still brethren. 

The Training Wheels Phase

I can still remember the joy I felt as a child getting my very first bicycle.  It was much bigger, and taller, than the tricycle.  I had arrived.  I could sit (or stand) tall in the saddle, and almost keep up with the big kids!

I could go faster and turn a little quicker than I could with the trike, yet the attached training wheels would keep me from falling.  I’m thankful for those training wheels.  But there would have to come a day for them to come off the bike, which I then needed to handle on my own!

Many Christians (in my opinion) have never taken the training wheels off their theology!  Another words, they do not trust that they can understand the simple truth of the Word of God!  Instead of taking God at His Word they rely on the training wheels that are in place.  Perhaps you have read, or studied, a portion of Scripture which says something profoundly simple – as well as self-explanatory.  Instead of relying on that simple Truth you refer too your favorite preacher, or commentary to learn what the said passage really means!  These commentaries effectually make the Bible more complicated than it actually is.

“When the plain sense makes good sense, seek no other sense lest it result in nonsense.”

Though this quote can seem cliched, it is so true.  Scripture says what it means and means what it says.  Yes, there are difficult passages that will take some 2 Timothy 3:16 workmanship to figure out.  But, keeping the training wheels on will impede that process.

I recently had a conversation with a person regarding a certain Biblical doctrine.  I really wanted to know what this person’s study of the Scriptures showed him, but instead told me that he had checked to see what several scholars had to say.  Case dismissed!  Did you know that even if many men agree on an issue that doesn’t make them correct!  Truth is drawn from an exegesis of the Bible alone.

I’m thankful for Godly men in the past, who have labored in the Word, and have brought us great truths.  But these men are no substitute for the Bible!

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. – (John 17:17

IT’S HIGH TIME TO TAKE OFF THE TRAINING WHEELS!

The Training Wheels Removed Phase

Oh, sweet freedom!  One training wheel had broken.  One remained.  If I leaned too far to the left and lost my balance the training wheel on that side would keep me up.  If I leaned to far to the right, well, there was great probability for a fall! Yet, it was during those situations that I didn’t fall, but kept my balance.

Could it be that if both training wheels were taken off, I’d be ok? Surely it was time to be truly two-wheeled!  The last training wheel was now gone!  I still know how to ride a bicycle to this day.  I don’t even need training wheels!

Does your Bible Study include attached training wheels, which cause you not to trust the Word enough?  Perhaps the training wheels are the presuppositions taught by a denomination, or your favorite TV preacher?  Perhaps they are the doctrines inside your head that have been drilled in by many sources?

Here is the not so secret secret to profitable Bible study. 

Study the Bible literally.

Switch to exploration mode when studying.  Even when dealing with common passages treat them as if you have never read them before.  This will indeed open your eyes.

Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness. – Psalm 119:40