Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    How To Read The Bible & Not Get Confused: The NOT CONFUSED Series, #1
    How To Read The Bible & Not Get Confused: The NOT CONFUSED Series, #1
    How To Read The Bible & Not Get Confused: The NOT CONFUSED Series, #1
    Ebook103 pages1 hour

    How To Read The Bible & Not Get Confused: The NOT CONFUSED Series, #1

    By Gavin Cox

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    This book is simple, straight-forward and clear. It will help you read your Bible with understanding. You will know what Jesus did and why, and how it applies to you. You will also be able to approach any passage of Scripture armed with that knowledge, and be able to apply it appropriately to your life and circumstances.

    WHAT BETA-READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE BOOK:

    "This book is potent in the best sense of the word. Easy to read with analogies that cleared the mud in my thinking and left me with such clarity and understanding of my Bible, how to read and apply it. This is not another layer of "How To" to slap on the top of life, but a deep foundational re-alignment in Jesus that will bring everything else into peace and order, regardless of what circumstances we face. Read it!" - DJW

    "I have just finished proof-reading this book and have been blown away. In a few short pages Gavin has provided concise teaching on understanding the Bible. There is something for everyone; from the new Christian who could be making heavy weather of getting to grips with the Scriptures, to "mature" Christians of many years' standing. His thought processes are clear, the style of writing is conversational without being overly chatty and we are left in no doubt that the entire Bible is about Jesus and the finished work of the cross. I thought that I had a reasonable grasp of the seven covenants and God's redemptive plan for mankind but this book brings fresh understanding and revelation. Highly recommended." - RO

    THE NOT CONFUSED SERIES:

    Christianity can be very confusing. There are so many different churches and such varied opinions and approaches. The whole thing seems so complicated that no one seems to know what really matters, and why. No less confusing is that Jesus, the faith's founder, declared it to be simple. He is on record saying that even children can understand spiritual things.

    The good news is that Jesus is right! Christianity is simple and straight forward. The NOT CONFUSED series cuts through the trappings and trimmings that complicate and confuse. In this series peripheral issues are put in perspective and the main thing is made to be the main thing once again.

    If you want to be clear on the essentials of Christianity then these books are for you!

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherGavin Cox
    Release dateNov 2, 2015
    ISBN9781311333070
    How To Read The Bible & Not Get Confused: The NOT CONFUSED Series, #1
    Author

    Gavin Cox

    I am an entrepreneur, author, husband and father, but my passion is the Gospel. My primary expression of ministry is in the leadership of the Highway Christian Church in East London, South Africa. Having been in ministry for several decades, it was my joy some years ago to discover the Gospel. I had been living in a condemnation-riddled mixture of law and grace, and the Gospel's freedoms have revolutionized my life and ministry completely. SoMuchGoodNews? Because the Gospel is the Best News Ever!

    Related to How To Read The Bible & Not Get Confused

    Titles in the series (3)

    View More
    View More

    Related ebooks

    Self-Improvement For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      When Your Lamp is Trimmed

      Nov 19, 2021

      When Your Lamp is Trimmed
      4 min read

    • Article

      The Parables Of Jesus

      Aug 25, 2023

      The parable of the wise and foolish virgins (also known as the parable of the ten virgins) is the first parable in Jesus’ Olivet discourse, delivered on the Mount of Olives (Matt 24:3). Matthew 24-25 is an important teaching concerning the end times

      3 min read

    • Article

      When Your Lamp is Trimmed

      Oct 22, 2021

      When Your Lamp is Trimmed
      4 min read

    • Article

      Thank God For Dirty Dishes

      Apr 14, 2023

      To lose, you don’t have to have anything stolen from you; all you have to do is take everything you have for granted. Today, replace regret with gratitude. Be grateful for what you have, not sorry for what you don’t have. If you can’t be thankful for

      1 min read

    • Article

      The Bible Is Not Open To Personal Interpretation

      Sep 23, 2022

      What a beautiful scripture above – this is a solid motivation to meditate on God’s Word. Yet, believe it or not, there are some Christians who deem this Scripture to be an ‘arrogant’ or ‘self-righteous’ declaration. I am so grateful that I’ve had str

      1 min read

    • Article

      10 Facts About PALESTINE

      Oct 27, 2023

      10 Facts About PALESTINE
      3 min read

    • Article

      CHARACTERS OF THE BIBLE Ezra

      Jul 22, 2022

      CHARACTERS OF THE BIBLE Ezra
      3 min read

    • Article

      Reach Impossible Goals

      Jul 16, 2021

      Reach Impossible Goals
      1 min read

    • Article

      Commentary on Matthew 19:14

      Aug 26, 2022

      Commentary on Matthew 19:14
      2 min read

    • Article

      Should Should Christians Ch celebrate Christmas Ch ?

      Nov 27, 2020

      This his might might seem seem like like an odd question, but it is one that is raised quite often by concerned T people people. . On On the the one one hand, Scripture makes no mention of Christmas as we know it and, on the the other other hand hand

      3 min read

    • Article

      The Image of Christ this Christmas

      Nov 27, 2020

      It’s not unusual to see nativity scenes this time of year. They’re often lovely scenes, complete with robed figures nestled among sheep, donkeys, and cows on beds of straw. But one thing frequently amiss in these scenes involves the portrayal of Mary

      3 min read

    • Article

      The Power of God’s Word

      May 18, 2020

      The Power of God’s Word
      1 min read

    • Article

      Did You Know?

      Dec 31, 2021

      How many books are in the Bible? The Bible contains 66 books, divided among the Old and New Testaments. How many books are in the Old Testament? There are 39 books in the Old Testament. How many books are in the New Testament? There are 27 books

      3 min read

    • Article

      True Generosity

      Nov 25, 2022

      It’s the gift-giving time of year! If we’re honest, everyone one of us looks forward to receiving a present, right? Giving gifts is a universal practice, isn’t it? Almost all cultures value generosity. But what exactly is generosity? Think about Jesu

      2 min read

    • Article

      Faith Rests

      Nov 18, 2019

      According to Hebrews 12:2, the word is also the author and the finisher or the perfecter of our faith. Those who desire to perfect their faith and usher themselves into a place of rest must go to the word and allow Him to perfect their faith. The mos

      1 min read

    • Article

      Bible Fun

      Feb 10, 2023

      Bible Fun
      3 min read

    • Article

      “My People Are Destroyed For Lack Of Knowledge…”

      Aug 27, 2021

      Believers tend to quote Hosea 4:6 quite often, saying that people perish due to a lack of knowledge – but have you ever thought about what that verse really means? In this series we are studying and unpacking this scripture. In part 1 and 2 of this s

      4 min read

    • Article

      Getting to Know God God’s Incomprehensibility

      Jun 15, 2020

      In last month’s issue of JOY! Magazine we considered Genesis chapter 1 and what the creation account tells us about God. Before that, we discussed the importance of revelation, the doctrine that states that in order for us to properly know God, He mu

      4 min read

    • Article

      Wednesday, December 5

      Oct 15, 2018

      I’VE BEEN MARRIED TO MY husband, John, for twenty-six years, but for many years I didn’t think that would be the case. My doubt was due to the fears and mistrust I carried into my marriage. I didn’t know my biological dad, and my stepfather was uninv

      1 min read

    • Article

      How God Is Using A Devoted Pastor To Further His Kingdom In This World

      Aug 7, 2020

      As Christians, we are called to be salt and light in society. We are called to be history-makers and world changers. We are called to be fruitful in our lives, to achieve much for the Kingdom of God. Our mandate on this earth is to go out into all na

      4 min read

    • Article

      Love, Sex And Snoring

      Feb 7, 2020

      When I first penned my letter about my spouse and I enjoying sex in our sixties (YOU Say, 31 October 2019) I didn’t expect the minor debate and response from other readers that ensued. To the uninitiated, I wrote the letter not to brag about our love

      1 min read

    • Article

      FAMILY TIME with God

      Aug 25, 2023

      FAMILY TIME with God
      3 min read

    • Article

      The Greatest Christmas Gift!

      Nov 19, 2021

      Jesus was born in a smelly stable. He set aside His glory just so He could identify with mankind. The setting was most appalling, yet the angels lit up the sky, bursting with shouts of joy proclaiming “Glory” in awestruck wonder. “Suddenly a great co

      2 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for How To Read The Bible & Not Get Confused

    0 ratings

    0 ratings0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      How To Read The Bible & Not Get Confused - Gavin Cox

      Foreword

      I will never forget the day that I was sitting in the congregation and Gavin walked to the pulpit, grinning as only Gavin can grin. There was a sanctified mischievousness in his smile which suggested the unsearchable riches of Christ were about to be made manifest. He opened the Word and inspired us with heavenly oratory. It was as if the dew of heaven was on his shoulders and the divine endorsement of the Father's pleasure shone through his eyes. The subject was the seven covenants.

      Gavin has an uncanny grace to summarise volumes of truth into condensed clarity. The Bible is a supernatural sequence, a progressive unfolding revelation of Jesus that could take a person years to link together. Gavin has a skill, graced by divine craftsmanship, that has distilled this glorious panorama into a beauty that can be grasped at a glance, and leaves you gasping with wonder at the clean air of clarity. A jigsaw puzzle takes a long time to put together if you don't start off with the full picture on the box lid in mind. In this book Gavin proves that he has seen the full picture, and he puts the pieces together in an immensely impactful way that will set people free from ever blurring or confusing the seven covenants again. The entire time I read this book, not only was I encouraged, but I kept thinking Oh Lord, if only all of your people understood this truth. In my opinion there are too many optical distortions that parade themselves as legitimate Christianity but still leave people confused. This book will evaporate so much misery that precious brothers and sisters carry as a burden that they think is from God, but is not. It will demolish cynicism and feelings of hopelessness, and flood people with confidence in God.

      This is not to say that this book is only for personal peace, for it is also prophetic and pivotal in establishing the true nature and dynamic expression of the church worldwide. It is a herald announcing a massive shift in motivation that is already spreading across the earth. It is about how wonderful our Father is, and how perfectly He relates to us in Christ Jesus. .

      I recommend this book to any church that wants the fresh winds of heaven to blow upon them. Use it in small groups as a study guide. Use it in Bible schools. Use it in the pulpit. Read it several times over and inspire others to get it.

      Well done Gavin!

      With much love

      Rob Rufus

      Preface

      Please don’t underestimate this little book. Dynamite comes in small packages. Its power-to-weight ratio is extraordinary, and it punches well above its weight division.

      The big idea is simple. We’re supposed to understand the Bible. It is an account of seven covenants. A covenant is a contract, and terms and conditions apply. Knowing which terms and conditions apply, and to whom, when, where and how, is essential to interpreting the Bible correctly. Even more profound is the fruit of this clarity. The Gospel promises righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, which is at odds with the guilt, exhaustion and insecurity all too common amongst Christians. Getting clear on the Bible gets us clear on the Gospel, and being clear on the Gospel allows it to deliver on its promises. 

      The Gospel is much better news than I ever imagined. My Bible tells me so!

      Every blessing.

      Gavin Cox

      Gonubie, South Africa

      February 2016

      Part I

      Background and Basics

      Getting to grips with the big idea of the Bible and its seven covenants.

      Chapter 1

      Seven Covenants

      The Bible is an account of seven covenants.

      This piece of information is absolutely essential to us interpreting it correctly. The Bible's times, cultures, contexts and languages were all very different from our own, so background information in all of these areas is helpful, but no other background fact has more impact on the meaning of the text than being clear on the covenant to which it applies.

      Let’s imagine for a moment that you have three vehicles parked in your driveway. The first was a cash purchase. You paid for it and you own it outright. The second has been financed by your bank and you are repaying the loan. The bank is thus the title deed holder and you have been obligated to insure the vehicle. The third is a leased vehicle effectively hired from a third party. You will never own it, and at the end of the lease term the vehicle will revert to the lessor. The vehicle is covered by the lessor’s insurance broker. Imagine the potential for confusion if you are unclear about the terms and conditions of the respective contracts. A theft, fire or bumper bashing would quickly reveal just how debilitating confusion around a contract can be. The first step towards resolving the situation would be to get clear on who is liable for what, where, when and how, for each vehicle respectively.

      Just so, many Christians live confused about the contracts of Scripture. Off to church they go, Bible under arm, all seven contracts neatly filed between its covers. From their point of view the paperwork is in order, chapter and verse. Yet this is obviously not the case, because even though each of the seven contracts applied to someone somewhere sometime, only one fully and finally applies to the person carrying the Bible. Then, when pressures come to bear on their life, their confusion becomes evident. Family and friends join in, helpfully misquoting terms, conditions and clauses (verses) from one contract or another, randomly applying bits and pieces from here and there because they seem to somehow fit the situation. Contradictions abound. No one seems to know for sure what God’s will is in the situation. Vague thy-will-be-done prayers are prayed, but no one is sure who is at fault, or how reparations will be effected. Everyone has an opinion but no one seems really to know!

      The good news is that there is no need for any of us to be confused. All Christians are New Covenant people. The other covenants are helpful for our instruction, but only one covenant applies directly to our lives, and that is so in any and every situation. There is only one set of terms and conditions to get our heads around, and when we do, we can be substantially clear on where we stand, no matter what happens.

      We’re not talking about picking and choosing the verses we like and conveniently disregarding the rest. That would be unhelpful as we would be manipulating the Scriptures to get them to say what we want them to say, deceiving ourselves in the process. After all, you can find a verse for just about anything! That’s not what we’re talking about here at all. What we are talking about is distinguishing between the seven covenants, disentangling their terms and conditions one from another, and then applying the terms and conditions of the New Covenant to our

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1