You're probably wondering how you can best confuse people, really tie them up in knots, right? I thought so. Who wouldn't? And by the way, you're doing a great job of it.
For those not sure of the basics, let me give you a few pointers. The easiest way to confuse people is to present a portion of Scripture without first setting up the scene.* Don't tell them who the audience is or what the circumstances are.
For example, teach Psalm 50 without first making sure everybody knows the audience is Israel:
He calls to the heavens above and to the earth, that he may judge his people: “Gather to me my faithful ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!” The heavens declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge! Selah. “Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, I will testify against you. I am God, your God (Ps 50:4-7).
Also make sure nobody knows what the circumstances are. Keep secret that at the time Psalm 50 was written Israel had made a covenant** with God and were under the Law, that this chapter forecasts judgment to come because of their wickedness, and that the faithful among them are promised the salvation of God.
But to the wicked God says: “What right have you to recite my statutes or take my covenant on your lips (Ps 50:16)?
The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!” (Ps 50:23; cf. Ps 50:8, 9, 14)
Pointing out these circumstances on the front end would make sense of verse 23 — "...to one who orders his way right I will show the salvation of God!" — and we don't want that, do we?
Or do we?
Important questions that could be raised in people's minds are: "Salvation is by faith plus works? I thought it was by faith alone?"
And they would be right, wouldn't they? Psalm 50 was written about Israel under the Law — faith plus works. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the Law.
But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus (Rom 3:21-26).
And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness (Rom 4:5).
Of course be sure to present the timeless principles in this chapter; principles that are obviously pertinent for all people no matter who they are or when they lived. Like, God sees through our hypocrisy; God is the Mighty One, the heavens declare His righteousness for He Himself is judge; God is not dependent on our generosity since He owns everything, etc... But the confusion you raise by not first setting up the scene will probably cause people to think only about how confused they are instead of how they can apply these principles to their lives.
Hmmm...maybe you should rethink this?
Well if you're still on board, here's a great way to wrap things up; sure to mess up the best of them. End your talk by leading everybody to pray the very next Psalm — Psalm 51. After all, once we're saved do we need to pray, "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love, according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin."? No, that took place the moment we placed our faith in Jesus Christ! And do we need to plead Psalm 51:11 — "Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me." Hardly. This is confusion at its very best. Keep at it and you'll be a pro in no time!***
*All Scripture is for us, but not all is written directly to us or about us (2 Tim 3:16-17).
**The Mosaic Covenant is a conditional covenant made between God and the nation of Israel at Mount Sinai (Ex 19-24). The blessings that God promises are directly related to Israel’s obedience to the Mosaic Law. If Israel is obedient, then God will bless them, but if they disobey, then God will punish them. At the time of the covenant, God reminded the people of their obligation to be obedient to His law (Ex 19:5), and the people agreed to the covenant when they said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do!” (Ex 19:8).
***Psalm 51 was written by David, upon whom the Holy Spirit descended because he was the chosen one of God (1 Sam 16:13). The Holy Spirit departed from Saul when he was no longer the chosen one (1 Sam 16:14). But now we are sealed with the Holy Spirit as a guarantee for the day of redemption (2 Cor 1:22; Eph 1:13; 4:30). He will never leave or be taken from us.
For those not sure of the basics, let me give you a few pointers. The easiest way to confuse people is to present a portion of Scripture without first setting up the scene.* Don't tell them who the audience is or what the circumstances are.
For example, teach Psalm 50 without first making sure everybody knows the audience is Israel:
He calls to the heavens above and to the earth, that he may judge his people: “Gather to me my faithful ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!” The heavens declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge! Selah. “Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, I will testify against you. I am God, your God (Ps 50:4-7).
Also make sure nobody knows what the circumstances are. Keep secret that at the time Psalm 50 was written Israel had made a covenant** with God and were under the Law, that this chapter forecasts judgment to come because of their wickedness, and that the faithful among them are promised the salvation of God.
But to the wicked God says: “What right have you to recite my statutes or take my covenant on your lips (Ps 50:16)?
The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!” (Ps 50:23; cf. Ps 50:8, 9, 14)
Pointing out these circumstances on the front end would make sense of verse 23 — "...to one who orders his way right I will show the salvation of God!" — and we don't want that, do we?
Or do we?
Important questions that could be raised in people's minds are: "Salvation is by faith plus works? I thought it was by faith alone?"
And they would be right, wouldn't they? Psalm 50 was written about Israel under the Law — faith plus works. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the Law.
But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus (Rom 3:21-26).
And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness (Rom 4:5).
Of course be sure to present the timeless principles in this chapter; principles that are obviously pertinent for all people no matter who they are or when they lived. Like, God sees through our hypocrisy; God is the Mighty One, the heavens declare His righteousness for He Himself is judge; God is not dependent on our generosity since He owns everything, etc... But the confusion you raise by not first setting up the scene will probably cause people to think only about how confused they are instead of how they can apply these principles to their lives.
Hmmm...maybe you should rethink this?
Well if you're still on board, here's a great way to wrap things up; sure to mess up the best of them. End your talk by leading everybody to pray the very next Psalm — Psalm 51. After all, once we're saved do we need to pray, "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love, according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin."? No, that took place the moment we placed our faith in Jesus Christ! And do we need to plead Psalm 51:11 — "Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me." Hardly. This is confusion at its very best. Keep at it and you'll be a pro in no time!***
*All Scripture is for us, but not all is written directly to us or about us (2 Tim 3:16-17).
**The Mosaic Covenant is a conditional covenant made between God and the nation of Israel at Mount Sinai (Ex 19-24). The blessings that God promises are directly related to Israel’s obedience to the Mosaic Law. If Israel is obedient, then God will bless them, but if they disobey, then God will punish them. At the time of the covenant, God reminded the people of their obligation to be obedient to His law (Ex 19:5), and the people agreed to the covenant when they said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do!” (Ex 19:8).
***Psalm 51 was written by David, upon whom the Holy Spirit descended because he was the chosen one of God (1 Sam 16:13). The Holy Spirit departed from Saul when he was no longer the chosen one (1 Sam 16:14). But now we are sealed with the Holy Spirit as a guarantee for the day of redemption (2 Cor 1:22; Eph 1:13; 4:30). He will never leave or be taken from us.
