When the Bible appeals to the beginning of time, we ought to have our antennae stick up and take notice and say,

be careful, this is a warning, that we ought not to be treating this loosely as a mere historical custom,

but that it has historical roots that reach all the way back to creation.

As you read the Bible, it becomes clear that deeper study is sometimes needed in certain areas if we're to get a fuller understanding of the text.

Sometimes there are controversies that are being

addressed or cultural or political situations that are directly being

responded to or common expressions turns a phrase that we no longer use today.

So as we seek to follow God's word and be obedient, how do we know if commands in the Bible

are ongoing principles for all to follow or customs applicable only to the time in which it was given.

You're listening to renewing her mind and these are important questions to answer to help each of us study the Bible well.

Yesterday and today you're hearing messages from R.C. Sproll's Knowing Scripture series,

which is one series that is part of a special eight series collection,

available for your donation of any amount at renewing your mind.org.

In today's very practical message, actually the concluding message in the 12-part

knowing scripture series, Dr Sproll outlines four basic guidelines to help determine

the difference between principle and custom.

Here's Dr. Sproll.

We're going to finish by offering some concrete suggestions on how to handle this difficult problem of knowing

what from the New Testament the Old Testament applies to our lives today and what would be simply a matter of custom.

In our last lesson we looked at that distinction between principle and custom and I promised

that this time we would try to find a way to discern the difference.

Last Sunday I was in church and as I was sitting in the congregation I looked around

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