Thinking on Scripture with Dr. Steven R. Cook

By: Dr. Steven R. Cook
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  • Summary

  • Dr. Steven R. Cook is a Christian educator and traditional dispensationalist with a passion for teaching and writing about Scripture and Christian theology. He provides verse by verse analysis of Scripture and engages in discussions about Christian theology, rooted in his studies of the original languages of Scripture, ancient history, and systematic theology. As a voluntary ministry activity, Dr. Cook records weekly Bible studies at his home in Arlington, Texas, which are then shared through his podcast and YouTube channel. In addition to his audio and video messages, he has written several Christian books and dozens of articles on Christian theology. Dr. Cook also brings his theological expertise to the classroom, having taught undergraduate courses in theology at Tyndale Theological Seminary. Despite his busy schedule as a Case Manager for a local nonprofit agency, which helps the elderly and disabled in the community, Dr. Cook remains committed to his ministry and sharing his knowledge and insights with others. If you’re looking for a knowledgeable Christian educator and traditional dispensationalist, look no further than Dr. Steven R. Cook.
    Copyright 2013 Steven Cook. All rights reserved.
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Ministry & Evangelism Social Sciences Spirituality
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Episodes
  • The Spiritual Life Lesson 9 - Feeding on God's Word Part 1

    The Spiritual Life Lesson 9 - Feeding on God's Word Part 1
    Sep 8 2024
    At the moment of faith in Christ, believers know very little about God, His will, or the many blessings He has provided. Spiritually, they are ignorant babies. This is not a negative, but the reality of the situation. Prior to salvation, the soul is filled with human viewpoint, which is often contrary to God and His Word. This is why Christians are directed to renew their minds (Rom 12:1-2). Living spiritually involves expunging human viewpoint and replacing it with divine viewpoint. A soul devoid of God’s Word lacks the capacity to love and serve the Lord, to love and serve others (according to His standards), and has no defense against Satan’s world system or the sin nature within the Christian. The infusion of God’s Word makes possible the advance to spiritual maturity and the fulfillment of His will, and this is accomplished by faith. God wants us to mature spiritually, but He is not in a hurry, and He wants us to mature on the food He provides, not junk food that poisons our souls. God works on us in time, but He’s preparing us for eternity. We get only one run at life. There are no rehearsals, which means it’s best for us to learn early, learn much, and make good choices that are rooted in divine wisdom. The consistent intake and application of Bible teaching is crucial for spiritual maturity. The Holy Spirit enables the yielded believer to understand and apply Scripture, leading to spiritual growth. Without the knowledge of God’s Word, believer’s remain spiritually immature, vulnerable to false doctrines, and unable to execute the spiritual life effectively. Robert B. Thieme, Jr. states, “The advance to spiritual victory is a gradual process, with ups and downs inherent to flawed human nature. But God in His wisdom and grace gives each believer the exact training, a combination of blessing and suffering, necessary to bring him to maximum glorification of God.”[1] Since we cannot live what we do not know, learning God’s Word necessarily precedes living His will. God Himself is the source of wisdom (Prov 2:6; Eccl 2:26a), and His wisdom protects us from the dangerous paths of darkness (Prov 2:7-15). His wisdom is more precious than the wealth of this world (Prov 3:13-18; 8:11, 19; 16:16), is available to those who seek it (Prov 8:17; Jam 1:5), and brings blessings to those who find it (Prov 8:33-36). Respect for God is the beginning of wisdom (Prov 1:7; 9:10; 15:33; Psa 111:10). Those who possess wisdom will be able to share it with others (Prov 10:11, 31; 13:14; 15:2, 7; Eccl 10:12), will build good friendships (Prov 2:20; 13:20), and will stay on the path of righteousness, turning away from evil (Prov 14:16; 22:3; 27:12). While God does not force us to grow spiritually, He is not neutral about our spiritual development. God loves us greatly, and He wants us to mature spiritually (Heb 6:1). Just as earthly parents seek the best for their children, nurturing them toward maturity, God, our Heavenly Father, also desires our spiritual growth. This maturation process is essential for us to fully experience and manage the blessings He intends for us. This is similar to good parents who wait until their child is mature before blessing them with certain things. For instance, a car can be a blessing, providing freedom and mobility, but if given to an immature or irresponsible child, it could lead to disaster. Similarly, spiritual blessings like authority, influence, or material wealth require maturity to use them wisely and for God’s glory. Through the consistent study and application of Scripture, Christians are transformed from the inside out, for “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness” (2 Tim 3:16). This transformative process leads to spiritual maturity, as we learn to discern good from evil (Heb 5:14) and become more conformed to the image of Christ. Additionally, the Word of God equips us “for every good work” (2 Tim 3:17), good works “which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” (Eph 2:10). As we immerse ourselves in Scripture and apply it to life, we are prepared to serve others, share the gospel, and live out our faith in practical ways. The Bible provides the principles and instructions needed to navigate life’s challenges, make wise decisions, and bear fruit in our Christian walk. As Christians, our spiritual growth happens as we feed on God’s Word and benefit from its nourishment. Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Matt 4:4; cf. Deut 8:3). Job said, “I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food” (Job 23:12b). Jeremiah said, “Your words were found and I ate them, and Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart” (Jer 15:16a). Paul encouraged Timothy to be “constantly nourished on the words of ...
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    1 hr and 10 mins
  • The Spiritual Life Lesson 8 - Dedication to God Part 4

    The Spiritual Life Lesson 8 - Dedication to God Part 4
    Sep 1 2024
    A New Testament person who exemplifies living in submission to God is the Apostle Paul. Despite his weaknesses and failures, Paul’s life demonstrates steady submission to God’s will. His transformation from a persecutor of Christians to a devoted apostle of Christ illustrates this submission. Unlike most Christians, Paul surrendered to the Lord very shortly after his conversion on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-19). Paul dedicated his life to preaching the gospel and establishing churches throughout the Roman Empire. Later in his life, Paul said, “I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24). Paul’s dedication to spreading the Gospel, despite facing numerous hardships, exemplifies submission to God’s mission. His letters to early Christian communities reveal his deep commitment to God’s mission. Paul traveled, preached, and endured hardships to spread the gospel (2 Cor 11:23-28), facing persecution, imprisonment, and physical suffering while remaining steadfast in his mission. Paul was in submission to the Lord, but he also acknowledged his sinfulness and weaknesses. Paul’s acknowledgment of the presence of evil within him is a candid admission of the internal struggle every believer faces between the flesh and the spirit (Rom 7:18-25). In this passage, Paul expresses the ongoing struggle between his desire to do good, which aligns with God’s law, and the sinful nature that still influences his actions. John Witmer states: "In relating his personal experience in Romans 7:14-25, Paul consistently used the present tense whereas he had used the imperfect and aorist tenses. Obviously, he was describing his present conflict as a Christian with indwelling sin and its continuing efforts to control his daily life. The clause, “sold under sin” (kjv), describes an unregenerate person; but sin also resides in a believer, who is still subject to sin’s penalty of physical death. As a result, indwelling sin continues to seek to claim what it considers its property even after one has become a Christian."[1] In Romans 7:14, Paul says “the Law is spiritual,” which means it speaks to the spiritual, inner part of the believer. God, when giving the Law through Moses, was first concerned about their inner person, directing them to “love Him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul” (Deut 10:12). Clearly this speaks to the immaterial part of the believer. Despite Paul’s genuine commitment to God and his desire to live righteously, he recognized the reality of sin’s presence within himself. This is why Paul could say, “I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good” (Rom 7:21). This struggle doesn’t negate his faithfulness but rather highlights his dependence on God’s grace and the transformative power of God’s Word. Paul consistently followed God’s leading, even when it led to difficult and dangerous situations. His missionary journeys and willingness to suffer for the gospel demonstrate his obedience (Acts 20:22-24). His past as a persecutor of Christians (Phil 3:6, Gal 1:13) and subsequent transformation highlight God’s ability to use anyone for His purposes. Paul’s letters are filled with teachings on living a life pleasing to God, and he mentored many, such as Timothy and Titus, ensuring the continuation of the gospel message (1 Tim 1:2, Tit 1:4). Despite numerous trials, Paul remained faithful, writing to the Philippians about pressing on towards the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Phil 3:13-14). His life serves as an example of how, through submission to God, one can be transformed and used mightily despite one’s imperfections. Examples of Believers who Submitted Partially or Temporarily Will the majority of believers surrender all their lives to Him? Generally, no. The biblical pattern is that Jesus will be Lord of some areas of their life, while they keep other areas to themselves. Charles Ryrie states, “The cliché ‘If He is not Lord of all, He is not Lord at all’ is simply that—a cliché and not a biblical or theological truth. Jesus can be Lord of aspects of my life while I withhold other areas of my life from His control.”[2] We observe examples of temporary or partial submission throughout Scripture. From the start, the Exodus generation was positive toward God and “did as the LORD had commanded” (Ex 12:28), demonstrating they had “believed in the LORD” (Ex 14:31). However, after being in the wilderness for a while and hearing the disparaging report of the ten spies about Canaan (Num 13:31-33), the Israelites turned negative, complained greatly, and requested to return to Egypt (Num 14:1-4). As a result of their ongoing ...
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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • The Spiritual Life Lesson 7 - Dedication to God Part 3

    The Spiritual Life Lesson 7 - Dedication to God Part 3
    Aug 25 2024
    For Christians, there is blessing through submission to God. This blessing comes from operating within the sphere of God’s love and laws, which establish boundaries for us to thrive and survive.[1] This is because “a man’s way is not in himself, nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps” (Jer 10:23); rather, “The steps of a man are established by the LORD, and He delights in his way” (Psa 37:23). As God’s children, we are instructed, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Prov 3:5-6). Living in submission to God means putting His will above our own, trusting in His plan, and following His directives. It entails aligning our thoughts, words, and actions with God’s will and commandments. This submission is characterized by humility, trust, and obedience to follow God’s directives over personal desires. In the Old Testament, Abraham exemplified submission when God called him to leave his homeland and go to a land that He would show him. Moses wrote, “Now the LORD said to Abram, ‘Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you…So Abram went forth as the LORD had spoken to him” (Gen 12:1, 4). Abraham’s obedience to the Lord made him “the friend of God” (Jam 2:23; cf., 2 Ch 20:7; Isa 41:8). When God said to Isaiah, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us? (Isa 6:8a), Isaiah responded, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isa 6:8b). And when it was revealed to Mary that she would conceive in her womb and bear the humanity of Christ, she said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). Jesus, the Perfect Example of Submission Jesus Christ provides the perfect example of submission to God. He’s the perfect example because He is perfect and never disobeyed the Lord. Jesus said, “I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me” (John 5:30), and “I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me” (John 6:38). In the Garden of Gethsemane before His crucifixion, Jesus prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will” (Matt 26:39; cf., Matt 26:42, 44). Paul tells us that Jesus “humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Phil 2:8). Jesus’ willingness to submit to the Father’s will, even to the point of death, is the ultimate example of submission. Jesus never deviated from the Father’s course for Him. Jesus’ submission to the Father started when He was very young. By age twelve, Jesus knew God was His Father and what the Father’s mission was for Him (Luke 2:40-47).[2] Isaiah wrote, “The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of disciples, that I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple” (Isa 50:4). This passage refers to Jesus’ humanity, where God the Father would educate Jesus as His disciple. This education enabled Him to minister to others, as He says, “that I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word” (Isa 50:4b). To those who are weary in their souls, a divinely spoken word can lift the spirit and revive the heart (see Matt 11:28). And Jesus’ discipleship training took place in the early morning hours, as Messiah states, “He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple” (Isa 50:4c). According to Arnold Fruchtenbaum, “During His boyhood in Nazareth, every morning, Jesus was awakened by His Father in the early hours of the morning to receive instruction. In this way Jesus learned who He was, what His mission was, and how to act and react accordingly.”[3] As a human boy, Jesus had to be educated, which meant the discipline of acquiring knowledge over time. Because of His daily discipline, Jesus was fluent in the Scriptures by age 12. Fruchtenbaum states: "The New Testament gives us an account of a 12 year old Jesus visiting the Temple in Jerusalem for the first time (Luke 2:41–50). By the age of 12 Jesus was fully conversant with the Hebrew Scriptures and able to debate deep spiritual matters with the leading theologians of the day. Furthermore, when Jesus is later rebuked by His mother for remaining in the Temple, He replies, “Did you not know I would be in My Father’s house?” This one statement shows that by the age of 12 Jesus knew that Joseph was not His father, knew that God was His Father, and therefore understood that He was the Messiah of Israel."[4] Jesus was fully submissive to the Father, saying, “The Lord GOD has opened My ear; and I was not disobedient nor did I turn back” (Isa 50:5). Another translation reads, “The sovereign LORD has spoken to me clearly; I have not ...
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    1 hr and 1 min

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