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Focus Upon The Bible Is Very Important. This in no way lessens what God has done for us through His grace.
Introduction
For hundreds of years, people have struggled to understand the bible alike. Many things have prevented them from seeing the bible alike. Various factors can, and most often do, enter the process so that each man comes away with a different interpretation. Some of these factors are:
Factors To Consider
Previous teaching efforts by others often leaves a residual effect so that each man comes to the study with preconceived ideas. We often refer to this as theological prejudice. It comes from different sources.
Factors To Consider
One is family. Families have traditionally taught their children in their faith and subsequent generations continue on in this doctrine. How often I have heard, "Well, if such-and-such was good enough for my folks, then it's good enough for me." What they fail to realize is that if their folks were lost, so also are they. Ignorance of the law is no excuse (Acts 17:30).
Another is a close friend. Young minds are easily bent or swayed by the camaraderie of a close friend. Some doctrines are tempting because they are practiced by some of our closest friends. Job had a severe problem with his three friends and his wife. She advised him to just "curse God and die." His friends falsely told him that God had punished him for some grievous sin. All four were wrong.
Factors To Consider
A third form of prejudice comes from being overpowered by a deceiving person. Today's television "evangelists" preach and practice so many diverse doctrines that a novice is soon overwhelmed by the ideology of each. The apostle Paul warned us that, "such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." (2 Corinthians 11:13-15, KJV).
Factors To Consider
Biblical Ignorance is a fourth problem. Many people are either too disinterested to study or simply too lazy to devote the right kind of study to God's word. Many want to be "bible scholars" but are not willing to devote the time necessary to do the kind of job that God demands. Paul told young Timothy, "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of God." (2 Timothy 2:15, KJV)
Factors To Consider
Introduction
Such a task is a demanding one and deserves full consideration of what God has said. Those who are interested in the bible often fail to understand it because they do not have a systematic approach to study. Several rules are necessary for each bible student to accept in order to arrive at the truth when studying God's word.
Introduction
This is not an arbitrary listing of man-made rules. Instead, it is a collection of those conclusions which have been drawn from God's word; Conclusions that serve us as practical rules for understanding the bible correctly. Lets get started:
Common sense is a major requirement. God has spoken so that we may understand but if we place an unreasonable interpretation upon His revelation, we do it a severe injustice and will miss the mark. Paul told the Thessalonian brethren. "And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie" (2Thessalonians 2:11, KJV). Forcing an interpretation is a sure way to miss the mark and misunderstand God's word.
One should never study God's word in an effort to make it harmonize with scientific theory. This is nothing more than caving in to humanists views. Doing so destroys the omnipotence of God. Only after we accept that God is the omnipotent Creator for all that exists, can we fully understand the bible alike. The bible is not a work of science even though science agrees with the Bible. It is the miraculous revelation of God. It contains those words necessary for deliverance from sin, how to live a righteous life before God (and man) and to insure our deliverance to Heaven after this life (1 Timothy 6:11).
Conclusion
All must realize that the only way to Heaven is that which is found in God's word. Without that valuable information, one cannot be saved nor can he look to a life of rejoicing in the presence of God throughout eternity (Ephesians 4:2-6; Hebrews 11:6). All must look to the Bible for Authority, and the truth on how to get to Heaven.