It is very important to approach the scriptures with a pure heart, being always prayerful, and committed to seeking the inspired authorial intent, the writers original intended meaning.
This is not always easy. We are all influenced by many factors when considering the scriptures and the most obvious influence is our own local church traditions. In many cases, preachers and teachers and members have great confidence; not necessarily from responsible study and sound exegesis of scripture but the confident endorsement and affirming of their church tradition. They have in many instances made up their minds about God’s word and will effectively learn no more accept what is left to learn in their local church tradition.
The difference between studying with integrity of scriptures and studying with integrity for a given tradition is a matter of being more concerned about getting at the biblical writer’s intended meaning over and above merely making sure a meaning lines up with ones church tradition.
The meanings in God’s word are precious and we should take every care to eliminate our prejudices and limit our interpretive error when seeking to learn of God. But even though we have prejudice and error, we still do not ultimately fall or stand in the presence of God based on our error or our truth. But rather we are ultimately fit to stand in the presence of God because we are believers in Jesus Christ; In the Grace of God through a trusting acceptance of Jesus and his finished work on the cross taking our sins though he had none. This secures our salvation that otherwise is unobtainable in and of ourselves. This salvation gives us a sure and living hope of the promises of God, having been counted righteous and just through faith in Jesus Christ. This faith lived is expressed in our acts of love even springing forth from God’s Holy Spirit which has sealed us until the day of redemption. This is the righteousness that over comes human error.
This is not always easy. We are all influenced by many factors when considering the scriptures and the most obvious influence is our own local church traditions. In many cases, preachers and teachers and members have great confidence; not necessarily from responsible study and sound exegesis of scripture but the confident endorsement and affirming of their church tradition. They have in many instances made up their minds about God’s word and will effectively learn no more accept what is left to learn in their local church tradition.
The difference between studying with integrity of scriptures and studying with integrity for a given tradition is a matter of being more concerned about getting at the biblical writer’s intended meaning over and above merely making sure a meaning lines up with ones church tradition.
The meanings in God’s word are precious and we should take every care to eliminate our prejudices and limit our interpretive error when seeking to learn of God. But even though we have prejudice and error, we still do not ultimately fall or stand in the presence of God based on our error or our truth. But rather we are ultimately fit to stand in the presence of God because we are believers in Jesus Christ; In the Grace of God through a trusting acceptance of Jesus and his finished work on the cross taking our sins though he had none. This secures our salvation that otherwise is unobtainable in and of ourselves. This salvation gives us a sure and living hope of the promises of God, having been counted righteous and just through faith in Jesus Christ. This faith lived is expressed in our acts of love even springing forth from God’s Holy Spirit which has sealed us until the day of redemption. This is the righteousness that over comes human error.
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