Topic: To Avoid Error – Have The Right Interpretation Of
The Scripture (20)
Continued from last episode-
Preamble: There is obvious gross interpretation of the
Scripture as a result of the way and manner the Scripture has been studied and
read. The inappropriate studying and reading of the Scripture has led to wrong
interpretation of the Scripture and that has resulted into wrong application of
what the Scripture says.
Anchor Text:
“And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the
prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?”
Acts 8:30
Text of Interest:
“But ye have not so learned Christ;”
Ephesians 4:20
We should be looking at why it is important to teach people
or believers the scripture. This thought should be ruminating in the heart of
everyone with an open heart to learn or study the bible. Like we have
identified that not knowing the scripture rightly enough leads to error. As a
result of that, many unfounded doctrinal errors have manifested and become
strongholds in the church today. Our Lord Jesus foreknew this and because of
that while He was about to leave His disciples, he left them with this most
important command and that is they should teach people that have believed in
their words those things He taught them (Matthew 28:19-20). The what to teach
is a handover and not something one wakes up to initiate and induce in people, it must stem from the truth that has been revealed , Apostle Jude
called it ‘the faith’ which was delivered unto the saints (Jude 3). And Apostle
John called it ‘the doctrine of Christ’, he went ahead to say that in this
doctrine of Christ is Christ located and the Father is found (2 John 9). On the
other hand, the absence of the doctrine of Christ will definitely means that
people will not have Christ and will not find the Father.
Now Apostle Paul in one of his epistles to Pastor Timothy
his spiritual son, called it the ‘knowledge of the truth’. In his assertion, he
made it clear that it is important for men to be saved, but he didn’t stop
there but he went ahead to say that not just being saved but they should come to
the knowledge of truth. “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God
our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge
of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4). So knowing and understanding the doctrine of
Christ is having the knowledge and understanding of the truth. However, the
impartation of this knowledge is very important but more important is having
the savvy in digesting it properly. This is because, there are truths and
there are truths and if not properly ascertained the tendency to mesmerize their contents is unavoidable though they are truth. So inculcating the knowledge of the
truth in a way it is properly established in the heart of people becomes of paramount
important in the life of the believers hence Apostle Paul quipped this statement to
Timothy. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not
to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15).
In the quotation above, Apostle Paul used a word that is
vital and should not be overlooked by any believer and that is ‘study’. Study here
means to learn to be diligent, so this is an indication that one has to learn or diligently learn what the word of
truth is in order to be able to rightly divide it. This is important because
any believer who fails to study the word of truth certainly will be distracted
and in most cases such a person will go after profane and vain babbling. The
result of this is an increase in ungodliness in the life of that individual though
he or she has been sanctified.
This is because no one can ascertain the truth while in
error!
To be continued…..
Till I come your way again, keep on basking in the Arena
of Indubitable Truth!
Chukwuemeka C. Asiegbu
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