What steps can we take to ensure our beliefs align with divine revelation? Receiving the Gospel as God’s Own Word • Galatians 1:11 reminds us: “For I certify to you, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not according to man.” • Our starting point is recognizing that truth comes from God, not human creativity. • We safeguard our faith by measuring every belief against the divinely given gospel, never letting cultural trends or personal preferences reshape it. Grounding Everything in the Written Scriptures • 2 Timothy 3:16-17—“All Scripture is God-breathed … so that the man of God may be complete.” • Keep a steady habit of reading entire passages, books, and the whole canon, allowing the full counsel of God to form convictions. • When a teaching sounds new or exciting, open the Bible first, commentaries second. Letting Scripture Interpret Scripture • Pay attention to cross-references and themes; clarity comes when one passage sheds light on another. • Example: Paul’s insistence in Galatians 1 matches Acts 15’s Jerusalem Council—both underscore a gospel free from human additions. • This method prevents isolated verses from being misused. Testing Every Teaching Diligently • Acts 17:11—“They … examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.” • Compare sermons, articles, and conversations with what the text actually says. • 1 Thessalonians 5:21—“Test all things. Hold fast to what is good.” • If a doctrine cannot survive honest, contextual examination, set it aside. Depending on the Holy Spirit’s Illumination • John 16:13—“When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth.” • Pray for clarity before opening the Bible; expect the Spirit to spotlight meaning and convict the heart. • Stay sensitive: the same Spirit who inspired the words enables understanding and obedience. Submitting Tradition and Experience to Truth • Matthew 15:9—“They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.” • Appreciate historic creeds, church heritage, and personal testimonies, yet place them beneath Scripture’s authority. • Adjust traditions when they conflict with clear biblical teaching. Walking in Humble Obedience • James 1:22—“Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” • Apply what you learn immediately; obedience clarifies doctrine as lived reality. • Humility keeps us teachable, ready to abandon cherished ideas if Scripture corrects them. Persevering in Lifelong Renewal • Keep returning to the gospel—Christ’s death and resurrection—as the non-negotiable core. • Regularly review foundational doctrines (creation, fall, redemption, restoration) so secondary issues stay in proper perspective. • Encourage fellowship with believers committed to the same high view of Scripture; iron sharpens iron. By consistently embracing these steps, we echo Paul’s conviction: our faith rests not on human invention but on the unchanging revelation God has graciously delivered to us. |
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