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BY MINISTER TONY HOSS
The Word of God is His message for all mankind, and it was delivered for our benefit. As we consider God’s Word, we should look at it with the proper perspective. The only way we can do this is to approach His Word with an objective attitude. This demands that we reject all subjective notions, and preconceived ideology. When a person comes to the Word of God with the purpose of proving their point at all costs, then they will most often do so to the detriment of their own soul and misinterpretation of the Word itself. This should never be because of what God has given us (2 Peter 1:16-21). It is evident that without proper study (2 Timothy 2:15) and understanding we can take God’s Word and interpret it in a way that almost anything could seem to be acceptable to God. This should never be so for the Child of God (Psalm 119:104; 1 Cor. 14:15, 20; Eph. 5:17).
As we study the Word, we should remember that the Bible is the mind of God. In His prayer in John 17:17, Jesus said, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” In his Word of truth for mankind we find the state of mankind (all have sinned) (Romans 3:23). And we also see that all is not lost (Romans 6:23). While sin brings spiritual death, God has given His Son to redeem us (Titus 2:14) and make possible eternal life with God (John 14:1-3).
His Word, the Bible, is the Word of truth; therefore, its doctrines and precepts are true and thus demand our obedience (John 14:15, 15:14). In His Word we find that how to be pure, holy, and acceptable to God. His Word is a light that guides us in worship and in living (Psalm 119:105). His Word can reveal in us any unbelief, hypocrisy, or insincerity (Heb. 4:12). When we look into the perfect law of liberty (James 1:25) and allow it to be a part of our lives, it is then that we can enjoy the blessings of God.
Merely pretending to be religious will never benefit us, our fellow man or God. James reveals in James 1, that God demands our obedience to His commands. He demands that we separate ourselves from all sinfulness, (James 1:21). For the Child of God this should be a desire and a privilege. Finally, James reminds us that the way to please God and receive His blessings; the way to avoid sin and God’s wrath is to be swift to hear, slow to speak and slow to wrath (James 1:17).
My prayer for all men is that they develop within themselves a desire to study and know the Word of God. If I can be of any assistance as you study God’s Word please contact me at (423) 518-1919).
(Tony Hoss is minister of the Centerview Church of Christ, Elizabethton)