Avoid the misinterpretation of the scriptures.
The principles Paul presented in chapter fourteen apply to the reading and understanding of the scriptures. No one has the right to adopt the scripture to personal preferences. The scriptures testify of Jesus Christ; therefore, personal preferences must be abandoned in favor of the message in the scripture. “For everything that was written in former times was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and through the encouragement of the scriptures we may have hope.” Romans 15:4, NET. Correctly reading the scriptures is essential for developing a proper understanding and attitude. The correct reading of the scriptures enables a proper understanding of the objective truths of the gospel. It also enables correct Christian conduct in all situations. Both the strong in faith and the weak must read the scriptures without personal and denominational bias. The members of the body of Christ must aim to understand the objective truths of the gospel when reading the scriptures.
Members of the body of Christ should not accept and tolerate a compromise between the teachings of Jesus Christ and the apostles and the traditions of men. The man-made traditions, teachings, and rules of conduct contradict what God ordained. Paul’s instructions concern the Jewish practices toward Gentile believers. However, they apply equally to all interactions among the members of the body of Christ. “Receive one another, then, just as Christ also received you, to God’s glory.” Romans 15:7, NET.
The primary and foremost goal for reading and interpreting the scriptures must be giving God glory. We glorify God through the correct attitude in all matters concerning the gospel as it is in Jesus Christ. There is only one gospel passed on to us by the apostles, mainly justification and salvation by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ. No one has the right to modify, add to, or delete from the objective gospel as it is in Jesus Christ. Members of the body of Christ should not tolerate the perversion of the objective truths of the gospel. The social norm of not offending a particular group or individual is not an excuse for tolerating the misrepresentation of the gospel as it is in Jesus Christ. The members of the body of Christ should exercise extreme caution concerning the inviolable principle “In essential to maintain unity.”
Continued in the next blog.
