The Bible Is For You -
by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam
As
we examine the Bible one fact stands out with particular emphasis and
clarity: The Bible was written for the people, for the populace at
large, not for some special class among them.
St.
Paul addressed his epistles to both “laity” and “clergy”: “To all that
be in Rome” (Rom. 12), “unto the church… at Corinth… with all that in
every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord” (I Cor. 1:2),
“unto the churches of Galatia” (Gal. 1:2), “to all the saints… at
Philippi, with the bishops and deacons” (Phil. 1:1), etc.
When
Paul proclaimed the gospel at Berea his hearers did not take even this
great apostle’s word for granted, but “searched the Scriptures daily,
whether those things were so,” and for this God called them “noble”
(Acts 17:11). They were the true spiritual aristocracy of their day. Our
Lord, when on earth, encouraged — even challenged His audiences to
“search the Scriptures” for themselves (John 5:39).
Indeed,
since God has revealed Himself and His plan of salvation in the written
Word, we are responsible, each one for himself, to study the
Scriptures. When Dives begged Abraham to allow Lazarus to go and warn
his five brothers about the horrors of Hades, Abraham replied: “They
have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them,” and when Dives urged
that a word from Lazarus would be more effective, Abraham answered: “If
they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded
though one rose from the dead” (Luke 16:29-31).
Do
not depend upon your clergyman to interpret the Scriptures for you but
see for yourself what they say, for “every one of us shall give account
of himself to God” (Rom. 14:12), and it will not be enough in
that day to say: “But my minister or priest told me…” You are
responsible to “search the Scriptures” for yourself to “see whether
those things are so.”
Les Feldick Ministries
30706 W. Lona Valley Rd.
Posted By Cecil and Connie Spivey
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