Search the Scriptures every day

Acts 17:11-12 (NLT)

And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. As a result, many Jews believed, as did many of the prominent Greek women and men. 

The key phrase here is “they searched the Scriptures day after day……..”.  The people of Berea serve as great examples for all Christians today.  Christians are bombarded with all kinds of false teaching, hopefully not within their local church, although that can happen, but certainly what we hear in the world everyday.  Like the Bereans, Christians today must be firmly grounded in the Word of God so that you are not so easily led astray by world and individual philosophies that are contrary to biblical truth.

 

Like the Bereans, Christians today should eagerly listen (receive, welcome) the word of God in their lives and, subsequently search (the original word means to examine or investigate) the Scriptures themselves.  So much false teaching and belief exist in every day life, especially in colleges and universities that human beings are basically good and do not need to believe in Jesus Christ to be saved.  This is contrary to what Scriptures like Ephesians 2:8-9 and Romans 10:9-10 and many other verses teach.  Another example of false teaching common today is that homosexuality is not a sin.  This is contrary to verses like Romans 1:26-27.  Other false teachings include elevating man to be equal to God, belittling God, false prophecies about the end of the world, the prosperity gospel (the better Christian you are, the more God will reward you with material riches), belief in reincarnation, losing your salvation, belief in books like The Da Vinci Code, and countless other examples.

 

Jesus said that you should search the Scriptures (John 5:39).  Every serious Christian should know his/her Bible sufficiently so that when you hear something preached or said that doesn’t quite sound right, you can examine the Scriptures to see what they say.  You also will never be led astray if you have a solid foundation in what the Bible says.  You alone are responsible for what you believe and how you respond to others.  On judgment day you cannot point the finger to someone else and pass on blame for what you did or did not do. 

To know the truth about biblical teaching is a life-long challenge.  It is not easy to discern how a verse or a doctrine needs to be interpreted.  If it were easy, there would not be countless denominations and congregations.  I believe that God intended only one interpretation of His Word although perhaps there are innumerable applications.  The best any of us can do is to spend quality time seeking the truth---reading the Bible, studying as many commentaries and Bible study aids as you can, being part of a sound Bible study group, and be firmly rooted (Ephesians 3:17, Colossians 2:7) in what you believe, backed by God’s Word.