1 Timothy 4:6 “6 If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed.”
The Bible is very clear when it teaches that Christians are to be careful when studying and interpreting the Scriptures. Jesus declared that he wants all people who enter in the church to be one. “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me” (John 17:20-23).
Paul taught that we need to be one: “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10). The reason it is important to be careful when studying. God intends for everyone to be unified under the doctrine of Christ and to be in His church. When we as people study with our own interpretations, we will most certainly cause divisions in the body of Christ. Churches will split, denominational congregations will be created, the church will spiral out of control, and the Devil will be happy.
Galatians 1:6-8 “ I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.”
The one gospel that was preached and given to all Christians will only ever generate New Testament Christians. It is only when we fail to interpret correctly that we start to believe another gospel. The gospels that people would be believing are those that have inklings of the truth of Christ’s gospel with man’s ideas and doctrines sprinkled in. This creates something very different from the church that Christ has established. For this reason, Man has come up with multiple ways to Salvation and multiple types of denominations and creations of men. It is important that we stay away from the altering of scripture, but rather, we must stick to the text and stay within God’s Word.
Ephesians 4:4-5 “4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all”.
People often say that everyone has a different interpretation of the Bible. People also say you can have your own opinion about God’s Word. This is simply not the case. “knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 20-21).
Man is not allowed by God to have their own opinion or interpretation of Scriptures. The scriptures are what they are, “knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation,” (1 Peter 1:20). God’s Word is the only truth and the standard for Christianity. “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” (John 17:17). There is but one body of Christ. “There is one body” (Ephesians 4:4a). God’s truth must be followed carefully. “If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed.” (1 Timothy 4:6).
It is the duty of all people professing to be Christians to search the scripture for themselves to see if what they believe and the church they are in is scripturally right. “These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.” (Acts 17:11).
2 Timothy 2:15 “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
Remember, it is easier to believe and do what the Bible says and be a simple Christian than to add to God’s Holy Word and become something foreign to Him.