Acts 17:11 “Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.”
Berea was an ancient city in Macedonia, Greece, now known as Veria. During Paul’s second missionary journey, he and Silas preached to the Bereans who were known for their thoughtful and diligent approach to new ideas. They didn’t accept what Paul taught without question, but instead compared it to the Scriptures to see if it aligned with God’s Word. The attitude of a Berean is one of being open-minded and eager to receive the truth, but then always going back to the Scriptures to verify it.
Why is the approach of the Berean so vital today?
John 16:13 “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”
The Word of God has one meaning. It is not open to interpretation as some have claimed to hold. When the Word of God was declared, it was declared in Truth and it is complete in its original form. That means, the Word of God was delivered perfectly and without error. God is revealed through His Word and any intentionally false interpretations of God would be tantamount to treason in God’s Kingdom. We cannot and must not take lightly the revelation of Truth as God proclaimed it through His people, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. One mistake, one error, one sloppy and inconsistent method of taking Truth and revealing it in error could cause others to stumble, and that is a mistake that could have eternal consequences.
The Perfection of God’s Word
King David knew that God and everything declared by God is perfect and without error. As God is eternal, so is God’s Word.
Psalm 119:160 The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.
King Jesus affirmed what His appointed servant once declared.
John 17:17 “Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.”
To sanctify something or someone is to set them apart and declare them as holy. God consecrates His people by His Word. The process of appointing them for His purposes is accomplished through His Word.
The sinner is called to salvation and the humble and contrite of spirit are those who respond in faith, believing. The Word of God that demonstrates God’s holiness and justice is the moral law. The Ten Commandments are a revelation of God’s divine and perfect nature. When mankind examines life in comparison to God’s holy standard, people are either left humbled and in shame, or they are driven to the Cross in repentance.
The Moral law is all that an unbelieving heart can hear. Anything apart from the law and grace given to the spiritually blind is futility. To reveal the depth of God’s wisdom to the lost is like seed scattered upon the rocks, tossed to the thorns of indifference. Believers who desire to be a light to the lost must understand God’s message to the lost…to offend the law is sin and sin carries the eternal weight of God’s wrath. The grace of God was given through Christ and the free gift is received in faith.
To the meek, their repentant hearts lead them to be restored by the power that only Jesus supplied. It is only through the redeeming power of Christ that a lost sinner might receive salvation. Faith is only the response. Belief is the action of following. There is no credit given other than to Christ alone.
Once a believer is confirmed by the infilling of the Holy Spirit, the process of sanctification begins. The Spirit of God leads the faithful believer in the Word of Truth, by the power of God to become Christ to others.
2 Corinthians 3:18 “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”
Following the Truth
As the Spirit of God leads, so must the faithful believer follow. The Spirit speaks primarily through the Word of God. If a faithful brother or sister in Christ speaks truth, they likewise speak in accordance with the Word of God. If someone claims God spoke to them in their heart, they will be able to confirm the word spoken by the Truth of God’s Word already revealed.
Everything pertaining to Truth has already been revealed in Scripture. There are no addendums as the mormons have insinuated. There is no watchtower society necessary for bringing their own form of truth. There are no new revelations given through angels as Muhammed once proclaimed. All false doctrine is exposed by the Word of God. All heresy is unmasked by the established revelation of Truth.
How was God’s Truth established?
Romans 15:8 “For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed”
Jesus established the Truth of God once and for all. By His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus confirmed God’s Word to be true and redeemed mankind from the destruction that awaited all.
The faithful Berean knows God’s Word is true and consistently examines all claims against God’s Word. They don’t look to affirm a statement or belief system by manipulating Truth to fit the error, but instead begin with the Truth as it is revealed and hold it up to all other claims.
Searching the Scriptures
When searching out scripture it’s helpful to have a good study Bible. Cross references help while studying a particular verse and comparing it to other verses in scripture. If you have a Bible dictionary, the ability to understand certain words helps with certain concepts in scripture. A good Bible app contains many of these features and allows the diligent Bearean to compare different translations of scripture as well as study the Hebrew and Greek particular to a word or phrase. The Blue letter Bible app is one of the more popular, while I frequently use Biblehub.com regularly. Whichever one allows you to find some depth to your study and is easy to navigate should be helpful in your search of Truth. Just be careful not to focus too heavily on commentary, look and understand it first yourself, then supplement it with authors who are trustworthy.
Setting aside time each day is critical to the walk of a believer. Whether your desire is to read through the Bible in a year or practice inductive study of select books of the Bible, the key is remaining consistent.
2 Timothy 3:14-15 “But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
Finding time to study with others is likewise helpful in encouraging and sharpening one another in the Word. Discussing ways to apply scripture is key in not just growing in knowledge but likewise understanding.
When studying the Word, keep in mind 3 important concepts.
- Observation: Carefully reading the passage, noting details like key words, repeated phrases, context, and characters involved.
- Interpretation: Analyzing the meaning of the passage based on the historical and cultural context, considering literary devices, and looking at related verses to understand the author’s intent.
- Application: Reflecting on how the meaning of the passage applies to your current life situation, identifying areas where you need to change or grow.
When you practice good exegesis(critical interpretation of text), you place the language, context, and intent of scripture in the light of its original message. Once you practice this method, false doctrine and heresy becomes much more apparent when heard.
Finding a good Church
Finding the right church is critical when growing in your faith with other believers. Look at the churches doctrines and covenants, talk with the pastor, and ask questions that pertain to the core doctrines of scripture.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Watch how a church practices their faith. If they take certain principles out of context, or practice elements of their faith that don’t align with scripture, find a church that is faithful. If there are small points you’re concerned about, bring your concerns to the pastor for clarification. If the church doesn’t concern itself with outreach, if they are more focused on filling the pews and gaining more contributions, the church is likely not thriving, and consequently not for you.
The more you understand scripture, the more the false application of scripture becomes apparent.
Hebrews 10:25 “Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
I recommend small churches where you can get to know people and they know you as well. Those types of churches are like families and the ones founded in Christ know how to love one another well.
Steven Curtis Chapman wrote a song called ‘Treasure Island’, it was a beautiful portrayal of the importance of finding time in the Word of God. You too can find the treasure of scripture that God has written for you, and you will find yourself strengthened and blessed each day you dwell within it.
U.T. 