Article - Must We Understand the Bible Alike?
God has made His will known through His word. When we read the New Testament we can all understand the Bible alike, obey the same doctrine and accurately determine if we are continually remaining in the Christian faith (Romans 6:17-18: 2 Corinthians 13:5; Ephesians 3:3-4; 5:17; 1 John 5:13). We can also arrive at the same understanding through the faithful preaching and teaching of God's word (Acts 8:27-35; Romans 10:13-17). However, we must not accept everything we hear without searching the scriptures, because following teachings contrary to the doctrine of Christ can cause our soul to be lost (Acts 17:11; Romans 16:17-18; 1 John 4:1; 2 John 1:9-11). One such teaching that is popular among religious circles is the false idea that Christians CANNOT understand the Bible alike. This view is contrary to the following teachings of the New Testament: 1) Christians are to be like-minded toward one another and glorify God with one mind and one mouth (Romans 15:5-6); 2) Christians are to speak the same thing, have NO divisions (denominations) and be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment (1 Corinthians 1:10); 3) Christians are to have the same love and be of one accord (Philippians 2:2); 4) Christians are to walk by the same rule and follow the pattern of conduct and sound words (Philippians 3:16-17; 2 Timothy 1:13). We MUST work out our differences! --Not by ignoring them, compromising, agreeing to disagree or giving up, but by working hard to arrive at the same, correct understanding. After all, the one gate to heaven is narrow and difficult, yet attainable, and only a few will enter (Matthew 7:13-14, 21).
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