"The Truth of the Matter"

When it comes to paying taxes to our government, many people would like to BEGIN with a refund amount they want to receive and THEN work BACKWARDS to arrange their financial information in order to come up with that refund.  It just doesn’t work that way, does it?

Unfortunately, many would take a similar approach in their study and application of Scripture:

• Some would like to continue to live a certain lifestyle, so they go to the Scriptures to justify that lifestyle.
  
  

• Some have their OWN personal beliefs and go to the Scriptures to justify 
  those beliefs.
  
  

• Some see the Scriptures as merely abstract drawings similar to those a psychologist might use, where two people may interpret the same image differently based upon their own predisposition – but either view is seen 
  as acceptable.    
  

Have you ever heard the statement:  “You can prove anything by the Bible”?  That is true, IF one uses an incorrect approach to understanding the Scriptures.

One must not, as the saying goes, “put the cart BEFORE the horse.”  The proper approach to understanding AND applying Scripture is to recognize the Scriptures to
be the SOURCE of TRUTH, NOT the justification for what one might WANT to believe.

“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” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  In other words, the Word of God is profitable:

• For what’s right – “for doctrine” (teaching, body of truth)

• For what’s wrong – “for reproof”

• For getting right – “for correction”

• For staying right – “for instruction in righteousness”

• For equipping us to DO what’s right – “that the man of God may be  complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

From 2 Timothy 3:15, we ALSO learn that the Scriptures are profitable for teaching us how to be saved from SIN.  Paul reminded Timothy:  “From childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

The Scriptures teach that in order to be saved from our sins we must believe in Jesus (Acts 16:30), repent of our sins (Acts 17:31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38).  
The Scriptures ALSO teach that “if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

Do you want the truth of the matter?  GO to the SOURCE! (John 17:17)  
And THEN allow Gods Word to mold you into the person HE desires you to be.

God bless you!

David A. Sargent, Minister

Church of Christ at Creekwood 
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama  36695

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