When we know something, we often think less often of it than when we don't know something ...and then, sadly, it often becomes as if we also don't know what we assumedly know.
Sin is ...separation from God.
Yes, we all sin.
God wants to restore us ...meaning, He doesn't want us to be separated from Him.
It does not endear us more to Him by sinning more, so that we can lean more upon His mercies.
(Romans 6:1-2 ---"What shall we say then? Shall we continue to sin, that grace may abound? God forbid." ...) As a child, we may have at times acted out to get attention ...but, as adults, that should not continue to be the case. That is not what the verse "be like little children" means.
We need to truly recognize His love ...yet, should we be so absorbed in that love, that we ignore the very things He is quietly compelling us to do??
Do we have a tendency to rationalize ...which could be more accurately described as 'interpreting'??
I mean, while looking at God's Word, do we look at what others have interpreted, or do we lean on what we feel is the Holy Spirit's leading?? It can be troublesome to do either of these exclusively. Yet, I would suggest we do both ...to a degree.
If we put too much faith in another person's interpretation ...that can lead to problems, because people are not without error.
If we put our entire faith in the Holy Spirit ...who would argue that is nothing less than absolutely good, though it is my experience that this may become just like the first?? This may entail looking to a person we feel is filled with the Holy Spirit, or I may feel I myself should only look to the Holy Spirit ...which becomes problematic if I bring to myself self-proclaimed exclusivity.
But, admittedly, I, myself ...do not proclaim to be a prophet, who speaks for God. I think God would let me know ...and He hasn't. So, I let His Word, the Bible, speak to me ...and I pray for His guidance, the Holy Spirit to enlighten me, and also to direct me to fellowship with those whom I feel are also sincerely seeking His Word.
Are those whom I choose to fellowship with going to have differences with how to interpret the Bible??
Yes ...that is nearly unavoidable. But, that should not be a problem. It may be more of a problem if we all agree ...about everything. There are some things I personally think we should agree upon, but the Bible is so expansive and rich with what it shares with us, none of us could totally recall all that there is, let alone understand it all. So, it's beneficial to have a group of people who all believe the Bible is the sole authority. And together, that group of believers should pray that the Holy Spirit gives them all direction ...in discerning what is being said.
No, it is not just a group of believers, who assemble together solely to make decisions on interpretation. It is this assembly of believers ...that can give more thorough input into recalling verses applicable to that which is being discussed.
Perhaps you are not clear with what I'm saying ...and have your own ideas on what is the best way to interpret the Bible. But, after saying all that I've said, my answer is simply this: that the best way to interpret the Bible is by the Bible itself.
Verses in the Bible should be looked at not in a way that they can just be quoted. Pastor Myron says that we should adequately read what it says before the verse ...and also read substantially beyond the verse, to get more fully what is being said. And if you believe the entire Bible is true, as I do ...then we can't favor Luke over Matthew, nor feel Ezekiel holds more weight than Thessalonians or the Book of Revelation.
(What do we actually know?? Know that God has assembled a special team, whom He entrusted with the writing of His Word. And within that Bible, He has shared with us enough for us to know in this life.)
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