Biblical Understanding and Bias

May 8, 2022

We all read with some preconceived ideas, but some predetermine their

conclusions and study to prove them. The reformers (Luther, Calvin, Zwingli,

and etc.) were no different. They hated Popery and Catholic tradition and

looked at the epistle of James with great prejudice because it supported the

concept of work (James 2). They never considered that James was written to

show the Christians a correct response to grace nor did they acknowledge that

Paul in Romans 6 declared plainly that new Christians should “rise to walk in

newness of life” (Romans 6:4). Had they not been bias, they would have heard

Jesus’s living example and paid attention to Matthew 7:21. In this very brief

passage Jesus says that both faith and works are critical if one expects to go to

heaven. Listen: “Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into

the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in

heaven.” How could anyone pray over this verse, spoken by our Lord, and

come to the conclusion that obedience is of no consequence and faith alone

pleases God? The entire Old Testament is witness to the fact that God expected

both faith and faithfulness of Adam, Abraham, Isaac, and etc. Even Jesus was

baptized as an adult believer so as to fulfill all” and discovered how simple the

book is.

Dr. Kenneth E. Morrison