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Hermeneutics

Fourth Principle

Don Ruhl • Savage Street, Grants Pass, Oregon • August 19, AD 2018

Spiritual Attitude Toward God and His Word Is Essential

  1. Understanding comes by spiritual receptivity as much as by intellectual effort.
    1. Some educated people do not or cannot learn the truth.
      1. Their intelligence is not the problem.
      2. The problem is their attitude.
      3. 1Co 1.18–31
    2. Some less educated people learn the truth and are saved.
      1. They have good and honest hearts and that good soil leads to fruitfulness.
      2. See Luke 8.4–18
      3. Pro 1.7
      4. Pro 2.1–12
      5. Pro 4.1–9
      6. Pro 9.10
    3. This is not anti-education, but is simply putting the emphasis upon character.
      1. The Bible encourages us to gain knowledge and wisdom.
      2. However, the Bible also encourages us to have the right heart.
  2. We must have a heart:
    1. That is prepared
      1. Ezra 7.10
    2. That is noble
      1. Acts 17.11, 12
    3. That is humble
      1. Matt 11.25, 26
      2. Matt 13.10–17
      3. Matt 18.1–4
    4. That is of the truth
      1. John 8.42–47
      2. John 18.37
      3. 1Jo 4.5, 6
    5. That wants to know the truth
      1. 1Ki 22.8–23
      2. John 7.16–18
      3. 2Th 2.8–12
    6. That is diligent
      1. 2Ti 2.15
    7. That is loyal to God
      1. Rom 3.3, 4
    8. That does not twist the word
      1. 2Co 4.2–5
      2. Gal 1.6–10
      3. 2Pe 3.14–18
    9. That is pure of false motives
      1. Eze 14.1–11
      2. 2Ti 4.1–4
    10. That knows the capabilities of the word
      1. Heb 4.11–13