the starting point, part two. 15 more essentials

15 more essentials for understanding Scripture

the Crișul at night, looking toward the Black Eagle center. Oradea, Romania

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This is the explanation of part two: 15 more essentials, from "The Starting Point". You might want to go there first in case you landed here without seeing the quick-reference version. You can click here to do that.

Here, 15 essentials are added to the first 15. (Click here to go back to first 15.) The first 15 are so essential that if we get them right, everything else will probably fall into place. Nevertheless, we discuss the second set of 15 essentials here, to make them clear.

Below the list is an explanation of each essential, with a sample Scripture verse to illustrate the concept. The sample verse is one example to help understand the explanation. There certainly are many more.

1. The Jews were not wrong to obey the law.

2. We cannot embrace the blessings and say the judgments are for other people.

3. The Spirit is not given to help us live our lives.

4. The part of the body where Christ has assigned you is where you must be, stay, and function.

5. Knowing Greek and Hebrew will not equip you to know God any better than the people who were speaking Greek and Hebrew when the Scriptures were written.

6. Studying ancient history and societies will not equip you to understand Scripture any better than the people who were there when the Scriptures were written.

7. God almost never cares how we feel.

8. Scripture contradicts our beliefs, traditions and superstitions. We must let them be destroyed.

9. Scripture is solid. What your pastor, priest, pope, teacher, favorite author, favorite song, favorite painting, favorite sculptor, mother, father, friend, or mind says is not.

10. No one is saved by anything they do.

11. Studying Scripture for the excitement of learning will end badly.

12. Scripture was written by people to did it.

13. Greek, Aramaic, and Hebrew are good enough languages for God to say something if he had wanted to say it.

14. The debate over faith vs works is nonsense. Neither are right.

15. You don't need to be born again.

1. The Jews were not wrong to obey the word of God.