Now our Lord, when on earth, encouraged, indeed He even challenged His audiences to βSearch the Scripturesβ for themselves (John 5:39). Indeed since God revealed Himself and His plan of salvation in the written Word, we are responsible, each one for himself to study the Scriptures. When the rich man begged Abraham to be allowed to go and warn his five brothers about the horrors of hell, Abraham replied, βThey have Moses and the prophets; let them hear themβ. And when the rich man urged that a word from him would be more effective, Abraham answered, βIf they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the deadβ (Luke 16:29,31).
Donβt depend upon the clergy to interpret the Scriptures for you. See for yourself what God says in His Word. For βevery one of us shall give an account of himself to Godβ, says Romans 14:12. And it wonβt be enough in that day to say, my minister or my priest told me so and so. You are responsible, you, to search the Scriptures for yourself, to see whether these things are so.
Why donβt you search the Scriptures, especially the epistles of Paul, our apostle. For it is Paul who says, βFor I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the Apostle of the Gentiles [Nations], I magnify mine officeβ (Rom.11:13). Learn in his epistles this mystery among the Gentiles which is Christ in you the hope of glory and how it is that Christβs death on Calvaryβs cross can save you.
βIn Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His graceβ (Eph. 1:7). source
