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NASB | Ephesians 4:3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Ephesians 4:3 Make every effort to keep the oneness of the Spirit in the bond of peace [each individual working together to make the whole successful]. |
Subject: denominations. |
Bible Note: AO, the teaching of Scripture is not opinion, as you rightly say. It is, rather, fact; or perhaps it is more accurate to say that it is objective truth, God's truth. Yet in order to understand the truth being presented in Scripture, it becomes necessary to interpret the meaning from the written words, and it is of course highly desirable that we interpret the meaning correctly. Every believer possesses the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit from the moment of salvation, and it is the duty of all those born of the Spirit to be filled with (controlled by) the Spirit, who sanctifies, instructs, and empowers them for service. But not all believers at all times yield themselves to the control and instruction of the Holy Spirit. We all of us give in to our sin nature from time to time and desire to do things on our own, our way, in various areas of our lives, even in our study and interpretation of Scripture. Would that we all -- and I'm speaking of regenerate believers -- would go to God in prayer every time before we approach His precious word, the Bible, praying for guidance by His Spirit in our study and understanding of Scripture. I believe that this obedient and humble surrender of our will to His and our understanding to His would do more than anything else to lead us from the confusion that divides to the truth that unites. Some of the Scripture passages on which some of these remarks have been based are as follows: Romans 8:9-11; Ephesians 5:18; 1 John 2:20,27. --Hank |