How Can a Particular Christian Denomination Be So Sure That Their Interpretation of the Bible is Accurate When So Many Other Denominations Have Contrary Interpretations?

Before I answer this question I’d like to talk about the whole concept of preconceived notions. You know what those are, don’t you?

Preconceived notions are opinions formed apart from the facts.

Like when a person decides before he meets another person that because he’s of a different color he probably can’t be trusted. That’s a preconceived notion. That’s an opinion formed apart from the facts.

Now you would agree with me (I think) that you can’t really know whether a person can’t be trusted before you meet him (or her) especially without evidence. And yet many people ~ including believers in Jesus Christ! ~ still will form opinions about others beforehand in this way.

Now I believe the question before us is one based in an opinion formed apart from the facts. And that opinion (preconceived notion) is this: Because there are so many denominations (different church groups, churches under the banner of Christianity) there must be just as many contrary interpretations of the Bible.

But that’s simply not true.

And here’s why.

When you get right down to where the rubber meets the road, the high percentage of Christian denominations really do agree on the same things. They really do hold to the same interpretation of the Scriptures.

I’m talking about “essentials” here. Not secondary issues. But the central ones. (To read Trap 3 That Christians Fall Into: Majoring on the Minors, click here.)

(These are the “essentials” of the Christian faith.) Like God becoming a man in Jesus Christ. Like Him being born of the Virgin Mary. And like Jesus living a sinless life.

“Scripture tells us … that [Christ] ‘knew no sin’ (2 Corinthians 5:21); [Christ] ‘did no sin’ (1 Peter 2:22); [and] ‘in [Christ] is no sin’ (1 John 3:5).” (Matthew by Ironside, pg 33)

Most Christian denominations believe this. (And if they don’t, they are not Christian.)

Most Christian denominations also believe that Jesus came into this world to give His life as a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45) That He suffered and died on a cross and that He rose again on the third day to secure man’s salvation.

And finally, most denominations also believe that Christ will return again a second time to recompense the righteous as well as the wicked according to their deeds.

The high percentage of Christian denominations do agree on these essentials of the Christian faith.

So this preconceived notion that they don’t and that they each have contrary Bible interpretations is just that ~ a preconceived notion.

(To read the follow up post: The Key to Interpreting / Understanding the Bible, click here.)

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