There was a point in my Christian life that I believed that ALL Roman Catholics were going to Hell (regardless), that you could lose your salvation, and that ALL written prayers, liturgy and formalities in worship was "dead religion", and a host of other misguided beliefs. I'm glad to say that I was wrong - and that God is merciful!
In those days, I proudly called myself a "bible-believing" Christian. I was known as one who "knows his bible". Any question or topic was answered with chapter and verse, strictly. And I really, sincerely thought that I knew the bible...but what I really knew was the explanations and interpretations that I liked and/or felt comfortable with, and the verses that I thought supported them.
Since those days, I've changed my approach to Scripture. First, let me say that I believe the Bible to be the inspired, ineerant, infallible, written word of God, and that it contains all things necessary to salvation. Therefore, I approach the bible much more humbly now. Although Scripture is infallible, my understanding may be fallible. I also read the Scriptures prayerfully and prayerfully seeking His truth. I try not to read seeking justification or proof of my existing beliefs (although sometimes for discussions this may be necessary). I approach the Scriptures with predetermined intent to be honest with what I may find. If I come across something which brings something I currently believe into question, then I prayerfully seek out the Truth (which is His truth), even if it means that I admit I was wrong in my former belief and embrace the new one. And I must approach the Scriptures with submission and obedience already affirmed - if I am unwilling to obey the truth, God in His mercy will withhold the truth, if necessary.
Humility and dependence upon the Holy Spirit are crucial. They are crucial to knowing the Truth of God; they are not crucial to "knowing the bible". The Pharisees knew the Old Testament scriptures very, very well - but they didn't know the Truth. Truth is a Person, Jesus Christ. But, even in relationship with Jesus, we must never assume that we know Him through and through, inside and out. We must maintain humility and dependence if we are to ever grow in the knowledge of Him. To many times as a Christian, I have been filled with false confidence and arrogance, claiming to know His heart or mind on a matter, only to discover that I didn't know Him or the matter at hand as well as I thought I did - if at all. Thankfully, God is merciful and humbled me, so that He could give me grace (He opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble).
In the next part, I want to give examples of the erroneous beliefs that I dogmatically held at one time. Perhaps, someone reading this may hold to some them at present. That's fine. I'm not trying to change anyone's mind or heart. "Let each one be convinced in his own mind" (Rom. 14:5). But I will share how and why my mind was changed....
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