By: Robert Serreyn
Question? Should I just take the plain reading of the bible?

Answer: NO, Here is why…

In 2 Timothy 2:15 we are TOLD to do What???

(2 Timothy 2:15)  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Also the Word of God says…

(1 Peter 2:2)  As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

(Hebrews 5:13)  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

If a person just takes the PLAIN READING of the Bible you will come to a problem when TRYING to get scripture to agree with scripture if you DO NOT realize that some words COULD HAVE been better translated to ELIVIATE CONFUSION.

For Example:

(Acts 2:38)  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

The word FOR is the Greek word EIS and it should have been translated as BECAUSE OF which would have made this verse agree with other salvation verses such as John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Titus 3:5 etc…

Acts 2:38 SHOULD READ as follows:

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ BECAUSE OF the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

If you JUST TAKE the plain reading of Acts 2:38 WITHOUT further study or investigation you would have a FALSE DOCTRINE because it states that we recieve remission(payment) of sins by baptism.
This is the MAIN VERSE that ALL that add Water Baptism as part of salvation go to.

Another Example:

(Galatians 5:17) For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

The ISSUE with this verse comes from the MISTRANSLATION of the word CANNOT, This is WHY we do not make the claim as some teach that King James Version Bible is without error and should not be corrected.

The TRANSLATORS of the KJV used the Greek word OUCH which means IN THE ABSOLUTE SENSE instead of ME which means NOT IN THE ABSOLUTE SENSE

The word “Cannot” SHOULD HAVE been tranlated as the Greek word ME which carries the meaning “NOT IN THE ABSOLUTE SENSE” as SHOULD NOT, this is the REASON FOR and the DIFFERENCE in proper bible study and interpretation.

by making the correction from CANNOT (Gr. OUCH = ABOSOLUTE) to SHOULD NOT (Gr. ME = NOT ABSOLUTE) puts this verse INTO agreement with Romans 7:15-19, Ephesians 2:10 and others that speak of our works that SHOULD accompany our testimony.

(Romans 7:15-19) For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. (16) If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. (17) Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. (18) For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. (19) For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

(Ephesians 2:10) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Galatians 5:17 SHOULD READ as follows:

(Galatians 5:17) For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye SHOULD NOT do the things that ye would.

Galatians 5:17 is ALSO one of those verse that those that ADD WORKS to salvation TRY TO USE.

Here again If you JUST TAKE the plain reading of Galatians 5:17 WITHOUT further study or investigation you would have a FALSE TEACHING, it is VERY IMPORTANT to heed to the instructions of 2 Timothy 2:15.

In Conclusion:

The Apostle Peter also KNEW THE IMPORTANCE of studying the scriptures for he was Divinly Inspired to write:
(2 Peter 3:16)  As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

DID YOU SEE THAT…..some things hard to be understood,

Then the Holy Spirit says about those WHO DONT or REFUSE to go beyond the PLAIN READING of the bible…
which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

The MOST IMPORTANT thing to know IS Jesus Christ as savior, just simply believe that Jesus Christ went to the cross and DIED and shed his blood, was BURIED and three days later RESURRECTED from the dead to pay for your sins. the MOMENT you believe(TRUST in Christ ALONE) you recieve eternal life.

-Christ DIED for you – Romans 5:8

-Christ PAID your sins in full – 2 Corinthians 5:21,1 Peter 2:24

-BELIEVE (Trust In Completely) in Christ ALONE as the complete payment of sin for salvation – John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Ephesians 2:8,9

“For the wages(payment) of sin is death (eternal torment in hell); but the GIFT(salvation) of God is eternal life THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord”. Romans 6:23

IT IS THAT SIMPLE – THE GOSPEL TRUTH