You must be in fellowship prior to your Bible study, so that the spiritual information you receive can become a source, of blessing to your soul and produce spiritual growth.
1 John 2:24-25
24 Let [meno] that therefore [oun] abide [meno] in [en] you [humin], which [hos] ye [humeis] have heard [akouo] from [apo] the beginning [arche]. If [ean] that which [hos] ye have heard [akouo] from [apo] the beginning [arche] shall remain [meno] in [en] you [humin], ye [humeis] also [kai] shall continue [meno] in [en] the Son [huios], and [kai] in [en] the Father [pater]. 25 And [kai] this [houtos] is [esti] the promise [epaggelia] that [hos] he [autos] hath promised [epaggello] us [hemin], even eternal [aionios] life [zoe]. KJV-Interlinear 24 As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life. NASB
What have believers heard from the beginning of their new life as reborn believers in Christ? They have heard the gospel, that information pertaining to the salvation work of Christ on the Cross, and following their belief, the doctrines which they heard through a daily or somewhat consistent or even an inconsistent, direct or indirect study of the Bible.
This all in contrast to the anti-christ philosophy which smothers the world with its alternate approaches to life - either spiritually, socially, from business, or philosophically, or technology or from whatever source an anti-doctrinal approach to life may come.
So we have two alternative beliefs with which we can enter and live life. We can believe the Word of God as John suggests here, or we can believe something else.
If we believe the Bible, the gospel, the doctrines in which we learn from our daily study, and retain what we learn, and learn what we learn from within our sphere of fellowship, and use what we learn in our daily life, then the spiritual benefit which comes from God, then abides in us, as does its source - the Father, and the Son. And though not mentioned here specifically (but will be mentioned in the next few verses), the Holy Spirit also abides in each of us (believers).
This then is His (Gods) promise. Eternal life, followed by the fulfilling of a spiritual life which will endure forever, and even more than that, we will gain the benefit of a wonderful evaluation in heaven at the Judgment Seat of Christ when we stand before Him. This last part is also coming up in our study.
Again, in contrast, if you reject the Bible, then what do you have? From what source do you base your expectations of eternity? Nothing. For no other belief, no other source of belief offers the same extensive evidence of truth than does the Bible.
Just being around for a long time, and just by having a large following as do many religions, and just for having become accepted by many, does not cause proof for the precepts of a religion. It must be founded in fact and therefore truth. And what is truth? That is where fact and reality meet perfectly - without exception.
Truth is not founded in hearsay, or conjecture, nor even in popular opinion. Truth is not a function of popular convenience or expediency.
There is only one source of eternal life, and that is through believing in the only Son and Savior, Jesus Christ. There is only one source of a spiritual life, and that is through the daily study of the Bible. There is only one means of a spiritual function and that is through the fellowship approach to God.
Anything else is a lie and a false pursuit, and total waste of time. You should shun all of the worlds philosophies and distractions as a basis for your life and beliefs for two reasons. First, they are foreign to God the Father, and second, they are not eternal but will pass away into oblivion. Why cling to something that is failing?
There are two reasons for holding fast the teaching of the Bible. First, to have eternal life with God. Second, to have fellowship with God forever. God is the source of all life, and the source of all prosperity and happiness. For these there is no other source.
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Study to show thyself approved (mature) unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (studying/discerning), the Word of truth.
