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.
17 Learn [lamad] to do well; [yatab] seek [darash] judgment, [mishpat] relieve ['ashar] the
oppressed, [chamowts] judge [shaphat] the fatherless, [yathowm]
plead [riyb] for the widow. ['almanah] KJV-Interlinear
17 Learn to
do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless; Defend the orphan, Plead for the
widow. NASB
Your attitudes toward other people, toward fairness, toward those that are helpless all come from true motives which can only come from doctrine when you are controlled by that doctrine in your soul.
By learning, your mind is transformed from that of a carnal thinker to that of a spiritual thinker. The only separation between the two is the forgiveness of sin by means of confession. This is the washing mentioned in the previous verse.
Now, you will still think as a doctor, lawyer, cook, wife, husband, rocket scientist, ditch digger, or whatever you are in life. You won't suddenly become solemn and wear black robes and be boring to everyone around you.
If you climb mountains, drive fast cars, or do needle work, you'll still do those things and have more fun doing them. You'll be better organized, more self confident, more tuned in, to the needs of others rather than yourself, and so forth.
So the turning point in ones life is in the soul, which is thought, or attitude.
It is not in a new haircut, not in a new clothing outfit, not in a job change, not in any 'thing' on this planet.
Only in your mind does or can your transformation occur.
And how simple it is, too.
Just to merely listen and hear to begin with, but as we have seen those who are negative won't even do that. They just will not pay attention and they will miss out on an opportunity of a lifetime, for that is exactly what Bible study gives you - opportunities.
Bible doctrine opens up doors for you. A negative attitude closes them - actually you never even see the doors of opportunity when you are not teachable, so you miss out entirely and don't even know it.
Typically negative people look to the wisdom of the world, its credentials, its views, its philosophies, its conclusions, their own ability to sort out truth from the lies in life. Multiplied sacrifices in other words. And all of these things guide a person further and further away from truth.
Doctrine however, brings truth directly into your soul, making it perspicuous and discernable, but only if you follow Gods mandated process for learning and growing up in your spiritual life.
Therefore you must approach God, through His one and only representative, the Son (salvation by faith). You must approach God in cleanliness, not filth (fellowship by means of confession). You must approach God in wisdom (learning by means of legitimate study). You must approach God by means of a daily application of that wisdom (do unto others).
This then rounds out your spiritual life (all by means of Gods efforts and accomplishments - none by means of yours).
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