Rex8, when you are speaking of Babylon and what they are doing... do they study the Scripture and find truth? Of course not, the Truth is the Spirit in the words of Scripture, which only the chosen few understand. Of course the Pharisees did not apply the Scriptures correctly in their teachings, they were blind leading the blind.
Mat 15:14 Let them alone! they are, blind leaders; and, if the, blind, lead the, blind, both, into a ditch, will fall.
Paul wrote to the Thessalonians and his epistles were sent around to all the churches to be read and studied to understand the way of the truth. And what did these epistles of Paul's become? A lot of the NT.
1Th 2:13 For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.
If you need a more up to date example, then take Ray. He didn't just meditate and apply what he had already learned, the man studied all the time. He knew the Bible from studying it for years and years, continuously and with that gained much knowledge. But what separates him from the pharisees (who also studied) was the Holy Spirit indwelling, being one of God's chosen. Do you think he showed himself "approved"?
Here are a few sections from the '09 conference.
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,11521.0.html --------
2Tim 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
When you read and study the Scriptures APPLY THEM ALL TO YOURSELF for either “doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”
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Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
v. 18 For he that in these things serves Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
v. 19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
How well do you read and study God Word?
2 Timothy 2:15 Study (that means put forth effort, to be prompt, to be earnest, to be diligent, to endeavor to study, to labor) to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Therefore, we should be doing right, not just to avoid wrath or to receive a reward, but rather because doing good to others IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
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If you read your Bible daily and study them thoroughly and follow and do what it admonishes… think on these things… meditate on God’s laws… God’s ways… forgive everyone and love everyone. Follow and do these instructions everyday for the rest of your lives and you will BECOME WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT! You will be ready to take on responsibilities in God’s Kingdom.
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So first of all READ your Bible. You learn these basic truths and you say, ‘I know the Bible.’ There is a LOT in there, trust me there is a lot. I can take any subject and I can just keep going and going and going. I’m going to show you a little bit about how when “you pay attention to all the words” you can keep going and going and going.
The great thing is, if what you are studying you believe to be the truth, then it is going to PROVE to be the truth. The more you study, it is going to prove to be the truth. I’ve been doing that with several subjects and no matter what direction I go, no matter where I go or how I go about it, what I knew to be the truth last year or five years ago, it’s still the truth.
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If something is really true, now it doesn’t matter if you know it’s true or not. If it is really is true, then the more you study, the more you look, the more you examine, the deeper you go, if that subject really is true, what you discover will add credence to the fact that it is truth. If it is not true, if it’s false, then the more you study the more you look, the more detailed you go, the deeper you go, the more evidence you have that it’s not true.
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mercy, peace and love
Kat