Words of Life: Scripture as the Living and Active Word of God

by Timothy Ward

It is of course perfectly possible to overindividualize our understanding of salvation and relationship with Christ, and this has undoubtedly sometimes happened in evangelicalism. However, as earlier sections of this chapter have argued, too strong a stress on individualism is not a necessary feature of Reformation Protestantism.

Our primary attitude towards these things ought humbly to be that of a learner, not a critic.

the preacher needs to be, as he should be, well educated in biblical, historical and systematic theology.

What is God wanting to do to me, and in me, through the words I am reading?

interpretation is not an end in itself; reading the Bible is not fundamentally a comprehension exercise. Interpretation should serve only to lead us to an encounter with God as he actually presents himself to us in Scripture.

What should I do when I encounter words spoken by God – words by which he presents himself to me as a Lord to be known and trusted?