Learning and Unlearning

Growth in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ involves unlearning as well as learning.

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (II Timothy 3:16).

God's Word involves both the inclusion of truth and the elimination of error in us. We do not come to the Lord Jesus Christ as blank slates, but rather as world, devil, and flesh-imprinted hearts and minds requiring ongoing reorientation of thought, attitude, word, and deed. The process is lifelong, and a primary reason for consistent Bible reading involves the fact that we need reproof and correction no less than doctrine and instruction of righteousness. The flesh of even the most ardent believer remains susceptible to deception and distraction, making necessary the continual "entrance of Thy words" to expose and illuminate areas of darkness (Psalm 119:130).

An excellent prayer to pray for each other and for ourselves asks God to confirm, defend, and enhance our correct knowledge of His Person, and understanding of truth. It also requests His uprooting, pulling down, throwing down, and destruction of incorrect knowledge and understanding (Jeremiah 1:10). Both dynamic workings of the Holy Spirit are necessary in us, and wise is the believer who humbly seeks reproof and correction in the Bible given to provide both the entrance of light and the elimination of darkness.

"Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

(Psalm 139:23-24)