QUALIFICATIONS FOR BIBLE STUDY
A. A new heart. I Corinthians 2:14-15
The interpreter must be born again. He must have personally received Jesus Christ as his Saviour and Lord.
B. A cleansed heart. I John 1:9
Refusing to deal with sin in your life breaks fellowship with God. The secret of restored fellowship and the cleansed life is very simple. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:9). Before beginning your Bible study, stop to confess to God any known sins.
C. A hungry heart. I Peter 2:2
Bible knowledge does not come through casual interest and occasional reading.
D. An obedient heart. Psalms 119:98-100
To understand the Bible truly you must be willing to respond to what God shows you of His will in the Bible. The Bible calls for response, not just analysis.
E. A disciplined heart. Matthew 7:7; Galatians 5:23
A person with this kind of heart will begin to do something and keep on doing it, even though it is hard. He is willing to cut out other things he would like to do for the sake of this priority. Because he knows his priority is right, he will keep at it and will not be drawn away. Learning the Bible requires such a heart.
F. A teachable heart. Isaiah 50:4
This is a heart that wants to learn and go on learning, one that never says, “Now I know enough.” Rather, it is a heart that knows it has much more to learn, and eagerly and humbly is ready to learn at any time.
