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We must receive God's word with eagerness and obey it. This is the right attitude toward God's word. To understand God's word is to hear his grace. This cannot be accomplished with our intellect, but only through our hearts. Of course, first receive God's word with our ears, but when we understand it within our hearts, in our own language, we then say we have received His word. For this, we must open our hearts.
In this regard, 'fair minded' means 'not to have a closed mind'. Considering the characteristics of the early Jewish Synagogues, the Jews of Berea, were of noble character.
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In those days, any Jews could enter into synagogues, and any Jews could read and lecture the Scriptures in front of people rather than inviting someone special to lecture.
When Paul lectured Scriptures, Jews of Berea received the word with longing hearts. They were open-minded, and examined what they heard to see whether it coincided with Scriptures.
Like this, we Bereans place great value on the Bible and examine it relentlessly. We want to be called "People of the Bible" and saints who have maintainded the ideal New Testament church, as described in God's word.
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Anyone who opens his heart, receives God's word just as anyone who studies the Bible diligently earns faith. Because the Bible was written by saints who were deeply moved by the Holy Spirit, Moses' law, prophets and other reports of the Bible testify about Jesus Christ(Luke. 24:44). The New Testament testifies that Jesus is Christ, the Son of God and the Saviour(Matthew. 16:16). The entire Bible testifies about Jesus Christ(John. 5:39).
Bereans build their faith from the Bible. We acknowledge this works of the Holy Spirit which the Pentecostal movement insists upon yet they do not emphasize tongues as the first proof of 'Baptism of the Spirit'. Moreover, we reject mysticism or charismatic type movements, which stray from the teachings of the Bible. We believe that the Holy Spirit comes from God and even now works like streams of living water. We believe it is our duty to baptize in the name of Jesus, be filled with the Spirit, casting out demons and healing the people with God's power(Mark 16:14~20).
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