There are certain assumptions upon which our understanding and perception is based. Such an assumption is called a “premise.” We all have them. However, we often don’t recognize ours as “assumptions.” To us, they are simply facts. We’ve been taught them all our lives and often, everyone in “our world” makes the same assumptions. That’s why we “get along.”
When someone or something causes us to question the factualness of our premise, it can be extremely stressful. We build our world around our premises. They help form the filter through which we view everything. We analyze things in such a way that nothing contradicts our basic premises about life.
The problem comes when our premises are either untrue, or only partially true. The results being that we will either ignore certain truths (because they contradict our premises), or be unable to “make sense” of certain truths.
For instance, if you have a premise regarding salvation that human works play absolutely no part in salvation, James chapter 2 makes no sense to you. You will deny it, ignore it or downplay its significance.
Many religious people today hold an incomplete premise that “God is love.” - excluding the additional truth that “God is righteous.” As a result, there are many truths in the Bible they cannot believe. It has led many people to say things such as, “The God of the Old Testament is not my God!”
My point is this - constantly check your premises. When you encounter something in God’s Word that seems to contradict your belief, make sure your assumptions are correct… and complete. Don’t ignore or “explain away” truth. The whole Bible is true. Truth doesn’t contradict itself.
Our lack of understanding of Scripture… or our avoidance of certain passages is likely due to a false premise.

… Ken Stegall