Thursday, November 16, 2017

SCRIPTURE CANNOT CONTRADICT ITSELF!

According to God's Word, the Book of books, it is 100% accurate, 100% truth!  The Apostle Paul wrote:  "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the (child) of God may be perfect, (thoroughly) furnished unto all good works" (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  And he ought to know; the Apostle Peter included Paul's writings as "Scripture" (2 Pet. 3:15-16). 

The word "inspiration of God" is from the Greek θεόπνευστος (theopneustos), which is defined as "the breath of God."  And since God cannot lie (Numbers 23:19; Hebrews 6:18), it is therefore absolute truth!  Therefore, if a student of God's Word comes to a passage of Scripture that appears to contradict another passage, he or she should "dig deeper" to hopefully discover a solution to the obvious problem.  One of two things will happen:  the student will "rightly divide the Word of Truth" and solve the dilemma (2 Timothy 2:15), or will, by faith, accept the fact that some things are beyond his or her understanding (Examples:  The Trinity; The Eternal Son of God dying; and perhaps the greatest example:  why does God love me?)!  The worst thing a student can do, is to accept one statement as true, and totally ignore the one he or she likes least!

An excellent example is Calvin's teaching on Election, known as "Limited Atonement."  Calvinists hold that all souls that come to faith in Christ, are chosen by God to be saved.  Conversely, all who do not trust in Christ, are not chosen by Him, and will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire!  Their position is based upon far too many references to list here.

Critics of Calvin's position say that their position is inconsistent with a loving, just, and merciful God.  They do not believe that mankind has a free will and can accept Christ's Atonement, or reject it.  They, too, have far too many reference to list here.

I have studied these two "polar opposites" for over forty-five years, and the best solution I have found is in a single passage spoken by Jesus in a parable (Matthew 22:1-14) which reads:

And Jesus answered and spoke unto them again by parables, and said, "The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, who made a marriage for his son, and sent forth his servants to call those who were bidden to the wedding:  and they would not come.  Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner:  my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready:  come unto the marriage.'  But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:  and the remnant took his servants, and treated them spitefully, and slew them.  But when the king heard thereof, he was (filled with wrath): and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.  Then said he to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but those who were bidden were not worthy.  Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.'  So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good:  and the wedding was furnished with guests.  And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man who had not on a wedding garment:  and he said unto him, Friend, how came thou in hither not having a wedding garment?'  And he was speechless.  Then said the king to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  For many are called, but few are chosen.'"   

Jesus called His twelve disciples follow Him;
He chose the Apostle Paul (Matthew 4:21; Act 9:15)!

No comments:

Post a Comment