If we purpose to read the Bible on a regular basis, not limiting our reading to our favorite passages, but instead, committing to read the entire Bible, the entirety of God’s message to us, we will soon discover as we journey through God’s word, that God does not fit into the neat and simple definition of who we thought He was.
Most of us have formed our own idea of who or what God is to us; our own version of God. Unfortunately, when we begin to define who God is in this way, in our way, he becomes a god with a lower case “g”. This god is not the God that created all things, the God of the Bible, but rather, a god that we have created to fit our own preferences, likes and dislikes.
The danger in this is that our own personal version of god is not the God that we will stand before in judgment someday. Our god will not save us.
As has been stated numerous times in previous posts, it is vitally important that we accept God for who His word (the Bible) says He is, and accept Him as the ultimate authority in our lives. In accepting God as our authority we must acknowledge and accept the Bible in it’s entirety, we must avoid the temptation to pick and choose the sections we find agreeable to us.
There are those who will say that the modern Bible has been corrupted by countless translations and is no longer reliable. The truth is that modern technology has resulted in better and more accurate translation than ever before. In addition, new information continues to be discovered adding further support to the credibility of the Bible.
There are others who will say that the Bible is full of contradictions. This is simply not true, proper interpretation of Scripture requires careful consideration of the context, the history and culture at the time written, proper grammar as it applies to the original language, and detailed examination of other Scripture regarding the particular issue or text at hand. Scripture interprets Scripture and if it appears as though a contradiction exists, that only means that more research is required. Once the proper understanding of the text is acquired it will fit in or flow with other Scripture and there will be no contradiction.
Some will say that they have no knowledge of the original languages nor resources to investigate and research these matters, so the process of understanding the Bible is futile and not worth their efforts. This might be a valid argument if we gained our understanding by intellect alone. As a matter of fact, if that were the case, there would be many who could say that they were not smart enough to understand the Bible.
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1 Corinthians 1:18-31 For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will thwart the cleverness of the intelligent.” Where is the wise man? Where is the expert in the Mosaic law? Where is the debater of this age? Has God not made the wisdom of the world foolish? For since in the wisdom of God the world by its wisdom did not know God, God was pleased to save those who believe by the foolishness of preaching. For Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks ask for wisdom, but we preach about a crucified Christ, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles. But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
Think about the circumstances of your call, brothers and sisters. Not many were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were born to a privileged position. But God chose what the world thinks foolish to shame the wise, and God chose what the world thinks weak to shame the strong. God chose what is low and despised in the world, what is regarded as nothing, to set aside what is regarded as something, so that no one can boast in his presence. He is the reason you have a relationship with Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (NET)
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It is clear from these passages that those who are considered intelligent by the worlds standards will gain no advantage in understanding the things of God. The last sentence tells us that God is the reason that any of us have a relationship with Christ. God gives us eyes to see, ears to hear and turns our heart of stone into a heart of flesh, capable of true love and belief. By His grace, God gives us the ability to understand and discern spiritual things, to test the spirits, to see the truth. If we are truly God’s workmanship (Ephesians 2:10) He will give us the means to understand as we grow in our faith. His Holy Spirit will guide us in all things.
Till next time – May God increase your faith
The NET Bible® is freely available at www.bible.org
