Oh well, add this one to the list of things to ask God about when I get there! :)

Here is a section of Scripture that I just don't get.  And it is one of those sections where those who say that the Bible doesn't contain a single contradiction have a hard time explaining away. 

Now before I go on let me once again provide a disclaimer and explanation.  As I have said before, the Bible is a book of balance.  To get the full meaning you have to take it in it's entirety.  Not any single verse by itself has any real authority. 

I also try to always look for confirmation between the OT and NT.  In addition when I have to compare something that Jesus said to what one of the Apostles said, I always place more importance on what Jesus said.

Take a look and then I will continue.

2 John 1:9-11(NKJV)

Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 

If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; 

for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.

The first sentence makes perfect sense to me as does the 2nd.  It the rest of it that makes me wonder. 

"If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him;  "

Really?  So if some one isn't a Christian I shouldn't even let them into my house?  I shouldn't even say hi?  Simply saying hi makes me as evil as the non believer?

What happened to all of that love your enemy stuff?  What happened to all of that love your neighbor stuff?  Or how about this?  What happened to this?
 

Mark 2:15-17(NKJV)

Now it happened, as He was dining in Levi’s house, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many, and they followed Him. 

And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, “How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?”

When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

If I had to guess I would guess that the differentiation that was not made here he is talking about your inner circle of friends vs. your witnessing and outreach activities.  But it just isn't clear. 

In fact even then I would still have some trouble with this because how many of us have seen unsaved become saved through the friendships that have been built over the years?  It seems to me the verses in 1 John 2 are telling us not to do that. 

Oh well, add this one to the list of things to ask God about when I get there!  :)

The Holy Trinity

One of the central tenants of my Christian belief's is that God and Jesus are always in agreement.  Anytime I find something where one seems to contradict the other I keep searching both the Old Testament and the New Testament looking for Scripture to reconcile the difference because I don't believe they are ever in disagreement.

Here is one Scripture that I think backs up that belief.

1 John 5:6-7(NKJV)

This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. 

For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. 

We know that God is the Father and Jesus is the Son.  In addition we know that Scripture tells us that Jesus is the Word made flesh. 

So if the Father and the Word are one, it would be illogical that they would teach diametrically opposed things as truth.  Therefore when I find something in the New Testament (Jesus) that seems to contradict something in the Old Testament (God), or vice versa, I know that I must be missing something and I keep searching.

And this is where the 3rd part of the Trinity comes in.  As I search I depend on the Holy Spirit to guide me to the correct understanding based on Scripture.

Make sense? 

Now how do you get the Holy Spirit to guide you?  By asking Jesus to come into your life and lead you.  It truly is that easy.  Just have a conversation with Jesus.  "Dear Jesus…."

"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God;…"

I'm sure I have commented on this passage before.  It is clear, concise instruction on how to tell good theology from bad.  Testing the spirits as it were. 

Many false prophets.  How do you tell the Godly from the ungodly?  That is a good question isn't it? 

Well Scripture made this one easy for us.  There have been many times when I have wondered "God, why don't you just come out and say it?".  From reading the Bible I now know why but it is still nice when God makes it simple.  This I think is one of those times.

1 John 4:1-3(NKJV)

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 

By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 

and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.

Could it be more simple than that? 

If they don't affirm the divinity of Jesus, then you don't want to be taking any other spiritual advice from them.  Plain and simple.  At least that is what this passages is telling me. 

Reserved For Fire!

I vaguely remember hearing that God promised not to flood the world again but couldn't remember were exactly.  I'm pretty sure it is in the OT after the flood.  What I liked about this verse is the confirmation of the OT.

2 Peter 3:5-7(NKJV)

For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 

by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 

But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

The other thing I find interesting is that God doesn't leave it up to speculation how the world will end this time.

Fire. 

Eternal Fire!

Assyrian and Babylonian Exiles

I found this interesting.  Never really noticed it before.  It gives an explanation of why there was both an Assyrian exile and then many years later a Babylonian exile. 

Why the two?  Why didn't God take care of the problem all at once?  

Ezekiel 22:30-31(NKJV)

So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. 

Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; and I have recompensed their deeds on their own heads,” says the Lord GOD.

Looks to me like God was giving them a second chance.  God dished out the first punishment to the Northern Kingdom of Israel hoping that Judah would take notice.  But God found no one willing to stand in the gap so God brought the hammer down again! 

Now that is effective testimony!

I have always believed that the most effective testimony is to simply share what we have personally witnessed and experienced God do in our own lives.  That is what the beginning of 1st John seems like to me.  Simple and heartfelt "hey we were there and this is what we personally witnessed.". 

Not beating anyone over the head with the Bible and trying to talk them into accepting Jesus but just simply sharing our testimony, invite them to accept Jesus,  and then get out of the way and let the Holy Spirit go to work.

1 John 1:1-4(NKJV)

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—

the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—

that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 

And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.

As R.C Sproul once said.  Something to the effect of "I had to learn that I was part of God's plan but I wasn't the whole plan."

Some Might Ask, How Is This Just?

 

Ezekiel 21:1-3(NKJV)

And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 

“Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem, preach against the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel; 

and say to the land of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Behold, I am against you, and I will draw My sword out of its sheath and cut off both righteous and wicked from you. 

We are told that we serve a just God.  Some might ask how is it just that the righteous die along with the wicked?  I'm going to take a shot at that but right now I don't have any particular Scripture at my fingertips to back up my explanation.  That will be something to watch for in my future studies of Scripture.

I think Scripture recognizes two types of righteousness.  Individual righteousness and community righteousness.  It just seems to me that God holds the individually righteous partially responsible for the degradation of society. 

It's as if God is saying to the individually righteous that they didn't stand up and resist evil like the should have.  Therefore they will pay the same price. 

Just a guess on my part.  As I said above I'll be keeping an eye out for Scripture that either confirms or denies that view.