Jesus’s Humanity Is Genuine

Posted on 2025/02/24 by Guestspeaker

14th century Byzantine Icon of the Descent from the Cross from the Church of Saint Marina in Kalopanagiotis, Cyprus. St. Joseph of Arimathea is the figure standing in the center, in blue-green robes holding the Body of Christ.

In the previous postings we brought fragments from Christian Theology by Christopher W. Morgan presenting an accessible introduction to the core areas of systematic theology, including God, revelation, humanity, sin, Christ and his work, the church, and the future. We gave you some texts to consider and to compare with the Biblical teaching, showing where the author goes wrong by assuming Jesus would be an incarnation of God. The author not going deeper into the matter that Jesus by God Himself was called His son and that Jesus prayed to God, which in case he is God would be praying to himself. Furhtermore the aspect of no human being able to see God, and God being an eternal spirit being and as such not able to die, while Jesus really died on a piece of wood and was resurrected from the dead by his heavenly Father.

He writes in the end:

Jesus’s Humanity Is Genuine

Jesus’s humanity is so raw in three places that some Christians try to explain them away.

First, believers sometimes cringe at on-screen depictions of Jesus’s temptation by the devil (Matt 4:1–11). We do not endorse every such depiction of Jesus, but his temptations were real, and his overcoming them contributes to our salvation (Heb 4:15).

Second, beginning with the church fathers, Christians have been nervous at Jesus’s not knowing the time of his return (Matt 24:36). For reasons not revealed, it was not the Father’s will for Jesus to exercise his divine knowledge in this area while on earth. Of course, now in heaven he knows when he will return.

Third, Jesus’s asking in Gethsemane to be spared the cross makes some Christians uneasy (Matt 26:36–46). But it should not, for once more his humanity comes to the fore, and with it our salvation. We cannot imagine the Son’s horror at contemplating the Father’s punishing him with the punishment we deserve. Jesus shrinks at this but does not sin; he submits to the Father’s will (vv. 39, 42, 44). Rather than being something of which we should be ashamed, this epitomizes Jesus’s love for us sinners. That he would suffer the pains of hell for us on the cross is incredible!

Conclusion

Two historical denials of Christ’s humanity warrant mention: Docetism and Apollinarianism. Greek philosophy held to gradations of reality, with spirit being the highest and matter less real. Ethical gradations corresponded to these ontological ones, so spirit was good and matter bad. It was thus considered impossible for God to become a human being. Docetism (from the Greek dokeō, “I think, seem, appear”) therefore claimed that Christ only appeared to be human.

Apollinarianism, named after Apollinarius (fourth century AD), denied the completeness of Christ’s humanity. It held that Jesus had a human body but not a human soul, with the Word taking the place of a soul. This heresy was condemned at the Council of Constantinople in 381. The council’s creed affirms both Christ’s deity and his humanity:..

The author finds it most important, in three ways that Christ’s saving work is directed toward God and affects him. He recognises that Christ reconciles God to us. According to himself, Scripture always says that God reconciles us to himself and never that he reconciles himself to us, Scripture’s theology implies this truth. He writes

Christ’s death, then, reconciles God to us and also reconciles us to him. He makes peace between us. It is very gracious of God to work on our behalf in such a way.

He agrees that it sounds absurd for heaven to need cleansing. But says

not when we consider Old Testament background. The sacrifices on the Day of Atonement purifies both the people and the most holy place, which needs atonement because Israel’s sin defiles it, as God’s words to the high priest tell:

When he slaughters the male goat for the people’s sin offering and brings its blood inside the curtain, he must do the same with its blood as he did with the bull’s blood: He is to sprinkle it against the mercy seat and in front of it. He will make atonement for the most holy place in this way for all their sins because of the Israelites’ impurities and rebellious acts. He will do the same for the tent of meeting that remains among them, because it is surrounded by their impurities. (Lev 16:15–16)

Hebrews draws a parallel between the high priest’s making atonement for the most holy place and Christ’s death purifying the heavenly sanctuary:

According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Therefore it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves to be purified with better sacrifices than these. For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands (only a model of the true one) but into heaven itself, so that he might now appear in the presence of God for us. (Heb 9:22–24)

After his death and resurrection, Christ ascends and presents his finished work to purify the presence of God in heaven.

According to Morgan

The Divine Warrior of the Old Testament becomes incarnate in Jesus our champion, who dies and rises again to deliver us from our enemies. Because we treated this under the picture of Jesus’s saving work as a mighty victory (see pages 304–7), here we summarize. Jesus, our divine-human champion, defeats our adversaries: Satan, demons, and the world system opposed to God, sin, death, and hell.{Christian Theology by Christopher W. Morgan}

Keeping ourselves in the love of God

Posted on 2025/02/23 by Guestspeaker

The Book of books brings us writing which indicates we have to keep ourselves in the love of God, which can only be done by keeping to the Only One True God and His commandments.

20 But you, beloved, wbuilding yourselves up in your most holy faith and xpraying in the Holy Spirit, 21 ykeep yourselves in the love of God, zwaiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.

Jude vv. 20–21

Jude urges his readers to

“contend for the faith that was delivered to the saints once for all” (v. 3)

because ungodly teachers are turning God’s grace into sensuality and thereby denying Christ. He blasts these false teachers and points to their sure condemnation (vv. 5–19). Then he urges his readers to persist in faith, prayer, and God’s love as they live in light of the Second Coming. (vv. 20–21).

When Jude exhorts his readers to steadfastness, he includes the Trinity. They are to pray “in the Holy Spirit,” to remain in “the love of God” the Father, and to wait

“expectantly for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ” (vv. 20–21).

Christian Theology, Christopher W. Morgan

The Christopher W. Morgan is wrong to conclude that Jude teaches that each of the three persons of the Trinity is God. According to him

He does this by putting each of their names in a role that only God can fulfill.

and concludes:

We are to pray only “in God”; in this case, “in the Holy Spirit.” We must keep ourselves only in God’s love; in this case, the Father’s. We are to wait expectantly for the mercy of God alone for eternal life; in this case, “of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jude thus teaches the deity of the Father, Son, and Spirit.

Christian Theology, Christopher W. Morgan

Suffering coming for many reasons

Posted on 2025/01/17 by Guestspeaker

• Suffering comes for many reasons:

Suffering may come as a result of personal sin and failure. For example, some people may suffer financially by not carefully budgeting their money or by being wasteful. Some people may suffer the loss of friendship through their hurtful words or gossip.

Suffering may also arise due to other people’s sin and failure, such as the drunk driver who causes an accident and creates suffering for others.

Suffering can arise from forces outside of our control. For example, a tornado or hurricane can create great suffering for many people.

Suffering can come as a result of a person’s faith—standing for Jesus in some parts of the world is an invitation to persecution.

• The Bible is filled with passages that describe why suffering is a part of life:

1 Peter 4:15—Deserved suffering occurs when we sin or act foolishly.

1 Peter 2:21—Undeserved suffering is part of following in Jesus’s footsteps.

2 Corinthians 12:9–10—Suffering encourages growth.

John 9:1–3—Suffering may be for testing and to demonstrate God’s glory.

2 Corinthians 1:3–5—We may suffer to help others.

• Helping others in pain requires a “theology” of suffering. How do you see God using suffering in the lives of those with whom you work? How do you see God using suffering in your own life?

• Suffering is common to all people and is not removed by the presence of the Holy Spirit. Being a Christian is not a “get out of suffering free” card. Christians experience suffering like everyone else.1

• Sometimes God allows suffering in our lives and we do not know why. His promise to us is not to make our suffering understandable but to be present with us in it.

• Needless suffering, such as refusing to take medication, is not taught in Scripture. There is no merit to simply enduring pain for suffering’s sake.

• Suffering is easier to deal with when it is purposeful (2 Tim. 4:6–8) and when there is an end in sight. Romans 8:22–23 says,

“For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.”

• Suffering produces character in us. By contrast, our culture views suffering as evidence that we are failing in some way or that we are doing something wrong.

• Guard against wanting to “fix things” or give answers too quickly. It is much more important to listen.

God had one son on earth without sin, but never one without suffering.

Augustine

Find more about suffering and other problems, in: The Quick-Reference Guide to Biblical Counseling , Tim Clinton and Ron Hawkins

Questions for Understanding God’s Plan

Posted on 2025/01/06 by Vragensteller - Inquirer

Ask questions that will help the person understand that God does have a plan and will reveal it. It’s a process that occurs slowly. Often God is fine with any number of possibilities, providing they glorify Him equally. Remember, it’s much easier to see God in the rearview mirror than through the windshield. This means that as we look back on our lives, we can usually see how God was working and how He was actively involved. It’s much harder to look forward and see the good that He is about to do.

1. Tell me about your relationship with the Lord.

2. Do you think that you initiated this relationship or did God reach out to you?

3. What major decisions have you made in the past?

4. How have you changed as a result of these decisions?

5. Do you believe that God was with you when you made these decisions?

6. If so, how could you tell?

7. What might happen in this current situation if you make the “wrong” decision?

8. Do you think that God will disown you if you make the wrong decision?

9. If you make the wrong decision, do you think God could change His plan to accommodate that wrong decision?

10. How might God direct you toward His will or plan in this decision?

11. How will you know if you have made the right decision?

12. Will any or all of the options you are considering bring glory …

The Quick-Reference Guide to Biblical Counseling, Tim Clinton and Ron Hawkins

Permissive Will

Posted on 2025/01/02 by Guestspeaker

God’s permissive will is what He allows to happen. Most of what we see every day is under God’s permissive will.

The building of a new grocery store, falling interest rates, rising gas prices, the choices we make that glorify God, and the ones we make that do not honor God are all within God’s permissive will simply because He permits them to occur.

The Quick-Reference Guide to Biblical Counseling , Tim Clinton and Ron Hawkins

Discerned Will

Posted on 2024/12/28 by Guestspeaker

Many of the choices we make each day don’t have clear biblical mandates or guidance.

Should we eat pizza or a tuna sandwich for lunch? Should we call a friend or relax because we’re tired? Should we put this or that at the top of our priority list?
The possibilities are endless. In these, we trust the Spirit and our past experiences to shape our minds and hearts, so we make decisions that honor God and promote human flourishing of every kind.

Though God permits sin and evil, He doesn’t leave us as helpless, hopeless victims. He promises to use our sins (Rom. 8:28) and the sins people have committed against us (Gen. 50:20) for good if we trust Him. In other words, God’s grace and power are so great that He wants to redeem every painful event, whatever the cause, to use it for our growth.

The Quick-Reference Guide to Biblical Counseling, Tim Clinton and Ron Hawkins

In these politically troubled times, a certainty through our trust in God

Posted on 2024/08/27 by Bijbelvorsers

When we hear the news items we can’t help but think that things aren’t looking so good for this world. In addition to the many natural disasters, there is a tremendous amount of political unrest in the world and two wars that could scare us of what will come next.

Many people today do not know who they can still trust. They may look up to politicians, scientists or businessmen, but doubt whether they have their best interests at heart. But not everyone can be sure of the work, how the staff will be treated there, or how much job security there will be in the coming months. After Van Hool, there is now also the Audi factory where a possible closure awaits.

In recent years, people have become disappointed with their church. Most people do not have a high opinion of the clergy in Christian religions. So it is not surprising that they are sceptical about the Bible, the book in which those church leaders claim to believe.

They have also seen more than once that those clergy also preach things that cannot be found in that Bible, from which they claim to get their faith.

As servants of Jehovah, we are convinced that he is “the God of truth” and that he always wants what is best for us.

5 Into your hand I entrust my spirit.+

You have redeemed me, O Jehovah, the God of truth.*+ (Ps. 31:5)

17 This is what Jehovah says, your Repurchaser, the Holy One of Israel:+

“I, Jehovah, am your God,

The One teaching you to benefit yourself,*+

The One guiding you in the way you should walk.+ (Isa. 48:17)

We know that we can trust what we read in the Bible. We agree with what one Bible scholar wrote:

“There is no hint of falseness or chance of failure in anything God has said. God’s people can trust what he says because they trust the God who has said it.”

That is a certainty with which we can live and also look to our future.

The Difference Between Reading the Bible and Meditating on God’s Word

Posted on 2022/04/08 by Guestspeaker

There always has to be a good reason to read the Bible. Even

“simply wanting to know what all the hoopla was about and why people were so hyped up on it”

could already be a good reason to start reading the Bible. From that point of view, it could give some good idea of what others are saying, what would or would not be in Scripture.

Best is to read the Bible to study it and to gain more knowledge of what is written inside it. Then it will give also a good idea of what others, like clergy, are insinuating what would be standing there in those 66 books of the Book of books, the Bible, and coming to see what is really written in it.

When

“in no way shape or form, did reading the Bible had anything to do with God.”

then it would be a very difficult start, already closing some gates to receiving knowledge or to coming into conversation with God. Reading the Bible is namely like being present by someone, listening to what He has to say. Reading the Bible also gives an opportunity to come into conversation with the Divine Creator of heaven and earth, the God of gods. When starting to read what He has to say, there has to be a willingness to listen to Him.

For sure, several people coming to read the Bible,

“some of their reasons aren’t particularly holy.”

Several people want to find reasons and words to attack those lovers of God, who find those words in the Bible sacred.

Sometimes, as the article writer mentions, coming to read the Bible is

“done out of curiosity”

as her friends in school did for religious studies

“and other times it’s for understanding the religion better.”

And that is a very good reason, more people should consider why reading that book is as important as reading other basic scriptures of certain religious groups.

All people should learn about the different religions and have to go through their basic scriptures. When the reason to read the Bible is to debunk the Bible, like some atheists and other (religious) people do they would often be surprised where they end up. More than once, an atheist or even a Christian or other religious person came to see the truth and came to look for a church that is living according to those Words of God.
That

“they use part of the bible to show why other Christian religions are wrong”

is not such a bad idea, when they do it with the right intention and lovingly, to bring people closer to the One and Only Real God, the God of Israel, the Elohim Hashem Jehovah, Who is One and not two or three.

Too often, people who call themselves Christian, do not dare to open their ears fully to those words of God, but prefer to be chained to the doctrinal teachings of their church, be it a Catholic or Trinitarian Protestant Church, instead of trying to read and understand the words like they are written black on white.

When there is a willingness to listen carefully to God’s Word as presented in the Bible, the reader shall be surprised how a whole new world might open up before him or her. But then it becomes most important also to accept those Words from God and to act to the received new insight. And that last bit is one of the very difficult parts when one has lived for several years in a certain Christian denomination. Often it is easier for an atheist to become a true Christian than for a Christian to become a real follower and believer in the son of God, Jeshua or Jesus Christ. Most people coming from a certain denomination have difficulties changing their lives and changing church, after they discovered that there are differences in the teachings of their familiar church and the contents of the Bible.

The difficulty for reading the Bible is that it has to be done with an open mind geared toward spiritual growth and with a willingness to change.
The writer of this article still has to go a long way, because she writes

“After all, the time He walked the earth stone was the paper of choice”

giving an indication that she still considers Jesus to be God instead of him being the son of God. God never walked this earth. God is an eternal Spirit Being (meaning having no beginning or birth and no end = no death) no man can see. Clearly, the writer of this article is still confusing and mixing two different Biblical characters. This comes perhaps because she is so clinched or stuck by her Catholic upbringing, where they worship a Trinity and other gods and saints.

We can only hope that those who read the Bible also one moment come to listen more carefully to the Words of God and start meditating on them as well, giving a two-way communication platform to the Author of the Book of books, so that more insight and wisdom will come to them.

The writer of this article (Marita) ends very nicely but also hits the nail when she writes

“Basically, meditating on God’s word is supposed to bring about change. Change in you and the world around you.”

And changing direction and adapting their belief unto what is really written in the Scriptures is one of the most difficult tasks for people who grew up in a Christian church tradition and who have come to read the Bible more thoroughly.
And the Bible deserves a thorough reading and study to be moulded by God and filled with biblical clarity rather than church indoctrination.

+

Preceding

People Seeking for God 1 Looking for answers

People Seeking for God 2 Human interpretations

God of gods

The Almighty Lord God of gods King above all gods

Is reading the Bible necessary?

Being in tune with God

How Social Media is Shrinking the Bible

Ways to Approach Difficult Bible Passages

Followers, protestors and reformers

++

Additional reading

Bible

Unread bestseller

What Is: The Bible as Originally Written

Bible Word from God

Word of God

Bible Inspired Word of God

Today’s thought “Word of the Only One God – To be read and listened at” (November 21)

Bible Word of God inspired and infallible

Moshe Rabbenu and Torat Moshe

Bible in the first place #2/3

Appointed to be read (Our World) = Appointed to be read (Some View on the World)

Best to read and study the Bible

Not studying an abstract and arcane text of the ancient world

Best intimate relation to look for

No other god besides Jehovah who gives all explanation

Main verses in the Bible telling us Who God is #8 Some more attributes of God

Today’s thought “Jehovah God makes us dwell in safety and confident trust” (January 02)

Fill your hands with the Lord’s work

A living Word giving confidence

Praying and acts of meditation without ceasing

Trusting, Faith, calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #3 Voice of God #6 Words to feed and communicate

Pray that we will make the time to listen: listen to God and listen to each other

Today’s thought “On the eternity of God” (December 17)

Today’s thought “Ability to circumcise your heart” (May 13)

Conversations that Matter

Necessity of a revelation of creation 10 Instructions for insight and wisdom

Necessity of a revelation of creation 12 Words assembled for wisdom and instruction

Fear of God reason to return to Holy Scriptures

From nothingness to a growing group of followers of Jeshua 3 Korban for God or gods

Making time for God is crucial

500 years of a provision of the Word in the language of the peoples

A special anniversary for the Church where Catholics and Protestants find common ground

Accuracy, Word-for-Word Translation Preferred by most Bible Readers

A Bible Falling Apart Belongs to Someone who isn’t

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Related

Are you making time or making excuses?

Practical Christianity: Give Your Time

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom

Seeking God’s manna

The Book

Our Amazing Bible

The Original Biblical Writings

Scriptures

Purpose of Scripture

God breathed

Bible Reading Discovery

Conversation between God and Me

How to Begin Conversations with God

Conversations with God part 2

Talkative God

Confirms the Word

The Word, Faith, and Testing

The Word – Good News and Bad News

Believing God

A way to look for Christ, the Bible, Word of God

Light Unto My Feet

Practical Christianity: Don’t Be A Jerk

When My Mental Health is Suffering

Bad News and Good News

How Do I Read the Bible?

How to Interpret Scripture

Book: How (Not) to Read the Bible

Read the Bible in a Year

The Bible Tells Me So Fall in Love With Reading the Bible: 10 Tips to Keep You Motivated & Passionate

The Not-So-Quiet Time

Seeking Redemption

To those now deep into biblical scripture you are probably aware of the difference between reading the bible and meditating on the world. Naturally, like many young Christians, I had assumed that once you read the bible, and you knew God’s words and it was enough. But I kept hearing about ‘meditating on the word’ and never understood what it meant. Until over a decade later when I began meditating on God’s word.

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and, training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work,” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
2 Timothy 3:16-17

Reading the Bible

I’ve read the bible twice, decades ago and still could quote a single lick of scripture. I read it just like I did with any storybook. Enough to know all the main characters and get a clear…

View original post 1,410 more words

Ways to Approach Difficult Bible Passages

Posted on 2022/04/07 by Guestspeaker

A book for Christianity

To come to know God or come to know how to live best and how to find a good church, one is best to consult the Bestseller of all time, the Bible. When looking for a church it is not so important to search for Christianity or Christendom. Best is that one starts by reading the books which are the foundation or the cement of what has become the Church.

In Christianity it is all about having a relationship with God by the intermediary Jesus Christ. One first has to get to know the Divine Creator before one can go looking for His houses.

Bible texts, languages and translations

Bible texts are not always easy to follow or understand. Though it is one of the best guides for life, it requires attention from the reader and persistence and will to follow and understand.

When we want to read the Bible we have first of all to choose a translation and should remember that it is only one of the many translations that there exist. Do not worry too much about what translation you would like to buy. Go to a bookshop and read some paragraphs in different bible translations. When you find one which is in a language that suits you best, try that first. Later on, you always can come to read the literal translated and more accurate Bible translations, in case you had not chosen directly for a literal translation. Youngsters and beginners are often better off with a paraphrased Bible, though we would not recommend that. There are Bible Students all over the world who offer very good contemporary literal Bible translations in many easy to read languages. Do not go for those big Bible translations where there is more space given to the notes than to the Bible Words of God. A Bible with just cross-references is the best solution.

One Author is telling as it is

Taking up the Book of books, we should remember that though it is a compilation of several books written by different people, the author or principal to write down everything is only One Person, namely the Divine Creator of Heaven and Earth, the Elohim Hashem Jehovah.

Keeping that in mind, we should also remember that That Task Giver is a man of truth Who is not telling lies, and as such all what He says should be taken as one opinion which does not contradict.

“God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should repent. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfil it?” (Nu 23:19 RSV)

“Once for all I have sworn by my holiness; I will not lie to David.” (Ps 89:35 RSV)

“in hope of eternal life which God, who never lies, promised ages ago” (Tit 1:2 RSV)

Intended message

When reading the Bible we should always remember the basics of interpretation: looking for the Author’s intended message, reading it in context and with the whole of Scripture in view, even considering how believers throughout history have interpreted it. Hereby not forgetting that many human beings gave their idea about the text, but that those interpretations should be taken as such being ideas of fallible men and not always telling the truth or giving the right interpretation to a certain part of a text.

Construction for all to see and understand

We also should not believe those priests and pastors or other clergies that say it is not up to non-clergy to read and understand the Bible. The Bible is a God-given present for all people, not for a few exceptions or studied people. We always should give the Bible time to give us the necessary spiritual food, when we are ripe for it. We should consider the Bible as the tool of a Masterworker, the Architect, giving Him time to mould us and prepare us for building His righteous creature. Look at the Bible like a huge building, where you can not see all the rooms at once. You need your time to investigate all the places. The instruction the word of God gives is like a building construction Engineer telling the other people involved in raising a building what should be done at every stage of the building, so the building can be done exactly as it was planned as the Architect wanted it.

When looking at construction plans, they are not always easy to read at first glance. The same with the Plan of God or with the bible. We should give it enough attention to see all the details and to understand why certain things are like they are designed.

We should also not avoid difficult ‘drawings’ or texts when we encounter such in our reading sessions.

When we come across a problematic passage, we might prefer to focus on the verses that are more accessible or understandable. But avoiding these texts doesn’t make them disappear. Eventually you or someone you love will want an explanation.

writes Elliot Clark in his article 6 Wrong Ways to Approach Difficult Bible Passages.

Requesting the Planner for more information

We should remember also that when a passage is not clear to us, the best Person to ask about it is God Himself. Therefore, do not forget to pray about it and ask God for more insight.

Some Christians assume that Scripture’s perspicuity implies that its interpretation should be straightforward. But that is not always so. God has given us a brain, a mind, and we should use our brain to come to understand.

the Bible isn’t a pocket dictionary for faith and practice.

In his Word, God has spoken through complex narrative and poetic philosophy. He’s recorded commands complete with rationale, motivation, and explanation. He’s provided principles, then called us to thoughtful application and situational wisdom. That’s why he’s given us minds for thinking, pastors for teaching, a community for learning, and his Spirit for illuminating. These good gifts would be gratuitous if God’s words to us were always clear—which, by its own admission, simply isn’t the case (2 Pet. 3:16). { 6 Wrong Ways to Approach Difficult Bible Passages.}

When encountering a difficult passage, we, next to our prayer, could also speak about it with others around us and ask some church leaders for more information on that part of scripture.

Comparing

It is up to us to compare the explanation of those people with the sayings in other parts of the Bible. All texts in the Holy Scriptures must be in agreement and do not contradict each other. If there is any contradiction, it is due to a wrong assumption. In that case, one will have to become better informed and read the text according to its correct interpretation.

We should be wary of scientific diagnosis or endless speculation, especially if it’s absent of a warmed heart and any bedside manner that demonstrates genuine love for others — and ultimately for God.

“The aim of our charge,” Paul says, “is love” (1 Tim. 1:5). { 6 Wrong Ways to Approach Difficult Bible Passages.}

Judging

Some people want to look at the Bible for being able to judge God or to ‘attack’ believers. they want to undermine the faith of lovers of God, by twisting the words of the Bible, or to show others how the clergy is just doing the opposite of what is written in the Bible. They do forget that perhaps those clergy or not the right people for God and do not belong to a church that really is in line with God. We may not forget that the majority of churches in this world do have another God than the God of Jesus Christ and lots of them even use graven images of their god and other gods or saints.

E. Clark warns

We can easily study the Bible in such a way that we preside in judgment over it — as if we’re the ultimate arbiter of what is true and right and good.

Instead, we must allow God to sit in judgment over us through sacred Scripture. His Word is what discerns the thoughts and attitudes of our hearts (Heb. 4:12), exposing our sin alongside his provision of salvation. When we confront difficult texts, therefore, we must be careful not to cross-examine the witness of God. We are ultimately the ones in need of scrutiny, not the other way around. { 6 Wrong Ways to Approach Difficult Bible Passages.}

It is not for us or anyone else to judge the ways of God. Instead of looking at Him with judgment, we should try to understand why God works in any way.

Reaching for quality

It does not matter how fast you go through reading the whole Bible. The best is to give it some time each day. Each day reading a chapter for example. Either by going from the first until the last book, chapter after chapter, or by choosing some book of interest and going from there, not reading the whole Bible in the order of the books.

When reading a book, do not forget to take time to think about what you have read. Ask yourself what it was about, what the message is, and what you can learn from it.

In case you come up against difficult verses, do not worry to read them over and over again. Chew on them. do not mind reading them again the next day. Try it again the next day, reading the whole paragraph now, and wonder about the verse in context. In case there are cross-references, go and have a look at those verses, and see what is written there.

Tuning in

When taking the time for yourself and the Bible, make sure there is nothing to distract you. ‘Tune in’ to that one channel of God, listening in yourself to what you are reading in that Book of books. Do not let social media messages interrupt your reading. Put your phone aside for some time … the reading time … for listening to the Speaker God. It is with Him that you are in conversation when you are reading the Bible. It is Him that you should then give your time … Listening to Him.

When there is enough willingness to listen to the Words of God, they shall come over properly and not like a badly tuned radio, with crackling and distorted sounds.

Preceding

Is reading the Bible necessary?

How Social Media is Shrinking the Bible

Additional reading

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Wrestling with Genesis and Revelation

Posted on 2022/03/24 by Christadelphians

The inability of Christians to grasp the meaning and message of both Genesis and Revelation create a great divide in America. Christians struggle with both the beginning and culmination of the Scriptures — the Alpha and the Omega as they might be called. Both Genesis and Revelation bring a lot of baggage with them to the American religious scene.

We have great division on end-times views stemming from misadventures into Revelation. Our confused teaching has scarred our culture and created a religious society that has wasted immense energy preparing for the end of the world. The predictions have come and gone these past decades.

A few Christians are now ready, finally — at last, to leave behind the “Left Behind” mentality. Why? There have been too many false predictions. For some of us, they are hard to forget. Things got going with The Late Great Planet Earth in 1970. They heated up in 1987, and then we found it was really going to happen in 1988. Through the 90’s and even today we hear about the Middle East in prophecy. First, it was the Soviet Union. Then it was Saddam Hussein. Is it the European Union? Or is it Islam? The hot ticket for the Antichrist keeps changing hands. And who can forget Y2K? They have all come and gone and with them goes the credibility of tens of millions of Christians in America.

Genesis has been a more dangerous venture for some. Wrongly understood, it has the potential to undermine one’s faith in the God of creation.

Martin Timothy, Vaughn Jeffrey (2007) “Beyond Creation Science: New covenant creation from Genesis to Revelation” Apocalyptic Vision Press Whitehall MT

Seems a fair point. Those loudest about how Genesis must be understood have a long history of prophetic interpretative failures (from which nothing is learnt).

COD

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