Scriptures that Disagree with What I Believe

Steven’s Scribbles
“Scriptures that Disagree with What I Believe”
1 Thess. 5:21-22
    
    I understand the title can come across as click-bait, but I’m more talking about the attitude of how one deals with Scripture that disagrees with preconceived opinions. One of the easiest principles that needs to be applied to scripture is, “allow the easier to understand verses help explain the more difficult to understand verses.” One of the examples I’d like to use is the controversial topic of “once saved always saved.” Many who support the doctrine of “once saved always saved” will typically use sections of scripture like John 10:29 (and more I’m sure), “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” But isn’t that verse, at least slightly ambiguous? What happens if I decide to “jump” from the Father’s hand? Yet, there are verses and sections of scripture that are much easier to understand. Paul, writing to Christians in Galatia, instructed those seeking justification by the Law of Moses, “You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace” (Gal. 5:4). Isn’t the phrase “fallen from grace” extremely simple for anyone to understand? James closes out his letter by saying “My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:19-20). James clearly says, 1) a brother in Christ can stray, 2) when a Christian does stray they are in sin, and 3) their soul is in danger of death if not corrected. Again, isn’t this section of Scripture extremely easy to understand? This isn’t even considering other important verses like: 1 Tim. 4:1; 1 Cor. 10:12; Matt. 13:20-22; Acts 8:18-24; 1 Cor. 5:1-13; Heb. 6:4-8; 2 Peter 2:17-22. Let the easier to understand verses help explain the more difficult to understand verses. I love you all!


In His service,
Steven Hugley