Since diving deeper into the things of God, I have been confronted with contradictions in certain teachings and doctrines which periodically seem to lead me into some type of confusion… at least for a ‘hot minute’ until I ask the Holy Spirit to lead me out by clarifying the truth on the matter. Just to be clear, God is NOT the Author of Confusion, and in case one doesn’t know, one of the jobs of the Holy Spirit, other than being our comforter, is to also be the One who leads and guides us into all truth. Truths for which we are to be very grateful!

John 16:13 “Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come.”

Oftentimes, when there seem to be contradictions or conflicting teachings throughout the Bible, it often stems from our lack of understanding, comprehension, or in missing some much-needed guidance from the Holy Spirit on the full meaning of the whole context in the passage. Meaning we are not to just ‘cherry pick’ certain phrases or verses as if we’re going through a buffet line in order to build or establish a comprehensive teaching and doctrine. Instead, we are simply to take God at His Word, ‘His whole Word’ to be exact. All of the passages, all of the chapters, and all of God’s Words in His Holy Book, because it all matters!

Even then, it may still be difficult to fully wrap our minds and thinking around or to be able to truly comprehend it all because we are finite and limited beings. Furthermore, we cannot put God into a box because the best way I can begin to explain it is that God is infinite, vast, superior, and far above and beyond our limited capacity to fully know, understand, and/or grasp all that God is, thinks, or does! For it has been written, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts Isaiah 55:9.”

One of these issues for me has been on the topics of ‘Calvinism vs Arminianism,’ neither of which I fully subscribe to or adhere to because I choose to follow God and not man. So, the confusion lies in the fact that several of the channels I like to listen to on YouTube more or less lean on the side of or are fully bent toward Calvinism. Therefore, recently when I listened to one of the channels I watch (which I have recently unsubscribed from, btw) start to bash some others as being ‘false teachers or heretics’ because they are not Calvinists, and then proceed to do an adamant, all-out, no-holds-barred teaching that Calvinism is the ‘only sound doctrine and way to go biblically for salvation’ (which sounds much similar to cult-like teaching), it once again put me into a tailspin.

A tailspin because some of what they say does sound pretty convincing until I hear the Arminian side of things, and then some of what they say does sound pretty convincing as well. Thankfully, after allowing the Holy Spirit to lead me by ‘discerning out the truth each time’ (because this happens from time to time, it seems), I am able to once again come to the conclusion that neither camp is fully or totally accurate. Instead, I once more resolve to adhere to just being a Christ Follower (not a John Calvin or Jacobus Arminius follower) and to choose to read God’s Word for what it says in bite-size increments (meaning 1 chapter at a time – not 30 overwhelming chapters on Wednesday nights as the community Bible Study group does) all while praying and asking God for understanding.

Calvinism vs. Arminianism – which view is correct? | GotQuestions.org

Even GotQuestions.org, which apparently is a Calvinist-leaning site, admits that neither camp has the definition of salvation down pat.

Excerpt: So, in the Calvinism vs. Arminianism debate, who is correct? It is interesting that in the diversity of the body of Christ, there are all sorts of mixtures of Calvinism and Arminianism. There are five-point Calvinists and five-point Arminians and three-point Calvinists and two-point Arminians. Many believers arrive at some sort of mixture of the two views. Ultimately, it is our opinion that both systems fail in that they attempt to explain the unexplainable. Human beings are incapable of fully grasping a concept such as this. Yes, God is absolutely sovereign and knows all. Yes, human beings are called to make a genuine decision to place faith in Christ unto salvation. These two facts seem contradictory to us, but in the mind of God they make perfect sense.

Once again, this topic is something that we all should fully look into (by reading, studying, learning, and praying over for ourselves). My solemn belief is that God is sovereign, yes. Also, that God gives us the free will to choose, too. Basically, that the salvation message is that Jesus died for the sins of all (the whole world) and not just for some or a select chosen few. For even Jesus said that those who come to Him, He will in no wise cast out (John 6:37). That salvation is not a work of us, but it is to believe (true saving faith belief in) the finished work of Christ. To trust in Jesus to save us and not ourselves. For we could never be good enough to save ourselves.

Bottom line, in my understanding, is that salvation is a work of God, yes, yet we also have been given the responsibility to choose ultimately that we were not created to be ‘mindless robots’ without a choice. That God sovereignly and lovingly gave us the ability to choose because He wants us to love Him because we want to, not because He makes us; for after all, that wouldn’t be love.

John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.”

Thankfully after some prayer, this video by our favorite Brother/Pastor James Knox came onto my feed within a few days and helped to answer my questions:

https://www.youtube.com/live/O0LdCF_Qlxc?feature=share

Upon further research on this topic, I also was led to this channel (Soteriology 101 w/ Dr. Leighton Flowers) which has really helped to clear things up as well:

https://www.youtube.com/live/fH4Jhj_jqHk?feature=share

1 Corinthians 14:33 “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”

There’s a saying in the Christian circle that goes like this:

God                              Satan

Stills you                    Rushes you

Reassures you          Frightens you

Leads you                 Pushes you

Enlightens you        Confuses you

Forgives you            Condemns you

Calms you                Stresses you

Encourages you      Discourages you

Comforts you         Worries you

What does God mean when He says, “my ways are higher than your ways” in Isaiah 55:9? | GotQuestions.org

The final takeaway is this: we are to study to show ourselves approved unto God. Study for yourself and ask God for wisdom and discernment each and every day, for He gives liberally to all who ask. Our God is a gracious and big God in more ways than we can even fathom or comprehend. Trust that He is good and that God wants all men to be saved (2 Timothy 2:3). For Jesus died for us all, not just for a special and select few. His precious blood and sacrifice are able to cover all those who trust in Him for salvation. Come and see that He is good.

2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

James 1:5 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

1 Timothy 2:3-5 “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”

Psalm 34:8 “O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him.”

Until next time… Maranatha!

Sincerely & In Christ,

Candy Austin

(I have no Accolades…
I am just a Nobody,
Trying to tell Everybody,
All about Somebody,
Who can save Anybody!)

https://youtu.be/_wCTQdmXkUg

My Mission is to be ‘Salt and Light’ to a Lost and Dying world,
To be an Ambassador for Jesus Christ.
All for Him and His Glory!

Message to Philadelphia

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this: ‘I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name. Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie–I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you.

“Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches'” (Revelation 3:7-13 NASB 95).

Exhortations from Patmos

The Apostle John was exiled to the island of Patmos during the cruel reign of Domitian. John’s crime was that he proclaimed and shared the saving message of the Lord Jesus (Revelation 1:9). On Patmos, John received a prophetic revelation concerning not only the future but also seven letters to seven churches that existed in that time in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). These letters are filled with correction and encouragement not only for the believers in those days but also today.

In Jesus’ letter to the church in Philadelphia (Revelation 3:7-13), the Lord provides four criteria that identify a faithful church. In these two posts, we will explore each of these criteria as described in verse 8, where the Lord commends the church.

Going Through the Open Door

Jesus begins by stating that He had provided them with an “open door.” This term means to provide an opportunity for the work of ministry (see Acts 14:27; 1 Corinthians 16:9; 2 Corinthians 2:12; Colossians 4:3).

Charles Swindoll writes, “As the geographical gateway to the East, Philadelphia sat at the crossroads of several languages, cultures, and people groups. From an evangelistic and missionary perspective, this dynamic, diminutive church had great opportunities for ministry.”^[1]

The Lord gives each church an opportunity to do the work of ministry. However, will the members go through the door and take advantage of the opportunity? Warren Wiersbe once wrote, “Unbelief sees the obstacles, but faith sees the opportunities.”^[2] The Philadelphians were exhorted to remain faithful by using the ministry opportunities the Lord had given them.

Are you taking the opportunities the Lord gives you to share the gospel and to serve Him? Perhaps this is in your local church, place of work, or any number of other opportunities.

The first characteristic of a faithful church is that it takes advantage of the opportunities that the Lord provides them. But the Philadelphians have a problem. How will they fulfill this if they have little power?

Relying on the Lord’s Strength

The church is also described as having “little power” or “strength” yet commended for its good works. What is the Lord referring to? Robert Thomas summarizes this well by stating that “little power” must refer to the church’s limited influence because of its numerical smallness.”^[3] In other words, even though they were small numerically, the Lord provided the power they needed to serve and remain faithful to Him. The second characteristic of a faithful church is that it recognizes that its power comes from the Lord, not from itself.

“Numerically, the church was not very strong, but God had infused this faithful group with spiritual power enabling them to be true to His name in the midst of satanic opposition. God does not need naturally gifted vessels for His service (1 Corinthians 1:26-29), but yielded people through whom He can minister (2 Corinthians 4:7). Effective service does not depend upon the size of a church but upon its availability to be used.”^[4]

Too often, we assume that if we have few people and limited resources, we cannot achieve anything significant for the Lord. The world may not find a church (or individual) with little strength appealing. However, the Lord teaches us here that He takes pleasure in weak vessels that are surrendered to Him.

The second characteristic of a faithful church is that it relies on the Lord for strength. What are you relying on?

“And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NKJV).

Blessings,

Dr. Steven F. Pace

Senior Pastor
Decatur Bible Church

https://www.decaturbible.org/
https://www.decaturbible.org/pages/pastors-page
https://www.youtube.com/@decaturbiblechurch1879

[1] Swindoll’s Living Insights – NT Commentary – Revelation, pg. 73.
[2] Warren Wiersbe. The Bible Exposition Commentary, Ephesians – Revelation.
[3] Robert L. Thomas. Revelation 1-7 – An Exegetical Commentary, pg. 279.
[4] David M. Levy. Revelation – Hearing the Last Word, pg. 55.