[Bible Comment] My question is this: If what Jesus said was so important as to our very salvation in the bible, why is it that he is not here right now to clear it up once and for all. The bible says that God is the Father. If I as a father said something very important to my son or daughter I would not leave it up to chance, after my death. If I had the power I would come back after my death and dramatically prove my words and not just leave it up to misinterpretation as all are now reading the bible today and making their own ideas of what the bible really says. A truly loving God would not leave us all to our own devices but would come back dramatically NOW and once and for all state the truth about our purpose in life and salvation. The authors of the old testament speak as if God is speaking himself: ie: Thus Saith the Lord or God shouted down from heaven. Why does not God shout down from heaven NOW so that ALL can be convinced rather than just leave it up to us all to misinterpret the bible on our own.
[Bible Answer] None of the issues you (or any atheist) can cite will change God’s perfect way of doing things. A basic fact about the loving God of the Bible is that we must seek him with all of our heart to find him (Jer. 29:13). Many aren’t willing to pay that price and therefore make the fatal mistake of relying on some teacher to declare to them the Biblical message. Most of the popular teachers in our day, which are allegedly representing Christianity, are not from God! (We are in an apostasy.) False prophets and false teachers are not declaring God’s truth (with the sometimes disturbing verses), but instead tend to focus on accommodating their audience! They are blind leaders of the blind (Mt. 15:14). They comprise a long list of smiley friendly seemingly harmless people who will hold your hand, take your money and lead you to hell. Joel Osteen, the prosperity teachers, eternal security teachers, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, Catholics, Seventh Day Adventists, Messianic Jews, etc. are just some of the main ones, but there are others! God’s ways and thoughts are NOT like our flawed thoughts and ways (Isa. 55:8,9). His ways are much better and they consider eternity and the spiritual. Your finite rationale, questioning and blaming God for man’s misunderstandings are therefore flawed for various reasons!
- It is impossible for any finite being to understand the infinite invisible God, apart from Scripture.
- To consider all of the Bible on any subject is essential to understand what is the correct interpretation and what are the false interpretations. If one does a careful, tedious, time-consuming personal study, his understanding will sky-rocket, IF he puts into practice the truth he learns along the way.
- Without the Spirit of God to personally teach us (John 14:26), one will surely get a wrong interpretation about salvation and other things. Hence, salvation itself (when one’s body becomes the temple of the Holy Spirit) is required. Until then a spiritual veil is over one’s heart hiding the truth (2 Cor. 3:14-16).
- God doesn’t shout down from heaven his eternal truths for all to hear because he set this salvation system up differently. He opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble (1 Pet. 5:5). He hides truth from the wise and prudent and reveals it to babes (Mt. 11:25). It is through the preaching of the gospel that people believe on Jesus and get saved (1 Cor. 1:21 cf. Rom. 10:17).
Jesus has the words of eternal life (John 6:68). Various salvation truths from the Lord are very simple and clear, such as Mt. 7:21; Luke 8:21; John 3:16; Mt. 10:22; Mark 1:15; Luke 18:13,14; John 15:1-6; Luke 13:3; Mt. 25:46; Rev. 2:10,11; etc. All of these verses must harmonize to assure the correct interpretation, which doesn’t exist when a false understanding is present.
Seek the spiritual hidden treasure in the field and pearl of great price and pay the cost to get it for your own good. Be assured that JESUS is the greatest treasure one could ever have. He is our only spiritual preparation for our own inevitable death. Without him there will be no rest for your soul and peace with God here, plus a fiery eternity beyond the grave. JESUS IS ALIVE and one day you and I both (along with all others) will bow before him and confess him as Lord (Phil. 2:11), regardless if you believe it now or not. Remember 1 Cor. 6:9-11.
