From One Believer To Another

From One Believer to Another

If this is your first time visiting this blog, “Welcome!”

As you read, I pray you’ll not see me as being angry at anyone. Firm at times with some, I’ll agree with that. I know that no matter what a person has gone through, things they’ve said or done, or still doing for that matter, there’s a 50/50 chance of my having sought forgiveness for doing the exact same thing at one time or another. I know the battle is not against flesh and blood my friend.

Throughout this blog you will find me quoting things heard on the radio. You’ll not find the names of those who said these things in the posts. I do document their names, the date, time, and radio station call sign on my copy of the original document. I do not publish these details because our mission should be to expose the false teachings not to personally attack the person.

If you should continue reading my friend, you will find the Anthanasian Creed being exposed for what it is, a false doctrine. The word of God having the final say. My trusting in He who knows hears and sees all things, the God of the [Bible].

Sunday, July 5, 2015

Why Contradiction?

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Apostles Saul (who is also called Paul), 2 Corinthians 1:3, Ephesians 1:3, and Peter, 1 Peter 1:3 (NKJV)

  • Blessed be the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Israel). He is the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ (Messiah Yeshua).

In the precious and beautiful name of Messiah Yeshua, greetings,

If this is your first time visiting this blog, “Welcome!”

What you’re about to read is the end result of a recent conversation.  It never ceases to amaze me, the different ways man uses to discredit the [Bible].  If a person doesn’t trust the [Bible], trying to prove their point just doesn’t make any sense to me. Don’t get me wrong here, there are people not trusting the [Bible] having more knowledge of it than some claiming to trust it.  That’s not my point.  The point is, if a person believes the [Bible] is not trustworthy, why make an attempt to validate their claim?  The [Bible] is trustworthy.

The person not trusting the [Bible] would be better off saying they’d rather not talk about the [Bible] than having to explain one contradiction after another coming out from them.  Simply put the [Bible] isn’t validated by personal opinions.

The [Bible] is called, and for a very good reason, the inspired word of God.  Simply put, the words’ recorded in the [Bible], were recorded exactly as life played out back then by imperfect people prone to make occasional mistakes. Just as there are contradictions to be found in the [Bible], inaccurate statements will be found in it, too.

Example:
  • In John 21:17 (NKJV) it says: He said to him a third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”  And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”  Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.”

  • In Mark 13:32 (NKJV), Yeshua speaking, it says, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”

Peter in John 21:17 said, speaking of “the Son,” Yeshua, “You know all things”.  “The Son,” Yeshua, said He didn’t know the day or the hour certain events were going to take place.  Peter meant no harm with his words, they just weren’t accurate.  Nevertheless, they’re in the [Bible] as they happened.
  • When it comes to the [Bible], the main thing is to keep the main thing, Yeshua “Jesus,” the main thing.

Let’s cut right to the chase here.

Saying there’s no contradictions in the [Bible] would easily be proven false.  Saying they’ll be found within it, would be the proper thing to say.
  • Does the fact of a contradiction being in the [Bible], cause the [Bible] to become null and void?
Another example: Is the [Bible] void because in John, chapter seven, it says that no one knows, and, we do know where the “Christ” Messiah comes from?  We’ll take a closer look at that in just a moment.

Anyone looking to discredit the [Bible] needs to understand two things concerning it.  One, there’s only one God. Yeshua’s God, the God of the Hebrew speaking Nation (Israel), is “The only true God (John 17:3)”.  Two, there’s only one way to the only true God.  The one God sent, Messiah Yeshua (John 14:6).  A person can choose whether or not to believe those, but it won’t change, the fact of them being true.
  • And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” Messiah Yeshua, John 17:3 (NKJV)

  • Jesus said to him (Thomas), “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Messiah Yeshua, John 14:6 (NKJV)

Let’s take a look at chapter seven from the book of John.  There’s obviously a contradiction to be found within it, but it will not cause the [Bible] to become null and void.
  • “However, we know where this Man is from; but when the Christ comes, no one knows where He is from.” John 7:27 (NKJV)
  • Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said “Will the Christ come out from Galilee?” John 7:41 (NKJV)

John 7:27, speaking of “this Man,” Yeshua, was someone that they knew where He was from.  Yet later in that verse it also says, no one knows, speaking of the coming “Christ” Messiah, where He is from.

John 7:41 clearly identifies Yeshua as being [from] Galilee, and they question “Christ” Messiah can come from Galilee.  The next verse gives us a hint that they just might know where “Christ” Messiah would come from.  This after they’ve just said, in John 7:27, “no one knows” where He is from.
  • “Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?” John 7:42 (NKJV)

In John 7:42 the coming “Christ” Messiah is identified as coming from the seed of David, and from the town of Bethlehem.  In the Hebrew [Scriptures], “the Old Testament,” you’ll find many prophecies concerning the coming “Christ” Messiah.  The “Christ” Messiah being born in Bethlehem will be found in Micah 5:1-6 (NKJV).  Yeshua, the “Christ” Messiah, [was] born in Bethlehem which fulfilled that prophecy concerning Him.  At the time of John chapter seven, the first century, the Hebrew [Scriptures] was all they had to go by.  The New Testament, as we know it today, had yet to be written.
  • Obviously being unaware of Yeshua’s birthplace, Bethlehem, the potential for a contradiction to make concerning it, is possible.  In this case they knew Yeshua was [from] Galilee; the speaker came to a final conclusion based on that.  There’s thirty years between Yeshua’s birth and Him being labelled as being one “from” Galilee.
Saying no one knows where “Christ” would come from in John 7:27 contradicts John 7:42 saying where He was to come from.  The contradiction is the result of not knowing Yeshua [was] born in Bethlehem.  If Yeshua would have said, at that precise moment, I was born in Bethlehem, John chapter seven would have a different tone to it, but He didn’t. The [Bible] doesn’t give us any reason to believe He did at a later date, either.

In John, chapter seven, some were obviously unhappy with Yeshua, for having healed a man on the Sabbath. Others, on the other hand, couldn’t see anyone else but the “Christ” Messiah doing such things.
  • If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath?” Messiah Yeshua, John 7:23 (NKJV)

  • And many of the people believed in Him, and said, “When the Christ comes, will He do more signs than these which this Man has done?” John 7:31 (NKJV)
There are all kinds of “stuff” being said about the [Bible].  The fact some believed, in John chapter seven, Yeshua was the “Christ” Messiah, and others didn’t, and being in the same conversation, shows that people of the time were split believing two different possibilities.  The “stage” was set for all kinds of things to be said about Yeshua. Any deviation, concerning the [Biblical] Yeshua, will lead to there being more contradictions.  It’s no different for us today.  Whether they’re found in the [Bible], or in our everyday conversations, contradictions, or different opinions, will be the end result of not gathering all the facts.  Putting the cart before the horse so to speak.
  • Recognizing contradictions is the beginning of getting to a truth.  When it comes to a contradiction there’s a 50% chance of one side being correct.  There’s also the possibility of both sides being wrong.  Believing in one side, without investigating it, this concerning the [Biblical] Yeshua, could lead to a person believing in a falsehood.

It would be wise, before placing blame on the [Bible], to consider the motives of all parties involved.  The message given to us in [Bible] will not, and cannot, become null and void.  The one that God sent, the “Christ” Messiah, Yeshua, it was His death, burial, and resurrection, which sealed the deal.

God bless.

Peace to you all who are [in] Messiah Yeshua. “You are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.” 1 Corinthians 3:23 (NKJV)

In His Care…Jim

Jimmasterson.blogspot.com

P. S.
This portion is the result of a conversation I had while seated in an airplane. We having just completed, yesterday, a wonderful one week stay in Turks and Caicos Islands, and met this wonderful couple on the return trip. He, Marcus, and this while I was seated in the plane, was caught peeking over my right shoulder.  I was reading a printed copy of this post and low and behold I looked up to see him reading along with me.  After a brief conversation, I offered him the opportunity to read it for himself.  About fifteen minutes later, he and his wife were discussing the piece together.  I turned around and joined the conversation.  It was great! We were all heading to the same place, Boston.  We met once again, after the plane had landed.  I offered him the opportunity to download (E-book) a free copy of Yeshua’s God is God, my second book.  He was willing.  I handed Marcus one of my cards.  After Marcus’ wife warned me of getting ready to enter the ladies room, my wife having just entered it, and all of us being joined together once again, we walked together to baggage claim. Once again enjoying a great conversation with Marcus’ family.  He had his wife, son, and daughter, traveling with him.  I leave you with this my friend:

  • If Yeshua is “God and Man” in Mark 13:32 (NKJV), He just contradicted Himself.  God knows all things.  Since God can't change, someone or something else is making it possible for Him to do so.  In this case it would be a man-made doctrine, given to us after the fact, called the Anthanasian Creed; in the year 325-AD.
I pray Marcus gets to read this, I want him to know I was thankful to God for that divine appointment; let alone those of you I met in Turks and Caicos.  I did give my copy of Yeshua’s God is God to a person I met there.  God bless you all!

Jim