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
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!)
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!