Discerning Biblical Truth

Have you ever had someone try to prove the truth of their Biblical teaching by quoting multiple texts. However, if the understanding of those verses is not consistent with what scripture says in other texts, that understanding is faulty.

If there is a scripture elsewhere which adds more information not available in the verse you are using, then it will not give the whole story and you will not be expressing truth. You will be dishonest and manipulative.

Convincing arguments are often made to support false doctrines through the use of scripture while ignoring other texts. Writers and preachers can carefully select parts of scripture that seem to support their position.

For example, I used to believe Jesus’ return was in the future, was prolonged 2000 years. I would push aside any doubts that arose when I saw a part of scripture that seemed to contradict what the dispensational and futurists teachers were saying.

Their doctrines seemed strong only while those contradictory parts of scripture were ignored. When those scriptures were properly addressed, the weaknesses in futurism ideas were exposed.

Until I willingly addressed those formerly ignored parts of scriptures I could not recognize and turn from those false ideas. When I studied the gospels and their plainly documented time constraints such as we find in Rev 1, Rev 22 and Mat 10:23, 16:27-28, 24:34.

Another example. Earlier this year I read an article by distinguished biblical author and scholar, Dr Tim Orr. This author had cherry-picked the scriptures to claim that modern Israel is still the chosen people of God. He published his article in the Australian journal, the Daily Declaration. His chosen scriptures included Genesis 12:2, which says I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great;
And so you will be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse.
and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

He had ignored much evidence patently found in the NT, for example:

Galatians 3:26-29: For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you (Gentiles). 

1 Peter 2:4-10: . . . . . .  for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy. 

These terms, ‘chosen people, royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession’ reflect God’s declaration under the Old Covenant (Deuteronomy 7:6, 10:15, 14:2). Under the New Covenant the same applies to all believers in Christ both Jew and gentile.

Matthew 8:11-12. Jesus said to unbelieving Jews:  I tell you this that many Gentiles will come from all over the world –from east and west–and sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven. But many Israelites–those for whom the Kingdom was prepared–will be thrown into outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

1 Thessalonians 1:3-4. We know dear brothers and sisters, that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people.  

Romans 11 does not teach about a kingdom with both Jews and Gentiles as distinct populations within the people of God. That would be a totally abhorrent idea for Paul (Galatians 3-6, Ephesians 2-3).

Romans 11:5-6 . . . . . then, there has come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice.  But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, since otherwise grace is no longer grace.  What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened.

Galatians 6:16. We are the Israel of God.  Paul cannot be pronouncing a benediction upon persons who are not included in the phrase “as many as shall walk by this rule” i.e., the rule of boasting only in the cross. The entire argument of the epistle prevents any idea that here he would give a blessing to those who are not included in this group. And Paul also wrote: “if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise”. (Galatians 3:6-9, also Galatians 12. 3:29. 

I truly marvel that such a well-known academic could be so blind and so wrong and lead astray countless people! This makes me very angry. And when given clear responses they refuse to accept the obvious conclusion that their exegesis is faulty.

Further I simply cannot understand how students can read such clear time statements that plainly show that Jesus Christ has already returned in His generation, the first century and yet still expect Him to come, thus accusing Our Lord of being mistaken!

If He has not already come, your salvation is not complete, you are not living in the New Covenant, and  the Kingdom of God has not arrived. Which is absurd.