How many things do people believe that contradict scripture?
Truth is understood when all of scripture is accepted as inspired.
A primary point of understanding about scripture is the principle of addition.
From Genesis to Revelation, each progressive chapter, book, and portion of scripture, adds to the whole.
You see this in the unfolding revelation God of himself through scripture.
"Jehovah" appears in compound names or phrases:
Jehovah-jireh: This term appears in Genesis 22:14, where Abraham names the place where God provides a ram for sacrifice. It means "The LORD will provide."
Jehovah-nissi: Found in Exodus 17:15, it refers to an altar built by Moses, meaning "The LORD is my banner."
Jehovah-shalom: Mentioned in Judges 6:24, it signifies "The LORD is peace." Gideon builds an altar and names it Jehovah-shalom after encountering the Angel of the LORD.
Jehovah-raah or Jehovah-rohi: This compound name means "The LORD my shepherd." It is found in Psalm 23:1.
Jehovah-tsidkenu: This compound name, meaning "The LORD our righteousness," is found in Jeremiah 23:6 and Jeremiah 33:16.
Jehovah-shammah: In Ezekiel 48:35, it denotes "The LORD is there."
Jesus
The seventh name we know is the greatest and latest known Name of the Lord.
Jesus is the capstone of the revelation of the Name of the Almighty God. This revelation does not replace our understanding of who God was, but rather each revelation expands our understanding.
Jesus is our provider, banner, peace, shepherd, righteousness, and the present Lord.
Emanuel, God with us.
The Revelation that converted the Jews was the declaration, “God hath made Him both Jehovah and Messiah.”
Paul explains his own revelation received by God on the Road to Damascus.
”And he said, Who art thou, Lord (Jehovah)? And the Lord (Jehovah) said I am Jesus.”
Each unfolding revelation did not invalidate the previous understanding but rather is additive.
One brick on the wall adds to the strength of the wall.
This illustrates my point. The new understanding does not supplant the previous truth but expands, explains, and fulfills. Everything must be weighed and measured within the context of scripture.
Scriptures in the Bible are complementary one to the other. The Bible is a whole, like a book, you don’t know the story until you read the whole book.
They say “To whom would He teach knowledge?
And to whom would He explain the message?
Those just weaned from milk?
Those just taken from the breast?
“For He says,
‘Precept upon precept, precept upon precept,
Rule upon rule, rule upon rule,
Here a little, there a little.’”
Indeed, the Lord will teach this peopleIsaiah 28:9-11
Let us be careful not to add to or take away.
Why? Here is a good reason.
Revelation 22
18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
Our greatest honor, privilege, and responsibility.
Harmony
However let us focus on harmonizing all scriptures to fully comprehend the great treasure of truth the Word of God holds for us.
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" 2 Timothy 3:16
Some scriptures are summaries, not detailed accounting.
"In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth." Genesis 1:1
Further explanation follows day 1 - 7.
This is the nature of scripture throughout—a broad generalization and then a further itemization. Even in the itemization, it is a summary.
For Instance,
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. Hebrews 11:7
Was Noah saved by faith? Yes
Was Noah saved by Obedience? Yes
Was Noah saved by a Boat? Yes
Was there Gopher wood involved? Yes
Did he pitch it within and without? Yes.
For someone to say Noah was saved by Faith... that is true.
To say he was saved by Faith alone is an oversimplification that willingly ignores the Biblical record.
Understand this. Each scripture harmonizes with the other. One scripture does not supplant another. Every scripture is true, our challenge is grasping the path where each verse fits perfectly with the other.
The key understanding in the conversation with Paul is the WORKS he speaks of is the Law of Moses. Abraham was justified before the Law of Moses existed. What Moses believed and by extension did in obedience was a part of his manifest faith that qualified him and sealed that faith. In his doing the things God commanded him, manifest that his faith was genuine. If he had not obeyed, we would see he in fact did not believe.
You see this need to harmonize and understand truth in the context of ALL scripture and not just our favorite scriptures.
Justification by faith!
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:1-2
“But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.” Galatians 3:11
God, in his divine wisdom inspired James to bring a more perfect understanding to this doctrine of Justification in his letter to the Church.
History tells us that Martin Luther hated the book of James. Why? Because these scriptures directly contradicted his personal doctrine of “Faith Alone”.
Sadly many have been deluded by a doctrine that cannot stand under the scrutiny of the totality of scripture. Specifically the scripture found in the book of James.
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
James 2:17-24
Abraham
Let's delve into the fascinating journey of faith of a man who plays a pivotal role in the Bible-Abraham. His story unfolds from Genesis chapter eleven to chapter twenty-five, spanning fourteen chapters.
The entire Bible is built upon the covenant God made with Abraham.
To this day, we, as New Testament Christians, are the seed of Abraham by faith.
Abraham was called and he answered.
Abraham built altars, obeyed God, and talked to God, even to the point of sacrificing Isaac.
Was he Justified by faith? Absolutely. The Bible says that expressly.
Was he justified by faith alone? No.
It was his obedient faith. Some promises God did not give Him till he proved his faith.
Look at the response of God to Abraham's obedience.
"And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.
Continue to read,
And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:
That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;
And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice."
Genesis 22:12, 16,17 & 18
Was Abraham justified by Faith? Absolutely.
However, the ingredients of his faith were more than wishful thinking and good intentions. His faith was full of obedience. The Bible illustrates that the only way GOD knew the true nature of Abraham's faith was through his obedience. That is expressly what the scripture shows.
"Now I know." God
I believe this had to do with Abraham's knowing of His Faith, but in that self-revelation, God and everyone else are given an object lesson of what Faith looks like.
Justification begins in faith and ends in obedience.
Faith alone is not a new error in Christianity. James, the writer of the Epistle, was inspired by God to pen this letter and deal with the error to provide clarity and balance.
James 2
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
When you read and study the whole of scripture you are able to comprehend in fulness the truth of the Word of God. It is a fatal flaw that leads to great errors in teachings and perceptions to pick and choose a few scriptures that support your view while ignoring others who disagree with that view.
If you need to do that, you are committing Biblical malpractice.
In closing listen to Peter about twisting scriptures, specifically of Paul.
"15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness." 2 Peter 3:15-17
In the original scriptures Lord was not written in all capital letters. By changing the scriptures and adding the all capital LORD, it places ba'al, aka YHWH, in place of the Lord.
Apostolic theologians are indoctrinated to believe whatever the school's of man want them to believe. If they truly want to know the truth they must ask Jesus only.
What theological seminary did the disciples attend?
I am feeling kinda like Peter, right now.
Acts 4:13
And, since you are of the new Hebrew roots movement, I am shaking the dust of your school's off of my feet.
Research Paleo Hebrew and Koine Greek.
Research into the origin of jehovah and hallelujah/halleluyah.
Do not be fooled by man's additions to the Holy scriptures.
I exhort you to be a Berean.
Be very careful who you worship so that you are not worshipping another god.