“DISAGREEMENTS: THE SOURCE”

Some hold to the idea that we cannot understand the truth, but that is not what the Bible declares. How fair would GOD be to place our salvation upon “what is written” and then give us a written revelation, knowing that we could not understand it? The apostle Paul declared by inspiration, “when ye read, ye can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ” (Eph. 3:4; see also Eph. 5:17; 2 Tim. 2:7).

If the Bible cannot be understood, only one of two reasons would explain why. Either God does not want us to understand it (cf. 2 Peter 3:9; 1 Tim. 2:3-4), or He is not able to make the word understandable. Yet, the Bible says that we can “know” truth (cf. Psa. 119:60; 117:1-2; Prov. 23:23; John 1:17; 2 Thess. 2:10-12).

There can be only one correct understanding of GOD’s will. There is a rule of logic that says two things cannot differ on the same subject and both be right. We can agree on what is written. Disagreement arises on the Bible’s silence. Note these examples:

1. Exod. 3:1-3. We can agree that it was a burning bush. The Bible doesn’t reveal the kind of bush.

2. John 3:1-2. We can agree that Nicodemus came to Christ by night. The Bible doesn’t reveal why.

3. John 8:1-8. We can agree that Jesus wrote on the ground. The Bible doesn’t reveal what He wrote.

4. 2 Cor. 12:7-10. We can agree that Paul had a thorn in the flesh. The Bible doesn’t reveal what it was.

Faith and opinion are not the same thing. It is that which is written that produces saving faith, and which is the standard and foundation for unity. 

“AUTHORITY: IN WHAT IS STATED”

 I have often thought that if we applied what we use in everyday language to the scriptures, we would have much less trouble. We recognize that ‘saying what a thing is, eliminates saying what it is not’. It is understood that “the authority” is in the statement of “what is said”; not in “the silence of what is not said”.

A few examples:

1. In Cooking ~ When a recipe calls for 4 eggs, must it state, “this does not mean 1,000 eggs”?

2. In a Wedding Invitation ~ When the date and time are listed, such as Thursday, September 21, 7:30 p.m., must it also state, “this does not mean to come at 2:00 or at 9:00 p.m., or on Saturday, or on the 23^rd”?

3. In Advertising Our Assembly times ~ When we list the time of Bible study at 9:00 and the assembly at 10:00, must we explain that we do not meet at 7:30 for Bible study and 11:15 for the assembly?

4. In Giving My Telephone Number ~ When I give my telephone number to someone, must I say, “Now you must dial it in the order that I give it, and be sure you do not invert the order”?

5. In Ordering Shoes...?

6. In Naming a Child...?

7. In Buying a Car...?

Perhaps these are sufficient to see that we live, work, worship, and buy by ‘the thing stated, not by what isn’t stated’. The answer to all the above items is, of course, “no”. The reason is so simple. Authority is in the stated; the written.

Remember, God's power and the source of our faith is God's word (Rom. 1:16; 10:17).