The innerant word

I often wonder about the inerrant written word of God. After all, if it’s inerrant, why does it seem that there are so many contradictions and false teachings surrounding this innerancy.

Here are just a few that came to mind, not all false, but certainly substantial contradictions when compared with the beliefs of others;

• Prosperity preachers use the written word to confirm their belief that God desires us to be healthy, wealthy and prosperous in a material world.
• Word of Faith teachers and preachers use the written word to support their argument that one is able to speak their will into existence, by faith.
• Calvinists use the written word of God to support their belief concerning election, faith and salvation. Likewise and in stark contrast to Calvinism, Armenians base their belief on the written word of God and use scripture as the evidence that their doctrine concerning faith, salvation and free will are accurate.
• Catholicism uses the written word to confirm it’s foundation as the one true church.
• Jehovah’s Witnesses use the written word of scripture to prove their false doctrines concerning Christ and salvation – of which there are many
• Seventh Day Adventists use the written word of God skilfully to conclude that those who do not worship on the Sabbath day, being Saturday, are following the beast and will be cast into the lake of fire (hell)
• Hell preachers use the written word of God to teach that there will be eternal torment in a literal lake of fire FOREVER.
• Universalist’s use the written word to teach that God intends to save all of humanity in Christ, that God is Love.
• Annihilationist’s use the written word of God to show how God will destroy the wicked forever at the judgement ……And so on and so forth.

As I said, these were just a few of the many varied and different groups and doctrines that came to mind as I wrote this post. If I were to put my head down for half an hour, I’m sure I could come up with another 100 groups and or doctrines that may be contradictory or at odds with other beliefs within the Christian faith.

You need to note one thing – Every one of these groups uses the “innerant written word” to justify their position.

I’m not posting this article to argue with your given belief or doctrine which may or may not be listed above. I’m fairly sure that I still have a whole bunch to learn about His word. As far as I am concerned, you can work that one out yourself.

What I am about to say may horrify some people. I’m fairly sure that you won’t hear this preached or taught in most churches, for good reason. And there are some people who may not be ready to hear this BUT, I’ll say it anyway.

The word of God deceives people!

Perhaps I could rephrase that a little. God allows people to be deceived when reading the written word. You need only look at how the Lord used His word amongst the Jews, and still does, in order to both hide and reveal His will and purposes.

I know this kind of thinking and teaching won’t match up with the soft fluffy cuddly Jesus image that many cling to in the church today. The Jesus made in my image kind of God.

Having hung around churches and Christian teaching for some 13 years now, I have now arrived at the point that I see nothing if not doctrinal confusion amidst much of the body of Christ. Fairly sure I’ve done my bit to contribute to that.

• Does this all mean that His word is wrong – Not at all
• Does this all mean that we should not read His word – Not at all
• Does this mean that I cannot trust the Lord –Not at all.

What it does mean is that He is to be feared, and that He alone holds the truth in His hand.

John 9:39 Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”

I have something burning on my heart,  I have not posted for months and I need to say this, and it is very simple. “Your doctrine will not save you”

Your salvation is by FAITH in the shed blood of Christ, and your sanctification comes by the leading of the Spirit.

Yes, the truth may set you free. Doctrine and teaching may be good, and these things point to Christ. In a similar way Paul taught us that the Law became our schoolmaster, to point us to Christ. So too, His word, and the revealing of the truth of His word will lead us to Christ, that we might walk in freedom.

But many are forsaking their first love and establishing their salvation in their knowledge of His word – which sadly, as you can see from my brief list above, is often a mixed bag of confusing and false doctrines.

In the very same way that the Jews rested on the law, and did not allow it to direct them to the Lord in faith, some Christians are today resting on the word in self-righteousness and pride. Justifying themselves as some how better, of obtaining a more perfect salvation through a clear and concise knowledge of scripture.

If this is the righteousness that you think that God is looking for in your life – I must warn you that you have deceived yourself using the written and inerrant word of God.

 2 Thessalonians 10 They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.

We need to be brutally honest in our appraisal of our faith and salvation. Head off down the pharisaic path of justification and there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Christ’s life was a demonstration of the life, which is pleasing to God. All who follow Him will likewise demonstrate the nature and character of God in their lives. It will be lived out each day, in faith, justice, mercy, and humility. Esteeming others, better than ourselves. Resisting judgmental criticism that does nothing to lift those held captive in this present world, from the error of their ways.

If the doctrine of your faith does not produce works in accordance with righteousness, perhaps there is something wrong with that doctrine. Perhaps we have been deceived and deluded in that same way in which Eve was, in continuing to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, which exalts the flesh.

Take care my brethren, these are perilous times.

A tree is known by it’s fruit. What we really need to be asking ourselves is this “Is there fruit in my life, and is it in accordance with righteousness”

Or am I mistakenly playing the game that humanity has played since the fall.

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