“For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily.”
Colossians 2:9

I spent some time on an airplane yesterday and had an opportunity to start reading my book on Messianic prophecy. I’m really jazzed about this study! I did get seriously sidetracked on the whole Catholic topic, so hopefully you’ll soon be learning more about how the bible speaks of Him. Unfortunately, it does appear that my messages on Catholicism were met with hostility by some. I fully understand that. On the other hand, I have stirred other Catholics to seriously question what their church teaches. My hope is that they abandon it altogether.

It’s not just Catholics who have serious problems. I’m critical of a lot of what I see with organizations who claim to be Christian and especially those who are their teachers and leaders. But who am I to be blasting everyone? After all, I’m just a guy who is a member of a tiny, home-based church. Who am I to talk?

That’s a great question and a fair one to ask. What gives me the right to criticize another’s relationship with God? Is my “brand” of belief superior to another’s? On what basis would I justify this claim?

Many say that their faith is a blend of the bible, tradition, and reason. These are not necessarily in an order of importance. Furthermore, relative importance may change (and should, so they say) as times changes. The fact that one may contradict another may be of interest, but it certainly doesn’t have to jeopardize the desired belief. It’s ok to reason one’s way into idol worship if it makes sense, so the story goes. Besides, we have done it this way forever, right? It’s also ok to suddenly embrace homosexuality just because society has now become “enlightened.” Don’t even get me started on abortion!

I’ve observed that bad traditions don’t go away and human reason is fickle. The bible, on the other hand, hasn’t changed. Oh, sure, you have different groups with different versions, and that can be a problem. But the original manuscripts are amazingly unchanged. In fact, there is no other document like it in that regard.

The question then is who has the right interpretation to these ancient writings. Let’s face it, there will be more who will be intentional on leading people astray than will be pointing in the right direction.

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

2 Corinthians 4:4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate from themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

So, it seems to me that I must be careful on who I listen to and who I allow to teach me. This always brings me back to the bible because I have found this book to be truth. I’ve also found that when man strays from it, his actions end up sinful. Conversely, the more one digs into the bible, the more one finds truth that is supported from the front cover to the back. The deeper the digging, the more one will discover that this is true.

And what does the bible reveal? Our Messiah. And the thing that makes the bible different from any other book is its record of fulfilled prophecy.

Isaiah 42:8-9 I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols. Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.”

John 16:4 But I have said these things to you, that when the hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.

So, yeah, I get really excited to see my Savior revealed in scripture. I am eager to learn what the pages have to teach. I have been shown and believe that scripture is God’s personal instruction to me. I am greatly encouraged and strengthened by it. Great joy lies within these pages.

Father, thank you for using this blog to harden hearts, yet soften others. Amen.

Copyright © 2020 Scott Powers