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Topic: Confused (08/16/07)
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TITLE: Thank God For Contradictions | Previous Challenge Entry
By Alan Zimmerman
08/23/07 -
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Then I come across some of the seeming contradictions in the Bible. We find in the books of Romans and Acts that we are saved by grace through faith. We can’t earn our salvation and we can’t earn the forgiveness of our sins. But in Matthew 6:15, Jesus tells us that if we don’t forgive others, then our Father won’t forgive us. So what does this mean? Certain verses say that that we are saved through our faith that Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sins. We didn’t earn this forgiveness. We can’t earn it! But other verses seem to tell us that we must earn our forgiveness by forgiving others! Who wouldn’t be confused?
To try to understand these differences, I marshal my considerable resources – Christian friends, pastors, Bible commentaries, the internet – and I find a common theme. Everyone is certain they have the right answer, but not every answer is the same. One says you might be saved and then unsaved. Another says you are still forgiven, but forgiving is good for you so you should do it anyway. Our inbred human nature tells us that whatever the question, we can know the answer. Whatever the mystery, we can find the solution. This natural arrogance almost puts us into a god-status. I feel certain this isn’t what God has in mind when he gives us these challenges.
Over the years, when faced with what appear to be inconsistencies in God’s Message to us, I’ll see what others think, but then I’ll admit that I just can’t figure it out. Sometimes, I don’t know for sure what the answer is. Instead of being frustrated, I turn to God with a prayer of praise. “Heavenly Father, I thank you for making things confusing sometimes. By Your grace, you let me know that I’m not my own god; You are my God. If I turn to You, the answers will be revealed to me when it’s Your time to reveal them. And I praise You for giving us Your Word, where every day I can learn something new about You, about me, and about the world You have created for us. I thank You that one day I will be with You in Heaven, and then I‘ll understand all of it. Amen.”
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Nonetheless, as you probably know, there are many seeming contradictions in scripture which are only two balancing principles that keep us on track - not wandering into the ditch of extremes on either side.
I wouldn't want any enquirer to get the impression that we are to blindly accept everything "by faith" and not see the amazing logic that's there. God has given us answers to live by. Maybe that should also be underlined here.