By Michael W. Gardner
In
the years that this web site has been operating we have responded to more
questions than you can imagine. Some
were not really asking questions but they seemed to feel that they had all
the answers. We have always
tried to keep our personal opinions out of the answers and to never make a
statement about what the Bible says without citing the scripture that
supports the statement. The
simple truths of the Bible are not hard to understand so why do so many
not see it?
Matthew
13 has Jesus speaking in parables to hide truth. I don't think that is
predestination but people make a clear choice somewhere in their life
whether they are OF THE TRUTH or not. If they are NOT then the truth just
doesn't fit in their brain.
People
can look at a statement Jesus made connecting baptism and His remission of
sins and simply not see it. That, to me, gives confidence that Scripture
is inspired. On the other hand when you present yourself to be a
disciple--which only happens at baptism and further teaching--it is
amazing at how things just flood in on you. Ken
Sublett, an operator of another website, explained in one of his
articles that God giving us A holy spirit or A good conscience but that
does not mean that we DISCERN anything new. But, on the other hand, if you
have not "called on the name of the Lord" in baptism then you
just don’t get it. You
could get several Phds together to look at the word UP and they will tell
everyone it says DOWN. The
Bible is inspired and if you don’t approach it as the Bible instructs
you, you will not get God’s message.
It is like trying to open a lock without the key or as many try
these days, with the wrong key.
I
believe that God is preparing people for another Spirit dimension, and
while people are not always evil, if they do not love the truth He simply
has no place for them. I suppose that it is like living in Florida or
Alabama right before a hurricane: the worst "sin" you can commit
is just not to listen. It has
nothing to do with God’s love but it is about God’s rule. It is about
God’s plan for salvation.
The
best analogy I have is watching football on TV.
You see a play and the official calls a foul.
You become indignant and shout at the official something about the
need for eyeglasses as I recall. You
honestly think you know the truth. You
are intense in your belief and feel that everyone should share it.
You are sincere in your belief but you are also sincerely wrong as
the instant replay proves beyond a doubt.
You believed wrong because of the angle you approached the game.
Seek the truth or there will come a day when all will be put to
silence by the unquestionable truth that will leave all with no excuse.
(Romans 3:19)