"Not Knowing The Scriptures"
The
Sadducees said there is no resurrection. They tried to trap Jesus with the
following question: "Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies, having no
children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise
up offspring for his brother. Now there were with us seven brothers. The first
died after he had married, and having no offspring, left his wife to his
brother. Likewise the second also, and the third, even to the
seventh. Last of all the woman died also.
Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they
all had her." (Matthew 22:24-28)
Jesus
answered their question by saying. "You are mistaken, not knowing the
Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the
resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels
of God in heaven. But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not
read what was spoken to you by God, saying, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God
of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? God is not the God of the dead, but of the
living." (Matthew 22:29-32) Those critics of Jesus missed two important
points: (1) The Scriptures, and (2) The power of God. Their senseless questions
would never have been asked if they had known the Scriptures.
How
many times, in religious discussion, have we found ourselves embarrassed
because of not knowing the Scriptures? Often people make foolish statements
concerning God or spiritual things because of a lack of faith in God or a lack
of knowledge of the scriptures.
Not
knowing the scriptures has led to acceptance of evolution. "For
every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God."
(Hebrews 3:4) Houses are the result of planning and design. Houses do not
happen by accident. God is the designer, planner, and creator of the world.
Not
knowing the scriptures has led to a rejection of the Bible as God’s word. The
words of the Bible are God's words given by the Holy Spirit. "These things
we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy
Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual." (I
Corinthians 2:13) Peter said inspired
men spoke God's word as the Holy Spirit moved them. (II Peter 1:20-21. The Bible is God's eternal word.
Not
knowing the scriptures has led many to miss the theme of the Bible. Man
has a sin problem. "Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear.
But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And
your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear."
(Isaiah 59:1-2) God formed a plan to save man through the sacrifice of Jesus as
Savior. The theme of the Bible is salvation through Jesus. There is salvation
in no other. (Acts
Not
knowing the scriptures has led to confusion about the church. Jesus
promised to build His church, and did build His one church. "And I also
say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My
church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." (Matthew
16:18) The saved are added to Christ's church. (Acts
Not
knowing the scriptures has led to denominationalism. Jesus desired and
prayed for unity. "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who
will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You,
Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the
world may believe that You sent Me." (John 17:20-21) The Bible pictures
denominationalism as something bad. "Now I plead with you, brethren, by
the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that
you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For
it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's
household, that there are contentions among you. Now I say this,
that each of you says, 'I am of Paul,' or 'I am of Apollos,'
or 'I am of Cephas,' or 'I am of Christ.' Is
Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of
Paul?" (I Corinthians 1:10-13) I must contend for the one God, one Lord,
one faith, one baptism, one hope, and one church!
Not
knowing the scriptures has led people to reject baptism. Jesus said,
"He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not
believe will be condemned." (Mark
There
is no greater privilege on earth than that of being a Christian. A true
Christian is Christ-like in, word, deed, and thought. One major step in being
just a Christian is that of knowing the scriptures and the power of God. So
therefore we must “study.” (II Timothy 2:15)
By Charles Box,