The Second Coming of Christ

Concerning the second coming…

Dan 8:13  Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to that particular one who was speaking, "How long will the vision about the regular sacrifice apply, while the transgression causes horror, so as to allow both the holy place and the host to be trampled?"

Dan 9:27 “And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate."

Dan 11:31 “Forces from him will arise, desecrate the sanctuary fortress, and do away with the regular sacrifice. And they will set up the abomination of desolation.

Dan 12:11 “From the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days.

Mat 24:15 “Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),

Luke 21:20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near.

These are primary scriptures related to “the end times”, in reality they address the “second coming of Jesus”, which took place at a given period within the first century. The “end of time” and the “end of the age” are one and the same.

Here are a few fundamentals which govern my understanding:

·         The Bible is not a book, but rather a library of 66 books

·         The chapters, and verses were inserted –chapters by, Stephen Langton in the 13th century C.E. The verses by, Robert Estienne in the middle of the 16th century C.E. These divisions are not divine or even accurate.

·         The Church began under Emperor Constantine, its structure is based on the structure of the Roman Empire, and the Jewish temple.

·         The scriptures represent God’s story. The account of creation, the fall of man and the reconciliation of man.

·         The Jewish scriptures are the account of God’s relationship with his special people –Israel. The covenant promise was made to Jews.

·         The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross marked the fulfilment of God’s promises. Also the end of the story.

·         From the death of Jesus to the end of the age (Jewish), was a period of transition.

·         The destruction of the temple and Jerusalem circa 70 C.E marked the end of the age.

Looking at the prophecies in Daniel we come across the term loosely used “end times”. Most prophecies are seen to be fulfilled in later scriptures. While many aspects of Daniel’s prophecies confound us, a key to understanding “the end of time” can be seen in the words of Jesus. “As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, ‘Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?’” (Mat 24:3)

Three parts to the question:

1.      when will these things happen (the destruction of the temple)

2.      what will be the sign of your coming

3.      what will be the sign … of the end of the age

           

Many interpret Mat 24 by subdividing the chapter into segments; the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem, and future times. That process is flawed, Jesus responded to the question, answering the three sub-questions in a contiguous flow.

There are two points in the answer we need to note:

1. Therefore when you see the Abomination of Desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place… (Mat 24:15)

2. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. (Mat 24:34)

The entire pericope comprises Jesus’ response. It must not be butchered by churches endeavouring to prove their own theories of “end times” or the “Rapture”. Most of those are human concepts and have no genuine verification.

The question asked by the disciples of Jesus included

1.         When will the temple be destroyed?

2.         What will be the sign of the end of the age?

3.         What will be the sign of your coming?

Jesus links the prophecy of Daniel to his answer. The destruction of the temple and Jerusalem was the most significant and final event of the Jewish age. At that point the sacrifices stopped.

The Jewish revolt began in 66 C.E and ultimately brought about the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple circa 70 C.E. Jesus gave no specific date, but provided a general period; “this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.” Premillennialism, post-millennialism, and a-millennialism are all theories based on “the second coming of Christ”. All of these theories are based on the misinterpretation of prophecy, and the manipulation of what is called the “Olivet Speech”, Matt 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21.

There are numerous scriptures indicating that the first Christians expected Jesus to return –soon. Many scholars believe that the apocalypse of John was written at the close of the first century. I disagree with that. The vision of John dealt with heavenly and earthly events, some of the recent past, some of the present, and some of the near future. It was a letter to encourage Christians at that time. Believers besieged by the tyranny of Rome, and persecution by Jews looked toward the coming of Jesus, and the hope of the kingdom. My belief is that the entire book is a vision concerning the victory of Christ over evil. It is a book which at the time would have been encouragement for believers. It was written prior to the destruction of the temple. Had it been written after the destruction of Jerusalem, there would have been mention of those event which took considerable place in prophecy. Some teaching states that the first three books of Revelation are literal, and the rest of the book is prophetic. That is wrong; people have to stop twisting scripture to get the result they want. Understanding has to conform to the Word, we need to stop forcing our understanding on scripture. Christians in the mid-first century suffered through various persecutions. However, they seem to have had great faith in Jesus as their king. Other than those inspired, few would have had any better understanding of Christ’s return than we do. Looking back it’s not too difficult to see that the Jews’ rejection of Jesus as Messiah was based on their misunderstanding of what the Messiah was. There would have been more acceptance for Judas Maccabeus as the Messiah during the revolt against Syria, than for Jesus. Judas was a warrior and leader fighting to restore Israel’s liberty and religion. Even now some scholars believe the restoration of fortunes to be eschatological. Interpreters today stumble over the same promises and prophecies as did the Jews. People seek physical remedies, although we belong to a spiritual kingdom. It is not difficult to see how the traditional expectations of the Jews prevented them from appreciating Jesus the Messiah. I don’t see why churches today have to adopt traditions from the past as bona fide principles.

Regarding the timing of the return of Jesus, Bertrand Russell in the essay “Why I Am Not a Christian”, wrote:

I am concerned with Christ as He appears in the Gospels, taking the Gospel narrative as it stands, and there one does find some things that do not seem to be very wise. For one thing, He certainly thought that His second coming would occur in clouds of glory before the death of all the people who were living at that time. There are a great many texts that prove that. He says, for instance, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel till the Son of Man be come. Then He says, There are some standing here which shall not taste death till the Son of Man comes into His kingdom; and there are a lot of places where it is quite clear that He believed that his second coming would happen during the lifetime of many then living. That was the belief of His earlier followers, and it was the basis of a good deal of His moral teaching. …. The early Christians did really believe it, and they did abstain from such things as planting trees in their gardens, because they did accept from Christ the belief that the second coming was imminent. In that respect, clearly He was not so wise as some other people have been, and He was certainly not superlatively wise.

I must say that although an atheist, Russell does appear “wiser” than many religious teachers, (in his logic only), I agree with him concerning when Jesus said he would return. There is no doubt in my mind that when Jesus said he would return during the lifetime of some in his audience –he did. Under no circumstances and with no amount of cajoling would I believe that Jesus did anything other than what he said he would do. I categorically disagree with any and all, attempts to manipulate scripture to suggest that Jesus didn’t return within the timeframe he laid out.

I believe that if we were to apply the principle of Zero Based Thinking to biblical interpretation, our doctrines and beliefs would be significantly different to what they are presently. I also believe that 99% of current church traditions and doctrines is based on what has been handed down through time, and not on unbiased study. By way of example, consider that Bibles are made up of two volumes, the Old Testament, and the New Testament. Two meaningless and misleading titles. The Hebrew Scriptures were scrolls of various writers. Ancient Jews didn’t agree entirely as to which were really important and which were superfluous. As to Old and New, that designation has reference to covenants, not to compilations of books. Jesus lived under the Old Covenant, but the books about him are in the New Testament. All of Jesus’ teaching was under the Old Covenant. The compilation of religious books into a single book may be convenient, but it has contributed to a host of false doctrines. Zero Based Thinking would compel us to see the books of scripture as single volumes making up a library of ancient qwritings. Chapters and verses further muddy the water; treated as though they were by design they change and obscure meanings. Many church scholars are lazy, their pursuit in study is to confirm what they believe. Karl Popper proposed a process of empirical falsification.

A theory in the empirical sciences can never be proven, but it can be falsified, meaning that it can and should be scrutinized by decisive experiments. Popper is also known for his opposition to the classical justificationist account of knowledge, which he replaced with critical rationalism, namely "the first non-justificational philosophy of criticism in the history of philosophy".[1]

How many times have you heard, that just about anything can be proven by scripture? That’s what Popper alleges takes place in science. Church doctrines are largely proven to be correct by the mere number of scriptures that support what you want to believe. Applying a simple form of Popper’s proposal; for a doctrine or practice to be correct it must be un-falsifiable. If one scripture can be presented that falsifies a doctrine, that doctrine must be considered false. I wonder how many church doctrines would fail in the process of falsifying them.

Believers who hold a different points of view are God’s children and fellow citizens of God’s kingdom. What we believe concerning peripheral issues, does not negate God’s love and grace. I have come to the conclusion that corporate or institutional religion can be more of a hindrance than help. People come to believe that commitment to a church is the same as commitment to Christ –that’s not true. Churches are human organizations, supported by false translation and interpretation of key words in scripture. Churches can be very helpful as long as their focus is to support believers in their personal walk with Christ. Our faith and commitment are very personal. If we look at the teaching of Jesus we can’t help but see that he was concerned about each person’s life and behaviour. Jesus taught that judgment was based on personal attitudes and behaviour, not on religious ritual.

Then the King will say to those on His right, “Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.”[2]

It is appropriate to challenge traditional doctrine, maybe that’s what Jesus may be suggesting when he said, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness…”[3] The statement is within a context of worry, and choosing a different way than others.

zēteō - seek: If the heathen are primarily concerned about food and clothes, Christians are to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Mt. 6:32 f.; cf. Lk. 13:24). They are to seek those things which are above (Col. 3:1).  … As the merchant in his search for fine pearls (Mt. 13:45) one day finds a jewel for which he will sell all the rest, so man is to direct everything towards the one great goal.[4]

prōtos – first: Very common is the use of prōtos for "earlier," "preceding," which develops out of a comparison between past and present.[5]

This meaning links what Jesus had been teaching his disciples concerning worry, about “What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?” that they would have done previously, but now as his disciples the past was behind them and the present was to thrive in God’s kingdom, as one made righteous through grace. The idea of seeking first for believers is a “life principle”. That principle is to leave former ways of being religious to please God, of doing things to secure salvation; those are human characteristics. The present for believers is to live in Christ, being citizens of God’s kingdom, and justified by the sacrifice of Jesus. As Paul wrote;       that I “…may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith…”[6]

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[1] From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[2] Mat 25:34-6

[3] Mat 6:33

[4] Theological Dictionary of the Bible, Vol 2, p. 893

[5] Ibid Vol 6, p.866

[6] Php 3:9

Jesus Barabbas

Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?[1]

Not only was Barabbas's first name Jesus, but his last name, Barabbas, means son (bar) of the father (abba). Jesus had always referred to himself as the Son of the Father (and his adversaries had always refused to acknowledge that he was). So now we had two men named Jesus, each a "son of the father", but opposite fathers, it would seem.[2]

The variant "Jesus Barabbas" in Matthew 27:16-17 occurs in only a few Greek and Syriac manuscripts. It is absent in the major 4th and 5th century uncials: Alef, Alpha, Beta, Delta, etc.[3]

Then you are not the Egyptian who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand assassins out into the wilderness?[4]

sik-ar'-ee-os

Of Latin origin; a dagger man or assassin; a freebooter (Jewish fanatic outlawed by the Romans): - murderer.[5]

The irony of Barabbas having the same name as our Lord is more probable, than the sentimentality of him not. Origen writing in the third century CE thought it an impropriety that an evil man such as Barabbas should have the name Jesus.

Barabbas was an enemy of the Empire, being that he was likely a Jewish zealot or Sicarii. Not only did Barabbas have the same name as the Lord, it’s also possible that Pilate recognized the similarity of their causes. Both Barabbas and Jesus sought to liberate Israel. Barabbas through violent political rebellion, and Jesus through sacrifice and love. Pilate’s hint he would like Jesus to go free, was countered by the argument that Jesus was a threat to Caesar and the Empire, because he claimed to be a king. Pilate offered to release a prisoner, the people were to choose either Jesus Barabbas or Jesus of Nazareth. To prevent moderate thinking people from influencing the choice, the leaders along with their cohorts stirred the crowed to call for Jesus Barabbas to be released and for Jesus the Messiah to be crucified. The Jewish leadership got what they wanted, they would keep their positions and status, but for how long?

The Sicarii might well be blamed for the Jewish rebellion of 66 CE. They were an early version of terrorists. While they shared a similar cause to the Zealots, they were more ruthless and undisciplined. The Sicarii killed Jews to prevent them from fleeing Jerusalem during its siege. Zealots believed that God would protect the temple and city they fought against Rome to gain independence. The Sicarii killed indiscriminately. The modus operandi of Barabbas appears more like that of the Sicarii than the Zealots, but both were entirely antithetical to that of Jesus. While being questioned by Pilate, Jesus asserted that his kingdom was different. Interestingly the text answers the question –different to what?

My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.[6]

One might conjecture that Jesus refused any comparison to Barabbas. Jesus’ cause was spiritual, and did not want anyone to think that his cause was earthly, or had anything to do with the overthrow of Rome. The enemy of Jesus was not Rome, it was the leadership of Israel. The chief priests and the elders, the leaders of Israel feature in parables of Jesus as wicked overlords. They were evil shepherds plundering the flock for their own appetites. The leaders needed to fabricate reasons for putting Jesus to death. They lied. They portrayed Jesus as a political agitator, as a disruptive force exciting rebellion. Jesus was apolitical, completely immersed in his spiritual cause. That cause was “the kingdom of heaven”. Pilate may have seen some similarity between Jesus’ cause and Barabbas’ rebellion, but the Lord cleared that up. There was, and never will be, a connection between earthly politics and the kingdom of God.

The crowd on that fateful day were manipulated by the chief priests and elders to call for the release of Barabbas, and the crucifixion of the Son of God. That was a bad choice, and yet it has been repeated many times through the course of history. People when faced with a choice of earthly benefit or spiritual responsibility, often go with what is at hand. There exists a strong proclivity to opt for temporal benefits, for those things that are immediate and material. At his arrest Jesus’ disciples were prepared to fight to protect him;

Suddenly, one of those with Jesus put his hand on his sword, drew it, and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, ‘Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say it must happen in this way?’[7]

With physical resistance out of the question, the only option for the disciples was to flee. Not until after the resurrection would Jesus’ disciples begin to gather the import of spirituality. Every day we face choices; I wonder if we consider the consequences of all the decisions we make. Often times we default to habit not really considering the impact of our choices. As we grow in Christ our choices will reflect our spirituality. And, hopefully our causes will be more and more spiritual. The enemies of Christ will endeavour to solicit choices which bolster their objectives. We need to look to Jesus for strength and guidance to make spiritually based choices, when confronted with options that could diminish our spirituality.

  

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[1] Mat 27:17

[2] http://www.emergingtruths.com/jesus_and_barabbas/jesus_and_barabbas.html

[3] http://www.hebrew-streams.org/works/ntstudies/yeshua-bar-abba.html

[4] Act 21:38

[5] Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries

[6] Joh 18:36 

[7] Mat 26:51-54

A not so subtle warning

·         The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them

·         They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men's shoulders

·         they do all their deeds to be noticed by men

·         They love the place of honor … and being called Rabbi by men

·         woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in

·         you devour widows' houses, and for a pretense you make long prayers

·         you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves

·         Whoever swears by the temple, that is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple is obligated

·         Whoever swears by the altar, that is nothing, but whoever swears by the offering on it, he is obligated

·         you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness

·         You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel

·         you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence

·         you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness

·         upon you may fall the guilt of all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Berechiah

·         all these things will come upon this generation[1]

Jesus rebuked the religious leaders of his day. The criticism was meant for that generation and for those leaders. It would be a terrible mistake to generally apply Jesus’ criticism to all religious leaders today. That would be wrong on two counts; one, no one today has the ability to assess motives or intent as Jesus did. Secondly, the reproach of Jesus was very specific in that he named the offenders. It was not a sweeping or nebulous rebuke, it was very pointed and specific. Are there religious leaders whose behaviour are similar in nature to those whom Jesus rebuked? –yes. Are all religious leaders like that? –no! Are there churches that emphasize similar traits as Judaism under its leaders? –yes. Are all churches like that? –no! If you are in a church or under a leadership you believe behaves in a manner that would bring Jesus’ reproach upon them, then as a younger set used to say, “Vote with your feet.” Don’t stay where you are miserable and frustrated, leave. Find a church or leadership which better fits your belief of what is biblical. The worst thing you can do is to stay in a situation which causes you frustration, it will lead to spiritual decay and death. It’s not the church, or the preacher to whom you are committed –it’s Jesus. Every person needs to have a relationship with God through Jesus. Churches are human institutions; they are excellent if they encourage a Christ-like walk, but if they don’t, leave and find a church that encourages your relationship with God.

The admonition of Jesus to the Jewish leaders was very specific, however, their behaviours and attitudes were very human. One shouldn’t look at the list of bad behaviours as applying only to religious leaders. I believe we would do well to individually consider the issues revealed in Jesus’ reprimand to see if any similar attitudes lurk in the shadows of our minds. The human failings illuminated in Jesus forceful condemnation of the Jewish leaders afflict many people, not only leaders. We may be wise to consider what is written as a, not so subtle warning. There is no blessing to be had, in sitting through a service that leaves you frustrated and angry. If that’s what you think religious service is, you need to read the list of reproaches again. The Jewish leaders were very, very, religious, but selfishly so. They were consumed with appearance, and recognition. Their religion was ritualistic –the keeping of laws and pedantic interpretation of scripture. Their religion was relative, but not relational. The lives of Jewish leaders, no matter what sect, were governed by the strict adherence to religious legalities. Religious accomplishment was relative to their interpretation and application of law.

What is seen in the life of Jesus is the very opposite to the religious behaviours of the Jewish leadership. Jesus was all about people, he felt people’s pain, he empathized with their frustration, he wept with them in grief, and he reached out to the sick and needy. Jesus was authentically human, as well as superbly divine. He was absorbed in his Father’s work, in his Father’s glorification, and he was consumed by his Father’s love. All of which he translated through his life. Jesus brought what was heavenly to earth, and what was eternal to the world. We make the mistake of thinking that a church can do what Jesus did, that’s impossible. No institution, great, poor, or in between, can shine the light Jesus left for his followers to brighten darkness. Jesus was made human to bring the reflection of God to earth. It was through his life and his teaching that God the Redeemer was introduced to humanity. Jesus didn’t bring another religion, he brought God to earth. He established his kingdom in which we can be citizens. Believers are the “…chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that we may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light.”[2]

Discipleship is not about exactness, not that anyone can ever achieve exactness in interpretation or living. It’s not about exclusiveness, Jesus was the most inclusive teacher there has ever been. It’s not about ritual, it’s about relationship. Relationship with God through Christ, and relationship with each other in Christ. We need to ponder on Jesus’ rebuke to the religious leaders of his day, to hear what was said, and then if necessary, to remove any trace of hypocrisy from our lives. Our duty is to let the love and grace of God radiate through our lives. We have to endeavour to allow the attitudes of Jesus to govern our lives. To do that we must know him, and to do that, we must absorb ourselves in the scriptures which reveal who and what Jesus was.

Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.[3]

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[1] Matt 23

[2] 1Pe 2:9 

[3] Col 3:14-17

I Can't Believe...

I can’t believe…

§  In a God that required an entire nation be utterly destroyed; men, women, and children.

§  In a God that allows little children to die from cancer and other diseases.

§  In a God that created a place of torment.

§  In a God whose followers are messed up and scattered throughout hundreds of churches.

This is not the entire list of reasons people give for not believing in God. However, it generally covers the majority of reasons given. At the outset let me say, that I can’t provide a practical rationale why someone should believe in God. I’m not able to logically assuage every doubt. It is impossible to prove that God exists. It is also impossible to prove that God doesn’t exist. I will not attempt to explain God in connection to the objections raised by those who do not believe he exists. I will rather look at what God has revealed about himself; if this influences someone to believe, that’s good. Some consider the Bible to be obscure and unreliable. That objection is largely based on misunderstanding and misrepresentation by people claiming knowledge of the scriptures.

God see things differently to man

…the LORD does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.[1]

In the process of selecting a replacement for King Saul, the prophet Samuel was warned not to rely on human judgment. That’s easier said than done. Our brains are wired to make sense of situations based on our life experiences.

Humans are adaptive creatures. As kids, we adjust to our social environment as part of our survival. Our sensory pathways start to develop as early as three months before we’re even born. The first six years are a critical period in which we lay down many neural circuits of our brain. Events that occur in this timeframe can therefore shape how reactive we are and how triggered we’ll be into different states later in life. Because of this, any early adversity we experience heavily influences how we process the world around us.[2]

…as you go about your life, you are constantly (and unconsciously) organizing sensory inputs via rules and then matching them to your perceptual knowledge, which in turn is then translated, analyzed and manipulated via conceptual knowledge, at least when you are surprised or in need of deeper understanding what you are seeing. It is one of those everyday things that we should occasionally remind ourselves how awesome it really is.[3]

The tendency to let expectation be our guide can cause even those of us who are intelligent, experienced, and well-trained to overlook some startlingly obvious things.[4]

The advice to Samuel was instructive, alerting him to the hidden qualities recognized by God. As a prophet, Samuel represented God’s will.

Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts; let them return to the LORD, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.[5]

Samuel’s assessment of the qualities of the future king were at odds with those of God. It is necessary for us to accept the fact that God’s thoughts and ways are higher (better) than ours. We do not think like God, we do not understand like God, we don’t see what God sees. I am under no compulsion to explain the events some find objectionable to the point of rejecting God. The problem for those people is not what God permitted or commanded, but their own perception of justice under which God is guilty. The problem is there is no place for faith, because the objectors have set themselves above God. People like this have gone beyond the skepticism of Job, which was tempered by piety, to rejecting God because he doesn’t fit with their perceptions of was is right or acceptable. They have become gods to themselves. Assessing divine events by human reason is the same as idolatry. In essence one is saying that he or she can only believe in a god who meets a human standard of acceptability. Even some who do believe in God fashion his form acceptable to their understanding.

God is superior to man

The Lord said: Because these people draw near with their mouths and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their worship of me is a human commandment learned by rote; so I will again do amazing things with this people, shocking and amazing. The wisdom of their wise shall perish, and the discernment of the discerning shall be hidden. Ha! You who hide a plan too deep for the LORD, whose deeds are in the dark, and who say, "Who sees us? Who knows us?" You turn things upside down! Shall the potter be regarded as the clay? Shall the thing made say of its maker, "He did not make me"; or the thing formed say of the one who formed it, "He has no understanding"?[6]

Some people just can’t accept that God is superior to them. In their pompous arrogance they see themselves as superior to all and any.

There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours. All the nations you have made shall come and bow down before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name. For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God. Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart to revere your name. I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.[7]

Who has directed the spirit of the LORD, or as his counselor has instructed him? Whom did he consult for his enlightenment, and who taught him the path of justice? Who taught him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding?[8]

He stretches out the north over empty space and hangs the earth on nothing. He wraps up the waters in His clouds, and the cloud does not burst under them. He obscures the face of the full moon and spreads His cloud over it. He has inscribed a circle on the surface of the waters at the boundary of light and darkness. The pillars of heaven tremble And are amazed at His rebuke. He quieted the sea with His power, and by His understanding He shattered Rahab. By His breath the heavens are cleared; His hand has pierced the fleeing serpent. Behold, these are the fringes of His ways; and how faint a word we hear of Him! But His mighty thunder, who can understand?[9]

Godly men of the past have written about the greatness and superiority of God. However, the scripture records, “Fools say in their hearts, "There is no God.”[10]

God is beyond human understanding; the infinite vs finite

Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limit of the Almighty? It is higher than heaven--what can you do? Deeper than Sheol--what can you know? Its measure is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.^[11] 

O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to him, to receive a gift in return? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.[12]

But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him”--these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For what human being knows what is truly human except the human spirit that is within? So also no one comprehends what is truly God's except the Spirit of God.[13]

Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.[14]

Of all that can be thought or said about God, His Infinitude is the most difficult to grasp. Even to try to conceive of it would appear to be self-contradictory, for such conceptualization requires us to undertake something which we know at the outset we can never accomplish. Yet we must try, for the Holy Scriptures teach that God is infinite and, if we accept His other attributes, we must of necessity accept this one too.

Infinitude, of course, means limitlessness, and it is obviously impossible for a limited mind to grasp the Unlimited.

The reason for our dilemma has been suggested before. We are trying to envision a mode of being altogether foreign to us, and wholly unlike anything we have known in our familiar world of matter, space, and time.[15]

The problem facing people is how to grasp and understand God’s infinitude. A task suggested by Tozer, is impossible. Words associated with God are, “Omnipotent. Omnipresent. Omniscient”, which mean, God is all-powerful, all-present, and all-knowing. The characteristic of each of these words is infinite. There is no way to comprehend that God is at all places at all times. There is debate on God’s all-knowledge. Calvinists protect God’s sovereignty, by establishing the doctrine of predestination. Their reasoning is that without foreordination, God cannot be all-knowing. Human free will allows that a person has the right to change his or her mind, that being so, God can’t know for certain what a person might choose. Calvinists, rather than supporting God’s Sovereignty, actually deny it –but that’s how we human’s reason.

Jesus, God’s representative on earth

Mohammed, Allah, the pope, Buddha, Hindu gods, Joseph Smith, Mary Eddie Baker, Ellen G. White, Russell/Rutherford, Baha Ulla, a church, a preacher, etc. etc. None of these or any like them can give life or access to God the Father. There is only one person, one agent, who has been designated to offer access to God, and that is Jesus Christ.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”[16]

Then from the cloud came a voice that said, "This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!"[17]

I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.[18]

Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. He is the reflection of God's glory and the exact imprint of God's very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,[19]

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.[20]

This Jesus is 'the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone.' There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.[21]

…this is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself a ransom for all--this was attested at the right time.^[22]  

Jesus was the sacrificial lamb. Through his blood we have access to God the Father. It doesn’t matter how religious you are, it doesn’t even matter how often you pray to God the Father; the only access to the Father is through the Son. That’s the way God planned it, and that’s the way it is. There is a haunting statement by Jesus;

Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?' Then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.'[23]

No amount of religious work, no number miraculous deeds, not even extensive prophecy is sufficient to assure access to God. Only those who do the will of God will have entrance into eternal blessings. The will of God, “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I myself will raise him up on the last day.”[24]  

Trying to understand the infinite God is impossible for human minds. As Tozer wrote “Even to try to conceive of it would appear to be self-contradictory, for such conceptualization requires us to undertake something which we know at the outset we can never accomplish.” The scripture says that Jesus was the “the exact imprint of God's very being,” or in a different version “the exact representation of His nature”. It may be that God in his wisdom sent his son into the world as a human, so that we can relate to Jesus, as human, yet he was the very likeness of God. We see the love of God in Jesus, we recognize the power of God in Jesus, and we notice the relationship Jesus had with God his Father. We focus on Jesus to learn about the heavenly Father. Our relationship with God is through Jesus. We are to do everything in the name of Jesus.

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.[25]

It is difficult, if not impossible to understand the statement made by John that “God is love”[26]. But, we see Jesus demonstrating love in all that he did. While it’s impossible to comprehend the concept that God is love, we see God’s love in sending his son into the world, and the abounding love of Jesus offering himself as the sacrifice for humanity. Jesus speaking to Philip said, “He who has seen me has seen the Father.”[27] Jesus is God’s connection with people, Jesus is the medium through which people approach God. “…we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”

People who reject God, because he doesn’t meet there rules of assessment should keep in mind that nowhere is it evenly remotely suggested that God has to justify himself to people. God doesn’t require people to approve of him, he doesn’t seek people to agree with him; God requires obedience, and belief. Those who reject God because they feel he is inconsistent, or not demonstrating his attribute as they think he should, need to stop and face the facts. God is blameless, and righteous. People who reject God because he doesn’t meet their expectations, are putting themselves and their intellect above God’s. That is truly dumb. People need to be honest with themselves. If they reject God, it’s not because God has faults, the problem is with the unbeliever, not God. God doesn’t ask us to agree with him, he asks for faith. As the prophet said, “… Will the clay say to the potter, 'What are you doing?”[28]

… God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God.[29]

People can rummage around in the ancient scriptures and find situations which offend their senses. It might be better to acknowledge lack of understanding of those events, rather than assigning fault to God. To set oneself up as the judge and jury of God, is the highest form of idolatry. Jesus has to be the focus and substance of our faith. People can get to know God through Jesus. The reason we are told to look to Jesus is that we can on a human level learn from him. Jesus experienced life the same way as any human, yet he was God’s exact image. Jesus experienced being finite. The scripture addresses his life and his relationship with God the Father. Jesus spent a lot of time in prayer, communicating with God. That might be an indication how people can learn to cope with life’s stresses and doubts.

For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.[30]

This is an ominous warning to people who give up their belief in God. The tragic reality of people who reject God after drawing close to him through Jesus, is that they are pronounced guilty of personally crucifying him. This warning makes it clear that salvation is through and in Jesus.

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[1] 1Sam 16:7

[2] Can You Trust Your Own Perceptions? By, Lisa Firestone Ph.D. Psychology Today

[3] Perception and Perceptual Illusions, by Gregg Henriques Ph.D. Psychology Today

[4] We See What We Want to See, by Joseph T. Hallinan. Psychology Today

[5] Isa 55:6-9

[6] Isa 29:13-16

[7] Psa 86:8-12

[8] Isa 40:13,14 

[9] Job 26:7-14

[10] Psa 53:1

[11] Job 11:7-9

[12] Rom 11:33-36

[13] 1Co 2:9-11

[14] Psa 147:5 

[15] Knowledge Of The Holy by A.W. Tozer, chapter 8

[16] Joh 14:6 

[17] Luke 9:35 

[18] Joh 10:9 

[19] Heb 1:1-3

[20] Heb 12:1, 2

[21] Act 4:11, 12

[22] 1Ti 2:3-6

[23] Mat 7:21-23

[24] Joh 6:40

[25] Heb 4:14-16

[26] 1Jn 4:8

[27] Joh 14:9

[28] Isa 45:9

[29] 1Co 1:27-29

[30] Heb 6:4-6