“It is impossible but that offenses will come.” Jesus said that. Do you know why He said that? Because he had just said, “If they (religious types who claim the Bible is their authority for their beliefs) hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded (into accepting actual Bible truth and doctrine) though one rose from the dead” (See Luke 17:1 and Luke 16:31). One’s grandmother could rise up from her casket and say what is absolutely true regarding some doctrine taught and supported by inspired scripture and those blinded by Satan into believing a lie would still hold to their falsehoods and errors! That’s what Jesus was clearly saying.
Those who will not hear or believe what God has said through Moses and the prophets are locked-in to error. Time after time I have heard some preacher or supposed Bible teacher say, “I don’t get my doctrine out of the Old Testament!” Of course they are actually saying, “I don’t hear Moses and the prophets,” placing themselves in the category of those Jesus Himself said could not be persuaded to accept the truth even if the Lord resurrected one from the dead in order to persuade them of their errors!!!
The apostle Paul plainly and clearly declared that “ALL SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN BY INSPIRATION OF GOD, AND IS PROFITABLE FOR DOCTRINE, for reproof, or correction, for instruction in righteousness” (See 2 Timothy 3:16). The Hebrew scriptures will reprove and correct us concerning our false beliefs and assumptions. Those same scriptures will instruct us in what God considers righteous conduct, including our speech and thoughts. We will not be confused and mystified by statements we find in Paul’s letters that seem to contradict the words penned by Moses and the Hebrew prophets. The light of God’s truth will shine into the deepest recesses of our minds and thinking, making everything clear.
But there is one other clearly stated truth of God we must come to believe and accept if we are ever to know the truth: All sin must be shunned and avoided. Peter says we are kept from sin by the power of God THROUGH FAITH!” (See I Peter 1:5). The preacher who tells his congregation they cannot stop sinning is unwittingly doing the devil’s work. Those who accept his words have no faith to trust in the power of God to keep them from sin for even one day – much less a lifetime. Why pray, “Deliver us from temptation if we do not believe God has the power or will to do so?”
Christ’s Aged Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),
Donald Wiley