Why do so many Christians embrace and believe false doctrines? Why so many denominations in the Christian religion, everything ranging from Roman Catholics to Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons to Mennonites, Baptists to Brethren, Pentecostals to Presbyterians? Various denominations believe the very opposite from one another, one denomination practicing water baptism of its members and another denomination having no such practice, or one denomination teaching “once saved, always saved,” while another denomination teaches one can most certainly “lose” their salvation.
Of course Satan’s blinding power must be considered to be at work in such matters, but that is not the sole reason for such confusion in the Christian religion. There are several scriptures that shed a great deal of light in this matter. One such text is found in the 97th Psalm where we are told that “light (or, truth, understanding) is sown for the righteous” (verse 17). God does not grant spiritual understanding to rebels, those who continue in their sins.
Again the Psalmist writes in Psalm 119, verse 100: “I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.” God gives understanding to the obedient. It’s that simple.
Many seem to think they can come to a proper understanding of God’s Word if they just read more and more of it, not realizing that they must allow the Word to correct them in their actions, speech and thoughts if they desire to truly understand the scriptures and discern true doctrine from erroneous teaching or beliefs. In Proverbs we read: “Turn you at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my Spirit unto you. I will make known my words to you” (Proverbs 1:23).
Again, “Receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee, so that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding” (Proverbs 2:1-2). You are not even inclined to hear and believe the truth and be granted a proper understanding of what God’s Word really says until you begin obeying God’s counsel and commandments! And again, “He lays up sound wisdom for the righteous” (Proverbs 2:7). Over and over again the scriptures teach this truth, and when men try to formulate their doctrine and beliefs while still giving in to the downward pulls of the old nature they will unwittingly embrace false doctrine and believe erroneous teaching thinking all the while that they are ever coming in to greater understanding of the scriptures.
The apostle Peter speaks of a divine law that states how one is appointed to stumble at God’s Word, misunderstanding that Word, if they continue in disobedience. (See I Peter 2:8). Show me someone who practices sin, who sins day in and day out, and I will show you someone who embraces a great deal of error in what he thinks the Bible says. The prophet Daniel speaks of how one must turn from their sins in order to understand God’s truth! (See Daniel 9:13).
So, if you are having a problem understanding the Bible, here is the Bible’s own advice: “Clean up your act. Stop giving in to temptation and sin day by day, hour by hour, moment by moment.”
Christ’s Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),
Donald Wiley