It is of critical importance that Christians subscribe to correct and Biblically sound views and concepts of The God of the Bible, so that our expectations and understanding of Him may be in harmony with what the Bible teaches and nothing else. Especially is this counsel pertinent in our day, where a great abundance of false teachings and interpretations have been disseminated amongst the people, who have subsequently held their hopes up high, only to be sadly disappointed, when their expectations of God are not met.
One of the ways in which the false prophets have succeeded in leading the multitudes to incorrect views of God is to present a God of human devising, who is held in subjection to the whims and fancies of the human agent, and who must deliver, help, and heal, without any preconditions being met. And therefore, to meet this emergency God has outlined in His word what needs to be done, and the method of scriptural interpretation to be engaged, in order that we may have the clearest views possible, of the God whom we serve, the God that is presented in the scriptures. Let’s read:
2nd Peter 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
A “Private interpretation” therefore, is one that is not supported by scripture, or one which is taken out of context, or otherwise misinterpreted to suit our personal ideas of what we think the scriptures should mean. Millions of such interpretations and variations now abound, hence the reason why the very next passage of scripture is given so that any sincere seeker for truth may know whether or not, that which he is subscribing to is indeed of God, or whether it proceeds from man’s imagination. Let’s read:
Isaiah 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
Thus it is, that we are going to investigate several warped concepts that are currently being held by millions of people the world over, and then we will bring the scriptural interpretations to bear against them so that the erroneous views may be corrected. It is then of critical importance that when reading the Biblical viewpoint, that we resist the temptation to insert our own ideas, because the Bible is to stand alone on its own two feet, without the encumbrances of human devising, philosophical or politically correct additions, and subtractions.
However, before we begin, it is necessary that we review an incident which took place in the days of old, when the philistines were engaged in a battle with the Hebrew people, and who were ultimately successful in capturing the sacred ark which housed both the law of God, and the shekinah glory of His presence. The apparent capture of Israel’s God by the Philistines, and where they consequently placed the sacred ark containing the Shekinah glory, with the moral law is worthy of observation, for they put it in the most sacred place known to them at that time, in their temple, next to their foremost god, Dagon.
But they did not place the ark of God there because they loved Him, for they hated Him with a passion. The fact that the philistines disdained Israel’s God can be verified in the experiences of Goliath, who had openly defied the God of the Hebrews, making a mockery of Him and His people. Let’s read:
1st Samuel 17:4 And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.
10 And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.
11 When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.
Now, since they had no love whatsoever for the God of the Hebrews, then the next logical question is, why would they place Him in their most revered place, and not in the garbage bin, or in the toilet? The answer to this important question can be understood in the light of what is now taking place with Isis, whose members intensely hate the God of Christianity, and therefore, it will be considered one of the most egregious abominations ever, to have an image of Jesus at one of their places of worship.
Therefore, it is evident that the Philistines must have seen some major benefit in the decision to put the ark next to Dagon, for not only did they desire to display the rare trophy of the sacred chest they had captured in battle, but it is apparent that they desired to produce a unique, and quite formidable coalition between Dagon and Jehovah, for in their warped concepts of God, such a joint cooperation would then render them invincible to all their foes. And if that were the case, then they would have no problem worshipping Him according to their own distorted methods. This conclusion is clearly seen because of their own testimony of the God of Israel. Let’s read:
1st Samuel 4:3 And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the Lord smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.
4 So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
5 And when the ark of the covenant of the Lord came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again.
6 And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the Lord was come into the camp.
7 And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore.
8 Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? these are the Gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness.
1st Samuel 17:1 And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Ebenezer unto Ashdod.
2 When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.
There are very many people living today who will have no problem whatsoever worshipping The God of heaven according to their own concepts of God, if, as was the case with the philistines, there is some major national or personal benefit to doing so. And there are many nominal Christians who have taken the name of Christ, not because of any love or deep appreciation of His character, but rather because of the material blessings associated with being called a Christian. Hence the reason why the first scriptural concept of God we will deal with is that of serving God on His terms, and not ours.
[1] The specific promises of God to His people, such as protection, health, material blessings of wealth, and even eternal life, are all given on condition. If all of the conditions are met, then our expectations of favorable results may be warranted. But if some, or all of the preconditions are deliberately disregarded for any reason, then it will be unreasonable for us to expect the desired outcome. This first scriptural concept of humanity’s relationship with God should be thoroughly understood, especially in our day where the health/ wealth gospel on our own terms has become so popular. The Bible is very clear on the teaching of God’s promises and their fulfillment. Let’s read:
Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Proverbs 3:9 Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
However, the converse of these two promises are also true, for if we refuse to hear the law of God, and cherish iniquity, or known sins in our hearts, then the above promises cannot be fulfilled until the stated conditions are met. This constitutes one of the greatest errors of our time, that God will overlook deliberate, recurring sins we commit, and answer our prayers anyway. Let’s just say here, that if we were to pray for a particular material blessing,
whilst practicing known sin, then any answers we may receive are not coming from God, but are the result of counterfeit blessings.
This widespread delusion has driven many millions of Christians to so-called “Faith healers” who offer healing, wealth, and deliverance, on terms that are neither recognized nor endorsed by God. Thus it is, that the multitudes are not called upon to make any changes to our lifestyles and habits, but are rather encouraged to call upon the name of Jesus, whilst we do the very things He has expressly forbidden. This scenario sets us up for major disappointment, for we often find out too late that God has not been listening to our prayers, because the preconditions written in the Bible were never met. Let’s read:
Psalm 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.
Proverbs 28:9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.
Let’s take for instance the issue of security, which has become a hot button topic in the recent rounds of debates. The promise of protection is one of the fundamentals God has promised to those who are called by His name, hence the reason why it has so often been stated that our focus as Christians is not on survival, but rather on surrender to The Lord Jesus Christ. In harmony with this teaching, and the accompanying promises made to true believers, it is not necessary to stock-pile weapons of any kind, for the Bible specifically stipulates what our weapons and ammunitions ought to be. Let’s read:
2nd Corinthians 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.
Thus, when these conditions are fulfilled, and as we seek to cooperate with God in their fulfillment, the literal enemies like Isis, who seek to do us harm will be taken care of by God, for He has also given us mega promises of protection, when the stated preconditions are fulfilled. Let’s read:
Leviticus 26:7 And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword.
8 And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.
9 For I will have respect unto you”….
Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
20 Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.
21 He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the Lord his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them.
23 Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel”….
Question: Were these promises made only to the Hebrew people, or do they apply evenly across the board to every person living on earth, regardless of ethnic origin, or political affiliation? This question leads us to the very next scriptural concept we will consider, and one that has too often been distorted to make it seem as if God is partial in His dealings with earth’s inhabitants, having favorites on the one hand, and enemies on the other.
[2] There are absolutely no favorites with God, for He loves each person as His very own, and thus, if a pagan or heathen nation or individual were to take the Bible as it reads, the blessings stated there will apply evenly, without bias, without favoritism, and without exclusiveness, for all people are God’s, both by creation and redemption. Let’s read:
Ezekiel 18:4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine”…
5 But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right,
6 And”.. 9 Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord God.
Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
Isaiah 56:2 Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.
3 Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the Lord, speak, saying, The Lord hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree.
4 For thus saith the Lord unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant;
5 Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.
6 Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord, to serve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;
7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.
The next scriptural concept is one that addresses the fatal notion that God is too good to destroy the beings He has created, if we continue in deliberate sin, and that because of His great love and kindness towards us, it is inconsistent with His character to mete out judgments to those who continue living in rebellion against His sovereign authority. This view is the very same one that was held by the ancient antediluvian world, and which, as the after history shows, ultimately caused the demise of billions of people.
[3] God retains the prerogative to save or to destroy according to His discretion, and the delusion that His love prevents Him from executing warranted judgments, is entirely false and is nowhere to be found in the Bible.
It is quite incorrect and even dangerous to draw such a conclusion, for whenever this view is held by humanity, there is to be seen moral abandon, and the practice of iniquity to a fearful extent, hence the reason why the Scriptures are given to correct this widely held view. Now, it is true that God delights in mercy, and indeed He does not take pleasure in the death of the sinner, but He will have us understand that His great love for us does not tie His hands, nor inhibit Him from executing judgment whenever and wherever it becomes necessary.
In other words, a balanced understanding of this vital point will lead us to appreciate God’s loving kindness towards us, yet at the same time will not lead us to presumptuous sinning against Him, when we know better. This is the correct view of God on this point, and it is ably supported by a plethora of passages that deal with this very issue. Let’s read:
Exodus 33:12 And Moses said unto the Lord”…. 18 “I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.
19 And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.
Exodus 34:6 And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,
7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.
Genesis 6:5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
6 And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
7 And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.
Isaiah 1:19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:
20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
Deuteronomy 11:26 Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse;
27 A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day:
28 And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.
1st Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
[4] Another warped concept of God that is often put forward to the multitudes, causing us to look upon Him as an arbitrary Ruler, is the false doctrine of generational curses, by which the iniquity of the fathers, together with the penalties, are inflicted upon their offspring, regardless of whether they themselves choose to do good or evil. This false, and erroneous theory has led many to believe that because of generational sins that may have been indulged and cultivated by parents and progenitors for a number of years, that the children are bound in an iron destiny to do evil, and that the children are born with a natural, inevitable curse hanging over their heads. The Bible also gives us the right interpretation of the character of God to correct this erroneous view. Let’s read:
Ezekiel 18:2 What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge?
3 As I live, saith the Lord God, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb”…
4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
5 But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right,
9 Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord God.
19 Yet say ye, Why? doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live.
20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.
Thus it is, that in these four examples given, we have the testimony of scripture, describing the character of God, as it pertains to His dealing with earth’s inhabitants, and if we were to employ the scriptural format for interpretation given, then our concepts of the God of heaven would be greatly enhanced, and as a result, we will be enabled to pray an commune with Him intelligently, thinking and praying along Biblical modes of thought and action, so we can have the confidence that God will hear and answer our petitions when we pray. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which encourages us to worship and serve The God of the Bible, and not the god of fable and philosophy, for anyone who chooses to serve and obey Christ will never be ashamed. Let’s read:
Isaiah 65:23 They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them.
24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
God bless!