<\/p>\n
\u201c“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool<\/i>\u201d (Isaiah 1:18).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
<\/p>\n
I find it amazing what is accepted as logic among the denominations. Some argue that God\u2019s Holy Word is too difficult for the average person to understand. Therefore, members are urged to let their leaders, who have gone to school for such things, tell them what God actually meant to say. Others argue that the Bible cannot be understood unless the Holy Spirit directly intervenes and grants a person the ability to understand the Bible. In either system the result is the same; when confronted with the truth found in God\u2019s Word they will say, \u201cyou don\u2019t understand!\u201d They will happily ignore you because an \u201cignorant\u201d or \u201cspiritless\u201d person cannot be expected to know about what they are talking.<\/p>\n
Yet God has always invited reasoned discourse over His teachings. When God wanted people to understand that He alone is God, He invited men to bring their best arguments in support of their gods. \u201cTell and bring forth your case; Yes, let them take counsel together. Who has declared this from ancient time? Who has told it from that time? Have not I, the LORD? And there is no other God besides Me, A just God and a Savior; There is none besides Me<\/i>\u201d (Isaiah 45:21). God has no fear of man\u2019s logic. \u201cFor it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?<\/i>\u201d (I Corinthians 1:19-20). This is not to say that God will not reason with mankind, but to warn us that God is so far above us that He can make mincemeat of our best arguments. This is simply because all knowledge, understanding, and wisdom originate with God. \u201cFor the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding<\/i>\u201d (Proverbs 2:6). We cannot outperform God with what He provides. Hence, when God argued about the foolishness of idol worship, His case was flawless (Isaiah 44:9-20).<\/p>\n
God chose the seemingly foolish method of preaching the gospel to save men\u2019s souls (I Corinthians 1:21). At its foundation, preaching is persuading people of the truth of the gospel by reason. \u201cKnowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men<\/i>\u201d (II Corinthians 5:11). Hence, when we read of Paul entering a new city we find, \u201cThen Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ”<\/i>\u201d (Acts 17:2-3). Paul\u2019s customary method was to enter a town and reason with the people from the Scriptures. When Paul moved on to Athens we read, \u201cTherefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there<\/i>\u201d (Acts 17:17). Later Paul journeyed to Corinth were we once again find, \u201cAnd he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.<\/i>\u201d (Acts 18:4).<\/p>\n
Paul was successful because he relied on God\u2019s logic and not the flawed methods that pass for reasoning among men. \u201cFor though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ<\/i>\u201d (II Corinthians 10:3-5).<\/p>\n
God\u2019s way can be learned by men. God requires that all Christians learn it. \u201cLet no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord<\/i>\u201d (Ephesians 5:6-10). The Greek word,\u00a0dokimazo<\/i>, which here is translated \u201cfinding out\u201d means to try, scrutinize, prove, test, or examine. Therefore, God is commanding each Christian to examine and prove what is acceptable to God. In another book, Paul said, \u201cTest all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil<\/i>\u201d (I Thessalonians 5:21-22). Such commands require Christians to think, to reason, and to make judgments. The standard for all judgments is God\u2019s revealed word.<\/p>\n
The need for learning to reason is evident. Paul warned in Ephesians 5:6 that there are people who will deceive Christians with empty words. Like a sugar-laden desert, the words sound good, but there is no nutritious substance for the soul in them. Only by correct reasoning can we detect the good from the bad. To gain that ability, we must learn until we reach the maturity level of Christ Himself (Ephesians 4:11-13). So, \u201cthat we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head–Christ<\/i>\u201d (Ephesians 4:14-15).<\/p>\n
As we study together, it is my desire to show you how to correctly reason and how to detect and defeat the faulty reasoning of false teachers.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cFor this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding<\/i>\u201d (Colossians 1:9).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
<\/p>\n
Questions<\/h3>\n
1)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Isn\u2019t appealing to reason canceling faith?<\/p>\n
2)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Some teach that man is too corrupt to be persuaded by mere words unless God directly intervenes. How would you answer this?<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKeys to Understanding\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNext Chapter\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
An Appeal for Reason \u201c“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool\u201d (Isaiah 1:18). I find it amazing what is accepted as logic among the denominations. Some…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":827,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-830","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":34102,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/hebrew-poetry\/synthetic\/","url_meta":{"origin":830,"position":0},"title":"Synthetic","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 14, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Synthetic In a synthetic relationship, one idea leads to another or is derived from the prior. It can be cause and effect, an explanation, or a condition followed by a consequence. Psalms 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; \u2192 I shall not want. The fact that the Lord God is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"poetry\"","block_context":{"text":"poetry","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/tag\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":847,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/keys-to-understanding\/understanding-the-foundation\/","url_meta":{"origin":830,"position":1},"title":"Understanding: The Foundation","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 24, 2003","format":false,"excerpt":"Understanding: The Foundation \u00a0 \"Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is\" (Ephesians 5:17). \u00a0 Sometimes when God speaks of \"understanding,\" He means much more than a comprehension of facts. The Hebrew word refers to the intelligence of a person; his ability to connect\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":24470,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/the-corinthian-letters\/gods-wisdom\/","url_meta":{"origin":830,"position":2},"title":"God\u2019s Wisdom","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 9, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"God's Wisdom Class Discussion: Review the assignment on the concept of \"division.\" Where was the division coming from? Who was dividing? Over what were they dividing? The Wisdom of the Message\u00a0(I Corinthians 1:18-25) \"Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":30488,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/the-corinthian-letters\/spiritual-gifts-prophecy-is-better-than-tongues\/","url_meta":{"origin":830,"position":3},"title":"Spiritual Gifts: Prophecy Is Better Than Tongues","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 13, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Spiritual Gifts: Prophecy Is Better Than Tongues The prophet edifies others\u00a0(I Corinthians 14:1-5) While love is the greatest gift from God, it doesn't mean that the temporary spiritual gifts were useless. Paul encouraged the Corinthians to desire spiritual gifts. Of the various spiritual gifts, the one Paul deems most valuable\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":3202,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/the-ten-commandments\/you-shall-not-take-the-name-of-god-in-vain\/","url_meta":{"origin":830,"position":4},"title":"You Shall Not Take the Name of God in Vain","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 13, 2005","format":false,"excerpt":"Not Taking the Lord's Name in Vain \"You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain\" (Deuteronomy 5:11) In granting God His position as the one and only God, we must show\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":940,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/keys-to-understanding\/reviling-what-they-do-not-understand\/","url_meta":{"origin":830,"position":5},"title":"Reviling What They Do Not Understand","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 16, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Reviling What They Do Not Understand \u00a0 \u201cBut there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/830","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=830"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/830\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/827"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=830"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}