Should You Just Take It on Faith?
I recently heard a man giving a sermon on the Internet. In this sermon he was attempting to explain a doctrine that his church held dear even though it was a false doctrine. You could tell that he knew he could not prove this doctrine using scripture. So he had decided to go about it in a way familiar to those who attend these churches.
Within the first two or three minutes of his sermon, he started talking about the "incomprehensibility of God". I looked up the definition of incomprehensible just to make sure on Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary and it means "impossible to comprehend or unintelligible".
Even though he probably didn't realize it at the time, he was actually admitting that he did not understand God. God was unintelligible to him. After listening to him try to explain his doctrines, I agree that he does not understand God!
He was saying that there are just some things you have to take on faith. Have you ever heard someone say, "You've just got to take it on faith"? I have heard it many times. There is a problem with that line of reasoning though: it isn't scriptural.
These people will often defend their theory by going to Hebrews 11:3. It says, "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear."
Sadly, the real meaning of this scripture is also incomprehensible to them. Many people mistakenly associate faith with "blind faith". Faith is NOT blind. God never told anyone to believe doctrines without proof. We must put scripture together to get a total picture. God does not even expect you to "just take it on faith" that He exists. Let's go to Romans 1:18-20. It says, "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19. Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
- For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:"
These ungodly and unrighteous men have no excuse. The very creation we see every day should make the invisible things of God clearly seen. The creation requires a Creator because everything cannot come from nothing. God does not expect us to have blind faith. God is all about proof.
1 Thessalonians 5:21
21. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
Did you comprehend that? God wants you to PROVE ALL THINGS! He doesn't want you to just blindly accept any church doctrine. You must prove your beliefs! Otherwise, you will be deceived by false doctrine.
Ephesians 5:6-10
6. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
7. Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
8. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
9. (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
10. Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
God doesn't want you to continue to walk in darkness. He wants you to PROVE what is acceptable to Him!
People who believe in the incomprehensibility of God do not search the scriptures for that knowledge and understanding. You can know what God's will is!
Romans 12:1-2
1. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
See, you can KNOW! God wants you to know! You just have to want the truth and work for it. The scriptures above said to PROVE these things. The Greek word used for prove is #1381 in Strong's Dictionary. Notice that this same word is used in Romans 1:28:
28. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Here "like" is also #1381 in the Greek - " to test" or "to prove".
These people did not test or prove God, so the truth meant nothing to them. It was incomprehensible or unintelligible to them, but it was their choice!
Romans 14:22 - "alloweth" is also #1381
22. Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
God expects you to live by faith within the framework of truth you have proven to yourself. Once you have proven it to be the truth, then He expects you to live accordingly. This way it is never just someone else's words or beliefs. They are yours because you proved them to be true in your mind and heart. Proving the truth to yourself makes it so much harder for false ministers to deceive you.
1 John 4:1 - "try" is #1381
1. Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
God wants us to test or try the spirits. This is the same word we have been reading for prove. You can prove whether a man has God's holy spirit by what he says. Prove to yourself if it comes from the Bible or not!
Never fall for the "incomprehensibility of God" or the "just take it on faith" lies being spread by these false teachers. Your faith must not be blind. Prove it to yourself before you believe it. God wants you to know!