March 16, 2020
Listener: What does it mean to believe in vain? I attend a grace church where it is taught that to believe in vain is to believe without a cause. I have also heard it said that it means to only believe the gospel as an historical event. However, I heard you say that it is neither, but has to do with the resurrection. Can you please explain in more detail?
A friend told me about you, and my wife and I along with our 15 year old have listened to each one of your teachings at least twice! We are loving it! So much meaty nourishment.
TTR: Anyone teaching that to believe in vain pertains to believing "without a cause" or believing "the gospel as an historical event" is guilty of Eisegesis. Applying their own pre-conceived notions, prejudices and predilections to Gods word. Something that should be unacceptable to any student of scripture.
The answer becomes clear when we use synthesis and compare scripture with scripture.
The bible is axiomatic - self evident. It's own dictionary and answers itself.
Without bouncing around to and fro. let's examine the evidence while staying within the parameter of context.
1 Corinthians 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
So what does "unless ye have believed in vain." mean? Watch as the bible answers itself:
12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
Now watch closely. Here is our answer.....
14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
The word "if" signifies a condition. Notice, "if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:" i.e. if he did not rise, I lied to you and my preaching is in vain - and if my preaching is in vain, then so is your belief. Why? Because you believed a lie.
So vain belief according to God, is to believe a LIE.
Contrary to popular belief, it's more about the SPEAKER than the HEARER.
If what Paul spoke were not so then the hearers belief would be of no value. Meaning they believed in vain.
Watch what Paul wrote next:
15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
It's more about the false testimony of the witness than those they witnessed TO.
The apostles would be nothing more than "false witnesses" if their testimony was that God has "raised up Christ: whom he raised not up,"
If Christ did not rise, then what was preached was a LIE!
Meaning "your faith is also vain" because you believed a lie.
Paul is saying, if Christ did not rise then I am a false witness with a false testimony. And if you believe a false witness with a false testimony, you have believed in vain.
We're told to "Let no man deceive you with vain words:"(Ephesians 5:6.) Vain words are words that are not true. Believing in vain is believing words that are not true.
It's about the speaker who lied, and not the hearer who didn't believe enough.
It's not about someone believing "without a cause" or believing "the gospel as an historical event". It's when someone believes false information.
For many years some of the most popular preachers have simply parroted what they heard without examining it first. Hence the reason the church is in its current state.
In Acts 17:11 after hearing Paul preach, those of Berea examined what they were told, to make sure it was not a lie. Today, much of society is far to lazy to do that. So before walking into the church building - they unzip their forehead - pull out their brain -and leave it in the glove box. "It must be true because after all, he's the preacher."
What a difference it would make if we simply followed instructions. If we would only "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." (1 Thessalonians 5:21)
Sometimes truth is right under our nose. There all along hidden in plain sight.
Listener response: So clear!!! This answers it perfectly Mr. Searcy. Many thanks from the xxxxx family.
Add comment
Comments