“For most people, a stray comma isn’t the end of the world. But in some cases, the exact placement of a punctuation mark can cost huge sums of money.”
Details are important. How important? Down to a single letter. Men of the past have fought over one single letter, the letter ‘i’: homoousios vs homo[i]ousios in defending the Deity of Christ (think about that for a moment). Scripture is of divine origin, and it must be handled with the utmost care and diligence in study. To outsiders, God often communicates in ways that may seem difficult or contradictory. This is to grab our attention and to draw us in, compelling us to ponder and to think deeply about His truth. It is through the process of considering both sides that the Lord imparts understanding (cf. 2 Timothy 2:7). The unfaithful will either abandon their pursuit (cf. John 6:65-66) or distort the Scripture to their own destruction (2 Peter 3:15-16).
A misplaced comma can cost you millions, but a denial of certain biblical truths can cost you your soul: “I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” (John 8:23-24).
Step by Step
Be wise and take things step by step. Approach biblical studies like a detective investigating a crime scene.
Here’s one example for your consideration. Romans 9 is a huge chapter. It confuses a lot of people, but if you have studied Exodus and how God hardened Pharaoh, you will have the key to unlock Romans 9. And when you come to Romans 11:32,
For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on ALL.
You’ll have to ask yourself whether the “ALL” there includes Pharaoh or not. And if it does not include Pharaoh, then the word “all” does not always mean “everyone without exception.” You see where this is going?
Romans 9 is indeed a difficult chapter for laymen. Non-Calvinists come to it with many presuppositions, and even if you’re not yet reformed, the arguments on both sides can be confusing at first. But you don’t have to start there. You can start with Exodus and thoroughly study how Pharaoh’s heart was hardened. Once you are certain and sure, you will have no problem understanding Romans 9 and will see through the confusions. The problem is that many Non-Calvinists rush through Exodus and they carry their assumptions and presuppositions into Romans 9. What I’m trying to say is this: You can understand Romans 9 by first understanding Pharaoh. Work through all the arguments for and against. I did… and can say with 100% certainty that Pharaoh’s heart was in the hand of the LORD, and He turned it wherever He wished (Proverbs 21:1). Leighton Flowers and his followers don’t believe this!
“The simple believes every word, but the prudent considers well his steps.” —Proverbs 14:15
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The Importance of Detail
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Back in 2018, BBC posted an article titled, “The commas that cost companies millions.”
Details are important. How important? Down to a single letter. Men of the past have fought over one single letter, the letter ‘i’: homoousios vs homo[i]ousios in defending the Deity of Christ (think about that for a moment). Scripture is of divine origin, and it must be handled with the utmost care and diligence in study. To outsiders, God often communicates in ways that may seem difficult or contradictory. This is to grab our attention and to draw us in, compelling us to ponder and to think deeply about His truth. It is through the process of considering both sides that the Lord imparts understanding (cf. 2 Timothy 2:7). The unfaithful will either abandon their pursuit (cf. John 6:65-66) or distort the Scripture to their own destruction (2 Peter 3:15-16).
A misplaced comma can cost you millions, but a denial of certain biblical truths can cost you your soul: “I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” (John 8:23-24).
Step by Step
Be wise and take things step by step. Approach biblical studies like a detective investigating a crime scene.
Here’s one example for your consideration. Romans 9 is a huge chapter. It confuses a lot of people, but if you have studied Exodus and how God hardened Pharaoh, you will have the key to unlock Romans 9. And when you come to Romans 11:32,
You’ll have to ask yourself whether the “ALL” there includes Pharaoh or not. And if it does not include Pharaoh, then the word “all” does not always mean “everyone without exception.” You see where this is going?
Romans 9 is indeed a difficult chapter for laymen. Non-Calvinists come to it with many presuppositions, and even if you’re not yet reformed, the arguments on both sides can be confusing at first. But you don’t have to start there. You can start with Exodus and thoroughly study how Pharaoh’s heart was hardened. Once you are certain and sure, you will have no problem understanding Romans 9 and will see through the confusions. The problem is that many Non-Calvinists rush through Exodus and they carry their assumptions and presuppositions into Romans 9. What I’m trying to say is this: You can understand Romans 9 by first understanding Pharaoh. Work through all the arguments for and against. I did… and can say with 100% certainty that Pharaoh’s heart was in the hand of the LORD, and He turned it wherever He wished (Proverbs 21:1). Leighton Flowers and his followers don’t believe this!