A. INTRODUCTION: YOUR ATTITUDE TOWARD DIFFICULTIES
1. Because a verse is difficult does not mean the Bible is contradictory, nor should you doubt God’s Word.
2. You can’t know everything, only God knows everything, so trust Him. “The secret things belong unto the Lord our God” (Deut. 29:29).
3. Every verse has a purpose, and some difficult passages are there for a purpose. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts . . . for as the heavens are higher the earth, so are . . . My thoughts than your thoughts” (Is. 55:89).
4. Therefore, there is an answer to all difficulties; search for it.
B. 9 DIFFICULT PASSAGES
1. How is the unbeliever sanctified by marriage? “For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband” (1 Cor. 7:14).
a. Doesn’t mean salvation.
b. No such thing as household salvation.
c. Sanctification means, “set apart,” they are set apart to be influenced by the believer.
d. They are “set apart” by intercession, godly influences, and the presence of God in the home.
2. Should Christians wash the feet of one another? “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14).
a. Foot washing is not a church ordinance because: (1) Command not repeated to churches, (2) not illustrated in churches, (3) custom of day, (4) weaker symbolism, (5) foot washing means humility and service.
3. What does it mean for women to keep silent in church? “Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive” (1 Cor. 14:34). “Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence” (1 Tim. 2:11-12).
a. Doesn’t mean no talking because women preached to women (Acts 2:17-18) and Philip’s seven daughters preached (Acts 21:8-9).
b. Tradition: women yelling questions to husbands about the sermon, i.e., confusion (1 Cor. 14:33).
c. The word “teach” is connected to “authority,” i.e., a woman should not be the final authority of doctrine. “A Sunday school teacher is an extension of church doctrine and pastoral care into the life of her class.”
4. What does it mean, “What shall they do which are baptized for the dead?” (a) Vicarious baptism – practiced by Marcionites and Mormons. Paul wouldn’t introduce this doctrine without condemning it, (b) Replace – why would they continue to baptize new converts to take the place of those believers who died, if there is no resurrection, (c) Persecution – new converts were being “immersed” in severe persecution and they died for their faith.
5. How can God repent? “It repented the Lord that He had made man on the earth” (Gen. 6:6). (a) God did not do wrong morally, (b) God did not make a mistake, (c) Repent means to change the mind, resulting in changed actions (d) Not a change in God’s nature, “I am the Lord, I change not” (Mal. 3:6), (e) When mankind changed, God could no longer respond in love, but God no longer blessed, but He judged sin.
6. How can war be justified in view of the 6th Commandment? “Thou shalt not kill” (Ex. 2013). (a) The word is murder, which is first degree intentional, or second degree unintentional, or manslaughter, (b) War falls under the obligation of government to protect its citizens, i.e., “beareth not the sword in vain” (Rom. 13:4), (c) The government is “ordained of God” (Rom. 13:2).
7. What sin is unpardonable? “Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come” (Matt. 12:32). (a) God can pardon every sin, (b) Some Catholics claim it is suicide because extreme unction cannot be applied, (c) Some dispensationalists say it was committed only during life of Jesus by those who attributed the miracles of Jesus to Satan, (d) Some say a person hardens his heart by continual, rejection of light and full knowledge so that they won’t (not can’t) be saved, i.e., God’s Three Deadlines, (e) All who die in unbelief have committed a sin that can’t be pardoned.
8. Did Jesus condone drinking alcohol when He turned water into wine? “And when the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine” (John 2:4). “Thou hast kept the good wine until now” (John 2:10). Does this suggest intoxicating wine? (a) Jesus wouldn’t disobey the Old Testament. “Woe to him that giveth his neighbor drink, that puttest the bottle to him” (Hab. 2:15), (b) Jesus knew consequences of alcohol (Prov. 23:29-35), “Biteth like a serpent,” (c) Jesus sped up nature’s cycle. Water into ground, into vine, into grapes, into juice, (d) The process of fermentation involved adding leaven (yeast) to juice. Leavening prohibited at Passover and in sacrifices, because leaven was a sign of sin (Ex. 12:15, 19; Lev. 2:11).
9. How can we condemn modern cults and polygamy when Solomon had multiple wives? Solomon “had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines” (1 Kings 11:3). (a) Solomon was compartmentally wise, but spiritually blind. “His wives turned away his heart” (1 Kings 11:3), (b) Solomon disobeyed God’s Word against amassing gold, horses and wives (Deut. 17:16-17), (c) Solomon disobeyed God’s command about marriage. “They shall be one flesh” (Gen. 2:24), (d) The Lord appeared to Solomon twice (1 Kings 3:5-14; 9:2-9) but not again after multiple marriages, (e) It’s possible to be used greatly as a youth, but turn against God in old age.
C. CONCLUDING PRINCIPLES
1. Just because a passage is difficult, doesn’t mean it doesn’t have truth we must obey.
2. Difficult passages may deal with the difficult issues of life.
3. Because no person is perfect, difficulties arise in early life and are reflected in Scripture. Not everything that every believer does is our pattern of action.
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
All PBC lessons are available online at trbc.org/pbc. Go to www.Hopenow.tv for the current program schedule.
Dr. Towns’ email is eltowns@liberty.edu.
