(Note: This article was written by one of the members at West Side, Kelly Wilson. I commend it to you. SC)
“…The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet: 26 “‘Go to this people and say, You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive. 27 For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them…’” Acts 28:25-27 (ESV)
When the Lord Jesus and His apostles proclaimed the simple gospel the common and uneducated heard him gladly and believed (Mark 12:37; Acts 4:13) but when many of the educated Jewish leaders heard the same message they rejected it (Matthew 21:32).
Paul reminded the saints in Corinth that most of them were not considered highly educated or noble, according to the world’s standard, but simply obeyed the good news preached to the saving of their souls (1 Corinthians 1:18, 22-26). It is not necessary for one to be highly educated to understand and obey God’s simple message; it rather requires one to humble themselves (1 Peter 5:5), have an honest heart that is willing to reason (Luke. 8:15; James 3:17), and obey the simple revealed Word of God (Mark 1:15; Acts 2:41, 47).
Why then do many religious people today do not or will not understand and obey the plainly revealed gospel of God?
They Pursue Their Own Desires
The scriptures are the revealed mind of God (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21) and constitute all truth (John 17:17), but the Holy Spirit warned that men would reject that one truth to pursue their own passions and desires.
“…the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths…” 2 Timothy 4:3-4 (ESV)
To illustrate, the gospel teaches that the church is the pillar and ground of the truth (2 Timothy 3:15) with a simple, narrowly-defined, spiritual work which includes sounding-out the gospel to the lost (1 Thessalonians 1:8), edifying those who are saved through the whole counsel of God (Ephesians 4:11-16: Acts 20:27), providing limited benevolence to worthy, needy saints (Acts 11:27-30), and practicing worship in spirit and truth (John 4:24) [e.g. singing (Colossians 3:16-17), praying (1 Timothy 2:1-2), partaking of the Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26) and giving as they have been blessed by God (1 Corinthians. 16:1; 2 Corinthians 9:6)].
In contrast, groups that reject this pattern focus their collective work on such things as humanitarian and recreational activities (i.e. secular schools, food pantries, and community entertainment), supplant godly edification (Ephesians 4:11-16) with “feel-good” messages designed to build “self-esteem” and replace spiritual worship with services designed to entertain the attendees with such things as bands, choirs, and dramatic productions. It is evident from the New Testament that these activities originated not in the authority of God’s Word but in the carnal desires of men.
They Cannot Understand or Will Not Listen to God’s Word
God teaches that only diligent study and application of His Word builds faith (Romans 10:17), sharpens discernment between good and evil (Hebrews 5:14), and prevents one from being tossed about by the vagrant winds of false doctrine (Ephesians 4:14).
In contrast, those that lean on their own wisdom and do not or will not devote themselves to learning God’s Word cannot understand God’s instructions.
“…The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned…” 1 Corinthians 2:14 (ESV)
God appeals to our reason (Isaiah 1:18; Acts 17:2-3) and when we read His word we can understand His teaching (Ephesians 3:1-6). God’s words are not too difficult, but often the problem lies with the will of the individual, as Jesus pointed out to those who rejected Him as the Christ,
“…Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word…Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God…” John 8:43, 47 (ESV)
God Has Blinded Them
God’s message is simple and easily understood, but when one rejects His counsel He will blind them.
“…The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, 12 in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness…” 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 (ESV)
Do you have ears that are willing to listen to and obey God’s instructions?
