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What theological things were you mistaken about in your growing knowledge of God's Word?
Here is my list.
#1. I used to believe we had to follow the Old Testament laws in addition to the New Testament laws. Until one day I discovered verses that the New Covenant began with Christ's death and it ended the Old Covenant. In other words, I believe that believers today are to primarily follow the New Testament commands because we are New Covenant believers.
#2. I used to think that Christians could go to war and or they can respond with violence when attacked. But I have come to later learn that the Scriptures teach Non-Resistance (while believers live out their faith). Check out this thread here:
Nonresistance as Taught in the New Testament is Moral and Good.
#3. I used to believe Romans 3:25 was a verse that proves past sins are forgiven for a believer. But this verse is actually talking about those who sinned while under the Old Covenant. Note: Now, I do believe past sins only are forgiven for a Christian, but this verse is not such a verse that makes such a case.
#4. I used to believe that believers can use the same miraculous gifts that the early church had. Today, I lean more towards Cessationism (even though I leave a little bit of room for mystery that I could be wrong).
#5. I used to believe in Eternal Conscious Torment. I believe I was mistaken on this belief after learning of the truth on Dualistic Conditional Immortality (See here). This is the view that hell is a very real place of punishment, but the wicked will be destroyed (erased from existence) in the Lake of Fire after the Judgment and after they have been punished for a set amount of time for their sins. Note: At one point in time, I was on the fence on these two beliefs, until Scripture convinced me otherwise.
#6. I used to think believers could be rich by how we generally understand that word. Meaning, I thought we could be millionaires and still be in service to Christ. But I have learned that this is not so. 1 Timothy 6 is a big refutation of that idea.
#7. John 19:14 says the sixth hour is when Pilate mocks Jesus before a crowd. Yet, on the sixth hour, Scripture says darkness came upon the land after he was on the cross (Matthew 27:45). Many have tried to resolve this supposed contradiction in the Bible in many ways. I used to think the sixth hour in John 19:14 was in reference to a flash forward in time.
However, I abandoned this idea.
I now believe there are two different clocks here. Christ’s clock (or hours); And the normal reckoning of hours within a calendar day.
#8. I used to think time exists like it does in time travel movies, books, comics, etc.; Meaning, I used to believe God existed in all points in time (past, present, and future). However, I have abandoned this idea based on what Scripture says. I believe God simply exists in the present moment of time like all of us do (However, God can obviously see what is going to happen before it happens, though).
#9. At one point in time, I briefly believed for a few days in the Pre-Wrath model. Today, I hold to the view that there is a potential Pre-Trib Rapture, and another event that is the gathering up of the saints by angels in the Middle of the Tribulation (after the abomination of desolations takes place).
#10. I believed in Once Saved Always Saved very briefly (Note: I think it was like 1 or 2 hours), until I researched the Scriptures later that night and learned that it was false.
#11. I used to believe that Christians had to tithe, until I learned that tithing was Old Covenant and that Paul tells us in Corinthians to give what God has purposed in our heart to give.
#12. I used to think church was going to a big building to worship God amongst a bunch of strangers, or people you could not connect with, but I have come to discover that the church are a people, and the early church gathered in each other's homes, and they were close friends and they knew each other.
#13. I used to believe in Total Depravity (Which is one of the points in TULIP within Calvinism). I used to have a super long list to defend this viewpoint. But the more I investigated Scripture even more, I realized that I was taking these verses out of context. I believe all five points of Calvinism are not true now.
#14. I used to believe Jesus did actually know the day and hour of His return during His earthly ministry, but He was using clever word play to make a spiritual point. In time, I realized I was wrong about this, and Jesus suppressed His divine attribute of Omniscience. I still currently believe Jesus was not powerless during His earthly ministry. Check out this list here:
#15. I used to think the angel of the Lord in the Old Testament was just a reference to a created angel. I later discovered that Jesus (Who is GOD and uncreated) was the one who used this title in the OT. No. I don't believe Jesus is an actual angel. The word “angel” means “messenger.” In addition, I believe the “Living Word” (i.e. the Son or second person of the Trinity) put on a soulless shell of an angel body (sort of like a cloak or angel suit) to house His glory as the Son of God. For I now believe today that Jesus made many pre-incarnate appearances in the Old Testament. Check out this thread here to learn more (if you are interested):
Jesus is the Messenger of the Lord in the Old Testament.
#16. I used to believe Ham's sin was looking at Noah's naked body. But I now believe the words used in Genesis 9 are a metaphor that refers to Ham had intimate relations with Noah's wife, whereby he impregnated her (Hence, why Canaan was cursed). To learn more, check out this thread here:
Biblical Metaphors Shed Light on Ham's Sin in Noah's Tent.
#17. I used to believe that faithful believers went directly to Heaven when they died today. I came to learn that believers today who are faithful go to Abraham's bosom until the Rapture happens. Then after the Rapture takes place, believers who will die from that point on will go directly to Heaven.
#18. I went back forth on the baptism issue. I formerly used to believe Spirit baptism is the one baptism mentioned in Ephesians 4:5 and that is the New Covenant form of baptism. I now believe God does require us to be water baptized when we are able to do so as a part of our continued faith. I don’t believe like the Church of Christ or the Catholic Church on this issue. I don’t believe water baptism is the point of contact of faith to be initially saved. Believers can be initially saved by God’s grace without works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Also, a person can accept Jesus as their Savior on their deathbed and be saved (without being water baptized) (John 1:12). But if a believer lives out their faith in this life, they will find an opportunity to be water baptized because it is a part of our faith; For the just live by faith.
#19. I used to believe that the firmament (i.e. Heaven) in Genesis 1:8 was either referring to the sky or to both the sky and outer space. I currently believe now that this firmament (Heaven) in Genesis 1:8 is in reference to the core layer of the Earth that separates the ocean from the fountains of the deep. But how can the firmament be called Heaven if this is so? Well, the reason why it is called Heaven is because Abraham's Bosom is in the heart of the Earth, and or God intended to have His Kingdom on the Earth (of which we see in the New Earth). For it was God's plan to have Heaven on Earth since the beginning.
Now, Genesis 1:14 describes a different firmament. It is called the firmament of Heaven. On Day 4: This firmament of the Heaven includes the sun, moon, and stars being placed in it (Which would obviously be our vantage point or view of the sky - but technically they would be in outer space). This viewpoint explains Genesis 7:11 of the fountains of the deep breaking up. So the firmament (the Earth's core) in Genesis 1:8 is saying that the waters above is the oceans and the waters below this firmament would be the fountains of the deep.
So the first heaven is the core layer of the Earth separating the oceans from the fountains of the deep.
The second heaven would be both the sky (Earth's atmosphere) and outer space (with the stars, and planets).
The third Heaven would be the place that Paul described in 2 Corinthians 12:2.
This view makes sense because the apostle Paul would not know about outer space and think it was a secondary Heaven separate from the sky being the first Heaven. That would be our understanding but not his (Unless God revealed this truth to him).
#20. I used to believe Rahab employed a tactic called the “Art of War” tactic in that during war time it was not considered a lie to deceive one’s enemies to save Israelite lives. But after much thought, and prayer, and in seeking the Scriptures on the matter, I have abandoned this viewpoint, and I now hold to only two possibilities only (and not three possibilities) as to what happened involving Rahab when she spoke to the guards about the two spies. To learn more, check out my post here (along with my subsequent posts).
#21. I used to believe Hebrews 8 and Hebrews 9 was referring to the first testament as starting between God and Adam & Eve (When God sacrificed an animal to clothe their nakedness). But after discussing this more with another believer online, he showed me the actual Scripture that proves that the 1st testament mentioned in Hebrews is actually referring to the covenant made between God and Moses & the Israelites.
Here is my list.
#1. I used to believe we had to follow the Old Testament laws in addition to the New Testament laws. Until one day I discovered verses that the New Covenant began with Christ's death and it ended the Old Covenant. In other words, I believe that believers today are to primarily follow the New Testament commands because we are New Covenant believers.
#2. I used to think that Christians could go to war and or they can respond with violence when attacked. But I have come to later learn that the Scriptures teach Non-Resistance (while believers live out their faith). Check out this thread here:
Nonresistance as Taught in the New Testament is Moral and Good.
#3. I used to believe Romans 3:25 was a verse that proves past sins are forgiven for a believer. But this verse is actually talking about those who sinned while under the Old Covenant. Note: Now, I do believe past sins only are forgiven for a Christian, but this verse is not such a verse that makes such a case.
#4. I used to believe that believers can use the same miraculous gifts that the early church had. Today, I lean more towards Cessationism (even though I leave a little bit of room for mystery that I could be wrong).
#5. I used to believe in Eternal Conscious Torment. I believe I was mistaken on this belief after learning of the truth on Dualistic Conditional Immortality (See here). This is the view that hell is a very real place of punishment, but the wicked will be destroyed (erased from existence) in the Lake of Fire after the Judgment and after they have been punished for a set amount of time for their sins. Note: At one point in time, I was on the fence on these two beliefs, until Scripture convinced me otherwise.
#6. I used to think believers could be rich by how we generally understand that word. Meaning, I thought we could be millionaires and still be in service to Christ. But I have learned that this is not so. 1 Timothy 6 is a big refutation of that idea.
#7. John 19:14 says the sixth hour is when Pilate mocks Jesus before a crowd. Yet, on the sixth hour, Scripture says darkness came upon the land after he was on the cross (Matthew 27:45). Many have tried to resolve this supposed contradiction in the Bible in many ways. I used to think the sixth hour in John 19:14 was in reference to a flash forward in time.
However, I abandoned this idea.
I now believe there are two different clocks here. Christ’s clock (or hours); And the normal reckoning of hours within a calendar day.
1. Christ’s 1st hour. This the 1st hour of when Christ is betrayed into the hands of sinners
(Christ’s 1st hour: See Matthew 26:45). This is Christ’s hour because Christ’s says elsewhere, “My hour has not yet come.” (John 2:4).
2. Early the next morning, Jesus is judged by Pilate (a Roman) early in the morning.
3. Jesus is then whipped and mocked.
4. Christ’s 6th hour. This is after six hours have past from the previous night of the 1st hour of when Jesus was betrayed into the hands of sinners (Matthew 26:45): Pilate sets Jesus before a Jewish audience and says to them, “Behold your king!” (Christ’s 6th hour: See John 19:14).
5. Then at 9:00AM (3rd hour of the Day): Jesus is crucified.
6. Darkness within the sky comes upon the land at 12:00PM (6th hour of the Day).
7. Then at 3:00PM (9th hour of the Day) Jesus dies and He becomes our Passover Lamb, Christ is sacrificed for us (man).
#8. I used to think time exists like it does in time travel movies, books, comics, etc.; Meaning, I used to believe God existed in all points in time (past, present, and future). However, I have abandoned this idea based on what Scripture says. I believe God simply exists in the present moment of time like all of us do (However, God can obviously see what is going to happen before it happens, though).
#9. At one point in time, I briefly believed for a few days in the Pre-Wrath model. Today, I hold to the view that there is a potential Pre-Trib Rapture, and another event that is the gathering up of the saints by angels in the Middle of the Tribulation (after the abomination of desolations takes place).
#10. I believed in Once Saved Always Saved very briefly (Note: I think it was like 1 or 2 hours), until I researched the Scriptures later that night and learned that it was false.
#11. I used to believe that Christians had to tithe, until I learned that tithing was Old Covenant and that Paul tells us in Corinthians to give what God has purposed in our heart to give.
#12. I used to think church was going to a big building to worship God amongst a bunch of strangers, or people you could not connect with, but I have come to discover that the church are a people, and the early church gathered in each other's homes, and they were close friends and they knew each other.
#13. I used to believe in Total Depravity (Which is one of the points in TULIP within Calvinism). I used to have a super long list to defend this viewpoint. But the more I investigated Scripture even more, I realized that I was taking these verses out of context. I believe all five points of Calvinism are not true now.
#14. I used to believe Jesus did actually know the day and hour of His return during His earthly ministry, but He was using clever word play to make a spiritual point. In time, I realized I was wrong about this, and Jesus suppressed His divine attribute of Omniscience. I still currently believe Jesus was not powerless during His earthly ministry. Check out this list here:
1. Jesus said He has power to raise the dead to life just as the Father had power to raise the dead (John 5:21).
2. Hebrews 1:3 talks about how Christ held all things together by the word of His power when He purged us of our sins.
3. Jesus said, He would raise up this Temple (His body) three days later (John 2:19).
4. Jesus had the power to forgive sins and give eternal life (Mark 2:7) (Luke 7:44-50) (John 14:6).
5 Jesus had power to take away the sins of the entire world (John 1:29).
6. Jesus Christ said wherever two or three are gathered in my name, there I am among them (Matthew 18:20). This was said to the people he was around and not to just us today.
7. Jesus knew men's thoughts (Matthew 9:4) (Matthew 12:25) (Mark 2:8) (Luke 5:22) (Luke 6:8) (Luke 9:47) (Luke 24:38).
8. Jesus knew about the lives of others (John 2:24) (John 4:17-18) (John 4:29) (John 6:64).
#15. I used to think the angel of the Lord in the Old Testament was just a reference to a created angel. I later discovered that Jesus (Who is GOD and uncreated) was the one who used this title in the OT. No. I don't believe Jesus is an actual angel. The word “angel” means “messenger.” In addition, I believe the “Living Word” (i.e. the Son or second person of the Trinity) put on a soulless shell of an angel body (sort of like a cloak or angel suit) to house His glory as the Son of God. For I now believe today that Jesus made many pre-incarnate appearances in the Old Testament. Check out this thread here to learn more (if you are interested):
Jesus is the Messenger of the Lord in the Old Testament.
#16. I used to believe Ham's sin was looking at Noah's naked body. But I now believe the words used in Genesis 9 are a metaphor that refers to Ham had intimate relations with Noah's wife, whereby he impregnated her (Hence, why Canaan was cursed). To learn more, check out this thread here:
Biblical Metaphors Shed Light on Ham's Sin in Noah's Tent.
#17. I used to believe that faithful believers went directly to Heaven when they died today. I came to learn that believers today who are faithful go to Abraham's bosom until the Rapture happens. Then after the Rapture takes place, believers who will die from that point on will go directly to Heaven.
#18. I went back forth on the baptism issue. I formerly used to believe Spirit baptism is the one baptism mentioned in Ephesians 4:5 and that is the New Covenant form of baptism. I now believe God does require us to be water baptized when we are able to do so as a part of our continued faith. I don’t believe like the Church of Christ or the Catholic Church on this issue. I don’t believe water baptism is the point of contact of faith to be initially saved. Believers can be initially saved by God’s grace without works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Also, a person can accept Jesus as their Savior on their deathbed and be saved (without being water baptized) (John 1:12). But if a believer lives out their faith in this life, they will find an opportunity to be water baptized because it is a part of our faith; For the just live by faith.
#19. I used to believe that the firmament (i.e. Heaven) in Genesis 1:8 was either referring to the sky or to both the sky and outer space. I currently believe now that this firmament (Heaven) in Genesis 1:8 is in reference to the core layer of the Earth that separates the ocean from the fountains of the deep. But how can the firmament be called Heaven if this is so? Well, the reason why it is called Heaven is because Abraham's Bosom is in the heart of the Earth, and or God intended to have His Kingdom on the Earth (of which we see in the New Earth). For it was God's plan to have Heaven on Earth since the beginning.
Now, Genesis 1:14 describes a different firmament. It is called the firmament of Heaven. On Day 4: This firmament of the Heaven includes the sun, moon, and stars being placed in it (Which would obviously be our vantage point or view of the sky - but technically they would be in outer space). This viewpoint explains Genesis 7:11 of the fountains of the deep breaking up. So the firmament (the Earth's core) in Genesis 1:8 is saying that the waters above is the oceans and the waters below this firmament would be the fountains of the deep.
So the first heaven is the core layer of the Earth separating the oceans from the fountains of the deep.
The second heaven would be both the sky (Earth's atmosphere) and outer space (with the stars, and planets).
The third Heaven would be the place that Paul described in 2 Corinthians 12:2.
This view makes sense because the apostle Paul would not know about outer space and think it was a secondary Heaven separate from the sky being the first Heaven. That would be our understanding but not his (Unless God revealed this truth to him).
#20. I used to believe Rahab employed a tactic called the “Art of War” tactic in that during war time it was not considered a lie to deceive one’s enemies to save Israelite lives. But after much thought, and prayer, and in seeking the Scriptures on the matter, I have abandoned this viewpoint, and I now hold to only two possibilities only (and not three possibilities) as to what happened involving Rahab when she spoke to the guards about the two spies. To learn more, check out my post here (along with my subsequent posts).
#21. I used to believe Hebrews 8 and Hebrews 9 was referring to the first testament as starting between God and Adam & Eve (When God sacrificed an animal to clothe their nakedness). But after discussing this more with another believer online, he showed me the actual Scripture that proves that the 1st testament mentioned in Hebrews is actually referring to the covenant made between God and Moses & the Israelites.
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