How can we avoid misunderstanding God? - Misunderstandings - TouchPoints

Colossians 1:15Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before God made anything at all and is supreme over all creation.

Colossians 2:9For in Christ the fullness of God lives in a human body,

2 Corinthians 3:14But the people’s minds were hardened, and even to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, a veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ.

The better we understand who God is the more we will understand his ways.

1 Corinthians 13:12Now we see things imperfectly as in a poor mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God knows me now.

Matthew 16:23Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”

We must learn to look at things from God’s point of view to understand his ways.

2 Timothy 3:16-17All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. [17] God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

Acts 17:11And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul's message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.

Psalm 119:105Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

The lamp of God’s Word is a constant source of clarity and understanding.

John 14:26But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative-that is, the Holy Spirit-he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.

2 Corinthians 2:12When I came to the city of Troas to preach the Good News of Christ, the Lord opened a door of opportunity for me.

1 John 4:1-3Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. [2] This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a prophet acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God. [3] But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here.

The Holy Spirit guides us in recognizing God’s voice and remembering his truth. This was why Jesus sent him to us! Often, the Holy Spirit reminds us of certain truths at just the right time, or connects Bible verses together in ways we hadn’t realized before, leading us to a deeper understanding of God’s Word. Still, not every insight that comes to our minds is from the Holy Spirit. We must be careful, testing each idea against the foundational truths of Scripture.

Colossians 2:8Don't let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.

1 Corinthians 11:1-2And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ. [2] I am so glad that you always keep me in your thoughts, and that you are following the teachings I passed on to you.

Matthew 15:9Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.'"

2 Thessalonians 2:15With all these things in mind, dear brothers and sisters, stand firm and keep a strong grip on the teaching we passed on to you both in person and by letter.

Tradition can be either a source of misunderstanding or a source of clarity. The Pharisees created rules with the intent of helping people follow God’s law, but these rules eventually overshadowed the purpose of the law itself: loving God and loving others (Matthew 22:36-40). These empty traditions created misunderstandings and led people astray. On the other hand, Paul encouraged his churches to cling to the traditions they’d been given. Traditions can help preserve God’s truth in a memorable way, helping to pass it down from generation to generation. They reduce the danger of miscommunication down the line. Tradition should never be placed above the Word of God, but it can be a helpful advisor in our interpretation of it.