Two Sources of Error

Today’s Scripture Readings:

• OT: Ezra 3
• NT: Mark 12
• W&W: Psalm 37.12-22

Today’s Reflection:

In Mark 12, Jesus was confronted by the Sadducees – who didn’t believe in the resurrection – about heaven. Jesus asked them, “Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures of the power of God?” (Mark 12.24) In this simple question, Jesus cites two sources of error:

1. You’re wrong because you don’t know the Bible.
2. You’re wrong because you don’t know the power of God.

Our errors often come from these two sources as well.

Error comes when we don’t know the Bible:

• It’s content
• The truth and principles it contains
• The supremacy of the Bible over our traditions and preferences
• The authority the Bible has over us
• The Bible’s inerrancy
• The Bible’s applicability (relevance) to all life
• That it serves as our judge not as a justification for our arguments and opinions
• The friendship we can have with the Word of God
• That it is a powerful force to change us

We err when we don’t know the power of God:

• We haven’t experienced God’s power, remaining strangers to its impact, so we reject its possibility.
• We don’t understand it, so we fear it.
• We don’t accept God’s authority over us, so we try to make his power fit into our agendas.
• We don’t recognize it, so we miss it.

Don’t make the mistake of the Sadducees! Know the Bible and be changed by that knowledge. Know (experience) God and be changed by the power that raised Jesus from the dead!

This Week’s Scripture to Memorize:
Isaiah 53.1: Who has believed our message, and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?