Mathematics have never been a strength in my abilities. Algebra was the only class in high school in which I ever received a D. I am not sure if I missed the day they explained the basic concept of letters instead of numbers in equations, but for the longest time I did not have a clue what we were doing in class. It could be that I was just more interested in reading my history and literature textbooks than I was in math, so I did not pay much attention.

With that said, I have now figured out this multiplying of letters instead of numbers. A is the the first letter of the alphabet so it must equal 1. B is the second letter so it must equal 2. C follows, so it must always represent 3, and so on until Z equals 26. That would mean the formula of a2 + b2 = c2 is actually 1 + 4 = 9.

Of course, that answer is totally wrong because the whole concept I based the conclusion on is wrong. You can argue that it follows the system of A = 1, etc. You can argue that it makes sense when you see the algebraic formulas that have no numbers and you may find a case where said substitutions actually work. You may even find others who have no concept of algebra and get a group to believe you. But regardless, it is wrong. If one starts out with the wrong definitions, the wrong rationale, the wrong preconceptions, or even the wrong purpose, then everything built on those wrong suppositions will also be wrong.

And here is the comparison. Often on social media you will run across spiritual or theological memes that state what they assume is a logical conclusion to cherry picked verses. The one I read today says that “no rightly dividing of the word of God will deny the Torah.” Rightly dividing, which is a command in II Timothy 2:15, is not denying any Scripture. It is understanding the place in God’s plan that Scripture fits. Does the author of that meme really believe we should be living by the Torah? Even the Apostle Peter said that the Jews before Christ were not able to live up to that standard [Acts 15:5-10]. Whoever wrote that meme has no actual concept of the whole narrative of the Bible. Jesus Christ did not come to destroy the Old Testament Law. He came to fulfill the Law because we could not do it ourselves [Matthew 5:17]. So, we trust Christ and Christ fulfills the law for us. That is why we are saved by faith without the works of the Law [Galatians 2:16].

We are commanded to study the Bible [II Timothy 2:15] and that study is to know the context of the passage. To know who God is speaking to and in regard to what. Studying the Bible is to know the definitions by how God uses the words. It is to understand not only the verses that support the argument but also to understand why God stated something different in other places. To study the Scripture is to be able to see the narrative of the Bible from Genesis to the Revelation. It is to view the Bible as the final authority of our faith and not just a textbook we use to try to prove a point.

I am not against social media. It is a great way to stay in touch with family and friends, and get connected with people who have the same general interests. But I do not try to learn Bible from social media no more than I would try to learn medicine from Dr. Google. My “logical” conclusion of using letters in mathematics was silly and juvenile at the least. The same can be said for much of what passes as theological memes.

Satan’s first words to a human were to ask Eve, “Yea, hath God said …” and his tactics have never changed. If he can succeed in getting Christians to lay down their Bible and just rely on social media blurbs instead, then he continues the downfall of humanity. Ignorance and confusion never helped anyone. Pick your Bible up again.

Learning to read is a great thrill in life. Watching my grandchildren as they learn to read brings back memories of my own children going through the process and then remembering my own experience. My three older sisters actually taught me to read long before the school did. I have always had a great love of reading, whether it be history books, Dickens novels, or textbooks from school.

Reading my Bible through from beginning to end has been a lifetime work. Once finished, we just start over. I did stop counting how many times I’ve read through because that number started to be the goal, and besides, nobody really cares to hear about it.

With all that written, there is a point. In reading my Bible I sometimes run across Scripture that boggles my mind. I know the Bible is right, so therefore, I am missing something.

One of those Scriptures was Hebrews 12:17 “For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.” Comparing the other Scripture that God wants everyone to be saved, [I Timothy 2:4] and that His will is that nobody perishes [II Peter 3:9] then why would God not allow Esau a place of repentance?

This problem bothered me for quite some time until I thought, maybe I should just go back and read the story [I know, I can be a bit slow at times!] So, I simply re-read the Old Testament account of Esau and his repentance. Let me lay it out in bullet points, but please, check out the whole story at some time. The story is from Genesis 27.

v. 34 - Esau was bitterly crying over not getting the blessing of the firstborn. v. 36 - Esau blames Jacob for “taking away” his birthright, rather than confessing that Esau sold it and despised it - Genesis 25:34. v. 38 - Esau wept and begged for a blessing. v. 41 - Esau plotted the murder of his brother Jacob because of the missed blessing. Genesis 28:8-9 - Esau then despises his father, Isaac, and marries women he knows will displease his father.

In no place does Esau seek to repent, or mentions repenting, or ask for forgiveness. In Hebrews 12:17 the blessing is the subject, not the repentance. Esau was not seeking repentance and could not find it, he was seeking the blessing and could not find it, and that is because he despised it and sold it years before.

Real repentance is not blaming someone else for what is wrong. Real repentance is doing right regardless of if you get your way or not. I have seen people say they repent, but when God did not give them what they thought they deserved because of their cheap words, then they just returned to their former self and became so much worse [Luke 11:24-26].

This is what is meant by Matthew 7:21 “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”

A repentant heart is not just saying magic words. It is a heart that accepts the responsibility for our sin and asks God for mercy through grace and faith.

Esau was not looking for repentance but for blessing. And reading the story clears up the whole question.

Assumptions are usually wrong. To assume something instead of looking at the facts, reality, and Scripture will usually lead to trouble as it did in Acts 21:28-29, when they supposed Paul had violated the temple with Gentiles and then tried to kill him.

In reading modern movement theology, it is often stated that to oppose their doctrine “implies” … But, I try not to imply anything in sermons or writings. Implying does not help but only adds to doubts and questions. Faith is believing what God said, and I want to preach and teach what God said, not implications.

So, one of the statements I have read quite often lately is, “how could a dead man choose Christ?” They take the Scriptural doctrine of one being dead in trespasses and sins [Ephesians 2:1] and follow the man-made logic that a dead person cannot feel, cannot make a choice, and cannot know. So therefore, [here is the assumption] God has to regenerate a person before they can actually trust Christ. In other words, God has to save you first and then you will accept Christ to be saved.

The problem is that they make one wrong assumption and base everything upon that error. Your spirit is dead in trespasses and sin [Ephesians 2:1], but where is it ever stated that your spirit is the one that makes a choice?

Look at the Biblical pattern and see the source of decision making.

Humanity is created in the image of God [Genesis 1:26]. God is a Trinity [I John 5:7] and made mankind as a trinity as well [I Thessalonians 5:23]. Each member of the Trinity of God has a particular place: God the Father - is the decision maker with Jesus doing His will [Luke 22:42]. He is the Soul God the Son - is the incarnation of God in Body - John 1:1,14; I Timothy 3:16 God the Holy Spirit is sent by God the Father - John 14:26 These three are the Soul, Body, and Spirit of God’s Trinity. It is the Soul of God [the Father] that makes the decisions and will of God.

Following the pattern of the image we are created in, we have a body, soul, and spirit as well. It is the soul that makes the choice, not the spirit. Their argument about having to be saved before you can be saved is totally based on a false assumption. It also is against Ephesians 1:13 which states that you believed after you heard and were sealed after you believed. Yes, God has to draw you to be saved [John 6:44] but He promises to draw all men at some time [John 12:32; John 1:9; I Timothy 2:4; Romans 2:15].

Our spirit dies within us when we know and then chose to violate the righteousness of God [Romans 7:9; Ephesians 2:1 is written to people who can understand and make a choice, not infants]. Our body dies when the soul leaves the body on this earth [Genesis 35:18]. But the soul does not die until the final judgment [Revelation 21:8]. It is called the second death because it is the second one that changes our destiny. As long as your body is alive you can still be saved. The death of the body and then the death of the soul seal their destiny in the lake of fire for eternity. That second death is separation from all that is just, pure, and lovely for all eternity. It is not annihilation [Mark 9:44,46,48].

Our prayer for the unbelievers is that God convicts them again and opens their eyes again to truth so that they can make the right decision. Nobody goes to hell because God did not want them! The invitation is to whosoever will - Revelation 22:17.