Mark 13:13
And everyone will hate you because you are my followers. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
The disciple, says Jesus, must hold fast right to the end in order to be saved: but, as Paul says, true Christians will in fact hold fast, because God will hold them fast (Rom. 14:4). Here is another biblical paradox which we do well to hold reverently. Its solution, like that of similar theological paradoxes, is to be found not, as with mathematical problems, at infinity, but at eternity, and in God.
–R. Alan Cole, Mark
paradox
A statement that seems contradictory or absurd but is actually valid or true.
I thought you might be interested in learning about OUR Jewish traditions, one which has embraced the real Christ of the gospel, the Law and the prophets. If this doesn’t interest you, I apologize in advance. If you are interested let me tell you that we are the Frankist Association of America. One of our members has a new book out: http://www.amazon.com/Real-Messiah-Throne-Origins-Christianity/dp/1906787123/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245892844&sr=8-1 I am not that I am trying to sell you something. If you can’t afford the book you can see the website of one of our teachers – http://www.stephanhuller.blogspot.com. I just wanted to let you and the scholarly world that there have always been more than one type of Judaism in the world at any one time. Some forms of the faith had to learn to hide their beliefs in order to survive and perpetuate themselves. Shalom, God Bless Everything is perfect with God Beth El Jacob Frank
Stephan Huller is preaching a different gospel.
Let him be accursed.
I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. (Galations 1:6-9)
Thanks Stan. For some reason I approved the comment. I don’t like “censoring” but didn’t feel like writing a response either.
Jeff
Jeff, I love biblical paradoxes, for they keep us grounded.
Jeff,
This is a great quote, thanks for posting it. I’ve been collecting similar quotes on Biblical paradox for about a year and posting them on my site as “Paradox Files.” So far, I’ve found several interesting affirmations from men like John Piper and Charles Spurgeon, plus a couple of helpful sermons on the topic by some good preachers. I agree with TC’s comment above – paradoxes help us stay grounded (and humbled) because they prove God is bigger and better than we can imagine. They constantly call us to back into balance.
To unbelievers, Biblical paradoxes are just contradictions, but God gives faith to His children, and they see right through the apparent contradictions and on into eternity where they are fixated on the eternal and infinite Truth of the God Who is beyond, yet reveals Himself to finite man.
There’s some helpful material about this on http://www.ex-atheist.com. The writer there says he was an atheist until he learned to appreciate paradoxes. Then he was suddenly enlightened about what he always THOUGHT were contradictions in Scripture.
Soli Deo Gloria!
Derek Ashton
Derek you’re welcome.
Great comments and I’ll be looking at your site.
Jeff