shortlady
Member
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2005
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The Bible is full of Paradoxes
What is a paradox? NO, it's not a couple of physicians... The American Heritage Dictionary defines paradox as: A seemingly contradictory statement that may be nonetheless true. Well guess what; the Bible is full of paradoxes. Some of the more famous paradoxical lines from Scripture are: He who seeks to save his life will lose it; whoever wants to be greatest must become a servant of all; and the first shall be last and the last shall be first.
So much of the Christian Faith seems to be in contrast. Even the Apostle Paul wrote back and forth when trying to explain this 'new life' in Christ. In the third chapter of Philippians he writes the following, "But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss... I count all things to be loss in view of the value of knowing Christ, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish." You see how he's going back and forth between gain and loss, and worth and rubbish?
A few verses down he writes, "That I may know Him in the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings." And finally he concludes, "I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus." You see what I mean? So why all the contrasts? I mean, he almost sounds like he's contradicting himself. And that's what a paradox is. Statements that, at first glance, appear false, but upon deeper review ring so true. That's how it is with God. You pursue Him, but He's really pursuing you. You strive to be holy, but he MAKES you holy. He saves your life, but really He is giving you NEW life! Isn't that awesome? Isn't He awesome? God be with you all...
What is a paradox? NO, it's not a couple of physicians... The American Heritage Dictionary defines paradox as: A seemingly contradictory statement that may be nonetheless true. Well guess what; the Bible is full of paradoxes. Some of the more famous paradoxical lines from Scripture are: He who seeks to save his life will lose it; whoever wants to be greatest must become a servant of all; and the first shall be last and the last shall be first.
So much of the Christian Faith seems to be in contrast. Even the Apostle Paul wrote back and forth when trying to explain this 'new life' in Christ. In the third chapter of Philippians he writes the following, "But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss... I count all things to be loss in view of the value of knowing Christ, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish." You see how he's going back and forth between gain and loss, and worth and rubbish?
A few verses down he writes, "That I may know Him in the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings." And finally he concludes, "I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus." You see what I mean? So why all the contrasts? I mean, he almost sounds like he's contradicting himself. And that's what a paradox is. Statements that, at first glance, appear false, but upon deeper review ring so true. That's how it is with God. You pursue Him, but He's really pursuing you. You strive to be holy, but he MAKES you holy. He saves your life, but really He is giving you NEW life! Isn't that awesome? Isn't He awesome? God be with you all...
