Bible Confirmation Bias
God gave each of us a wonderful gift. Each ‘Christian’ household most likely has at least one of these gifts. We call this gift, the Bible. If you are one who takes this gift and opens it regularly you will have most likely noticed that you have read something numerous times before seeing a verse or multiple verses for the first time. This is an amazing experience when it happens. You will end up pondering why the meaning and/or intent of the words were read previously as if there were no importance, but now they dominated in context. There is a simple reason for this, God’s timing is perfect.
Taking a step back, it must be noted that most ‘Christians’ struggle with reading the Bible without a preset narrative that has been taught to them for the entirety of their lives. Depending on the denomination one is raised in or their current faith, whether the same or changed, most read the Bible with an established bias. Ask any Catholic why they must go to weekly communion and they will recite the words from John 6 (NCB) - 54 Whoever feeds upon my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. With this verse and the verses tied around it, Catholics proudly stand on their bias as it has been confirmed. They will say: “see, it says it right there in the Bible.” The problem is, Christ explains the intent of His message shortly after with verse 63: It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh can achieve nothing. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
The purpose of the Catholic mass is the re-sacrifice of Christ for communion. Yet, Hebrews tells us how many times He needed to be sacrificed.
25 Nor was it his purpose to offer himself again and again, as the high priest enters into the sanctuary year after year with the blood that is not his own. 26 For then he would have had to suffer over and over again since the creation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once and for all at the end of the ages to abolish sin by sacrificing himself.
27 And just as human beings are destined to die but once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once to take away the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to bring salvation to those who are eagerly waiting for him.
Hebrews 9:25-28 (NCB)
These verses were taken directly from the New Catholic Bible translation so no Catholic could claim that any other translation did not use the correct wording. These verses (and there are more not shared) along with John 6:63 completely negate the WHOLE purpose of the Catholic mass. Yet because of their established bias, Catholics reading this will continue practicing their antithetical ritual as if God’s words were never shared with them.
Anyone who comes from any of the numerous Protestant denominations, from Lutheran to the “born-again” Evangelical/Pentecostal, will clearly see what the Catholics cannot from the verses just shared. However, confirmation bias does not evade any of these faith systems within the ‘Christian’ community. If this article highlighted every false construct shared between each and every ‘Christian’ denomination, this would be a book and not simply an article written with the intent to open the eyes of those who have interest in receiving sight.
With that said, the Catholic (Orthodox) side of the faith teaches a works driven salvation while the ‘protestors’ (Protestant) teach a faith alone driven salvation. Arguably, the most well-known verse in all the Bible comes from the gospel of John. And since the most popular translation for this sect of the faith is the NIV translation, this is what will be used to make a point.
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16 (NIV) (emphasis mine)
Clearly, all one needs to do is BELIEVE in Jesus! It says it right here. What a simple blessing we have all received. Surely, this makes it easy to get into heaven since all ‘Christians’ surely BELIEVE in Jesus. This one verse on its own, if taken as taught and believed by most, negates any other works. In fact, if taken on its face, there really is no reason to put any other efforts in order to receive a ticket to paradise. All ‘Christians’ will receive the proverbial - get out of hell free card. Confirmation bias is fully ingrained for the ‘works protestors.’
One little problem, the Bible is filled with contradictory verses to John 3:16. Here is one such exchange that would suggest contradiction.
16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” 17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”
Matthew 19:16-17 (NIV) (emphasis mine)
Wait a minute, Jesus says you must keep the commandments? John 3:16 said one must simply believe in. This information shared in Matthew (and other places) is not seen because of the established doctrine of the ‘protestors’ to their mother church sitting in Rome, looking to override the works based faith which was partially established from John 6 shared earlier. This is because of the confirmed bias held and taught in the ‘faith alone’ doctrine by those outside of the Catholic (Orthodox) denominations. What Christ clearly explains as to the foundation for eternal life cannot be seen. And, let it be pointed out without detail since this would open another ‘can of worms,’ that Christ did not answer in the terms of heaven.
The point is John 3:16 and Matthew 19:16-17 appear to contradict each other. When in fact, they complement each other.
Repeating what was written at the very beginning of this article: If you are one who takes this gift and opens it regularly you will have most likely noticed that you have read something numerous times before seeing a verse or multiple verses for the first time. This is an amazing experience when it happens. You will end up pondering why the meaning and/or intent of the words were read over previously as if there was no importance, but now they dominated in context. There is a simple reason for this, God’s timing is perfect.
It is through this lens that the truth to what has been previously shared will take root. The first thing any one of us who has interest in understanding God’s context and intent of Scripture needs to do is drop every preconceived notion of what God’s plan for man is. This cannot be found in any mainline “church” today! If this troubles you, then stop reading and go do something else. If your curiosity is stronger than your religion, keep reading.
While reading Ezekiel for the ‘umpteenth’ time these verses were seen with clarity for the first time which has set off a deeper search for the context and intent of God.
19 I am the LORD your God: Walk in My statutes, keep My judgments, and do them; 20 hallow My Sabbaths, and they will be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD your God.’
Ezekiel 20:19-20 (NKJV) (emphasis mine)
There is so much in these two verses, a book could be written with this as the foundational topic. And in fact, it already has been, it is called the Bible! The question now arises, which denominations of “Christendom” teach the signs that God looks for from His children? Short answer, not a one! This has been pointed out by the examples that had been established earlier through John 6, Hebrews 9:25-28, John 3:16 and Matthew 19:16-17.
Why the disconnect from what God says He looks for and what ‘church’ leadership teaches? The simple answer is most do not know who God is. This information is shared in the book titled, The 3 Pillars of False Doctrine. Having any one of these pillars standing in the Christian faith system, no matter the denomination of choice, will shield one from understanding the context and intent of Scripture. This obviously is too much to tackle here.
What we will instead rely on in order to continue the intent of this article is established from Malichai 3:6 – 6 “For I am the LORD, I do not change; - which is an absolute statement. If God does not change, what changed? Christ said, “If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” The only possible answer for the change is Christ changed everything from His sacrifice bringing forth a new covenant, right? From Malachi to Hebrews in the New Testament.
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Hebrews 13:8 (NKJV)
So, we have Old Testament telling us that God does not change and the New Testament telling us that Christ is the same yesterday (when was that?), today (which is clearly now, no matter when reading) and forever (which extends infinitely). By not understanding God (who does NOT come in the form of a Trinity) has not changed establishes the foundation of preferred confirmation bias for established Christian doctrine. This allows one to live comfortably in sin instead of following what Scripture details in context and intent.
Keeping this message in the simplistic sense, we will focus on one sign, not all that God requires for us to know He is God (Ezekiel 20:20); hallow My Sabbaths. Notice Sabbaths as written is plural and not singular. Again, for simplicities’ sake, we will work in the confines of the singular and not plural.
Jesus says you must keep the commandments. Both Exodus and Deuteronomy beautifully lay out the commandments, so there can be no question as to what they say, in context and intent.
8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
Exodus 20:8-11 (NKJV) (emphasis mine)
12 ‘Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the LORD your God commanded you. 13 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 14 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your ox, nor your donkey, nor any of your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates, that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you. 15 And remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out from there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the LORD your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.
Deuteronomy 5:12-15 (NKJV) (emphasis mine)
There is clearly nothing contradicting between Exodus and Deuteronomy. So, then why is it that Sunday has become the “Lord’s Day” when the never changing God put in stone that the Sabbath, which is our Saturday, was commanded that we ‘Remember’ and ‘Observe’? This happened because the Roman Catholic Church claimed Sunday as the “Lord’s Day” and all the protestors simply did not protest! The bias has been established on what it means to be a ‘Christian’ or ‘follower’ of Christ through the preaching of Sunday churches. There are new statutes, judgments and Sabbaths according to mainline ‘Christian’ denominations which the vast majority of the faith follow, veiling the verses written in proper context and intent. Some of these were discussed when setting up this article.
This brings us to Colossians 2:16 where Paul was telling the new “believers” – 16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. Since ‘Christians’ of today have their biases confirmed in Sunday worship, Christmas and Easter, they will read these verses as if Paul was confirming their pagan practices were now acceptable to the never changing God and Christ. ‘Christians’ simply look past or completely ignore what Jesus said in Matthew.
17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.
Matthew 5:17-18 (NKJV)
Kaboom! Colossians as taught by today’s “church” is destroyed. Those who Paul was writing honored the Sabbaths, kept track of the New Moons and kept the festivals, none of which are today’s pagan Sunday worship, Christmas and Easter. The people of the new faith in Christ followed Christ and His teachings, not those of the surrounding false Gnostic and Hellenistic religious teachings which permeate “Christianity” today which were solidified through the Roman Catholic Church (Mother) and adopted by the Harlot (daughter churches) – see Revelation 17.
History repeats itself as Solomon warned us, Ecclesiastes 1:9 – 9 That which has been is what will be, that which is done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. Unknown to most ‘Christians,’ after Solomon’s reign all of Israel split into two separate nations, Judah and Isreal. Some of the kings from each nation continued in God’s statues, judgments and Sabbaths, but most did not. And if the kings fell away, the people followed. This is no different today as the kings (church leadership) have fallen away, so have their followers (members). This is easily established in the already mentioned Sunday, Christmas and Easter foundation of worship.
During one such time these statues were followed, we can see a direct connection between the newfound Christians of Colossians 2 and days of past.
3 The king also appointed a portion of his possessions for the burnt offerings: for the morning and evening burnt offerings, the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths and the New Moons and the set feasts, as it is written in the Law of the LORD.
2 Chronicles 31:3 (NKJV) (emphasis mine)
Hopefully, since you are still interested enough in that you are still reading, this does not need to be explained. It should be quite clear the never changing God did not change. The people of the past, however, did change to the pagan rituals and teachings of their time. This is until Josiah became king over Judah. During his reign a priest named Hilkiah found in the ‘house of the Lord’ something that had been lost.
14 Now when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the LORD given by Moses.
2 Chronicles 34:14 (NKJV) (emphasis mine)
This is the book of the same law that is now changed because it is easier to take a verse out of context (Colossians 2:16) and intent in order to fit comfortably in biased sin.
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
Romans 6:14 (NKJV)
This verse tells us that because of Christ’s sacrifice, we are no longer under the sacrificial law. It does not tell one that we can continue to live our lives in sin. The commandments still stand, have not been changed and never will be.
15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.
John 14:15 (NKJV)
It sure is easier for ‘Christians’ to take John 3:16 out of context than to follow John 14:15. The simple reason is most think because they believe in Jesus, heaven is the destination upon their last breath. Anyone who had or has children want obedience from them, but they themselves do not need to be obedient to our Father, nor His Son and no one can question their “faith.”
When Josiah learned of the ‘Book of the Law of the Lord,’ he changed everything in his kingdom and true to form, the people followed.
31 Then the king stood in his place and made a covenant before the LORD, to follow the LORD, and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that were written in this book.
2 Chronicles 34:31 (NKJV)
What was written in this book is exactly what God has stated are His statues from the beginning. Even though they are biblically shared well after Abraham walked this earth, he knew exactly what they were which brought the blessings to his offspring.
5 because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.”
Genesis 26:5 (NKJV)
How Abraham knew this is for another day. We, however, have been given a gift and that gift is the Bible which tells us what is written in the Law of the Lord and shared in one chapter, Leviticus 23. These laws were lost throughout the years until Hilkiah found the book and shared it with an obedient king, Josiah.
21 Then the king commanded all the people, saying, “Keep the Passover to the LORD your God, as it is written in this Book of the Covenant.”
2 Kings 23:21 (NKJV)
17 And the children of Israel who were present kept the Passover at that time, and the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days. 18 There had been no Passover kept in Israel like that since the days of Samuel the prophet; and none of the kings of Israel had kept such a Passover as Josiah kept, with the priests and the Levites, all Judah and Israel who were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 19 In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah this Passover was kept.
2 Chronicles 35:17-19 (NKJV)
The Colossians were keeping with the ‘Book of the Law of the Lord.’ Paul warned them to stay within the law and not to change. Because of confirmation bias, Colossians 2 has been twisted into unintended context allowing the “faithful” to continue comfortably in their sin.
One thing will surely not happen and that is today’s kings (church leadership) discovering this information and changing from their ways. What is unknown is what you will personally do. If you can be open, repent and follow the ‘Book of the Law of the Lord,’ you can become a leader to others around you who desire God’s truth to become forefront in their lives. Doing so defines one as a modern day Abraham resulting in righteousness and blessings.
We are to always give all glory to God and sing His praises.
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;
8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;
9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
Psalms 19:7-9 (NKJV)
Amen and Amen.