Bible Truth

Sola Scriptura vs. Church Tradition

An epic fantasy church perched high in the mountains, with soaring spires, intricate architecture, and surrounded by misty peaks.

"Divine authority is superior to all human authority, making Scripture the highest authority."
— The God Pill

At The God Pill, we hold to sola scriptura, not church tradition—

—and we believe that the church is the BRIDE OF CHRIST (Eph. 5:25-27; 31-32).

We also believe that a wife must SUBMIT to the "word" of her husband (Eph. 5:24)—

—and that GENUINE SUBMISSION involves one party yielding to another's AUTHORITY, creating a DISTINCTION between the one who submits and the one to whom they submit.

Therefore, if the church (the bride) submits to the WORD of Christ (the Husband), then Christ's Word must SUPERSEDE church tradition—

—and His Word, as revealed in Scripture, must be GREATER than Apostolic authority—

—and His divine authority must be SUPERIOR to all human authority, making Scripture the 👉 HIGHEST AUTHORITY 👈 (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

"See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ."
— Col. 2:8, ESV

⚠️ P.S. If you're wrestling with your faith and have unanswered questions about God, I don't blame you. I know I faced real challenges trusting God, especially with all the false teachers and hypocrites. So, if you're struggling with doubt and seeking answers, secure your free one-on-one private session with me now, where you can ask me anything!

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We Are All Screwed Up—All of Us…

By Ryan M. Maes

A lonely man among the stars, gazing into the vast expanse, seeking a connection with God.

"As the Scriptures say, 'No one is righteous— not even one.'"
— Rom. 3:10, NLT

We all have SECRET thoughts.

We all have FORBIDDEN desires.

We all have HIDDEN sins.

We all have a PAST.

We all stand 👉 GUILTY 👈 before the Lord—every single one of us.

You are not alone, my brother.

God sees you...

"Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the LORD."
— Jer. 23:24, ESV

The truth is that we all have 💀 "SKELETONS IN OUR CLOSET" 💀—

—yet we are often UNAWARE of our own DEPRAVITY, as the world seeks to blind our eyes and harden our hearts.

In our flesh, our transgressions frequently go UNNOTICED—

—and we fail to recognize just how far we've BACKSLIDDEN.

"The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?"
— Jer. 17:9, NLT

Often, only the eyes of God can REVEAL it.

Only the mind of God can PERCEIVE it.

Only the strength of God can BEAR it.

Only the hand of God can LEAD it.

Only the peace of God can SOOTHE it.

And only the power of God can 👉 TRANSFORM 👈 it.

You are not alone...

Seek the LORD while he may be found—

—and call on him while he is near (Isa. 55:6).

Praise be to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who called us out of darkness and into his marvelous light!

"In Christianity, it's not 'due'; it's 'done,' based on what Christ has done."

Related: "Check Your Heart!"

⚠️ P.S. If you're struggling to "measure up" and experience the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, you're not alone. Sometimes, we all need a little extra assurance, especially when wrestling with the guilt, distress, and regret of habitual sin. So, if you're backsliding and doubting your salvation, secure your free private session with me now, where you can ask me anything!

Click Here to Claim Your Spot Now!

Sovereignty and Salvation: Decoding Divine Intent

By Ryan M. Maes

A depiction of Christ as a king with radiant golden rays of light emanating from behind him, wearing simple robes and a crown, exuding majesty and divine authority.

"1 Timothy 2:3-4 says that God desires all men to be saved. Yet, not all men are saved. Does that mean 1) God will not do what He wants to do, or 2) that God cannot do what He wants to do? It has to be one of these two options, right? How do you square this?"
— Anonymous

This apparent contradiction raises deep questions about God's will and omnipotence, and presents a theological question that has long been a subject of debate among scholars and theologians, touching on the nature of God, human freedom, sin, and redemption.

Below are five possible explanations, though different doctrinal stances and traditions may emphasize different aspects of this complex issue.

Prayerfully consider the following:

Free Will and Human Agency: One common explanation is the coexistence of free will and divine sovereignty. This perspective holds that God's desire for all to be saved is genuine, yet He allows humans to exercise free will. According to this view, the fact that not all are saved is due to some individuals choosing to reject God's offer of salvation, not a limitation of God's power or willingness to save.
Two Aspects of God's Will: Another possible approach suggests that there are different types of "wills" in God—His prescriptive will (what God commands us to do, such as His moral laws) and His decretive will (what God decrees, or what will ultimately happen). In this case, God's desire for all to be saved could be understood as His prescriptive will, while the reality that not all are saved aligns with His decretive will.
The Mystery of God's Plan: Some suggest that the tension between God's desire for all to be saved and the reality of some not being saved is a mystery beyond human understanding. This approach acknowledges the limitations of human comprehension regarding the complexities of divine justice and salvation.
Different Understandings of 'All': There are interpretations where 'all' in "God desires all men to be saved" is understood in a specific sense, such as all types of people or all those who believe, rather than every individual without exception.
God's Justice and Mercy: Another interpretation considers God's justice and mercy. While God desires all to be saved, He is also just and righteous. The reality of not all being saved is then seen as a reflection of God's just nature in response to human sin and rejection of His grace.

"For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counseller? For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are [His] ways higher than your ways, and [His] thoughts than your thoughts."
— Rom. 11:34; Isa. 55:9, KJV

⚠️ P.S. If you're struggling with your faith or have unanswered questions about God, I don't blame you. I know I faced real challenges believing the Bible without sufficient evidence and proof. So, if you're wrestling with doubt and seeking answers, claim your free one-on-one private session with me, where you can ask me anything!

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Are You a Biblicist?

By Ryan M. Maes

A Bible, a sword, and a rose carefully arranged on a table, illuminated by the soft glow of flickering candlelight, creating an atmosphere of reverence and intrigue.

A Biblicist is predominantly someone who relies solely on the Bible as their SUPREME AUTHORITY and source of knowledge. They use Scripture to guide them in every aspect of life.

However, critics often question or undermine the doctrines of scriptural INNERANCY and INSPIRATION. They frequently accuse Biblicists of bibliolatry, or "Bible worship."

They argue that Biblicism leads to a SUPERFICIAL understanding of life and MISAPPLICATION of the Scriptures—

—but those who hold to BIBLICAL AUTHORITY and interpret the Bible literally have always been disparaged by those who do not.

While there can be extremes in Biblicism, its critics don’t go far enough in giving Scripture its due. Since the Bible is "God-breathed" (2 Tim. 3:16), it is AUTHORITATIVE, INFALLIBLE, UNCHANGING—

"Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."
— Matt. 24:35, KJV

—and it deserves the final say in ALL MATTERS.

Nevertheless, the notion that Biblicists use the Bible as a "universal textbook" is often OVERSTATED. In truth, few Christians advocate this extreme view.

A balanced perspective of Scripture recognizes its PURPOSE, CONTEXT, and INTENT.

Yet, searching the Scriptures makes it abundantly clear that fundamental biblical principles can apply to a WIDE RANGE of subjects.

For example, reading the Bible will not directly improve one's roundhouse kick—

—but for a discerning mind, the Bible's instructions on self-control, integrity, hard work, humility, and perseverance are relevant to disciplines like martial arts, enhancing one's ABILITY and CHARACTER both in and out of the ring.

As Miyamoto Musashi said, "If you know the way broadly, you will see it in everything."

"Some critics of Biblicism complain about interpretive pluralism—the tendency of different groups of believers to interpret Scripture differently. This, according to some, disproves Biblicism. It’s true that various groups have latched on to various interpretations of the same passage, but that can be attributed to human fallibility, cultural influences, lack of training, poor hermeneutics, ignorance of the whole Word of God, selfishness and pride, failure to mature, and undue emphasis on tradition. It is not necessary to shift blame onto the interpretive framework. A violin teacher, using the Suzuki method, will get different results from her students. Does that mean the Suzuki method is flawed?"
— Source: GotQuestions

While interpreting some biblical passages can prove CHALLENGING, difficulty in understanding a particular detail doesn't mean the Bible cannot be taken literally or at face value.

Biblicism is NOT about idolizing the Bible; it's about recognizing that God has communicated with humanity through His Word "who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets" (Heb. 1:1)—

—and this message can be universally understood by all PEOPLE at all TIMES by those with eyes to see and ears to hear (1 Cor. 2:12–13; Matt. 13:16).

Praise be to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, whose "word is a lamp unto [our] feet and a light to [our] path" (Ps. 119:105)—

—and "whoever follows [Him] will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12).

What Is a Biblicist?

The term "biblicist" can be used in a few different contexts:

Theological Perspective: In theological terms, a biblicist is someone who bases their beliefs and practices strictly on the Bible. They often maintain that the Bible is the sole and infallible source of Christian doctrine and may reject extra-biblical sources such as tradition or ecclesiastical interpretations if they are perceived to contradict the Biblical texts.
Interpretation Approach: Biblicists typically advocate for a literal or straightforward interpretation of the Bible. They tend to emphasize the importance of scripture over other sources of authority, such as church hierarchy or tradition.
Academic Field: In an academic context, a biblicist could refer to a scholar who specializes in the study of the Bible. This use of the term is less about the individual's personal beliefs and more about their area of academic expertise.
Criticism or Label: Sometimes, the term is used pejoratively to criticize individuals or groups who are perceived to interpret the Bible in a rigid or overly literal way, possibly ignoring historical context, cultural background, or scholarly interpretations. However, Biblicism does not ignore context. On the contrary, a literal hermeneutic involves considerations of a passage’s historical, cultural, and literary framework. Any interpretation must agree with the context of the Bible as a whole, since the Bible—the authoritative Word of God—is its own best commentary.

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."
— 2 Tim. 3:16-17, ESV

Related: “What Christian Denomination Am I?“

⚠️ P.S. If you're struggling with your faith or having serious doubts about God, I don't blame you. I admit it was hard for me to believe the Bible without sufficient evidence and proof. So, if you're battling disbelief and seeking answers, claim your free one-on-one private session with me, where you can ask me anything!

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From Exodus to Eternity: The Eternal Kingdom Typology

By Ryan M. Maes

A lush, fertile region symbolizing the Promised Land: a land flowing with milk and honey to signify divine provision and prosperity.

"And who was it who rebelled against God, even though they heard his voice? Wasn't it the people Moses led out of Egypt? And who made God angry for forty years? Wasn't it the people who sinned, whose corpses lay in the wilderness? And to whom was God speaking when he took an oath that they would never enter his rest? Wasn't it the people who disobeyed him? So we see that because of their unbelief they were not able to enter his rest."
— Heb. 3:16-19, ESV

We have the model of redemption for the Israelites in the Hebrew Bible.
By extension, this applies to us.
They're on the trajectory to enter the Promised Land.
However, due to disobedience and unfaithfulness, they don't.

Who makes it?

Those under the age of accountability.
God brings them in.

Who else?

Joshua and Caleb.

Now, Moses was a man of faith.
We'd consider him saved.
He was once a slave.
He was delivered from his captors.
He's on the trajectory to enter the Promised Land
(which we recognize as a typology of the Eternal Kingdom).
Yet, he only views it from afar; he does not get in.
This is due to moments of DISOBEDIENCE.

Now, this doesn't mean Moses won't be in the kingdom.
But it provides us with a template.
Not only for our rescue and deliverance.
But also for our instruction, edification, and ultimately, our 👉 SALVATION 👈.

"For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ. Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person's work has any value. If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames."
— 1 Cor. 3:11-15, NLT

⚠️ P.S. If you're struggling with your faith or have unanswered questions about God, I don't blame you. I admit it was hard for me to believe the Bible with confidence and full assurance. So, if you're wrestling with doubt and seeking fellowship, follow the link below to claim your free one-on-one private session with me. Let's conquer your stumbling blocks and strengthen your faith—together!

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The Argument from Epistemological Necessity: Understanding the Trustworthiness of the Mind

By Ryan M. Maes

A god-like figure among the stars of space, appearing almost statuesque, exuding an aura of power and majesty.

"Two things fill the mind with ever new and increasing admiration and awe, the more often and steadily we reflect upon them: the starry heavens above me and the moral law within me."
― Immanuel Kant, Critique of Practical Reason

In modern thought, a pressing question has emerged: Can we trust our minds to interpret the world accurately? This debate has prompted some to question whether there's a definitive OBJECTIVE TRUTH or reality.

Enlightenment philosophers, such as Hume and Kant, were among the first to voice these doubts; they challenged the trustworthiness of our minds.

For example, we often believe every event has a cause, but can we PROVE IT? We use these beliefs to make sense of everything, yet we can't prove them. We rely on these assumptions to understand anything at all.

Hume argued that we can't rely solely on our EXPERIENCES to understand the world. He believed that to interpret our experiences, we must assume nature always behaves CONSISTENTLY (i.e., the uniformity of nature).

However, when he tried to prove this consistency using his experiences and observations, he encountered a CIRCULAR PROBLEM: he couldn't justify the reliability of his assumptions by observing the world, yet he had to trust the reliability of his assumptions to make sense of his observations.

So, according to Hume, our OBSERVATIONS alone can't justify our beliefs about the world.

"We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts."
— 2 Pet. 1:19, NIV

"O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: Which some professing have erred concerning the faith."
— 1 Tim. 6:20, KJV

But consider this: What if our minds were INTENTIONALLY crafted by a LOVING CREATOR to comprehend the world? If so, there would be a natural ALIGNMENT between our cognitive processes and the world's STRUCTURE.

This perspective is central to modern scientific thought. Renowned scientists like Newton, Boyle, and Kepler believed there were PATTERNS to be understood because our minds had been made in the image of the same rational Creator who had built rationality, design, pattern, and lawful order into the cosmos.

Given that our minds were shaped in the image of this LOGICAL CREATOR, they argued that we are intrinsically capable of decoding the world's mysteries.

What a profound insight!

Praise be to God, the Lord of all truth, who shines light in dark places and grants WISDOM and UNDERSTANDING to all who earnestly call upon the wonder of His glorious name!

"I'm a mathematician by background and a linguist. I love language, and mathematics is a very sophisticated language, but I love natural languages as well. It seems to me that where this fits together best is first in the fact that we can do science, in the sense that there is a rational intelligibility to the universe, which is the foundation of modern science and is a legacy of the biblical worldview. So, the mathematical describability Einstein talked about—he couldn't imagine any genuine scientist without faith in that. The axiom for doing science is to believe the universe is intelligible. But if you ask for the rationale behind that—why do we believe the universe is intelligible—it bears the imprint of a Creator. And I see that at the level of mathematics, in its capacity to, at least in part, give us a handle on what's out there, and also in biology, where we have, at the heart of every living cell, the longest word we've ever found: the genetic code. And all of that leads me to formulate it as follows: we live in a word-based universe, and that's the key of the Logos for me."
— John Lennox, Professor of Mathematics at Oxford University

⚠️ P.S. If you're struggling with your faith or have urgent questions about God, I don't blame you. I know it was hard for me to believe the Bible with confidence and full assurance. So, if you're wrestling with serious doubts, reach out for your free one-on-one private session with me now, where you can ask me anything!

Click Here to Claim Your Spot Now!