1. The Clarity of Revelation
The apostle Paul, as an apostle, received revelations from God
(2 Corinthians 12:1), “It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.”
(2 Corinthians 12:7), “And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.”
Revelations (apokalupsis) - 1) laying bear, making naked; 2) a disclosure of truth, instruction, 2a) concerning things before unknown.
(Revelation 1:1), “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place.”
What was once unknown to men (a mystery), God has revealed…
(Colossians 1:24-29), “I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, 26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. 27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. 29 To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.”
God has revealed what once was a mystery
God wills that it is known among the Gentiles
God sent Paul to preach that revealed mystery, that every man might be perfected in Christ
Consider these truths in light of the present view that impacts our view of fellowship.
Scripture clearly reveals that we are not to have fellowship with false teachers
(2 John 9-11), “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; 11 for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.”
Some, however, while conceding this teaching ask the question, “What about where the scriptures are not sufficiently clear?”
Others state that while the word of God is objective, we must accept that our understanding of God’s word is always relative.
Each statement is designed to excuse fellowship with someone who may be teaching error or practicing sin. It is designed to encourage tolerance in differences.
Let’s examine each statement in turn.
Can We Understand
God’s Word?

2. Is Scripture Sufficiently Clear?
To contend otherwise is to deny God’s ability to reveal Himself to us.
Col. 1:27-28; Jer. 32:17, 23; Psa. 147:5
The problem is not clarity, but complexity (meat, not milk)
2 Peter 3:14-16; Hebrews 5:12-14
Is Scripture Sufficiently Clear?
To contend otherwise is to deny God’s ability to reveal Himself to us.
Logical argument, consider:
Does God want us to know His will?
(Colossians 1:27-28), “To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.”
Is God capable of doing what He wants to do? (Omniscience, Omnipotence)
(Jeremiah 32:17), [Jeremiah’s prayer to God], “Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.”
Consider all that God had done for Israel. (“You are great in counsel and might in work”; “signs and wonders in the land of Egypt”; Brought Israel out of Egypt, “with a strong hand and an outstretched arm”; Given them a promised land).
Notice their response, and the reason for it – not misunderstanding, but rebellion!
(23), “And they came in and took possession of it, but they have not obeyed Your voice or walked in Your law. They have done nothing of all that You commanded them to do; therefore You have caused all this calamity to come upon them.”
(Psalm 147:5), “Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite.”
The problem is not a lack of clarity in scripture. Complexity does not equal a lack of clarity!
(2 Peter 3:14-16), “Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, 16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.”
Why hard to understand? Beyond the rudimentary aspects of the gospel of Christ!
(Hebrews 5:12-14), “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
Going back to 2 Peter 3, the problem is not with the revelation of God
Untaught – 1) unlearned, ignorant
Unstable – unfixed, vacillating, unstable. (There is no consistency in the principles they use to interpret scripture. Primarily because of prejudice or attitude.
Ex: Those who took Paul’s words concerning the grace of God, and twisted them to mean something he did not mean.
(Romans 3:8), “And why not say, “Let us do evil that good may come”?—as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just.”
Conclusion: God’s word is clear, though sometimes the lessons taught are difficult to understand. We must study, and apply ourselves to consistently and faithfully interpret God’s word. If not, we may be guilty of wresting it to our own destruction

3. Is Our Understanding Relative?
There is a difference between ignorance and the propagation of error.
Eph. 4:14; Jas. 3:1; 2 Pet. 3:15-18; Jude 3-4
A lack of understanding does not excuse false teaching or sinful action.
2 John 9-11; Romans 6:23
Is Our Understanding Relative?
No one I know of claims to have perfect knowledge/understanding
That is why we are called to study diligently
(1 Peter 2:2-3), “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.”
Such study leads to maturity/completeness as a Christian
(Hebrews 5:14), “But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
God does not condemn the babe in Christ. Ignorance is not a sin, though it endangers the soul.
(Ephesians 4:14), “that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting.”
It is the embracing and proclamation of erroneous doctrine that will condemn the soul!
(James 3:1), “My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.”
(2 Peter 3:15-18), “and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, 16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. 17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever.”
Discernment is needed on the part of all
The willingness to identify and contend against error is necessary in every generation
(Jude 3-4), “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.”
A lack of understanding does not excuse false teaching or sinful action!
(2 John 9-11), “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; 11 for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.”
(Romans 6:23), “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

4. Conclusion We acknowledge imperfect understanding
We must be extremely careful not to proclaim that which we do not understand
We must defend the truth of God’s word against those who teach error. False doctrine cannot be tolerated among the people of God!
We acknowledge imperfect understanding
We must be extremely careful not to proclaim that which we do not understand
We must defend the truth of God’s word against those who teach error. False doctrine cannot be tolerated among the people of God!