Smoodock's Blog

I teach an adult Sunday school today on the book of Acts, but years ago I remember teaching an adult class when the appointed teacher was on vacation. I would try my best on such occasions to reveal Christ without making differences in doctrine the issue. After one particular class some lingered to continue talking about Christ and salvation. Those who stayed were well grounded in their faith, and one was even on the church board.

Although I tried to avoid discussing the subject of universal salvation, the subject did come up and they wanted to hear what I had to say. I pointed to a few verses in Romans chapter five that reveal the universality of salvation. I believe the discussion up to that point had centered upon the fact that the Gospel does not reach a great many people, when we consider those who never hear of Christ. The conversation turned to our need to get the Gospel out because, so many are dying without Christ. The idea that many are dying without even a choice to know him was a great concern, and even before Sunday school time was over the whole class seemed to be anxious over the belief that we were failing in the Great Commission of Matthew 28:18-20.

I tried to show that Christ was never anxious over these things. Although Christ indeed was concerned over the spiritual well being of the people (Mark 6:34; Luke 10:2; John 4:34), he sometimes appeared to others as though he didn’t care at all (Mark 1:36-38; John 11:1-6, 21, 32, 37). I pointed out that Scripture says no one can come to Christ, unless he is drawn to him by our Father (John 6:44), and all who are drawn will come to Christ (John 6:39, 45; cp. John 12:32). This sounded too much like God picked who would be saved, and we had no choice whether we went to heaven or hell. The discussion continued and it was becoming evident that I had something to say, but I didn’t feel free in the absence of our pastor to just say what was in my heart. One of the men said he appreciated how I felt, but he didn’t see anything wrong with believing differently as long as Christ is kept in focus. All agreed, so I said I would state what I had to say, but I would not argue to try to prove my point.

The proof text I used was Romans 5. They thought about what I had claimed to be true and said they would review the Scriptures in Romans 5 at their leisure and study them prayerfully. Nevertheless, the general opinion of the four or five people that lingered was that what I believed could not be true. They gave several logical reasons why they disagreed, but to my recollection, no Scripture was quoted to support their position or to contradict mine. At one time, I would have supported those same arguments. Nevertheless, I do not see them supported in Scripture. They are what I call traditional thought patterns founded upon the teachings of men. I don’t believe all the teachers of these doctrines are false teachers, but I do believe those who teach a partial salvation are in error. Error will always diminish the work of Christ in some way in the eyes of both believers and non-believers.

Notice what Christ did when he began to tell the men they were wrong to believe as they did (Luke 24:25-26). He didn’t get involved in arguing against the false doctrine that they believed. He simply began at the beginning of the word of God (Luke 24:27) and taught them correctly (cp. Jeremiah 23:28-29). The word of God in them began to be like a fire burning, and the false teaching was the fuel (Luke 24:32). Suddenly, the Scriptures began to take on a new meaning as they thought about their long awaited Messiah.

When time for the discussion was over, because they had arrived at Emmaus (Luke 24:28), Jesus gave them an opportunity to end it, but they wanted to continue. They didn’t want to end their fellowship, much like those of us at Sunday school who lingered after the appointed time was complete. The word of God was burning within us. We almost had to go on. Likewise, these two disciples invited Jesus to stay. I don’t recall Jesus ever refusing an invitation. He went into what seems to be Simon’s home (Luke 24:34), and the fellowship continued. All this time Jesus was teaching Scripture to these two disciples, yet they still didn’t recognize him. Such is the power of false doctrine (Luke 24:16). I always believed that Jesus or our heavenly Father kept the two from recognizing Christ, much like when I would play hide-and-seek with my daughters when they were little. Suddenly I would pop out of nowhere and say, “Surprise, here I am!” Everyone would be surprised and happy. However, God wasn’t playing games here.

Notice the Greek words. In Luke 24:16 the word of God says their eyes were “held back” (krateo – G2902) that they should not “know” (epiginosko – G1921). Epiginosko means “to know” in the sense of recognizing a thing. Krateo means “to be strong; mighty; to prevail.” In a good sense it has the meaning of “holding fast” to what God has given until the return of Christ (Revelation 2:25). In an evil sense it has the meaning of “holding fast” to the tradition or doctrines of men (Mark 7:3-4, 7-8). It is used of spiritual problems within the church of Pergamos where they taught the doctrines of Balaam to God’s people and held to the hateful doctrine of the Nicolaitans (Revelation 2:14-15). I believe this word is used in its evil sense in Luke 24:16, because I cannot see one logical reason for Father or Christ to keep Jesus’ identity secret (Luke 24:16; cp. Matthew 28:9-10). The women knew Jesus at his greeting, but these men thought they knew something more than the women. It seems to me that the women had a simple faith. I am told they were not held in high esteem in the first century society. They would not have been the ones sitting at the feet of the scribes and Pharisees (cp. Acts 22:3). Just about all they knew, beyond what they were taught by their parents and heard in the general assembly of the synagogue, was learned at the feet of Jesus (cp. Luke 10:39; 7:38, 45; John 12:3; Matthew 28:9). They were not hindered by years of false doctrine and readily recognized Jesus after his resurrection. Not so the disciples, for in thinking they already knew something (cp. John 9:38-41), their eyes were closed, blind to the truth of the resurrection (Luke 24:11, 16; Mark 16:12-13). They had a dead hero, but the women had a living Savior. I must be careful how I hear, i.e. what I call the truth (cp. Luke 8:18). If I believe false doctrine is true, I will be unable to recognize the truth of Christ. Nevertheless, in their error Jesus came alongside the two men (Luke 24:15) and reminded them of the word of God (Luke 24:25-27), causing their hearts to burn with hope from within (Luke 24:32). It was when they invited Jesus to stay (Luke 24:29) that he was revealed to them in the breaking of the bread of fellowship (Luke 24:30; cp. Luke 22:19; 1Corinthians 10:16-17), and their eyes were opened.

My eyes will never be opened to Jesus unless I invite him to remain with me. As long as I content myself in what I have been taught by man about Christ, my eyes will not be open to recognize my Savior one-on-one in the word of God. Epiginosko (G1921) “to know or to recognize” is the same word used in both Luke 24:16 & 31. The doctrines of men, the thoughts of other men are able to keep me from recognizing God’s truth. I need to be submissive to the mind of Christ (cp. Philippians 2:5; 1Corinthians 1:10; 2:16). Then I shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall set me free (John 8:32).

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