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Gary : You are listening to Search the Scriptures Daily, a radio ministry of The Berean Call. Still ahead, Dave and Tom continue their weekly in-depth study of the Doctrine of Salvation, please stay with us.
CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH
In this regular feature, Dave and Tom respond to questions from listeners and readers of The Berean Call, here is this week’s question: Dear Dave and TA, A very popular evangelical radio personality is teaching that the scriptures proclaim that the universe has four dimensions, breadth, length, depth and height. He bases that on Ephesians 3, verses 17 through 19. I know that there are all kinds of speculations about hidden dimensions and the number of dimensions, but I think trying to use Ephesians:3:18May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; to support such speculations is an example of eisegesis rather than exegesis. Am I being too critical here?
Tom:
Dave, of course eisegesis is just using the scriptures wrongly, it’s interpreting the scriptures in a way that the scriptures themselves just doesn’t support. But let me go over Ephesians:3:17That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, to 19: “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.” Dave, I don’t know how you can take these measurements and push for a fourth dimension. You mentioned earlier in this segment about Satan existing in another dimension, and there are rules and laws that way. I don’t have any problem with that but can you take this passage and develop another additional dimension?
Dave:
Well, scientifically they would say there are four dimensions. Einstein said that, but the fourth dimension is time, and I wouldn’t quarrel with them about that.
Tom:
But I don’t see time in this.
Dave:
No, it’s not here. Breadth and length and height is what it said, because it’s talking about the depth to which Christ was willing to reach to come to this earth, and the height to which He will take us. The breadth and length is just how broad it is, it reaches everybody, and you couldn’t equate this with some kind of physical dimensions of the universe. It’s not giving you the license to do that. It’s not teaching that, it’s talking about to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge. “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length”—that is, it covers everybody. And the depth and the height— He came from heaven all the way to this earth, laid aside His glory and He’s going to take us back to heaven. This is what it very clearly says.
Tom:
This is metaphorical language, isn’t it?
Dave:
Yes, of course, I don’t think you could make physical dimensions of the universe out of them, and furthermore, I don’t know why that would happen, why you would want to do that. I don’t know, is this, from what I understand the question, someone is apparently saying that here we have a new insight into the dimensions of the universe. I don’t think that would be justified at all.
Tom:
Dave, as we’ve seen with yoga, yoga and Christianity trying to integrate one into the other or saying one opens the door for the other. So, we have many Christians, it seems to be epidemic today, that they are saying something biblical when clearly it is not biblical, and we see a shallow Christianity. And consequently, the sheep, are being led down these erroneous paths because they are not checking things out according to the scriptures. The other problem is, and I think this is an example of it, where somebody is using scripture and then convincing others, those who follow this particular teaching, they are convincing others that these things are biblical, but they are not! And all you have to do, as we did right here, we go to a verse and we say, Okay, what’s the individual trying to teach, and do the scriptures really support that. But clearly they don’t, so our encouragement to those who profess to be Christians to search the scriptures. Check this individual out, check us out, check you out, check me out, and see if indeed what we are saying is consistent with what the Word of God teaches.
