@divegeester said
OK, I’m right here...waiting ...
When I changed my mind it was 25 years ago. Until then I did not believe the whole Bible to be completely accurate. I was most certain that through all the translations over thousands of years, and everything that has happened since then, there is NO way the Bible could be completely accurate.
Then, I found what I thought to be a complete contradiction in the Bible with scriptures to show it. The problem was, this contradiction shook my faith to it’s core, along with my salvation.
The contradiction was with the thief on the Cross dying with Jesus.
In Luke we have this version from witness accounts:
[Luke 23:39-43 NKJV] 39 Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us." 40 But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? 41 "And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong." 42 Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." 43 And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."
In Mathew account and he was there:
[Mat 27:41-44 NKJV] [Mat 27:38-39 NKJV] 38 Then two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and another on the left. 39 And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads41 Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders, said, 42 "He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him. 43 "He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, 'I am the Son of God.' " 44 Even the robbers who were crucified with Him reviled Him with the same thing.
Mark from witness accounts:
[Mark 15:29-32 NKJV] 29 And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, "Aha! [You] who destroy the temple and build [it] in three days, 30 "save Yourself, and come down from the cross!" 31 Likewise the chief priests also, mocking among themselves with the scribes, said, "He saved others; Himself He cannot save. 32 "Let the Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe." Even those who were crucified with Him reviled Him.
John’s total account of the event and he was there:
[John 19:18 NKJV] 18 where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center.
I’m certain the discrepancies or contradictions are evident to you.
Up until this time as a Christian, I rested my salvation on what Jesus said and did for the thief on the cross that repented. These discrepancies or contradictions shook my faith to its core.
I will do this in a two-part post with part two being posted in a few hours. I will next tell you what changed my mind. 🙂
EDIT: I'm gonna throw in a little drama here; however, as God is my witness, it is true. I was dying of a terminal illness at that time and given 6 months to a year to live.