Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Friday, July 8, 2011
Points to Ponder: History and Religion and Their Dual Impact on Community Relations
Race is an Historical and Religious problem. Europe and its heir European America exploited this fact to their advantage and in so doing displaced nations by taking their histories as their own, through the use of myths and legends. Europeans redefined the world, rearranged natural boundaries,built a "scientific" system from the combined efforts from the works of the best minds before them and in so doing discovered a way to invent alternate realities at will. The earliest technology to convey these alternate realities was aptly called TV, short for Tell-a-Vision (television) or tell-the-vision. The fact that "reality TV" is so popular is no accident. Consumers like sheep without a shepherd can be led by anyone, into anything, anywhere and anytime the "leader" chooses. Together we can retrain our communities how to "Question Authority" and present solutions. The Grassroots level is the most important political level. Whether you know it or not YOU ARE IMPORTANT...
Ever wonder why or how cults grow out of religion? Are there situations happening in your community that you feel helpless to engage in or confront? I have been a community researcher for nearly 30 years. Fill in the opt-in form and subscribe. The first 52 subscriptions are free. You get unlimited questions answered concerning history and religion for 30 days. All answers will direct you to relevant research. Use this research for content in newsletters, for blog entries or community related articles. Research solutions will never be for sale but donations will be accepted if you feel our services are a help to you...
In His Service
Ever wonder why or how cults grow out of religion? Are there situations happening in your community that you feel helpless to engage in or confront? I have been a community researcher for nearly 30 years. Fill in the opt-in form and subscribe. The first 52 subscriptions are free. You get unlimited questions answered concerning history and religion for 30 days. All answers will direct you to relevant research. Use this research for content in newsletters, for blog entries or community related articles. Research solutions will never be for sale but donations will be accepted if you feel our services are a help to you...
In His Service
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Monday, May 16, 2011
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Monday, January 10, 2011
Unconditional Love Leads To Salvation Only
People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy. 2 Timothy 3:2
I love Etymology unconditionally. Of course I am being facetious. I cannot write this enough: The Romans and Greeks did more harm to The Word of God than any single weapon the enemy devised.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 2 Timothy 4:3
And they shall turn away [their] ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 2 Timothy 4:4
Another word for fable is myth. The Greeks are most noted for their myths. More than any other culture aside from the Romans the Greeks made myths out of everything. They took the triune personality and spiritual manifestation of God The Father Son Holy Spirit mixed it with ancient Egyptian history and came up with the fables of the gods that they exported to the world.
Gods' Unconditional Love is one of their myths. The Word of God warned us about philosophy : See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces[a] of this world rather than on Christ. Colossians 2:8
The philosophy through which the unbiblical teaching of unconditional love snaked its way into church doctrine was Humanism (human tradition) . Most "Christians" are unaware that "Agape", the love Christians are taught is the absolute (unconditional) love that God has for mankind was never used in any religious context by the Greeks. This agape love that was grafted into the early church is embraced and taught by modern church leaders like James Dobson of Focus On The Family. Critics of unconditional love point to fact that unconditional love places the focus of God's Love on man rather than God. Paul Brownbeck the author of The Danger Of Self Love said this: "...by unconditional love we are speaking of love on the basis of being rather than doing. One implication of this teaching is the place of grandeur that it gives to the human being. I am loveable just because I am human; therefore being human, in and of itself, regardless of what I do with my humanness, must have some sort of independent value or worth. It is by itself a sufficient claim to respect and esteem" (p.66). The problem with this type rationale is that there aren't any consequences to our actions that Grace cannot cover because with God all things are possible. It matters little that the wrath of God against sin is a direct consequence of sin based on the choices we make. The notion that God Loves us just the way we are can be misleading. God loves us enough in our sin to extend an invitation to escape eternal damnation. This invitation is called Salvation.
This leads to the question. What is Salvation and what is its order? Salvation simply stated is the total Trust and Belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour from sin and eternal damnation as a life long process.
Theologically speaking it involves :
In His Service
I love Etymology unconditionally. Of course I am being facetious. I cannot write this enough: The Romans and Greeks did more harm to The Word of God than any single weapon the enemy devised.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 2 Timothy 4:3
And they shall turn away [their] ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 2 Timothy 4:4
Another word for fable is myth. The Greeks are most noted for their myths. More than any other culture aside from the Romans the Greeks made myths out of everything. They took the triune personality and spiritual manifestation of God The Father Son Holy Spirit mixed it with ancient Egyptian history and came up with the fables of the gods that they exported to the world.
Gods' Unconditional Love is one of their myths. The Word of God warned us about philosophy : See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces[a] of this world rather than on Christ. Colossians 2:8
The philosophy through which the unbiblical teaching of unconditional love snaked its way into church doctrine was Humanism (human tradition) . Most "Christians" are unaware that "Agape", the love Christians are taught is the absolute (unconditional) love that God has for mankind was never used in any religious context by the Greeks. This agape love that was grafted into the early church is embraced and taught by modern church leaders like James Dobson of Focus On The Family. Critics of unconditional love point to fact that unconditional love places the focus of God's Love on man rather than God. Paul Brownbeck the author of The Danger Of Self Love said this: "...by unconditional love we are speaking of love on the basis of being rather than doing. One implication of this teaching is the place of grandeur that it gives to the human being. I am loveable just because I am human; therefore being human, in and of itself, regardless of what I do with my humanness, must have some sort of independent value or worth. It is by itself a sufficient claim to respect and esteem" (p.66). The problem with this type rationale is that there aren't any consequences to our actions that Grace cannot cover because with God all things are possible. It matters little that the wrath of God against sin is a direct consequence of sin based on the choices we make. The notion that God Loves us just the way we are can be misleading. God loves us enough in our sin to extend an invitation to escape eternal damnation. This invitation is called Salvation.
This leads to the question. What is Salvation and what is its order? Salvation simply stated is the total Trust and Belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour from sin and eternal damnation as a life long process.
Theologically speaking it involves :
- repentance
- atonement and redemption
- deliverance and justification
- confession and
- santification
In His Service
Friday, January 7, 2011
Obedience Is Better Than Sacrifice
And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great a delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 1 Samuel 15:22
Sacrifice is good but obedience is better. Always. In this story King Saul is commanded to utterly destroy the Amalekites but instead of obeying God Saul chose to obey those closest to him. Saul kept the best of the flock and other choice items. Oftentimes when confronted with obedience to God we choose what is easiest for us to accomplish in His name. We choose sacrifice over obedience and wonder why we never experience breakthrough. I'm not talking finances here. When we hear breakthrough stuff pops into our heads that have nothing to do with Fruits Of The Spirit. Breakthrough is spiritual. Saul thought that partially obeying God was good enough to establish his breakthrough (financially) and was generous enough in his error to offer Samuel some of his holdings to sacrifice to his God. Notice Saul doesn't claim God as his own but acknowledges God as the God of Samuel. That is what sacrifice does to a person who chooses it over obedience. It clouds the intellect to the point you fail to Trust God and acknowledge Him personally in your life. You see God is God over all whether you acknowledge Him or not. Saul had to learn this the hard way.
When meditating on obedience versus sacrifice I am reminded of another Bible Story. The story of Mary and Martha. Martha busied herself preparing a meal while Mary sat at Jesus feet to learn and worship Him. Jesus told Martha that Mary had chosen that one thing that was needed and Mary's choice was best.
Burnt offerings and sacrifice was never commanded by God. For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifice: Jeremiah 7:22. Jeremiah 7:23 says:
But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.
The sacrifices of God [are] a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Psalm 51:17:
Paul in his letter to the Romans says: beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service. Romans 12:1.
“Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” Why is it that whenever Jesus commands not to do something Paul has a way to persuade his readers otherwise. Godly sacrifices are broken spirits and contrite hearts not your body as a living sacrifice. Paul makes another mockingly strange statement: That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost. Romans 15:16. The only "offering up" ever needed was Jesus Christ on Calvary. Sacrifices are offered up. So, who is Paul offering up the sacrifice of the Gentiles to and why? As always Paul tells us why but only those free from eye scales can see.
It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else's foundation. Romans 15:20. The foundation is Jesus Christ. If the integrity of The Foundation Of The Gospel Of Jesus Christ is not maintained we run the risk of falling to deception.
As we said before, so say I now again, If any [man] preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. Galatians 1:9 Paul included.
Jesus despised traditions. Traditions are mentioned 14 times in The New Testament and is never mentioned in The Old Testament. Jesus spoke against traditions 8 times. Sacrifice is a tradition.
In Matthew 9:14-17 Jesus is confronted about ritual fasting. Ritual fasting like ritual of any sort is supposed to take place at certain times throughout the year. Any other sacrifice even fasting is not wrong just unneccessary.Then the disciples of John came to Him, asking, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?” 15And Jesus said to them, “The attendants of the bridegroom cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. 16“But no one puts a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and a worse tear results. 17“Nor do people put new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wineskins burst, and the wine pours out and the wineskins are ruined; but they put new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.” Jesus here is simply saying that He is the new tradition. That through Him everything is preserved the old (traditions) and the new freedom under Grace. In Hebrews 13:5. Jesus says if we remain obedient to Him He would never leave or forsake us. We are only commanded to observe Holy Communion as a tradition in remembrance of Him. But when and if you must fast remember Isaiah 58 and don't do it believing God will notice you but do it while feeding the hungry, visiting the shut-ins, the sick, those in jail, caring for widows and fatherless children. Fasting this way has a promise attached based on obedience to His Word. Stay Blessed...
In His Service
Sacrifice is good but obedience is better. Always. In this story King Saul is commanded to utterly destroy the Amalekites but instead of obeying God Saul chose to obey those closest to him. Saul kept the best of the flock and other choice items. Oftentimes when confronted with obedience to God we choose what is easiest for us to accomplish in His name. We choose sacrifice over obedience and wonder why we never experience breakthrough. I'm not talking finances here. When we hear breakthrough stuff pops into our heads that have nothing to do with Fruits Of The Spirit. Breakthrough is spiritual. Saul thought that partially obeying God was good enough to establish his breakthrough (financially) and was generous enough in his error to offer Samuel some of his holdings to sacrifice to his God. Notice Saul doesn't claim God as his own but acknowledges God as the God of Samuel. That is what sacrifice does to a person who chooses it over obedience. It clouds the intellect to the point you fail to Trust God and acknowledge Him personally in your life. You see God is God over all whether you acknowledge Him or not. Saul had to learn this the hard way.
When meditating on obedience versus sacrifice I am reminded of another Bible Story. The story of Mary and Martha. Martha busied herself preparing a meal while Mary sat at Jesus feet to learn and worship Him. Jesus told Martha that Mary had chosen that one thing that was needed and Mary's choice was best.
Burnt offerings and sacrifice was never commanded by God. For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifice: Jeremiah 7:22. Jeremiah 7:23 says:
But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.
The sacrifices of God [are] a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Psalm 51:17:
Paul in his letter to the Romans says: beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service. Romans 12:1.
“Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” Why is it that whenever Jesus commands not to do something Paul has a way to persuade his readers otherwise. Godly sacrifices are broken spirits and contrite hearts not your body as a living sacrifice. Paul makes another mockingly strange statement: That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost. Romans 15:16. The only "offering up" ever needed was Jesus Christ on Calvary. Sacrifices are offered up. So, who is Paul offering up the sacrifice of the Gentiles to and why? As always Paul tells us why but only those free from eye scales can see.
It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else's foundation. Romans 15:20. The foundation is Jesus Christ. If the integrity of The Foundation Of The Gospel Of Jesus Christ is not maintained we run the risk of falling to deception.
As we said before, so say I now again, If any [man] preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. Galatians 1:9 Paul included.
Jesus despised traditions. Traditions are mentioned 14 times in The New Testament and is never mentioned in The Old Testament. Jesus spoke against traditions 8 times. Sacrifice is a tradition.
In Matthew 9:14-17 Jesus is confronted about ritual fasting. Ritual fasting like ritual of any sort is supposed to take place at certain times throughout the year. Any other sacrifice even fasting is not wrong just unneccessary.Then the disciples of John came to Him, asking, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?” 15And Jesus said to them, “The attendants of the bridegroom cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. 16“But no one puts a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and a worse tear results. 17“Nor do people put new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wineskins burst, and the wine pours out and the wineskins are ruined; but they put new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.” Jesus here is simply saying that He is the new tradition. That through Him everything is preserved the old (traditions) and the new freedom under Grace. In Hebrews 13:5. Jesus says if we remain obedient to Him He would never leave or forsake us. We are only commanded to observe Holy Communion as a tradition in remembrance of Him. But when and if you must fast remember Isaiah 58 and don't do it believing God will notice you but do it while feeding the hungry, visiting the shut-ins, the sick, those in jail, caring for widows and fatherless children. Fasting this way has a promise attached based on obedience to His Word. Stay Blessed...
In His Service
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Pastors and Shepherds: A Contrast of Positions
Jesus often taught about the traditions of men and how these traditions voided the Word Of God and literally made Gods' Word of non-effect. Jesus also taught about deception in several passages; 1 John 4:1-6 and Matthew 24:4-5 are examples.
Jesus never identified himself as being a pastor. He is The Shepherd of His Church. In most cases, the position of pastor is a paid position. The position of modern pastor fulfills the position of "hireling" John 10:13. In other words, he/she is paid to do a job. Even that is all wrong. Serving God should not be a job but "work". There is a fundamental difference between a job in the modern sense and Biblical work. What has happened is that the traditions of men have co-opted the New Testament Church to serve as "law" in order to legitimize positions. 1 Timothy 5:18 which states : "do not muzzle the ox... used by the modern church to teach New Testament Tithing is an axiom that Moses used to teach about the proper relationship between employer and employee. I believe Paul was not comfortable with accepting "wages" and worked as a tent maker because he understood the danger of accepting a "wage" for service to The Kingdom Of God. Even Jesus was a carpenter. But, strangely Paul supported those who chose to receive money for their service.
Clearly, our modern pastors are not (with a few exceptions) Biblical elders. They are something else. Something we don't see anywhere in the Bible.
But what about Ephesians 4 verses 11 - 13, you're asking. This is the passage that reads:
"It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."
8"But (A)do not be called (B)Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers.
9"Do not call anyone on earth your father; for (C)One is your Father, He who is in heaven.
10"Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ. Matthew 23:8-10 (cross-reference with 1 Corinthians 1:12, Acts 18:24). Here Paul clearly oversteps Jesus teachings concerning leadership in His (Jesus) Church. How and why did Paul do this?
But be that as it may, I did not burden you myself; nevertheless, crafty fellow that I am, I took you in by deceit. 2 Corinthians 12:16. Here Paul refers to himself as "crafty" and a man of "deceit". Maybe Paul called his urge to overstep his Apostolic Office at times a "messenger from Satan. 2 Corinthians 12:7.
But doesn't Ephesians 4 based on Psalm 68 establish the position of "pastor" one might ask. No. It's a mistranslation and deception. The original Greek word which is here translated as "pastor" is every other place in the New Testament translated as "shepherd," and used to refer to Biblical elders or Jesus himself. In other words, the passage should read "shepherds and elders" not "pastors and teachers." But even the corrected translation does not explain the deception that pastors as modern shepherds should be paid could be Biblical. Jesus never authorized a new class of church leader. Jesus actually taught the opposite. A pastor might be where a shepherd works but in no way is a pastor a shepherd.
In order to understand what has happened here you have to understand the historical context of this Psalm or song of David and how Paul's words morphed (were twisted) to fit "spiritual gifts". These spiritual gifts were left to the New Testament church but not as a five-fold ministry but as fruit (gifts) of The Spirit.
There is then, no Biblical basis for having seminary-trained professional Christian pastors in churches. (Kahle)
http://www.davekahle.com/myths.html From The Kahle Way . A study of Dave Kahle on how myths enter into the church helps to place this article in perspective and is my main reference outside the Bible.
Mistranslations not withstanding, if the "position of pastor" is not Biblical, how and when did the idea of pastor as shepherd enter into The Word of God. Let's go back to Ephesians 4:8 . The passage begins with the cryptic Therefore he says (NKJV) , This is why it says (NIV), This is why the scriptures say (NLT), Therefore it says (ESV) and wherefore he saith (KJV). Surely God is not speaking of Himself in the second person "he". The Lamsa Aramaic Peshitta says: wherefore it is said , which the KJV translates better. He, it and the scriptures cannot all represent the same thought. He (a proper noun) represents God in the person Jesus Christ. He with a small "h" is the common noun used in the above popular translations. It and scriptures represent things. Moses is the "he" written about in Ephesians 4 not Jesus Christ God.
The comparative study of Ephesians 4 and Psalm 68 that lead to the confusion of Spiritual Gifts and the unBiblical modern Five Fold Ministry is an Exegesiscal problem. The Targumic translation which is the Aramaic translation of the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) must be consulted in order to understand the problem.
However, in the Targumic translation of this same verse, we find an interesting reading:
You ascended to the firmament, O prophet Moses; you captured captives, you taught the
words of Torah, you gave gifts to the sons of men, and even the stubborn who are
converted turn in repentance, [and] the glorious presence of the LORD God abides upon
them.
This is about Moses leading the captive Israelites out of Egypt into Mt. Sinai where he received The Ten Commandments as gifts for the Israelites from God. Paul had to know this. So, how did a scripture concerning Moses get to be the basis for what has become known as The Five Fold Ministry gifts to the church? This part of Ephesians is further complicated by the teaching that Jesus went to hell, where it lives on in the legendary Apostles' Creed. Jesus never taught his disciples concerning His death and Resurrection that He would go to hell and set captives souls free and Pauls' letter to The Corinthians supports this:
"I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you -- unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once...." 1 Corinthians 15:1-10. Nowhere does this say Jesus went to hell.
Paul often used the Old Testament as did Jesus and His Prophets to teach contemporaries how to live The Word. All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 2 Timothy 3:16. But we are admonished to not change or manipulate the scriptures to fit our agendas.
"I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ." Galatians 1:6-10
For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: Revelation 22:18.
We have to be Holy Spirit led when studying The Scriptures. Approaching The Bible any other way is not only unacceptable it's dangerous. Make this year 2011 the year you begin studying to show yourself approved. Be Blessed...
Jesus never identified himself as being a pastor. He is The Shepherd of His Church. In most cases, the position of pastor is a paid position. The position of modern pastor fulfills the position of "hireling" John 10:13. In other words, he/she is paid to do a job. Even that is all wrong. Serving God should not be a job but "work". There is a fundamental difference between a job in the modern sense and Biblical work. What has happened is that the traditions of men have co-opted the New Testament Church to serve as "law" in order to legitimize positions. 1 Timothy 5:18 which states : "do not muzzle the ox... used by the modern church to teach New Testament Tithing is an axiom that Moses used to teach about the proper relationship between employer and employee. I believe Paul was not comfortable with accepting "wages" and worked as a tent maker because he understood the danger of accepting a "wage" for service to The Kingdom Of God. Even Jesus was a carpenter. But, strangely Paul supported those who chose to receive money for their service.
Clearly, our modern pastors are not (with a few exceptions) Biblical elders. They are something else. Something we don't see anywhere in the Bible.
But what about Ephesians 4 verses 11 - 13, you're asking. This is the passage that reads:
"It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."
8"But (A)do not be called (B)Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers.
9"Do not call anyone on earth your father; for (C)One is your Father, He who is in heaven.
10"Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ. Matthew 23:8-10 (cross-reference with 1 Corinthians 1:12, Acts 18:24). Here Paul clearly oversteps Jesus teachings concerning leadership in His (Jesus) Church. How and why did Paul do this?
But be that as it may, I did not burden you myself; nevertheless, crafty fellow that I am, I took you in by deceit. 2 Corinthians 12:16. Here Paul refers to himself as "crafty" and a man of "deceit". Maybe Paul called his urge to overstep his Apostolic Office at times a "messenger from Satan. 2 Corinthians 12:7.
But doesn't Ephesians 4 based on Psalm 68 establish the position of "pastor" one might ask. No. It's a mistranslation and deception. The original Greek word which is here translated as "pastor" is every other place in the New Testament translated as "shepherd," and used to refer to Biblical elders or Jesus himself. In other words, the passage should read "shepherds and elders" not "pastors and teachers." But even the corrected translation does not explain the deception that pastors as modern shepherds should be paid could be Biblical. Jesus never authorized a new class of church leader. Jesus actually taught the opposite. A pastor might be where a shepherd works but in no way is a pastor a shepherd.
In order to understand what has happened here you have to understand the historical context of this Psalm or song of David and how Paul's words morphed (were twisted) to fit "spiritual gifts". These spiritual gifts were left to the New Testament church but not as a five-fold ministry but as fruit (gifts) of The Spirit.
There is then, no Biblical basis for having seminary-trained professional Christian pastors in churches. (Kahle)
http://www.davekahle.com/myths.html From The Kahle Way . A study of Dave Kahle on how myths enter into the church helps to place this article in perspective and is my main reference outside the Bible.
Mistranslations not withstanding, if the "position of pastor" is not Biblical, how and when did the idea of pastor as shepherd enter into The Word of God. Let's go back to Ephesians 4:8 . The passage begins with the cryptic Therefore he says (NKJV) , This is why it says (NIV), This is why the scriptures say (NLT), Therefore it says (ESV) and wherefore he saith (KJV). Surely God is not speaking of Himself in the second person "he". The Lamsa Aramaic Peshitta says: wherefore it is said , which the KJV translates better. He, it and the scriptures cannot all represent the same thought. He (a proper noun) represents God in the person Jesus Christ. He with a small "h" is the common noun used in the above popular translations. It and scriptures represent things. Moses is the "he" written about in Ephesians 4 not Jesus Christ God.
The comparative study of Ephesians 4 and Psalm 68 that lead to the confusion of Spiritual Gifts and the unBiblical modern Five Fold Ministry is an Exegesiscal problem. The Targumic translation which is the Aramaic translation of the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) must be consulted in order to understand the problem.
However, in the Targumic translation of this same verse, we find an interesting reading:
You ascended to the firmament, O prophet Moses; you captured captives, you taught the
words of Torah, you gave gifts to the sons of men, and even the stubborn who are
converted turn in repentance, [and] the glorious presence of the LORD God abides upon
them.
This is about Moses leading the captive Israelites out of Egypt into Mt. Sinai where he received The Ten Commandments as gifts for the Israelites from God. Paul had to know this. So, how did a scripture concerning Moses get to be the basis for what has become known as The Five Fold Ministry gifts to the church? This part of Ephesians is further complicated by the teaching that Jesus went to hell, where it lives on in the legendary Apostles' Creed. Jesus never taught his disciples concerning His death and Resurrection that He would go to hell and set captives souls free and Pauls' letter to The Corinthians supports this:
"I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you -- unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once...." 1 Corinthians 15:1-10. Nowhere does this say Jesus went to hell.
Paul often used the Old Testament as did Jesus and His Prophets to teach contemporaries how to live The Word. All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 2 Timothy 3:16. But we are admonished to not change or manipulate the scriptures to fit our agendas.
"I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ." Galatians 1:6-10
For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: Revelation 22:18.
We have to be Holy Spirit led when studying The Scriptures. Approaching The Bible any other way is not only unacceptable it's dangerous. Make this year 2011 the year you begin studying to show yourself approved. Be Blessed...
Thursday, October 14, 2010
The Evolution Of Racism: It's How You Say It
In a Monday, October 11, 2010 USA Today article by Paul Davidson Money Section B we are confronted with two revelations. One, the language of racism has evolved and two, most victims of racism are clueless and defenseless.
The article basically says there are jobs but you my little nigglet aren't getting any. That's not true many of you will counter. Things are better. Yes and no. Yes, America still has problems but if I am qualified I still have a chance, you say. Stop defending what you don't understand. Yes, America, not Black people, elected its first not completely white person. Hooray. It was a set up. A political coup de tat. And I believe, under the circumstances our President is doing a commendable job. However, the President's Economic Recovery Stimulus Program is purposely being stalled at all levels.
Go to Recovery.gov and check out your neck of the woods. There are millions in my county just sitting waiting for the Republicans to take over and offer a real fix. You will notice that money is in place, lots of money for jobs, for training and re-training but it sits day after day, week after week why most complain that Obama is not doing his job. BS. I say we (citizens) aren't doing our job, holding those accountable who lord it over us. I know, I got off track a bit to make a point. There is no logical defense against racism. None, natta, zero.
The USA Today article says "jobs are starting to open up again". Check the language: "Employers are thinking about hiring. They're advertising openings. They're just not hiring - at least in big numbers. Not yet". Check this out. According to a recent Us Labor Department Turnover Survey "job openings rose by 33%, in the year ended in August, while hirings edged up 4%. In evolved racist lingo this means: "hirings will pick up if conditions improve". But, what controls "conditions"? People in positions of power control "conditions". Now, there are plenty of justifications as to why there are plenty jobs but hirings are slow. Jeff Torres CEO of Manpower, the largest temp organization in the country has this to say - "part of the problem is a mismatch of skills". Most unemployed people realize this. This is why the President's Economic Stimulus Program is basically being ignored. If given a chance workers with mismatched skills could undergo re-training in deficient areas.
One company surveyed has more than a 1000 applications on file to fill 100 jobs but refuse to hire until the "right people" comes along. Not qualified people, right people. Others in positions to hire are talking "culture". Being a "team player" is no longer valid to keep certain people out of the job market. Now, unless you are a good cultural fit you probably won't get short listed for that much needed job. Do you own a motor cycle? Do you golf? Do your kids play soccer? Where do you vacation? Do you like camping, hiking or water sports? These types of questions are covered in the application section that says: Tell us a little bit about yourself. It is here that you are culturally stereotyped.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33
Don't get angry. Get God. Follow his plan for your life. Seek Him first, then realizing that Faith without works is dead, go to the Department of Labor, after you have studied job market projections and request retraining based on your research. Make them change the language again, but never give up...
The article basically says there are jobs but you my little nigglet aren't getting any. That's not true many of you will counter. Things are better. Yes and no. Yes, America still has problems but if I am qualified I still have a chance, you say. Stop defending what you don't understand. Yes, America, not Black people, elected its first not completely white person. Hooray. It was a set up. A political coup de tat. And I believe, under the circumstances our President is doing a commendable job. However, the President's Economic Recovery Stimulus Program is purposely being stalled at all levels.
Go to Recovery.gov and check out your neck of the woods. There are millions in my county just sitting waiting for the Republicans to take over and offer a real fix. You will notice that money is in place, lots of money for jobs, for training and re-training but it sits day after day, week after week why most complain that Obama is not doing his job. BS. I say we (citizens) aren't doing our job, holding those accountable who lord it over us. I know, I got off track a bit to make a point. There is no logical defense against racism. None, natta, zero.
The USA Today article says "jobs are starting to open up again". Check the language: "Employers are thinking about hiring. They're advertising openings. They're just not hiring - at least in big numbers. Not yet". Check this out. According to a recent Us Labor Department Turnover Survey "job openings rose by 33%, in the year ended in August, while hirings edged up 4%. In evolved racist lingo this means: "hirings will pick up if conditions improve". But, what controls "conditions"? People in positions of power control "conditions". Now, there are plenty of justifications as to why there are plenty jobs but hirings are slow. Jeff Torres CEO of Manpower, the largest temp organization in the country has this to say - "part of the problem is a mismatch of skills". Most unemployed people realize this. This is why the President's Economic Stimulus Program is basically being ignored. If given a chance workers with mismatched skills could undergo re-training in deficient areas.
One company surveyed has more than a 1000 applications on file to fill 100 jobs but refuse to hire until the "right people" comes along. Not qualified people, right people. Others in positions to hire are talking "culture". Being a "team player" is no longer valid to keep certain people out of the job market. Now, unless you are a good cultural fit you probably won't get short listed for that much needed job. Do you own a motor cycle? Do you golf? Do your kids play soccer? Where do you vacation? Do you like camping, hiking or water sports? These types of questions are covered in the application section that says: Tell us a little bit about yourself. It is here that you are culturally stereotyped.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33
Don't get angry. Get God. Follow his plan for your life. Seek Him first, then realizing that Faith without works is dead, go to the Department of Labor, after you have studied job market projections and request retraining based on your research. Make them change the language again, but never give up...
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Christian Maturity
Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? (NASB)
Romans 6:16
Luke 22:25 And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called 'Benefactors.'
There is a grave danger to blindly follow and listen to "leaders". It is crucial to spend quality time in The Word Of God and seeking diligently after Him. I'm not talking "prayer time" where you ritually and at a certain time, perform your duties. You might as well be Catholic, Jehovah Witness or Muslim. They perform rituals. My point is this; a mature Christian is a believer in Jesus who rightly divides The Word 2 Timothy 2:15, is able to discern spirits, Hosea 4:6, Luke 12:57 and Matthew 16:3 and whose character is bold yet humble. A mature Christian is like Caleb, he or she has a "different spirit" Numbers 14:24. Caleb means "bold, impetuous; dog". Caleb was as loyal to God as any dog to its master. Caleb's tenacity allowed him to be the oldest soldier who fought his way into the promised land. To be called a "servant" by The Most High God Amen ones faith has to be impeccable. Only two were given the title "my servant" directly by God; Moses and Caleb. Like Caleb my total trust and faith in God my Lord and Saviour, my Master Jesus Christ Amen cannot be affected by those of lesser faith . I can't be intimidated, broken or whipped into line and I care not what others think of me because The Word says all true followers of Jesus have a cross to bear and would be treated just as Jesus was treated. We have to count it all as joy.
If I live to please spiritual leaders then I make The Living Word non-and-void. A true sheperd like Jesus gives his life for the sheep. Most modern church leaders are spoiled and treat The Body Of Christ like a 9-5 job. They screen calls and openly demand that their congregation not call them "after hours". That's like Jesus saying: "I only cast out demons Monday- Wednesday between 9 and 5. Thursday - Saturday is set aside for raising the dead and I don't work on Sunday or Holidays. I know The Word says we are to obey those over us but it also says leaders in The Church are called to be different. They aren't called to sit high and "lord it over" the flock and be served but they are to serve those in their care. Modern church leaders are in need of being shephered themselves.
He (Jesus) also told them this parable: "Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher. Luke 6:39-40. Paul warned, that each should be careful how they build. This simply means if you follow a wise teacher you shall be wise but if you follow a blind teacher (one in error) then you learn the same way; in error.
Romans 8:5 says "those who are controlled by The Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit". The Word says without faith it is impossible to please The Lord. So, in order to please The Spirit, The Lord you have to operate in faith. The reason why there is so much strife in The Body Of Christ is because modern church leaders have drifted away from The Leadership Model that Jesus left for His Church and are no longer controlled by Holy Spirit but modern marketing strategies and techniques and the Body of Christ because they are stuck in a milk fed state cannot discern where they are being led. The Blind leading the blind.
In the Church Of Acts we are told that decision making in The Body Of Christ was not the responsibility of pastors and elders but of the unified Body Of Christ -
Acts 15:22 Then the apostles, the elders, and the whole church decided to choose some of their men to send with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch.
1Co 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
Too many modern church "leaders" are in grave error concerning church authority and they have not been challenged by believers who are equipped with sound doctrine. Too many modern believers are dependent on second hand "word" from from "pastor" and even when admonished by the pastors to search the Scriptures for themselves don't understand the difference between meat and milk :
And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men? 1 Corinthians 3:1-3
How many, reading these meaty words will reject them . The Word says - Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding” (Proverbs 4:7). James 1:5 says-
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. Once a believer receives Wisdom from God Understanding will follow.
Taken out of context The Word of God is made to support modern church heirarchy. I am threading on religious ground in order to present an observation. Those who become angry from reading this are in great spiritual trouble because I say or write only what The Bible supports. Paul said this concerning authority -
1 Corinthians 3:10-15
By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Wait a minute. "Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain...." Psalm 127:1
But Paul said: ...By the grace God has given me, I (meaning Paul) laid a foundation as an expert builder He then cautions - But each one should be careful how he builds. And the curious verse 11; For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. Then why does Paul make a claim to laying "a foundation as an expert builder" ? No, Paul, we are called to build on the foundation which is Jesus Christ. Jesus was a carpenter and Paul was not. Paul was a tent maker. A tent isn't made to last. A foundation of a building is. Is this a heartless criticism of Paul ? No, this is a Spirit led observation of a real man, Paul who spoke and wrote these words. I merely question them in light of Scripture. In declaring that he laid a foundation and someone else is building on it sounds like heresy.
It's impossible to build a foundation on a foundation. Yet, this is exactly what Paul is saying. The Word says life and death is in the power of the tongue. Proverbs 18:21.
From AD 30, beginning with the Catholic Church to today hundreds of "foundations" (denominations) have been laid. "For GOD is not the author of confusion, but of peace..." 1Corinthians 14:33. Indeed God is the author of Peace but His mission to earth was not to bring peace. Jesus asked this question: Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth?" Luke 12:51.
A common misunderstanding always lurking in the church is that Jesus is always and everywhere the great "smoother-over". Whenever he found antagonistic people or tense situations he smoothed things over. The written gospels, however, paint a very different picture. According to the gospels wherever Jesus went there was a disruption.
Jesus comes upon some orthodox folk who care more for their religious reputations and their supposed religious superiority than they will ever care for personal integrity and transparency before God. To them Jesus says, "You people go halfway around the world to lasso one convert, and when you finally get him you make him twice as much a child of hell as you are yourselves." Disruption. Next day Jesus comes upon some people who think they have preferential status before God just because they are Israelites. "There were many widows in Israel in the days when Jezebel, wicked woman, was seeking the prophet Elijah in order to kill him", says Jesus. "But who took Elijah , Israel 's greatest prophet, into her home and provided sanctuary for him at terrible risk to herself? A widow from a nation you Israelites pronounce 'godless.'" Another disruption.
III: -- The truth is, wherever Jesus went there was conflict. Yet Jesus never caused trouble for the sake of causing trouble. He didn't have a personality disorder that gloated over being a disturber. He caused a disruption only in order that his hearers might finally hear and heed and do the truth of God, therein finding the profoundest peace of God. Whenever our Lord caused pain he did so only in order that the people whom he plunged into greater pain might submit themselves to the great physician himself. Whenever God's truth is held up in a world of falsehood there is going to be disruption. There has to be disruption if the shalom of God is going to appear.
Victor Shepherd
January 2003
1 Peter 4:17-18 - "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?"
Romans 6:16
Luke 22:25 And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called 'Benefactors.'
There is a grave danger to blindly follow and listen to "leaders". It is crucial to spend quality time in The Word Of God and seeking diligently after Him. I'm not talking "prayer time" where you ritually and at a certain time, perform your duties. You might as well be Catholic, Jehovah Witness or Muslim. They perform rituals. My point is this; a mature Christian is a believer in Jesus who rightly divides The Word 2 Timothy 2:15, is able to discern spirits, Hosea 4:6, Luke 12:57 and Matthew 16:3 and whose character is bold yet humble. A mature Christian is like Caleb, he or she has a "different spirit" Numbers 14:24. Caleb means "bold, impetuous; dog". Caleb was as loyal to God as any dog to its master. Caleb's tenacity allowed him to be the oldest soldier who fought his way into the promised land. To be called a "servant" by The Most High God Amen ones faith has to be impeccable. Only two were given the title "my servant" directly by God; Moses and Caleb. Like Caleb my total trust and faith in God my Lord and Saviour, my Master Jesus Christ Amen cannot be affected by those of lesser faith . I can't be intimidated, broken or whipped into line and I care not what others think of me because The Word says all true followers of Jesus have a cross to bear and would be treated just as Jesus was treated. We have to count it all as joy.
If I live to please spiritual leaders then I make The Living Word non-and-void. A true sheperd like Jesus gives his life for the sheep. Most modern church leaders are spoiled and treat The Body Of Christ like a 9-5 job. They screen calls and openly demand that their congregation not call them "after hours". That's like Jesus saying: "I only cast out demons Monday- Wednesday between 9 and 5. Thursday - Saturday is set aside for raising the dead and I don't work on Sunday or Holidays. I know The Word says we are to obey those over us but it also says leaders in The Church are called to be different. They aren't called to sit high and "lord it over" the flock and be served but they are to serve those in their care. Modern church leaders are in need of being shephered themselves.
He (Jesus) also told them this parable: "Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher. Luke 6:39-40. Paul warned, that each should be careful how they build. This simply means if you follow a wise teacher you shall be wise but if you follow a blind teacher (one in error) then you learn the same way; in error.
Romans 8:5 says "those who are controlled by The Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit". The Word says without faith it is impossible to please The Lord. So, in order to please The Spirit, The Lord you have to operate in faith. The reason why there is so much strife in The Body Of Christ is because modern church leaders have drifted away from The Leadership Model that Jesus left for His Church and are no longer controlled by Holy Spirit but modern marketing strategies and techniques and the Body of Christ because they are stuck in a milk fed state cannot discern where they are being led. The Blind leading the blind.
In the Church Of Acts we are told that decision making in The Body Of Christ was not the responsibility of pastors and elders but of the unified Body Of Christ -
Acts 15:22 Then the apostles, the elders, and the whole church decided to choose some of their men to send with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch.
1Co 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
Too many modern church "leaders" are in grave error concerning church authority and they have not been challenged by believers who are equipped with sound doctrine. Too many modern believers are dependent on second hand "word" from from "pastor" and even when admonished by the pastors to search the Scriptures for themselves don't understand the difference between meat and milk :
And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men? 1 Corinthians 3:1-3
How many, reading these meaty words will reject them . The Word says - Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding” (Proverbs 4:7). James 1:5 says-
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. Once a believer receives Wisdom from God Understanding will follow.
Taken out of context The Word of God is made to support modern church heirarchy. I am threading on religious ground in order to present an observation. Those who become angry from reading this are in great spiritual trouble because I say or write only what The Bible supports. Paul said this concerning authority -
1 Corinthians 3:10-15
By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Wait a minute. "Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain...." Psalm 127:1
But Paul said: ...By the grace God has given me, I (meaning Paul) laid a foundation as an expert builder He then cautions - But each one should be careful how he builds. And the curious verse 11; For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. Then why does Paul make a claim to laying "a foundation as an expert builder" ? No, Paul, we are called to build on the foundation which is Jesus Christ. Jesus was a carpenter and Paul was not. Paul was a tent maker. A tent isn't made to last. A foundation of a building is. Is this a heartless criticism of Paul ? No, this is a Spirit led observation of a real man, Paul who spoke and wrote these words. I merely question them in light of Scripture. In declaring that he laid a foundation and someone else is building on it sounds like heresy.
It's impossible to build a foundation on a foundation. Yet, this is exactly what Paul is saying. The Word says life and death is in the power of the tongue. Proverbs 18:21.
From AD 30, beginning with the Catholic Church to today hundreds of "foundations" (denominations) have been laid. "For GOD is not the author of confusion, but of peace..." 1Corinthians 14:33. Indeed God is the author of Peace but His mission to earth was not to bring peace. Jesus asked this question: Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth?" Luke 12:51.
A common misunderstanding always lurking in the church is that Jesus is always and everywhere the great "smoother-over". Whenever he found antagonistic people or tense situations he smoothed things over. The written gospels, however, paint a very different picture. According to the gospels wherever Jesus went there was a disruption.
Jesus comes upon some orthodox folk who care more for their religious reputations and their supposed religious superiority than they will ever care for personal integrity and transparency before God. To them Jesus says, "You people go halfway around the world to lasso one convert, and when you finally get him you make him twice as much a child of hell as you are yourselves." Disruption. Next day Jesus comes upon some people who think they have preferential status before God just because they are Israelites. "There were many widows in Israel in the days when Jezebel, wicked woman, was seeking the prophet Elijah in order to kill him", says Jesus. "But who took Elijah , Israel 's greatest prophet, into her home and provided sanctuary for him at terrible risk to herself? A widow from a nation you Israelites pronounce 'godless.'" Another disruption.
III: -- The truth is, wherever Jesus went there was conflict. Yet Jesus never caused trouble for the sake of causing trouble. He didn't have a personality disorder that gloated over being a disturber. He caused a disruption only in order that his hearers might finally hear and heed and do the truth of God, therein finding the profoundest peace of God. Whenever our Lord caused pain he did so only in order that the people whom he plunged into greater pain might submit themselves to the great physician himself. Whenever God's truth is held up in a world of falsehood there is going to be disruption. There has to be disruption if the shalom of God is going to appear.
Victor Shepherd
January 2003
1 Peter 4:17-18 - "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?"
Monday, May 3, 2010
Saved By Grace Through Faith : What About Obedience?
Popular theology has reduced the commandments of Christ and His Apostles to a practical nullity. Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that." Mark 7:13. Teaching Grace out of context apart from obedience has totally obscured the principle of obedience as the basis of our acceptance with God in Christ, by its doctrine of "justification by faith alone," and that too, of the most momentary character in the hour of death. It is part of the modern restitution of primitive apostolic ways, to recognize distinctly, that while faith turns a sinner into a saint, obedience only will secure a saint's acceptance at the judgment seat of Christ; and that a disobedient saint will be rejected more decisively than even an unjustified sinner. The Bible says it this way: When a righteous man disobeys he will not be saved just as the wicked man's wickedness will not cause him to fall if he repents. Ezekiel 33:12.
The rule or standard of obedience is to be found in the commandments of Christ. Christ speaks very plainly on this subject of obedience in relationship to being in His perfect Will. Jesus summed up the importance of obedience in this saying - "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love."
Before we can keep his commandments, we must know them; and in order to know them to any purpose, we must remember them. This epitome is intended as a help to the memory. The commandments are picked out from the apostolic writings, and classified in a way convenient to remember, and printed in a form convenient for carrying about on the person daily, so that they may be often looked at, and imprinted on the mind. The references are supplied for the satisfaction of those who desire to be quite sure of their foundation. What excellent men and women are those who keep all these commandments! Where are they? Lord, increase their number.
wikipedia
In the most Holy name Jesus Christ Amen. Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in thy sight Oh Lord my Strength and my Redeemer...
Ezekiel 33:12-19 is about the righteousness of the righteous and how they wrongly divide the word . Of mans' righteousness Isaiah likened to "filthy rags" Isaiah 64:4-9.
This people draw near with their words and honour me with their lips service, but they remove their heart far from me(Isa 29:13) .
The rule or standard of obedience is to be found in the commandments of Christ. Christ speaks very plainly on this subject of obedience in relationship to being in His perfect Will. Jesus summed up the importance of obedience in this saying - "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love."
Before we can keep his commandments, we must know them; and in order to know them to any purpose, we must remember them. This epitome is intended as a help to the memory. The commandments are picked out from the apostolic writings, and classified in a way convenient to remember, and printed in a form convenient for carrying about on the person daily, so that they may be often looked at, and imprinted on the mind. The references are supplied for the satisfaction of those who desire to be quite sure of their foundation. What excellent men and women are those who keep all these commandments! Where are they? Lord, increase their number.
wikipedia
In the most Holy name Jesus Christ Amen. Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in thy sight Oh Lord my Strength and my Redeemer...
Ezekiel 33:12-19 is about the righteousness of the righteous and how they wrongly divide the word . Of mans' righteousness Isaiah likened to "filthy rags" Isaiah 64:4-9.
This people draw near with their words and honour me with their lips service, but they remove their heart far from me
The Lord says, "Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean, take away from before my eyes the evil of your deeds. Cease to do evil, learn to do good" (Isa 1:16-17) . The passage goes on to say that if the people do this willingly and obediently, they will be rewarded and blessed (Isa 1:18-20). But, the key here is that we must learn to do good. We have to practice doing good.
Here’s another example: "Thus says the Lord, Preserve justice and do righteousness... How blessed is the man who does this..." (Isa 56:1-2) .
So, here we are given the principle that we must "learn" in order "to do good". That principle is obedience. We must learn to be obedient. If being obedient was not a problem we would be through with sin. But, we all know that is not the case. This is exactly what Paul was saying back in Romans when he wrote this:
Romans 7:15-25 (New International Version)
15I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[a] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
21So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. James says a double minded man is unstable in all he does James 1:8.
All of the Commandments are subordinate to Love. But, for us obedience is paramount. Why? Glad you asked: How can any of us have any hope of Loving like Jesus if we are disobedient? Through Grace right? Wrong. If we are living ouitside the will of God as unbelievers then we enjoy God's Mercy. Some would argue "common grace" is extended to all. This is a Calvinist argument. Calvin taught that there were levels of Grace. There is common, special and saving grace. This is an example of the "traditions of men that has caused Gods' Word to be null and void". Grace is reserved for disobedient believers and believers struggling with overwhelming issues period. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says: But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
My Grace is sufficient for you refers to Paul the believer, Paul who follows Jesus by Faith, like us (modern believers). Paul received his understanding of Jesus through the Holy Spirit by Faith just as we do. We have to stop depending on Grace and focus our attention instead on being obedient to The Word of God. Grace is like a credit card. You are responsible how you use it...
As always: Seek ye first the Kingdom Of God and don't worry about the rest...
21So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. James says a double minded man is unstable in all he does James 1:8.
All of the Commandments are subordinate to Love. But, for us obedience is paramount. Why? Glad you asked: How can any of us have any hope of Loving like Jesus if we are disobedient? Through Grace right? Wrong. If we are living ouitside the will of God as unbelievers then we enjoy God's Mercy. Some would argue "common grace" is extended to all. This is a Calvinist argument. Calvin taught that there were levels of Grace. There is common, special and saving grace. This is an example of the "traditions of men that has caused Gods' Word to be null and void". Grace is reserved for disobedient believers and believers struggling with overwhelming issues period. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says: But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
My Grace is sufficient for you refers to Paul the believer, Paul who follows Jesus by Faith, like us (modern believers). Paul received his understanding of Jesus through the Holy Spirit by Faith just as we do. We have to stop depending on Grace and focus our attention instead on being obedient to The Word of God. Grace is like a credit card. You are responsible how you use it...
As always: Seek ye first the Kingdom Of God and don't worry about the rest...
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