Priscilla Shirer is now teaching modalism--the heresy that denies the biblical triunity of God. She says in the clip that God the FATHER puts on flesh and comes to earth. That's wholly inaccurate. God the Son, who is distinct from the Father and Holy Spirit, came and took on flesh (John 1, Hebrews 1, Col. 1, and Matthew 1). This is a doctrine that necessitates PRECISION. To be wrong on who God is, is to have a false God and therefore a false gospel and a false salvation.
I warned about her years ago here, starting in 2009 and now you can see where that has all led. Here is Distnr's article.
I believe in God. I also believe God. “Discernment is not simply a matter of telling the difference between what is right and wrong; rather it is the difference between right and almost right.” -Charles Spurgeon. Scripture is my authority for all things regarding to life and godliness. 2 Cor.10:5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ
Tuesday, October 10, 2023
Priscilla Shirer Update
Friday, October 06, 2023
The Local Church vs "Community"
There is a difference between the local church and what so many call "community". These are just thoughts I had as I was studying Ephesians and is in no way meant to be a full treatment of the texts.
Eph 5:22 Wives, submit to your own
husbands, as to the Lord.
Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the
head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.
Eph 5:24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit
in everything to their husbands.
Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave
himself up for her,
Eph 5:26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing
of water with the word,
Eph 5:27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor,
without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without
blemish.
Eph 5:28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own
bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
Eph 5:29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes
it, just as Christ does the church,
Eph 5:30 because we are members of his body.
Eph 5:31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his
wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”
Eph 5:32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to
Christ and the church.
Eph 5:33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let
the wife see that she respects her husband.
1 Cor 12
The local body of Christ is made of
many parts while it also one unit. True Christians are the body of Christ with
each individual being important and necessary for the proper functioning of the
body.
The Lord Loves His Body as each person loves his own flesh; that is, as a husband loves his wife as he loves his very own flesh. There are distinct individuals within marriage, but they make one unit or “one flesh”. Even within marriage, the two are still individuals before God as 1 Peter 3 discusses. They are a unit but they are also and foremost, individuals. We know Christ said there is no marriage in heaven, but there are a multitude of individuals.
There is value for every single true
Christian—each is important and necessary because God made them and gifted them
and grafted them into the body as He saw fit.
1Co 12:11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as He wills.
The building up to maturity of the
local body of believers is crucial as God set it up that way and has commanded
the church(es) to believe and function according to Scripture in distinct ways.
That’s why factions and favoritism is so bad and corrupt, because it dismisses
the value, use, and importance for a part of Christ’s body. He died for that
person, for that part of His body. No one can sit in judgement and value that
individual based on their usefulness or advantage to a person in leadership for
their position, agenda, career or any other advancement or preservation. This
is not “community” but rather His body, the church, the called out ones into
fellowship and fellowship is based on the same faith and doctrine of the Lord
Jesus Christ.
1 Cor. 12:18,22-26 talks about how if one individual in the body suffers, all
the members suffer. This demonstrates
how each person affects the local body of believers. In 1Cor 12 uses words like “each individual”, “to another”, “each” “own
bodies”, demonstrating that God is the God of individuals and its those individuals,
the elect, for whom He purchased with His own blood.
The reason the individual is essential to the local body of believers:
Eph 4:10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)
Eph 4:11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,
Eph 4:12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
Eph 4:13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
Eph 4:14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
Eph 4:15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
Eph 4:16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
On the other hand “community” isn’t biblical, but rather secular.
The notion of the “greater good” over the individual is strictly unbiblical.
That is what the “collective” of socialism is. But the biblical triune God of
Scripture is the God of Israel always being the God of each individual and He
judges, saves, blesses, and punishes individuals, not collectively. And when an entire nation has rebelled against Him as Israel did, then He who is just, justly punishes the whole nation. But His children who are saved have His wrath satisfied by the atonement of Christ Jesus.
Now, fellowship is unity in the Holy Spirit and doctrine with one Lord, one baptism,
one faith.
Eph 4:1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,
Eph 4:2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
Eph 4:3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Eph 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—
Eph 4:5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Eph 4:6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Eph 4:7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.
“Community” de-humanizes individuals by seeing them as and object and means to
an end. Often this is seen in how churches refer to the individuals or families
as “giving units”. Elders and “pastors”
who treat their people as such are using pragmatic and worldly views condemned
by Scripture (James 3:15-18 and the
widow’s mite Jesus dealt with in Luke 21:1-4).
“Community” is from socialism and humanism and is, in my opinion connected to
evolution as they are anti-Christ and anti-Scripture, as they devalue the
individual God created, among other things. It relies on the flesh and is not
only worldly but divisive (James 3:15-16) and the source (worldly and demonic)
can’t bring unity of faith in Christ by the Holy Spirit, but rather ONLY division,
selfish ambition, jealousy, and envy as James 3 states. This is what happened
to the Corinthian church—the factions were destroying that church and it’s
unity.
Jas 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.
Jas 3:14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.
Jas 3:15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
Jas 3:16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.
Jas 3:17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
“Community” shields individuals and their
sins and elevates the hierarchy. It also hides or dismisses the individual’s gifts and
proper functioning. It is vague and so men like to hide behind that. How often we've heard "we as a church teach or believe this" but within that church are many who do not.
“Community”
is without biblical purpose, whereas the local church is the assemblying together
of called-out ones to function in a set proper order with a set proper purpose:
the maturity of each person and then the whole body, to protect them from error
and to glorify Christ and encourage each other to functioning even better, to
God’s sole glory and honor. See Eph. 4:10-16 above.
Another passage which destroys the collectivism notion of “the
greater good” is this:
1Co 8:9 But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a
stumbling block to the weak.
1Co 8:10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's
temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food
offered to idols?
1Co 8:11 And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the
brother for whom Christ died.
1Co 8:12 Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their
conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.
1Co 8:13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
God calls each star by it’s own name. He has each hair on our head counted. He
died for individuals and grafted each one into His body. We all stand before
God individually Who judges all (Heb. 9:27).
Sunday, July 30, 2023
You're Not A Christian If.....
If the cross of Christ has not radically disrupted the very epicenter and citadel of your life, from self-righteousness, self-esteem, self-worth, self-promotion, self-accomplishment, self-confidence, self-rule, self-glory, self-satisfaction, self-desire, self-will, self-honor, self-praise, self-regard, self-pity, self-sufficiency, self-love, self-admiration, and a host of the many disguised manifestations of the abomination of selfhood....friend, you're not a Christian.
If only you have experienced but a minor shift in a few of your ethical, moral and religious values neurotically tickled by the sensual excitement of idolatry masquerading as "worship", that proves nothing but simply a sewing together the fig-leaves of humanism to both inadequately cover the nakedness of our sinfulness and adorn & indulge the wretchedness of our fleshly nature....friend, you're not a Christian.
If the engorged egotism and flatulent narcissism that plagues the ir
reverent and mediocre religion of disobediently postmodern evangelicals is all that you have clung to by the vainglorious tendrils of smoke in the popularity of false religion and thereby have held to many Scripturally untenable positions by a false carnal hope, whilst emphatically calling Jesus your 'Lord, Lord'....friend, you're not a Christian.
If you did not die with Christ Jesus, and if you do not die daily to self, and if you are not living a crucified life in Christ: my dear friend, I lovingly plead with you to hear me when I soberly tell you....you are not a Christian.
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me." -- Galatians 2:20
(Thanks for posting Doron Gladden from Chris O via Facebook)
Originally posted here in 2021.
Tuesday, July 18, 2023
Ps 139 exalts God and praises Him as personal Creator. It shows that He creates individuals with vast incomprehensible knowledge, power, skill, care, and purpose. This is not what evolution does. God our personal Creator cares for man, especially His elect whom He leads personally. This causes believers to praise Him, thank Him, be in awe of Him, and trust Him. Those who deny the sound doctrine of a literal six day Creation week do none of those things and instead devalues not only God and His absolute sovereign right over all creation, but also devalues man and sin. This is why those who deny Creation justify and tolerate sexual immorality.
Psa 139:13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
Psa 139:14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
Psa 139:15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Psa 139:16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
Monday, July 03, 2023
God's Creation
Ps. 104 shows God's personal creation, care, maintenance and sustaining of His creation.
Psa 104:9 You set a boundary that they may not pass, so that they might not again cover the earth.
There won't be a global warming that causes the oceans to rise and destroy the coastlands. Climate change won't be drastic because God promised to maintain the weather and sovereignly reign over it (Gen. 8:22 as well).
Psa 104:24 O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.
Evolution denies God created all things in WISDOM. It denies God's due glory, worship, and fear, and it denies God's personal creation and sustaining of it, as well as His coming destruction of it in righteous judgment.
Evolution is illogical, without wisdom, purpose, and order, is deadly, and theoretically develops things frivolously resulting (glorifying) death without reason.
Evolution denies the value and high rank of mankind made in God's image.
Saturday, April 22, 2023
Disntr Agrees With My Observation: "Conservatives" aren't conservative
Finally I'm not the only one seeing and saying this.
Excerpts from Disntr:
"A distressingly growing number of people who claim to be conservative are being taken captive by the LGBTQ movement and led to believe that sexual deviants, simply because they share a dislike of certain Democrat politics, have become our allies."
Indeed, there are many who have been deceived in this way—groups like “Gays Against Groomers” or Bruce Jenner, a cross-dresser and a contributor to Fox News, are now somehow the talking heads of the new conservative movement.
Can we genuinely claim to believe that same-sex marriage and the erosion of the traditional nuclear family precipitate society’s decline, while allying ourselves with “Gays Against Groomers” solely because their approach to their destructive lifestyle is slightly less radical?
End quote. (Bold, my emphasis, italics, mine).
It then goes on, "We shouldn’t be a big tent. We should be exclusive. True conservatives have morals, convictions, and should be unwilling to compromise them this way." Continue reading here.
I've been saying this for while now. I'm glad Disntr is seeing it and saying something about it too.
My belief of why "conservatives" are doing this is because they are desperate and want heroes, and want validity at best; at worst they were never conservative but only less liberal. Either way, this is the mentality of "voting for the lesser evil" outworking from politics into society.
They're ok with transgenders as long as they don't prey on children.
They're ok with homosexuals, especially the "conservative" types.
Seriously?
"Conservativism" is suppose to conserve traditional values and principles, not the least of which is God-ordained marriage and family.
Conservatives aren't even pro-life now.
Conservatives applaud Democrat leaders who leave the DNC, not understanding that they are typically still liberal. The neo-conservatives' pragmatic view is, "the enemy of my enemy is my friend". That's corrupt, desperate, and pathetic. And it'll come back to destroy them, or more likely, assimilate them into their side.
More importantly, biblical Christians are truly and unwaveringly conservative, not by man's standard by solely by Scripture's standard. We are not pragmatic, nor desperate, therefore we do not violate Scripture and make allies with people which Yahweh (the Self Existent One (Ex. 3:14-15)) never sanctioned. We don't evaluate things by the flesh, but spiritually and according to the Word through the Holy Spirit.
2Co 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.
1Co 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, "He is THE ONE WHO CATCHES THE WISE IN THEIR CRAFTINESS"; 20 and again, "THE LORD KNOWS THE REASONINGS of the wise, THAT THEY ARE USELESS."
If it didn't work for Israel, neither will it work for those today who use the name of Christ Jesus while seeking shelter in men---especially "less evil", but nonetheless, evil men. Seek shelter in the ONLY Rock that is eternal: God Himself.
Php 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;
Monday, February 27, 2023
Apostate Hank Hanegraaff Endorses Homosexual Author For Defending The West
The former "Bible Answer Man" and apostate Hank Hanegraff (now Greek Orthodox which is a works-righteousness religion), now promotes a homosexual for answers to saving the West. Never mind that a huge part of the West's downfall is it's sodomy.
This started when he read Spencer Klavan's book. Be careful of what you read! Romans 1-3 makes it clear WHY we're at this point in the West: the rejection of the biblical God and His Word. Deny the Creation account, then you'll deny that the sin of homosexuality is especially heinous because that's a sin that goes against God's created order of nature and is dishonoring and deviant behavior, with its lusts as unnatural. An apostate like Hanegraaff will of course now consider these things to be of personal opinion, as he inferred in the clip. But he's not the first to go to the world for answers. Al Mohler has done the same but with Romanist author Flannery O'Connor and the cult of Mormonism. He also did the same with Marxist authors he read in college which he still goes back to. (Interesting that Mohler's discussion on Marxism was with Eastern Orthodox Rod Dreher.)
Be careful of the books you read. This was started by the apostate reading a book by the homosexual. The world's wisdom is absolute foolishness, useless, earthly, and demonic according to Scripture.
1Co 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, "He is THE ONE WHO CATCHES THE WISE IN THEIR CRAFTINESS"; 20 and again, "THE LORD KNOWS THE REASONINGS of the wise, THAT THEY ARE USELESS."
Monday, February 06, 2023
Elyse Fitzpatrick Joins Matt Chandler, Beth Moore, and Gay promoter Preston Sprinkle At Conference
Elyse Fitzpatrick is to join heretical teachers like Matt Chandler and Preston Sprinkle, a homosexual and promoter of the gay "Revoice" movement at "Theology In The Raw" (the same name of Sprinkle's podcast) conference in March. This is about promoting debates on various issues, contrary to Scripture. She continues to show embracing of heretics and their heresies, if at BEST, as a mere optional opinion rather than sound biblical doctrine that the true Christian not only is told to believe, but we're also told to not welcome nor greet false teachers who do not hold to the sound teaching of Christ Jesus (2 John 9-11). Preston Sprinkle, by the way, has taught at Cedarville University and Francis Chan's Eternity Bible college. He is a huge pusher of sodomy within Evangelicalism.
Truth is never to be debated alongside error. Rather, Truth is to be proclaimed and error and false doctrines are to be destroyed and demolished by Scripture. Reject all these people if you value Christ Jesus and Scripture.
2Co 10:5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,
1Co 1:18 For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1Co 1:19 For it is written, "I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE."
1Co 1:20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
1Co 1:21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.
Eph 4:17 This I say therefore, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; 19 and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality, for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. 20 But you did not learn Christ in this way, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus,
1Co 1:10 Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree, and there be no divisions among you, but you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.
Eph 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.
Saturday, January 28, 2023
Rebranding Jesus
We're getting blasted with the notorious "He Gets Us" campaign that promotes an anti-Christ Jesus with woke values, which has spent $20 million for a Super Bowl Sunday ad. Their funds are up to $100 million right now and one report states that the business expects $1 Billion in two years. But if you can't pay for cable or the internet, or pay for enough food or heating this winter, or pay for medication or other things, never you mind.
Joh 2:23 Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, beholding His signs which He was doing. Joh 2:24 But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, Joh 2:25 and because He did not need anyone to bear witness concerning man for He Himself knew what was in man.
Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Heb 4:13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.
Monday, January 23, 2023
Veganism Is Anti-biblical
Today's veganism (and vegetarianism) is yesterday's ascetism: to "not taste!" It is part of the corrupt world and its doctrines and commandments of mere men, going against Scripture. In essence it is today's new paganism, that has a low view of man and a high view of the earth and animals. God commanded that rams, heifers, pigeon, goats doves and lambs for example, to be sacrifice to God. Moreover, Yahweh would not command us to eat meat if it was unsuitable for human consumption.
Col 2:20 If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, 21 "Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!" 22 (which all refer to things destined to perish with the using)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? 23 These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.
Yahweh gives Man animals for food:
Mat 14:19 And ordering the multitudes to recline on the grass, He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food, and breaking the loaves He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave to the multitudes,
Joh 21:13 Jesus came and *took the bread, and *gave them, and the fish likewise.
Vegans think they're kind to animals by not killing them, but God has commanded the killing of certain animals TO be sin and burnt offerings to HIM. Man says it's "unholy" to nature; God says it's HOLY to HIM. Veganism denies the Fall of all creation, especially mankind and have elevated creation above the Creator, and has created a self-made religion and righteousness that is ONLY of the flesh and has no value in dealing with the indulgence of the flesh and sin nature. Their self-righteousness (including virtue signaling) is empty, without wisdom, without power to deal with the REAL problems of man, and only continues their condemnation. These are the ones that continue to rebel against God, their parents, and authority, and they are hypocrites.
Monday, January 16, 2023
Amy Grant Hosts Lesbian Family Couple's Wedding
Rom 1:32 Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
The Grammy Award winner, 62, is opening up about her decision to host her niece's same-sex wedding and how she's been navigating the varying feedback that's come as a result.
"I never chase any of those rabbits down the rabbit hole," Grant told PEOPLE of social media responses — both good and bad. "I love my family, I love those brides. They're wonderful, our family is better, and you should be able to be who you are with your family, and be loved by them."
"Honestly, from a faith perspective, I do always say, 'Jesus, you just narrowed it down to two things: love God and love each other,'" Grant told the Post. "I mean, hey — that's pretty simple."
End quote.
She judges what God states is unnatural, impure and lustful, dishonorable, shameless, contrary to nature, and doing what ought not to be done, as a mere "rabbit hole", a mere trivial, meaningless stance.
Throughout all of Scripture, from the patriarchs, to the law, to the prophets, to the Gospels, epistles, and apostles, God has repeatedly and consistently prohibited sodomy for all people, in all times, in all cultures. It goes against His created order. Grant, who committed adultery "of the heart" unbiblically divorced her first husband Gary Chapman, and married Vince Gill. She has always wanted to be world famous celebrity while holding on to some piece of religion she calls "Christianity", but she's nothing more than a worldling that speaks like the world, acts like the world, and is in agreement with the world.
Mat 11:23 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
Luke 17:29 but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all—30 so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed.
Deu 29:23 the whole land burned out with brimstone and salt, nothing sown and nothing growing, where no plant can sprout, an overthrow like that of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, which the LORD overthrew in his anger and wrath—
Jude 1:7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.
Sodomy is the most selfish form of "love" one can have, which is to say, it's actually hatred toward another and toward God Himself. HE said that sodomites go to Hell unless they repent and get saved. She's saying it's ok to "love whoever you want". She's a lawless, unprincipled pseudo-religious zealot. She dares to sit in judgement of Scripture and its Author. She stands condemned.
Sunday, January 15, 2023
God's Love Is Action And Accomplishes All He Wills, Intends, and Purposes
The Love of God is action and accomplishment, not theoretical or hypothetical.
Eph 1:4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love
Eph 1:5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,
Eph 1:11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,
Eph. 1-2 shows God's love is demonstrated in ACTION and ACCOMPLISHMENT toward and for the elect and therefore, the elect only (the road to eternal life is narrow and few find it). There is no theoretical or hypothetical love or desire of God toward all people.
Eph. 1-2, Rom. 8:29-39, John 3:16-17,36, 1 John 2:1-2 & 4:9-11, it's very clear that God's love IS action and HAS accomplished His kind intention, will, purpose and counsel toward those whom He chose before time and creation, to save. Therefore not one part of our salvation is up to us. We can't self-activate salvation. It's all of Christ and in Christ and by Christ. From our election, to our predestination, to our salvation, sanctification, and glorification, it's God doing the work. Even as we're called to walk in and practice the Truth and righteousness, He's working in us and our new nature:
Php 2:12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;
Php 2:13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
He works in us to will and then to do His good pleasure. This is why it is astounding He would reward us in Heaven, when we are only doing His will as servant:
Luk 17:9 "He does not thank the slave because he did the things which were commanded, does he? 10 "So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, 'We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.'"
Tuesday, January 10, 2023
Doctrinal Triage Is Doctrinal Divorce
I came across this passage of Scripture and noticed how Christ said Scripture can't be broken:
John 10:34 Jesus answered them, "Has it not been written in your Law, 'I SAID, YOU ARE GODS'? 35 "If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), 6 do you say of Him, whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'?
"broken" = luo, G 3089 = to loose, release, dissolve, annul. Used in:
Joh 7:23 "If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath that the Law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made an entire man well on the Sabbath?
It's also used here: 1Co 7:27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you released from a wife? Do not seek a wife.
It is in this verse that made me think about divorce in regard to marriage, Christ, and doctrine.
Mat 5:31 "And it was said, 'WHOEVER SENDS HIS WIFE AWAY, LET HIM GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE';
The word for "divorce" here is apostasion G 0647= forsaking.
Matt. 19:3-9 uses the same word, different form: Mat 19:3 And some Pharisees came to Him, testing Him, and saying, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause at all?" 4 And He answered and said, "Have you not read, that He who created them from the beginning MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE, 5 and said, 'FOR THIS CAUSE A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER, AND SHALL CLEAVE TO HIS WIFE; AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH'? 6 "Consequently they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate."
Now while the context is marriage, the application, I believe, goes further. God is faithful, full stop. Forever. In all things. To Himself, to His Word, to His covenants, to His elect (both Jew (Rom. 11:25-29). Even in punishment, He is faithful. What He says, He will do. He cannot forsake His Word nor His children (true, not illegitimate ones--see 1John 1-3). In other words, God cannot be divorce from His children (born from God), His bride, His Word, nor Himself. What HE joins can never be separated. Christians are sealed and indwelled by the Holy Spirit, forever joined to Christ Himself. He is our sustainer (Heb. 1:3; Col. 1:17-18). Scripture is joined to God because it comes directly from Him ("the mind of Christ" 1 Cor. 2:16), and His nature.
Joh 6:37 "All that
the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will
certainly not cast out. 38 "For I have come down from
heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 "And this is the will of Him who sent Me,
that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last
day. 40
"For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and
believes in Him, may have eternal life; and I Myself will raise him up on the
last day." ...Joh 6:44 "No one can come to Me, unless the
Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.
Rom 8:33 Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.
Eph1:13 In Him, you also,
after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having
also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise
Eph4:30 And do not
grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of
redemption.
2Ti 2:13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful; for He cannot deny Himself.
Heb 13:5 Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,"
That's why the true Christian cannot become an apostate or divorced from God, because we were bought by Him, sealed by Him, justified by Him, and Christ is our propitiation (satisfied the wrath of God, thus fulfilled God's absolute justice).
1Jn 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, in order that it might be shown that they all are not of us. 20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know.
Moreover His Word shall be entirely fulfilled thus it cannot be broken:
Mat 5:17 "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. 18 "For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the Law, until all is accomplished.
1Pe 1:25 BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ABIDES FOREVER." And this is the word which was preached to you.
So doctrinal triage is doctrinal divorce. It’s a severing of doctrine by man when in reality all doctrine is married not only to each other, but to God’s very nature. His doctrine is true reality and reveals His mind (1Cor. 2:16).
What God has joined or bound together, no man can separate, though he try . This is true for marriage (physical) and spiritually (Christians to Christ, doctrine to doctrine, doctrine to practice, and doctrine to God).
Just as man and wife are one unit (Matt 19), so is Scripture and it's doctrines (earthly analogies are always limited, mind you). I deal with this more in these posts. But the main verses that show this are:
Jas 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.
Joh 17:17 "Sanctify them in the truth; Thy word is truth.
2Ti 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 7 that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
Act 20:27 "For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God.
Doctrinal prioritizing does two things: it dulls the double-edged sword down to a butter knife and it fires blanks at the enemies of Christ Jesus and His Word. In other words, it can't save, sanctified, or protect the true Christian, nor can it fight against the arguments set up against Christ or cause spiritual growth. Scripture is a UNIT OF TRUTH. It all stands together or falls together. It cannot be divided into pieces and still stand. It's a body, unit, corpus of Truth. The Truth. The Faith. We are to feed on it's "whole counsel" as Paul taught to the Ephesians. He didn't shrink back for doing that. Today, most teachers or pastors do for the sake of a fake unity. This only creates division and strife. 1Co 1:9 God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 10 Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree, and there be no divisions among you, but you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.
Act 1:14 These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
Act 2:46 And day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,
Php 1:27 Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ; so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
Eph 4:1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, 3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.
Jud 1:3 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.
And while we all grow and are at different stages of spiritual growth, we all have a new heart created in and by Christ Jesus so that our NEW DISPOSITION is one of faith, acceptance, and trust in all the Word and its doctrines. We grow in our understanding of its teachings, but we accept them by faith to be true and we are not hostile to them. In essence we do as the Thessalonians did: 1Th 2:13 And for this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received from us the word of God's message, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.