01/18/12 TWO POISONED WELLS
Here are two sources from which you should not get your Theology or Bible training. 1. People who are not proficient in the Bible and the doctrines of the Christian faith. 2. Those who are trained, but do not believe the Bible.
THREE PROBLEMS...
1. Many believers today have been trained in Sound Bite Theology and Bible. They don't have the ability or the desire to listen to an in-depth study or explanation. They like cutesy-poo phrases and definitions rather than accurate and thoughtful information.
2. Most people today are focused on human theologies rather than the revealed truths of the Bible. They are impressed with human teachers to the extent that they don't even read or recognize what the Bible actually says. They judge the word of God by some man's view rather than judging men's words by the revelation of God.
3. Studies show that we, almost always, only see the thing or the idea, for which we are looking. When we focus on one subject or object, we do not see other realities, even when they parade directly in from of us. This is what happens when human theology is the focus.
Here are two sources from which you should not get your Theology or Bible training. 1. People who are not proficient in the Bible and the doctrines of the Christian faith. 2. Those who are trained, but do not believe the Bible.
THREE PROBLEMS...
1. Many believers today have been trained in Sound Bite Theology and Bible. They don't have the ability or the desire to listen to an in-depth study or explanation. They like cutesy-poo phrases and definitions rather than accurate and thoughtful information.
2. Most people today are focused on human theologies rather than the revealed truths of the Bible. They are impressed with human teachers to the extent that they don't even read or recognize what the Bible actually says. They judge the word of God by some man's view rather than judging men's words by the revelation of God.
3. Studies show that we, almost always, only see the thing or the idea, for which we are looking. When we focus on one subject or object, we do not see other realities, even when they parade directly in from of us. This is what happens when human theology is the focus.
HEARING IT AGAINS FOR THE FIRST TIME
People are so focused on the principles of sinning religion they do not realize what the Bible actually says, even when they read the words. Often times I read passages to people, and they sit in awe struck silence, because they had read it many times before, but never saw what it said until the focus was taken off of sinning religion.
Therefore they are shocked when they hear that the Bible says, God delivers us from the sinful nature in this present life; that God enables believers to live without sinning; that we can be holy, even as God is holy; that we can be pure, even as He is pure; that we can be righteous, even as He is righteous; that we can be perfect, even as our Father is perfect (in love); that we can be upright.
Sometimes these people say that they had seen what the Bible says, but they dismissed it because the leading minds of the Christian world say that the Bible does not mean what it says on this subject.
For instance, it is popular to say, "I am not perfect, just forgiven." Well, even if they are not perfect, they are lot more than just forgiven. They are Regenerated, they are New Creatures, they are Adopted, they are Sanctified (initially), they are Partakers of Divine Nature, they are Partakers of the Holy Spirit, etc. Yet, people think they sound spiritual by saying, "... I am just forgiven."
Another one was aimed at me recently. Since I got saved when I was three and since I have been sanctified entirely since my college days, I was told that I therefore do not have any real TESTIMONY. The reason; "We have a testimony when we have been delivered from a real TEST, like drugs, alcohol, adultery, crime, perversion..." My response was, I guess Jesus did not have a testimony either, since He never even had a carnal nature. It seems that a person can only be a valued witness if they have been a sorry scoundrel. The more vile a person has been, the better their TESTimony. Of course, I do not swallow this swill. I believe God wants to save children early and keep them from ever being caught up in the ways of the world.
Another phrase is, "We all sin, every day, in word thought and deed."
And, "There has only been One perfect man."
Anyway, you see what I mean by the "one liners," the "sound bite" and the cutesy poo theological phrases. These man made, hell born ideas rob and kill the people of God.
By the way brother, thank you for reading my rants and raves.
The thing that makes these errors appealing is that they are lies mixed with twisted truth.
Of course we are not inherently perfect, but that does not mean we should be satisfied with being less than God intended for us to become.
It is true that we have all sinned in our past, but salvation saves us from disobedience now. Also, if we sin every day in word, thought and deed, we are no more saved than the devil.
Though we have all sinned, God is glorified by keeping us from sin, as well as forgiving us of our sins.
Not only is a holy life (lived in the power of Christ) the best testimony, God calls His revelation, His "Testimony." A testimony has more to do with our witness than our guilt; with our victory, than with our failure.
Therefore they are shocked when they hear that the Bible says, God delivers us from the sinful nature in this present life; that God enables believers to live without sinning; that we can be holy, even as God is holy; that we can be pure, even as He is pure; that we can be righteous, even as He is righteous; that we can be perfect, even as our Father is perfect (in love); that we can be upright.
Sometimes these people say that they had seen what the Bible says, but they dismissed it because the leading minds of the Christian world say that the Bible does not mean what it says on this subject.
For instance, it is popular to say, "I am not perfect, just forgiven." Well, even if they are not perfect, they are lot more than just forgiven. They are Regenerated, they are New Creatures, they are Adopted, they are Sanctified (initially), they are Partakers of Divine Nature, they are Partakers of the Holy Spirit, etc. Yet, people think they sound spiritual by saying, "... I am just forgiven."
Another one was aimed at me recently. Since I got saved when I was three and since I have been sanctified entirely since my college days, I was told that I therefore do not have any real TESTIMONY. The reason; "We have a testimony when we have been delivered from a real TEST, like drugs, alcohol, adultery, crime, perversion..." My response was, I guess Jesus did not have a testimony either, since He never even had a carnal nature. It seems that a person can only be a valued witness if they have been a sorry scoundrel. The more vile a person has been, the better their TESTimony. Of course, I do not swallow this swill. I believe God wants to save children early and keep them from ever being caught up in the ways of the world.
Another phrase is, "We all sin, every day, in word thought and deed."
And, "There has only been One perfect man."
Anyway, you see what I mean by the "one liners," the "sound bite" and the cutesy poo theological phrases. These man made, hell born ideas rob and kill the people of God.
By the way brother, thank you for reading my rants and raves.
The thing that makes these errors appealing is that they are lies mixed with twisted truth.
Of course we are not inherently perfect, but that does not mean we should be satisfied with being less than God intended for us to become.
It is true that we have all sinned in our past, but salvation saves us from disobedience now. Also, if we sin every day in word, thought and deed, we are no more saved than the devil.
Though we have all sinned, God is glorified by keeping us from sin, as well as forgiving us of our sins.
Not only is a holy life (lived in the power of Christ) the best testimony, God calls His revelation, His "Testimony." A testimony has more to do with our witness than our guilt; with our victory, than with our failure.
