Pragmatism is rampant now, the idea that we can do anything anyway we want if there are good results is ludicrous. We must do things God's way guided by the Holy Spirit and it will always line up with Scripture. Just because something appeared to work does not mean its alright to do it.
Pragmatism always leads to doctrinal error, which leads to sin.
Luke 6:46 ""Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?"
God is not pleased when we use human methods to carry out His will, He wants us to do His will His Way!!!!!
Doesn't seem real hard does it? Unless we are stubborn and willful, like a spoiled child who wants to have his own way because it is popular.
Saturday, July 11, 2015
Knowledge Does Not Save Anyone!
One time I asked a young man if he was born again and his response was which church he attended. I told him that isn't what I asked him, he didn't know how to answer me.
I gave him the salvation message but he seemed confused, a little embarrassed and respectfully excused himself. At least in the south there is honor and respect even if there is a social gospel based on good manners, too bad that social gospel doesn't get anyone saved, it merely makes people feel good about themselves and promotes pride.
There is an erroneous idea floating about that one can attend church, even say all the right things in terms of a moral life and this makes them godly and good.
Sadly for almost as long as this country has been in existence many people have gagged their level of spirituality and their salvation on what things they do that are nice, the fact that they don't commit crimes while being very careful to be "gracious" enough not to offend anyone by bringing up subjects such as "religion and politics" in order to have a civil conversation.
Little did these same people realize that salvation is not based on good deeds, social status in the community or their "gracious silence."
When we become born again by trusting Christ, He changes us into a new creation. He gives us a driveness in our soul to speak the "Good News", to anyone and everyone we encounter.
True believers are compelled through the Holy Spirit to share what they know with an unsaved world and to proclaim righteousness, while exposing unrighteousness. They are also driven to instruct with good doctrine and correct bad doctrine based entirely on the Word of God.
Those who believe they are above instruction because they attended a college or read special books are walking in pride and can progress no further. Eventually these people regress in their walk and sometimes are proven to never having been born again. When their pride keeps them from listening, they cannot move forward, but worse yet, they regress while feeling smug and comfortable for what they think they know.
As stated in 2 Timothy 3 we see that these people cannot progress in wisdom, their knowledge is worldly and unproductive on every level. God makes it clear that these people cannot learn, will not listen while bringing strife into the life of the born again believer.
2 Timothy 3:1-9
"1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:
2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,
4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts,
7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8 Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith;
9 but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was."
When someone is broken over their sinful life, realizing their need for the Savior, everything about them changes and the first thing to go is excessive pride. Someone who remains blatantly prideful displaying a contemptuous attitude toward anyone who would instruct them, very likely is not born again. If they were born again, they would sense conviction of the Holy Spirit in them and would not rest until God has broken that pride, they would even pray for the Lord to remove it, that they might once again begin to be taught.
My prayers are not only for people to become born again but often that the believers ask God to show them anything unholy in their own lives, that they might confess to be cleansed by God.
Here is what God says to believer:
1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
I gave him the salvation message but he seemed confused, a little embarrassed and respectfully excused himself. At least in the south there is honor and respect even if there is a social gospel based on good manners, too bad that social gospel doesn't get anyone saved, it merely makes people feel good about themselves and promotes pride.
There is an erroneous idea floating about that one can attend church, even say all the right things in terms of a moral life and this makes them godly and good.
Sadly for almost as long as this country has been in existence many people have gagged their level of spirituality and their salvation on what things they do that are nice, the fact that they don't commit crimes while being very careful to be "gracious" enough not to offend anyone by bringing up subjects such as "religion and politics" in order to have a civil conversation.
Little did these same people realize that salvation is not based on good deeds, social status in the community or their "gracious silence."
When we become born again by trusting Christ, He changes us into a new creation. He gives us a driveness in our soul to speak the "Good News", to anyone and everyone we encounter.
True believers are compelled through the Holy Spirit to share what they know with an unsaved world and to proclaim righteousness, while exposing unrighteousness. They are also driven to instruct with good doctrine and correct bad doctrine based entirely on the Word of God.
Those who believe they are above instruction because they attended a college or read special books are walking in pride and can progress no further. Eventually these people regress in their walk and sometimes are proven to never having been born again. When their pride keeps them from listening, they cannot move forward, but worse yet, they regress while feeling smug and comfortable for what they think they know.
As stated in 2 Timothy 3 we see that these people cannot progress in wisdom, their knowledge is worldly and unproductive on every level. God makes it clear that these people cannot learn, will not listen while bringing strife into the life of the born again believer.
2 Timothy 3:1-9
"1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:
2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,
4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts,
7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8 Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith;
9 but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was."
When someone is broken over their sinful life, realizing their need for the Savior, everything about them changes and the first thing to go is excessive pride. Someone who remains blatantly prideful displaying a contemptuous attitude toward anyone who would instruct them, very likely is not born again. If they were born again, they would sense conviction of the Holy Spirit in them and would not rest until God has broken that pride, they would even pray for the Lord to remove it, that they might once again begin to be taught.
My prayers are not only for people to become born again but often that the believers ask God to show them anything unholy in their own lives, that they might confess to be cleansed by God.
Here is what God says to believer:
1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
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