People like to hold past forgiven sins over our heads merely as a control mechanism. We don't have to buy into it, we can let it roll off like water off a ducks back, while calmly explaining that "God has forgiven me for all my past sins because I confessed them, they are gone forever."
These people will even act as though we are still doing the same sins, when we have not indulged in many years.
Perhaps there is jealousy on the part of others who have not been forgiven yet. Since they were never forgiven because they didn't confess or even want to admit they sinned, they cannot allow themselves to believe others are forgiven.
Micha 7:19 "He will turn again; He will have compassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities. And Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea."
1 John 1:8-10 "…8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.…"
Confession is the step that leads to cleansing, without it there is no cleansing, sin is piled on top of sin over and over again, the burden is huge and heavy. Pride causes people to refuse to admit their sin, their pile is high but they remain unforgiven for the power of their own pride.
Luke 17:3 "3 So watch yourselves. “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them."
If you love others you will warn them about their sin!
Thursday, June 15, 2017
The Fruit of Wrong Doctrine
Has anyone else noticed how venomous "Law Keepers" have become.
They promote the following of the Law claiming they are saved by grace but must follow the Law to stay saved.
The Hebrew Roots movement has done more damage to the gospel than any other movements I have seen lately.
Matthew 15:7-9 "[7] Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, [8] This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. [9] But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."
Romans 8:1-4 "[1] There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. [2] For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. [3] For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: [4] That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."
Attempting to be good enough through the keeping of the Law, negates the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives. When we become born again we walk by the Spirit, not by works. We do works because the Spirit of Christ is living in us, but it is He Who keeps us not our own works.
Ephesians 3:16 "That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;"
Those that are feverishly working to keep salvation by their works have not trusted Christ nor can they as long as they are trusting in their own works. These people add works to the work of Christ on the cross, to them it is Christ plus their own works.
Revelation 22:18-19 "[18] 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: [19] And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
They promote the following of the Law claiming they are saved by grace but must follow the Law to stay saved.
The Hebrew Roots movement has done more damage to the gospel than any other movements I have seen lately.
Matthew 15:7-9 "[7] Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, [8] This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. [9] But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."
Romans 8:1-4 "[1] There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. [2] For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. [3] For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: [4] That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."
Attempting to be good enough through the keeping of the Law, negates the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives. When we become born again we walk by the Spirit, not by works. We do works because the Spirit of Christ is living in us, but it is He Who keeps us not our own works.
Ephesians 3:16 "That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;"
Those that are feverishly working to keep salvation by their works have not trusted Christ nor can they as long as they are trusting in their own works. These people add works to the work of Christ on the cross, to them it is Christ plus their own works.
Revelation 22:18-19 "[18] 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: [19] And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
Words AND Action Tell the Truth
Never pay much attention to words, it's the actions that show us about a person.
Words are only good when they are backed up by actions.
Notice something! God said He loved us, so He sent His Son to die for us. Get that? To DIE for us! This makes all He has said in the Scriptures worth believing.
Love is an action word, it is only demonstrated in actions. Without the actions the word love is meaningless.
James 2:16-18 "…16 If one of you tells him, “Go in peace; stay warm and well fed,” but does not provide for his physical needs, what good is that? 17 So too, faith by itself, if it is not complemented by action, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.…"
1 Corinthians 13:1 "1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a ringing gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.…"
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
"4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant,
5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,
6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of [b]prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away."
When we see someone who violates these principles and accuses others of doing it when they are not, then we have witnessed a narcissist in action. Narcissists are quick to view others as deficient in the very things they themselves lack.
How we treat others, with respect and honor is how we view them, either of value or without value. When we say to someone, "I don't respect you" we have told them they have no value. When we negate everything they say and do most of the time, we have demonstrated they have no value.
When our aim is to push others into our own mold like a lump of Silly Puddy, treating them with contempt when they don't fit the way we expect, then there is no love. Judging others by our own ideas without consideration for their gifts, is jealousy, hoping they will fail so that the narcissist can shine.
The narcissist seeks to shine by diminishing others. The born again believer who loves Christ in them, will be satisfied with obedience to God, even if they are not being noticed by anyone, they derive joy in the accomplishments of others as much as they do their own.
Love allows for personality differences, differing gifts and much latitude in personal decisions. May the Lord guide the true believers to pray for discernment and the strength to practice their faith no matter where they are or who they are with.
Words are only good when they are backed up by actions.
Notice something! God said He loved us, so He sent His Son to die for us. Get that? To DIE for us! This makes all He has said in the Scriptures worth believing.
Love is an action word, it is only demonstrated in actions. Without the actions the word love is meaningless.
James 2:16-18 "…16 If one of you tells him, “Go in peace; stay warm and well fed,” but does not provide for his physical needs, what good is that? 17 So too, faith by itself, if it is not complemented by action, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.…"
1 Corinthians 13:1 "1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a ringing gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.…"
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
"4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant,
5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,
6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of [b]prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away."
When we see someone who violates these principles and accuses others of doing it when they are not, then we have witnessed a narcissist in action. Narcissists are quick to view others as deficient in the very things they themselves lack.
How we treat others, with respect and honor is how we view them, either of value or without value. When we say to someone, "I don't respect you" we have told them they have no value. When we negate everything they say and do most of the time, we have demonstrated they have no value.
When our aim is to push others into our own mold like a lump of Silly Puddy, treating them with contempt when they don't fit the way we expect, then there is no love. Judging others by our own ideas without consideration for their gifts, is jealousy, hoping they will fail so that the narcissist can shine.
The narcissist seeks to shine by diminishing others. The born again believer who loves Christ in them, will be satisfied with obedience to God, even if they are not being noticed by anyone, they derive joy in the accomplishments of others as much as they do their own.
Love allows for personality differences, differing gifts and much latitude in personal decisions. May the Lord guide the true believers to pray for discernment and the strength to practice their faith no matter where they are or who they are with.
Word Salad the Device of the Fool
A narcissist will turn every conversation into a competition. They will use "word salad" to win.
Word salad is the practice of stringing words together that do not relate to the subject at hand nor do they relate to one another.
I have seen this done so effectively that when the conversation is well under way, you wonder if you could even try to unscramble the words to make sense of them.
When we see this happening it is a sure sign that the person using word salad is lying, stumped or hiding something, they cannot coherently express themselves, but they must keep talking to make you think they are winning the argument.
Ecclesiastes 10:13-14 "…13 the beginning of his talking is folly and the end of it is wicked madness. 14 Yet the fool multiplies words. No man knows what will happen, and who can tell him what will come after him?"
Word salad is the practice of stringing words together that do not relate to the subject at hand nor do they relate to one another.
I have seen this done so effectively that when the conversation is well under way, you wonder if you could even try to unscramble the words to make sense of them.
When we see this happening it is a sure sign that the person using word salad is lying, stumped or hiding something, they cannot coherently express themselves, but they must keep talking to make you think they are winning the argument.
Ecclesiastes 10:13-14 "…13 the beginning of his talking is folly and the end of it is wicked madness. 14 Yet the fool multiplies words. No man knows what will happen, and who can tell him what will come after him?"
Never Unity at all Costs
I was actually told one time many years ago, by a retired missionary woman, that we should compromise the truth of Christ for the sake of unity if we have to in order to win converts.
I could not believe what I was hearing. The mentality that we should seek peace at all costs is not at all what Christ taught. His truth and our relationship with Him is far more important than remaining friendly with those who deny His principles.
Luke 12:51-52 "51 Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but division. 52 From now on, five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three.…"
Colossians 2:8
"See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ."
Matthew 15:6
"He need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God."
Those who deny the principles of God for the sake of their own traditions are in violation of the Word of God, it is sin.
I could not believe what I was hearing. The mentality that we should seek peace at all costs is not at all what Christ taught. His truth and our relationship with Him is far more important than remaining friendly with those who deny His principles.
Luke 12:51-52 "51 Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but division. 52 From now on, five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three.…"
Colossians 2:8
"See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ."
Matthew 15:6
"He need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God."
Those who deny the principles of God for the sake of their own traditions are in violation of the Word of God, it is sin.
Jealousy Destroys
It is interesting to me that God gave us examples in life that are pictures of what He desires in our relationship with Him . He gave us friendships that need to be based not on sacrifices to Him or deeds done for Him, but a relationship.
Amos 5:21-22 " 21"I hate, I reject your festivals, Nor do I delight in your solemn assemblies. 22 "Even though you offer up to Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them; And I will not even look at the peace offerings of your fatlings.…"
There are so many people who use the "friend" title far too loosely. When we are friends with someone we share their life experiences, while sensing a deep concern about them. We accept their personalities but not the sin. We are crushed and grieved when they sin, not hateful and contemptuous. When they are walking uprightly we are pleased and share in that blessing.
Romans 12:15
"15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep."
So many people have little to no respect for the very people they gift. They give presents to impress others, not because of a deep love for the one who receives the gift. These same people do this with God. They will "do something for God", even have certain knowledge about the Bible, but lack the desire to obey Him. Appearing intelligent to those around them is their goal, but practice negating most of His Word, is standard for these people.
John 12:43 "43 For they loved praise from men more than praise from God."
All believers should be treated as friends, we are a family. Those who reject the ways of God are not born again, they are not in our family. Our family is the Church that loves Christ and in whom He dwells. There is always a deep level of respect for those who walk with Christ, even if there are disagreement on questionable matters.
When we have a friend we are able to express ourselves openly and honestly without fear of retaliation. We evaluate things as they come up for the purpose of helping or being helped.
When someone who calls themselves our friend, continually judges us based on their own way of doing things, not the Bible, they are making themselves the judge, there is no love in that.
Friends do not rage when they are confronted with wrong thinking, they love to hear the ideas and counsel of others and will consider what they have been told. In short, they will actually listen patiently and with interest to a challenge or correction.
A friend seeks to understand why their friend does what they do, they never judge before they hear the whole matter. It is not possible to count the number of times I have heard through the grapevine about someone, only to find out later the perspective that was presented was not at all what was going on. Those who love their secrecy also love the power over others they have through that secrecy, they love the untruth they heard, it makes them feel superior.
Proverbs 18:12-14 "…12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, But humility goes before honor. 13 He who gives an answer before he hears, It is folly and shame to him. 14 The spirit of a man can endure his sickness, But as for a broken spirit who can bear it?…"
Matthew 10:26-28
“So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell."
God is all about truth, honesty and openness. Yes, there are some people we cannot trust with information, they seek to gain tidbits about us to be able to gossip, they are not interested in our welfare nor do they care if they relay a matter based on truth. Contempt runs deeply in those that love their gossip. Most of the ills of the world come from those who lust for power over others, are jealous and develop contempt out of these elements in their soul.
1 Peter 1:22 "22 Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth, so that you have a genuine love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from a pure heart."
John 13:35 "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."
Pray to learn what God's love looks like and you will know how to love people.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
"4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant,
5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,
6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away."
Amos 5:21-22 " 21"I hate, I reject your festivals, Nor do I delight in your solemn assemblies. 22 "Even though you offer up to Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them; And I will not even look at the peace offerings of your fatlings.…"
There are so many people who use the "friend" title far too loosely. When we are friends with someone we share their life experiences, while sensing a deep concern about them. We accept their personalities but not the sin. We are crushed and grieved when they sin, not hateful and contemptuous. When they are walking uprightly we are pleased and share in that blessing.
Romans 12:15
"15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep."
So many people have little to no respect for the very people they gift. They give presents to impress others, not because of a deep love for the one who receives the gift. These same people do this with God. They will "do something for God", even have certain knowledge about the Bible, but lack the desire to obey Him. Appearing intelligent to those around them is their goal, but practice negating most of His Word, is standard for these people.
John 12:43 "43 For they loved praise from men more than praise from God."
All believers should be treated as friends, we are a family. Those who reject the ways of God are not born again, they are not in our family. Our family is the Church that loves Christ and in whom He dwells. There is always a deep level of respect for those who walk with Christ, even if there are disagreement on questionable matters.
When we have a friend we are able to express ourselves openly and honestly without fear of retaliation. We evaluate things as they come up for the purpose of helping or being helped.
When someone who calls themselves our friend, continually judges us based on their own way of doing things, not the Bible, they are making themselves the judge, there is no love in that.
Friends do not rage when they are confronted with wrong thinking, they love to hear the ideas and counsel of others and will consider what they have been told. In short, they will actually listen patiently and with interest to a challenge or correction.
A friend seeks to understand why their friend does what they do, they never judge before they hear the whole matter. It is not possible to count the number of times I have heard through the grapevine about someone, only to find out later the perspective that was presented was not at all what was going on. Those who love their secrecy also love the power over others they have through that secrecy, they love the untruth they heard, it makes them feel superior.
Proverbs 18:12-14 "…12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, But humility goes before honor. 13 He who gives an answer before he hears, It is folly and shame to him. 14 The spirit of a man can endure his sickness, But as for a broken spirit who can bear it?…"
Matthew 10:26-28
“So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell."
God is all about truth, honesty and openness. Yes, there are some people we cannot trust with information, they seek to gain tidbits about us to be able to gossip, they are not interested in our welfare nor do they care if they relay a matter based on truth. Contempt runs deeply in those that love their gossip. Most of the ills of the world come from those who lust for power over others, are jealous and develop contempt out of these elements in their soul.
1 Peter 1:22 "22 Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth, so that you have a genuine love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from a pure heart."
John 13:35 "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."
Pray to learn what God's love looks like and you will know how to love people.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
"4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant,
5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,
6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away."
The Tares are in the Body!
All one has to do to reveal the tares in the church these days is to present the Scriptures to them and watch their face turn red, either from embarrassment or anger.
John 3:19
"19 This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil."
Most people these days who say they are Christians love their pleasures, their own ideas and acceptance from the world. They often take a few principles from the Bible that they like follow those sometimes, and the rest they ignore completely, claiming they are not relevant.
Mark 7:13 "13 Thus you nullify the word of God by the tradition you have handed down. And you do so” in many such matters."
Many people follow the traditions of men rather than Christ. They also claim the traditions of men are from God, but on closer inspection they are nothing more than scriptures plucked out of context to justify their own desires, thereby actually coming against God Himself.
John 3:19
"19 This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil."
Most people these days who say they are Christians love their pleasures, their own ideas and acceptance from the world. They often take a few principles from the Bible that they like follow those sometimes, and the rest they ignore completely, claiming they are not relevant.
Mark 7:13 "13 Thus you nullify the word of God by the tradition you have handed down. And you do so” in many such matters."
Many people follow the traditions of men rather than Christ. They also claim the traditions of men are from God, but on closer inspection they are nothing more than scriptures plucked out of context to justify their own desires, thereby actually coming against God Himself.
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