Christ’s Spirit spoke to the Christians and throughout the world in 1 Corinthians 1:10,
“Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.“
The Church at Corinth was still recognized as being “of Christ” (1 Cor. 3:23), and yet “carnal” and “babes”. They were divided among themselves in which they were instructed to be joined together speaking the same thing in the same mind and the same judgment. The Apostle Paul was guided by Christ’s Spirit to correct doctrine and their motives. Therefore, unity in doctrine is possible being commanded by the Spirit of Christ.
How can we be united speaking the same things with the same mind and the same judgment? The Apostle Paul wrote correcting doctrinal error (1 Cor. 4:17, 11:2) while also noting the necessity of love (1 Cor. 8, 10:23-33, 13:1-3), and having no contentions over cultural customs (1 Cor. 11:16). The Church at Corinth had many problems, which Paul corrected in the scope of being united in the same mind. Remember that in addressing the Church at Corinth, the apostle Paul also addressed “with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Cor. 1:2).
Christ’s Spirit spoke correcting these Christians, so that they would be united. The Spirit of Jesus Christ instructed to recognize that baptism is in Christ’s name into one body (1 Cor. 1:11-13, 12:13), to discipline the sexually immoral in the congregation (1 Cor. 5), to reject sexual immorality (1 Cor. 6:9-20), to abstain from taking one another to court (1 Cor. 6:1-8), to honor their marriages (1 Cor. 7:1-15), to not eat in places contrary to Christ in idol’s temples (1 Cor. 8, 10), to support their preaching ministers (1 Cor. 9), to avoid contentions over cultural customs (1 cor. 10:16), to partake of the Lord’s Supper together in one place (1 Cor. 11:17ff), to consider the God-given abilities of others (1 Cor. 12), to do everything with love (1 Cor. 13), to worship with understandable words (1 Cor. 14:6-25), to pray and sing with the mind as much as the spirit (1 Cor. 14:15), to keep the assembly decent and in order (1 Cor. 14:26-33, 40), to not allow rebellious women to speak in assembly (1 Cor. 14:34-37), and to believe in the resurrection (1 Cor. 15:12-35). Should we also not be united as the Spirit of Christ instructed these first Christians to be united in love and in doctrine? Since all of these teaching of 1 Corinthians matters, then how much do also the Gospels, Acts, Romans, Ephesians, 1 & 2 Timothy, and all of the teachings of Scripture matter?
How can we be united in Christ? What can we do? Obviously, Christians can be united by teaching as the Apostle Paul does here to unite. We must always go to Christ, to His words, to His Spirit, to His revelation to His Apostles and prophets (cf. Gal. 1:11-12, Eph. 2:19, 3:3-5, 2 Pet. 3:2, Jude 17). Following the command for unity, Paul noted that they had rejected Christ in pursuing wisdom over the words of His Apostles.
“These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (1 Cor. 2:13).
These words of Apostolic wisdom come from God, from His Spirit. “God has revealed them to us through His Spirit” (1 Cor. 2:10). “We [the Apostles] have the mind of Christ” (1 Cor. 2:16). The foundation must be Christ. “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 3:11).
How can we united with so many differing interpretations of the words of Christ? Put your faith in God that He can communicate so effectively that even His imperfect followers can be united in the same mind and judgment. Therefore, get rid of the interpretations, the inferences upon inference, the conjectured traditions, and speculative teaching. May God judge those who teach to be faithful servants and stewards of His word (1 Cor. 4:1-5, cf. Jas. 3:1, Gal. 1:8-9). Why are there different interpretations? We stray from the foundation of Christ as these Christian did, and this can endanger our souls. Therefore, let us consider ourselves. Have we turned away from Christ to contentions, to divisions, and to customs other than the traditions of Christ?
“I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? For when one says, ‘I am of Paul,’ and another, ‘I am of Apollos,’ are you not carnal?” (1 Cor. 3:2-4).
Have we turned away from the ways of Christ (1 Cor. 4:14-17)?
Are these doctrines matters of salvation? These Christians in Corinth were endangering their souls (1 Cor. 3:1, 2 Cor. 7:9-10, 13:1-6; cf. 1 Cor. 11:27-30). Doctrine is essential to salvation (1 Tim. 4:16). They were not united and they were changing the doctrines of Christ. Paul writes them correcting their doctrines. Christ’s Spirit speaks through Paul correcting their worship in the Assembly (1 Cor. 11:17ff, 14) and instructing them to do everything with love (1 Cor. 13:1-3).
For our own examination, look to the Apostle Paul’s instruction about the Lord’s Supper for instance. He referred to our unity in worshiping one God by the bread and the cup (1 Cor. 10:16ff). The Apostle Paul stated, “[K]eep the traditions just as I delivered them to you” (1 Cor. 11:2). The word “delivered” is the verb form of tradition. In this context, Paul referred to the Lord’s Supper saying, “For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you” (1 Cor. 11:23). To the Lord’s Supper, the Apostle Paul taught traditions are to be kept just as he delivered them (1 Cor. 11:2). These Christians endangered their souls. Those who neglected the doctrine of the Lord’s Supper endangered their souls by their factions (1 Cor. 11:17-22) and by not discerning the body and blood of Christ (1 Cor. 11:27-29). Doctrine does matter, because doctrine and practice are essential to our motives.
In conclusion, the Spirit of Christ expected the Corinthians and all Christians to know the truth and to be united in it. Christ expects us to be joined together speaking the same thing and to be in the same mind and same judgment. This is the union that He prayed for (John 17:21). This is “the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3). This is the unity of “one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Eph. 4:4-6). We are united in Christ when believing everything that He said, we are one in obedience. If we really love God and love one another, we will obey God’s commands (1 John 5:2-3). Remember the words of Christ’s Spirit,
“Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”
The Breath of God 
From Liz Alexander, “The Hardest Thing to Believe: Denominational Differences”,
“BTW, about music…
It’s not so much that I (or really most *anyone*) absolutely demands instruments as much as it is that no one considers using them sinful…except the Churches of Christ.
In reading that verse from Hebrews in context, it looks more like the point was that Jesus was witnessing to others for God, and wasn’t making a point about instruments one way or the other.
The rest of the verses you listed said to sing praises. Not a single one of them said, “Don’t use instruments, or God will send you to Hell”. Never are the use of instruments condemned in the Bible. Heck, in the Old Testament…and even in the Revelation….instruments are used liberally to praise God, and He’s perfectly fine with it.
That’s why I disagree with you on this issue. What’s more, if it hadn’t have been for the contemporary Christian music and Christian radio programming of the ’90s, I don’t know if I ever would have come to Christ in the first place. (I didn’t grow up in church, and…well…let’s just say it took a LOT of outside influence. :) )
Honestly, I’m not up for challenging anyone. We’re never going to change each other’s minds, and arguments over the Internet are pretty much useless.
I wish you the best, but if it’s all the same to you, I would prefer to end our discussion about this topic here. :) If you want to read my other, more recent posts and discuss something else, I’d be happy to.
Just keep in mind that “discussion” and “debate” aren’t the same thing. If you want to disagree, that’s fine…but I’m just not in a mood for a debate.
Happy Easter! :) “
Liz,
You are in the mood to slander, but not defend your prejudice. This contempt and disregard is evil and wrong. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God” (Eph. 2:8).
No preacher or elder in the Church of Christ has ever said that someone is condemned to Hell for musical instruments.
Exactly, you don’t consider following Jesus Christ and His words concerning worship. Therefore, “believers” partake of the Lord’s Supper once a month or twice yearly disregarding the Lord’s Supper is for the Assembly and not somone’s “worship service”.
Why are you misrepresenting Liz by saying, “You are in the mood to slander, but not defend your prejudice. This contempt and disregard is evil and wrong.” There was nothing slanderous, evil or or wrong about what she said. She defended her position well and I’m not sure you even read her post!!
Do you think that the Church of Jesus Christ should be mispresented in the Scriptures?
Do you have convictions about the Lord’s Supper or is anything permitted?
Where did she slander or prejudge? You are jumping to conclusions based upon your prejudice. That is my experience of you. You approach the NT as if it’s just another set of laws to be obeyed and you take that mindset and apply it to the Lord’s Supper and everything else. The NT is about Spiritual law, not literal law. There is room for difference based upon inner law. No, I don;t think anything is permitted about the Lord’s Supper, but I don’t dwell on the particulars of when it’s taken and the other outer aspects of it because as NT Christians our attention is to be on the inner consciousness and not just the outer form.
Double-speak. The NT contains “the Law of Christ”, “the Law of Faith”. Changing the Lord’s Supper was corrected by the Apostle Paul, because those who do so have a irreverence and disregard for Christ’s institution for the Lord’s Supper. This is a matter or conscience. Does the outer form not represent the inner conscience? Can the one who takes his father’s wife not show outwardly that he has spiritual problems?
Sorry, the above post was in the wrong thread.
Scott, you said. “The scriptures teach that the Spirit speaks to us through the text.”
Yes, but it does not teach that the Spirit speaks “ONLY” through the text. It teaches that the Spirit works directly on our minds and heart in verses I have posted before. As you well know everyone has varying degrees of ability to process words that are printed in text. There are those who are illiterate and cannot read text or are comprehension challenged and can read but cannot understand the text. What of these individuals if they misunderstand the words of the text? What is their destiny? Does you system od “Truth by text” apply to them? Whether you like it or not there are a lot of holes in the theory of “Truth by text.”
Which scriptures? The ones written to the Apostles who revealed the revelation of Christ (Eph. 2:19, 3:3-5)? I’d like to believe what you are asserting, but you have yet to show a scripture written to Christians without the laying on of hands from the Apostles (Acts 8:14-17).
Romans 7:6 But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.
The Spirit is not the Bible, Scott! Paul does not say to live according to the bible, as you believe.
The entirety of Romans 8 is about living by the Spirit. Why don’t you believe this?
Romans 8
Life Through the Spirit
1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you[a] free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh,[b] God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.[c] And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.
9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life[d] because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of[e] his Spirit who lives in you.
12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.[f] And by him we cry, “Abba,[g] Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Romans 6
Scott, the scriptures never state that the Spirit is the Bible. The Bible is a wonderful source of information about God and his plan but it is not the Spirit. The essence of the NT is about awakening you to God’s Spirit within you so that you can then live by that Spirit. Romans makes this perfectly clear.
I worry that you are involved in Bibliotry and that your worship the text more than the Spirit. The text is only as powerful as our abilty to comprehend it’s words, yet the Spirit is One and dwells in us as a guide and a counselor to those who are empowered and awakened to listen. If you disagree with this statement then please give evidence that I am wrong. I’m not sure what you do with Romans and other NT scripture with your attitude that the text is KING!
The Spirit is not the Bible, but it is His revelation. You admitted that the Spirit of God speaks to use through the scriptures, and also through the Apostles and prophets. Jesus said that His words are spirit and revealed by the Spirit (John 6:63, 16:12-13). We follow the Spirit through the Apostles and prophets and not through Moses as the Apostle Paul points out in Romans and Galatians. “Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” (Gal. 3:5).
Don’t slander or defame in negligence of what I’ve confessed before here and in other articles. The indwelling is essential and necessary for salvation. Christ and His Spirit indwell by His Words with the mind set on the Spirit (Rom. 8:5-6, 9-11). You said, “The entirety of Romans 8 is about living by the Spirit. Why don’t you believe this?”
Reply to, “I worry that you are involved in Bibliotry and that your worship the text more than the Spirit. The text is only as powerful as our abilty to comprehend it’s words, yet the Spirit is One and dwells in us as a guide and a counselor to those who are empowered and awakened to listen. If you disagree with this statement then please give evidence that I am wrong.” The evidence is that the Spirit directly and supernaturally empowering someone apart from Christ’s words, His Apostles, and His prophets is not revealed by the Spirit’s revelation of New Testament scripture. I think your believe is appealing, but I can’t accept it without the Spirit first revealing such in the Scriptures. If I’m to start with the Scriptures and move on to a direct empowerment of the Spirit, then show me this in the Scriptures and I’ll believe.
Scott, I have provided you with the Scriptures that support my clainm that the Spirit work directly apart from the bible. Romans 8 is absolute truth of what I have stated. But my own personal experience is that the Spirit works directly in me. If you have
not experienced the instruction of the theSpirit within you then you have missed out on the most valuable aspect of Christianity. You seem to be attracted to the intellectual concepts that Bible study reveals but the inner understanding that direct relationship with Christ creates is sadly missing. The Scripture is not in conflict with the Spirit in it’s work within the individual, but the scripture can only give knowledge, it cannot give understanding.
You said, Christ and His Spirit indwell by His Words with the mind set on the Spirit (Rom. 8:5-6, 9-11). None of these Scriptures you quoted say anything about “By his words.” You added this yourself. Why are you adding words that aren’t there?
BTW, I never “admitted” that the Spirit speaks “ONLY” through the scriptures. If I did please quote me.
I am not slandering or defaming you, I am simply bringing to your attention that you are wrong in your belief that the Spirit works only through the bible. If that is slandering and defaming then so be it. I’m sorry you’re so sensitive. I could surely accuse you of the same.
You continue to ask me for biblical support of what I say and I continue to give it to you scriptures and then you ask again… What’s up with that?
You don’t believe in the indwelling of the Word? Is the mind the intellect? Should our minds be set on the Spirit? How can we do this except by what the Spirit says (whether by scripture or directly as you believe)? Does the Spirit communicate to you not “by His words”?
You have not given one scripture for a supernatural guidance from the indwelling of the Spirit.
Baseless accusations of bibliolatry is slander. Saying “you worship the text” is slander.
Again, “I think your believe is appealing, but I can’t accept it without the Spirit first revealing such in the Scriptures. If I’m to start with the Scriptures and move on to a direct empowerment of the Spirit, then show me this in the Scriptures and I’ll believe.”
Scott, I have shown you time and time. You keep asking for scriptures and when I give them you ignore them. Romans 8 says pretty much what I have stated. Romans 8 says nothing about the text being the only source of truth. Romans 8 say to live by the Spirit. It does not say to live by the scriptures only, as you suggest. Read Romans 8 and then explain to me how the text is the only source of communication with the Spirit.
If I suggest that you may be into bibliolatry is that slander if it’s true? The definition of bibliolatry is:
bib·li·ol·a·try (bbl-l-tr)
1. Excessive adherence to a literal interpretation of the Bible.
2. Extreme devotion to or concern with books.
You seem to be attracted to the Bible more than the Spirit. Is this true or not?
You have never shown me any scripture where the Bible claims to be the “ONLY” source of communication with God’s people. If you’re against any super natural means by which God works in his Children the so be it, but that’s just your experience, not the truth. When God pricks man’s heart that is super natural by definition. maybe you don’t believe that God pricks hearts. Do you?
Scott, you said, “You don’t believe in the indwelling of the Word?” Really? Where did I say that? My point has always been that the “written Word is not God’s “ONLY” interaction.
You said: “Is the mind the intellect?” The intellect is only one aspect of the mind. It represents the brain, the analytical part of the brain. The heart would be the other aspect of the mind where understanding happens. The bible almost always refers to the mind in term of that which refers to the heart, not the brain.
You said, “Should our minds be set on the Spirit? How can we do this except by what the Spirit says (whether by scripture or directly as you believe)? Does the Spirit communicate to you not “by His words”?” Absolutely the Spirit uses the bible to communicate to us. I’ve never said otherwise despite what you think. Just because I believe in the direct communication of God via the Spirit does not mean I don’t believe he uses the bible.
2 Corinthians 3:3
You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
I wish you would not assign to me things I don’t believe. That’s as bad as the slander you accuse me of.
I agree with this statement. “Romans 8 says pretty much what I have stated. Romans 8 says nothing about the text being the only source of truth. Romans 8 say to live by the Spirit.” Yet, there is no reference to the Spirit acting directly outside of His words with the laying on the apostles’ hands (Acts 8:14-17).
I don’t interpret figurative language in the Bible literally. Therefore, no bibliolatry. Why should I defend myself against your prejudice accusations. You do not that slandering someone, charging someone without proof, is sinful (1 Tim. 5:19ff). You should look up the word “prejudice”.
The Spirit came to convict through revealing the Truth (John 16:7-13).
These were pricked by the Spirit speaking through Peter, “Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?'” (Acts 2:37).
The Sanhedrin was “pricked” by the words of Stephen, which came from the Spirit (Acts 7:51-54). Yet, I listen to those words of the Spirit as found in the scriptures (1 Cor. 2:13). You listen to something in addition.
“‘You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.’ When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth.”
I believe we are all missing the point and viewing this from MAN’S PERSPECTIVE. God and His Son said, “With man it is IMPOSSIBLE” to achieve any form of unification PERIOD! But with God ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE!
Here’s the problem: Below are a few examples of what many would call contradictions in the Scriptures.
THE RELATIVE: VS. THE ABSOLUTE:
” …seek, and ye shall find… ” (Mat. 7:7) VS. “Not one is seeking out God” (Rom. 3:11)
“God changed His mind” (Ex. 32:14) VS. “God is not a man Who changes His mind” (1 Sam. 15:29)
” …CHOOSE you this day whom ye will serve.” (Josh. 24:15) VS. “Ye have NOT CHOSEN me, but I have chosen you… ” (John 15:16)
” …whosoever doeth not righteousness is NOT of God… ” (1st John 3:10) VS. “ALL is of God” (2 Cor. 5:18)
“Zechariah was just before God” (Luke 1:5-6). (Comparing him to the corrupt priests)
VS.
“Not one is just” (Rom. 3:10) (Comparing man with God)
“Come unto Me…” (Matt. 11:28) VS. “None CAN come to Me…” (John 6:44 & 65)
To the carnal mind, the above Scriptures are contradictions, and therefore proof that the Word of God is not consistently true.
Even the greatest theologians in the world deny this truth that “All is of God,” because they cannot distinguish the relative from man’s doings from the absolute which is God’s doing.
In the first example man is told to seek but is also told that no man seeks. Which is it? They are both true. No man does seek God except and until God brings about circumstances wherein he does seek God. But He only does seek God because “All is of God” who brings about the circumstances whereby someone who would not seek God, now does seek God.
In the second example we are told that God changes His mind [repents], but are also told that God is not a man who repents or changes His mind. The answers are all the same. Where it appears to many that God felt sorry for ever having created mankind, He is in reality doing only that which He had determined to do “from the beginning.” It is only from man’s perspective that God repented or changed His mind. God always knows the “end from the beginning,” and therefore is never surprised or never thwarted or frustrated requiring a change in course or a change of plans.
A few years ago someone tried to trip me up with this verse:
“They have built also the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings unto Baal, which I commanded not, nor spoke it neither came it into My mind” (Jeremiah 19:5).
Here, I was told, is absolute proof that God learns new things that He didn’t know before. Nonsense.
This is a simple problem of translating. The word translated “mind” in this verse is the Hebrew word leb, and it means the “heart with its feelings,” not the mind. The King James very often confuses heart with mind and mind with soul, as if they were one and the same thing even though there are different words for each.
God’s plan and purpose for humanity consists of many, many things which are not after God’s own heart, but that are, nonetheless, absolutely essential for the completion of His plan:
“Say unto them, As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?” (Ezek. 33:11).
This is God’s HEART speaking in this verse. But in the MIND of God, the death of the wicked was absolutely necessary, and a prophesied fact that could not be avoided:
“For I will lay the land most desolate, and the pomp of her strength shall cease, and the mountains of Israel shall be desolate, that none shall pass through” (Ver. 28).
This is but another of countless examples in Scripture that show God’s mind and His heart. God takes no pleasure or delight in His heart over the horrible things that continually happen to humanity, but nonetheless, these things are absolutely essential to the fulfillment of the plan that God has devised in His mind.
Until we come to believe that God Almighty is sovereign and ” … is operating ALL according to the counsel of His will [PLAN]” (Eph. 1:11) we will never fully understand the Scriptures or appreciate the marvelous works of God.
With this in mind most people says UNITY WILL NEVER HAPPEN. Again, that’s from MAN’S PERSPECTIVE (hence the reason for ALL division). But that is NOT God’s perspective. From GOD’S perspective UNITY WAS DONE BACK ON THE CROSS. Paul said,
“That in the dispensation of the fulness [Gk: repletion or completion, fulfilling, THE END, CONSUMMATION] of times He [God] might gather together in one ALL THINGS in Christ [This sounds like UNITY to me], both which are IN HEAVEN [the “all things” in heaven also includes the fallen angels and with God’s holy angels, EVEN SATAN], and which ARE ON EARTH [the “all things” on earth also includes all atheistic non-believers with the Jews and the Gentiles]; EVEN IN HIM [THAT’S THE CHURCH THAT IS ‘IN HIM’].” (Ephesians 1:10).
Here’s another one:
“For by Him [Christ] were all things created, that are in heaven [the “all things” in heaven also includes the fallen angels and with God’s holy angels, EVEN SATAN!], and that are in earth [the “all things” on earth also includes all atheistic non-believers whether they be Jews and Gentiles, Christian or not], visible [includes all atheistic non-believers whether they be Jews and Gentiles, Christian or not] and invisible [includes the fallen angels and with God’s holy angels, EVEN SATAN!], whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things [in heaven and on earth] were created by Him [Christ], and for Him [Christ]: and He [Christ] is before all things [in heaven and on earth], and by Him [Christ] all things consist [hold together, or has its cohesion]. And He [Christ] is the head of the body, the church [the church is that body–His body]: [Christ] Who is the beginning, the Firstborn from the dead; that in all things [in heaven or on earth] He [Christ] might have the preeminence [first place in rank or order]. For it PLEASED the Father [God] that in Him [Christ] should all fulness [in heaven or earth] dwell; and, [God] having made peace through the blood of His [Christ’s] cross, [God] by Him [Christ] to reconcile [UNIFIED] ALL THINGS [in heaven angels, demons, and Satan or on earth Jew, Gentile, Christian, Atheist] unto Himself [unto God]; by Him [Christ], I say, whether they be things in earth [includes all atheistic non-believers whether they be Jews and Gentiles, Christian or not!], or things in heaven [includes the fallen angels and with God’s holy angels, EVEN SATAN!]. And YOU [the church–Christ’s body–THE BELIEVER], that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet [still] NOW hath He [God] reconciled [UNIFIED] in the body of His [Jesus’] flesh through death, to present you [His church] holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His [God’s] sight.” (Colossians 1:16-22).
The Bible says in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word will be established, so let’s throw in a THIRD witness:
“Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were WITHOUT Christ, being ALIENS from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having NO HOPE, and WITHOUT God IN THE WORLD: But NOW in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were FAR OFF are MADE NIGH [NEAR] BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST. For HIS IS OUR [Jews and Gentiles–the WHOLE WORLD’S] peace, who hath made both ONE, and hath BROKEN DOWN THE MIDDLE WALL of partition between us [This sounds like their was a division to me]; Having abolished in His flesh the enmity [Greek: deep seated hatred], even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself of twain [TWO PEOPLE divided] ONE NEW MAN [now unified], so MAKING PEACE; And that He might reconcile [UNIFY] BOTH [Jews (those of the tribe of JUDAH) and Gentiles (the REST Israel and the REST of the world)] unto God in ONE body by the cross, having slain the enmity [DEEP SEATED HATRED] thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were AFAR OFF, and to them that were NIGH [NEAR]. For through Him WE BOTH have access by ONE Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye [ALL OF YOU] are NO MORE strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens [Greek: ‘fellow Christians’] with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:11-22).
Most will judge this text from Paul “in context” talking to the Ephesians. NO! This is GOD talking to ALL MANKIND!
His word never returns void. Now I am aware of the many Scriptures that speak of death, destruction, and perishing of wicked people. And we won’t forget the one Scripture with regards to punishment. All those Scriptures are true. They are not, however, God’s final judgment on the wicked. The final judgments of God will bring salvation to all and there are no scriptures that contradict those saving declarations of Almighty God. God has declared it; He has spoken it; His Word has gone forth: He has willed —
“Who WILL have ALL men to be SAVED, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:4).
Here then is a declaration of God from His own inspired Word. It is found in all Bibles and in all languages on earth for all too see and believe. But the Church of Babylon has tried to destroy this declaration and make it of no effect in the minds of millions and millions of people around the world. They teach that this verse and declaration of Almighty God WILL NEVER EVER HAPPEN! Well, be it known, that they LIE!
Here’s what God says about His own words and His own declarations.
“So shall MY WORD BE that GOES FORTH OUT OF MY MOUTH [as in 1 Tim. 2:4 and a hundred Scriptures like it]; it shall NOT return unto me void [unfruitful, negated, ineffective, ineffectual, inoperative, invalid, null, worthless, vain, unsuccessful], but it SHALL ACCOMPLISH THAT WHICH I PLEASE, AND IT SHALL PROSPER [bear fruit, benefit, do well, flourish, increase, multiply, progress, make good] in the thing whereto I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11).
Oh, the audacity and blasphemy of those who proudly teach that God cannot and will not ever accomplish His own will, except five percent! Does Isaiah 55:11 sound like only a FIVE PERCENT gospel that Christendom is preaching around the world for TEN PERCENT of your money? Like those who crucified our Lord, they know not what they say, and God will forgive them too. But for those who are ready to learn and believe, let’s see how God answers such utter foolishness:
“Remember the former things of old:
For I am God, and there is none else;
I AM GOD, and there is none like Me,
“Telling from the BEGINNING, the HEREAFTER,
And from AFORETIME, what has NOT YET been done,
Saying, ‘ALL MY COUNSEL SHALL BE CONFIRMED,
And ALL MY DESIRE WILL I DO.
Calling from the sunrise, a bird of prey,
From a land far off, the man of My counsel.
Indeed, I SPEAK! INDEED, I WILL BRING IT ABOUT!
I formed. Indeed, I WILL DO IT” (Isaiah 46:9-11).
Nothing can hinder God’s words or declarations. Even the things that are perceived to be hindrances to God’s will (such as the lake of fire and the second death), are not hindrances at all, but rather are the very instruments for the accomplishment of His will. God has a ONE HUNDRED PERCENT GOSPEL, AND IT’S FREE!
Don’t get married to doctrines that have no Scriptural support. Don’t cling to your bosom a doctrine that is demeaning and divisive or make it an idol of your heart. I know it is hard to admit that we have been wrong and even deceived by Satan and his shinning ministers, but stubbornness is as the sin of witchcraft–give it up!
Jesus Christ is not only IN the lake of fire, He IS THE LAKE OF FIRE. He is the Divinity in this spiritual fire.
Ponder this:
Like Christ, we too are raised with a “SPIRITUAL body” (1 Cor. 15:44).
We are in fact called, “the BODY of Christ” (Eph. 1:23).
We will literally “be LIKE Him [Christ]” (1st John 3:2).
God will make us into “ministers [of] FLAMING FIRE” (Psalm 104:4).
We too then will be like our God, “a CONSUMING FIRE” (Heb. 12:29).
God promises us that, “…the saints shall JUDGE THE WORLD…” and “we shall JUDGE ANGELS [demons]” (1 Cor. 6:2-3)!
God tells us WHERE this judgment will take place:
“…they were judged every man according to their works,” and “whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into THE LAKE OF FIRE” (Rev. 20:13 & 15).
Therefore, we, the Saints, the Body of Christ, the consuming fire ministers of God, the saviours of Mt. Zion, the manifested Sons and Daughters of God, along with our Head, Jesus Christ, also ARE THE LAKE OF FIRE!
THERE IS NO LITERAL LAKE, AND THERE IS NO LITERAL FIRE. Jesus Christ and His Body of Saints ARE THE LAKE OF JUDGING, PURIFYING, CONSUMING SPIRITUAL FIRE!!!
The lake of fire is a metaphor written in symbols that stand for what is being symbolized, not the symbols themselves. The lake of fire is composed of Jesus Christ the Judge of the world, Christ’s divine spiritual fire and brimstone, and the Sons of God who are the body of Christ who are also FLAMES OF FIRE (Heb. 1:7).
And the whole world will be judged BY US! After death, all the dead will be resurrected, they will all be judged, they will have to pass through the purifying lake of fire, they will have to PASS THROUGH US! WE will be their judge along with our Lord.
“Know ye not that the SAINTS SHALL JUDGE THE WORLD? Know ye not that WE SHALL JUDGE THE ANGELS [that means also the DEMONS TOO].” (1 Cor. 6:2).
And so, the GREAT SEA OF HUMANITY will be judged in the safety and security of the LAKE OF SAINTS!
“… for [Heb: ‘because’] when Thy [GOD’S] judgments [THE LAKE OF FIRE IS GOD’S JUDGMENT] are in the earth, the inhabitants [SAINTS AND SINNERS] of the world WILL LEARN RIGHTEOUSNESS. Let favor [GRACE] be showed to the wicked, yet [STILL] will he not learn righteousness?” (Isaiah 26:6-7).
“For we have heard Him ourselves, and know that this is indeed [Jesus—Jehovah – SAVIOUR] the Christ, the Saviour OF THE WORLD.” (John 4:42).
“And we [those that dwell in Him] have seen and do testify that the Father sent [Gk: apostello, to send out on a mission—the GREAT commission] THE SON [Jesus—Jehovah – SAVIOUR] TO BE THE SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD” (1st John 4:14)!
“For THIS is GOOD AND ACCEPTABLE in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have ALL men [What percentage? Five percent? Fifty percent?] … ALL men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” (1st Timothy 2:3-4).
“This is a FAITHFUL SAYING and WORTHY OF ALL ACCEPTATION [Will you accept it?]. For therefore we both labor AND SUFFER REPROACH, because WE TRUST IN THE LIVING GOD, Who IS the Saviour of ALL MEN [that would be NON-BELIEVERS], especially [but not exclusively] of those who believe [this would be BELIEVERS]. These things COMMAND AND TEACH.” (1st Timothy 4:9-11).
The problem is MANY (who are deceived says Christ, Paul, Peter, James, and Jude) DO NOT COMMAND AND TEACH THIS, neither do they suffer for BELIEVING THIS!
I teach the way I do and have love for ALL of God’s creation because I KNOW that GOD overcomes EVIL (ALL OF WICKED MANKIND) WITH GOOD (THE LAKE OF FIRE)!
I agree that God only changes “His mind”, His heart in mercy and compassion to those who change and repent.
Note that the list of Scriptures in Romans 3 is showing the condemnation of both the Gentiles (the nations) and the Jews. Each scriptures refers to one or the other. This is the proof behind Paul’s words about the depravity of the Gentiles in Romans 1 and the equal sinfulness of the Jews in Romans 3. Therefore, all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God and we all need Jesus to be saved being equally condemned in sin. Thank God as you noted the scripture that the wall of separation between Jews and Gentiles is torn down (Eph. 2).
Realize that “all” panta in 2 Cor. 5:18 has an antecedent like a pronoun. The Greek pas/panta acts as a pronoun when not as an adjective. “All” refers to “anyone in Christ” (2 Cor. 5:17). These are those who are reconciled “through Jesus Christ”.
First Timothy 2:4 is not saying that “God will have”, but that “God desires [thelei] all men to be saved”. God does not will and desire contrary to man’s free-will to repent. Second Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any perish but that all come to repentance.” I agree with Barnes’ commentary on this, “God wills that sickness should be relieved, and sorrow mitigated, and that the oppressed should go free, because it is agreeable to his nature; though it is not true that he wills it in the sense that he exerts his absolute power to produce it. A parent wills the welfare of his child. It is in accordance with his nature, his feelings, his desires; and he makes every needful arrangement for it. If the child is not virtuous and happy, it is his own fault. So God wills that all people should be saved. It would be in accordance with his benevolent nature. He has made ample provision for it. He uses all proper means to secure their salvation. He uses no positive means to prevent it, and if they are not saved it will be their own fault. For places in the New Testament where the word here translated ‘will’ (θέλω thelō), means to desire or wish, see Luk_8:20; Luk_23:8; Joh_16:19; Gal_4:20; Mar_7:24; 1Co_7:7; 1Co_11:3; 1Co_14:5; Mat_15:28.”
Second Peter 3:7 says that fire is reserved for ungodly men in judgment, who would not repent. Even though God desires men to be saved and repent, this does not mean that they will be saved. “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name” (Rev. 14:9-11). “And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. ‘Then he cried and said, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame”‘” (Luke 16:23-24).
Jesus is the Lake of Fire? I cannot find this in scripture. This appears to be conjecture built on speculation. I am willing to consider, but this doctrine is foreign to my understanding of Christ and these scriptures do not prove this teaching that you put forward.
You did not tell me the Truth. You gave me your perception of the Truth, as I have also given you.
You said, “How can we distinguish between spirits without the Apostles, who were guided by the Holy Spirit?” Are you suggesting that NT Christians are not empowered and guided by the Holy Spirit? Why do you think that NT Christians only have words to guide them? The NT certainly does not suggest such. If so please give me evidence.
I’m sorry but I cannot unite with someone who minimizes the power of interaction and communication between the Christian and the Spirit of God. Words are only as powerful as the readers ability to comprehend those words. We all have varying levels of intellect and intellect should not be a factor in our salvation.
I get the feeling that you want to be the one to which others are to unify. Are you willing to unify with someone who does not share your perception of what you read, even though both parties are grounded in faith?
I do believe that unification is unlikely in parties who differ in their sources of empowerment, some giving the text credit and others giving the Spirit credit.
True, but the Spirit is credited for the text. The scriptures teach that the Spirit speaks to us through the text. Jesus said that His words are spirit and life (John 6:63), which He gave His words to His Apostles (John 17:8) and even further gave all truth to His Apostles by the Spirit (John 14:26, 16:12-13).
2 Pet. 1:20-21 speaks of apostolic scripture (1:16-19), “knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 1:16, “Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus;”
Acts 28:25-27, “So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers,…”
Heb. 3:7-11, “Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says:…” quoting Psalm 95.
Heb. 10:15-16, “But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before,…” quoting Jeremiah 31.
Therefore, these words should dwell on our heart (Heb, 8, 10, Jer. 31). “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Col. 3:16) and “be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:19).
Why test the spirits when the Spirit could simply tell them?
Don’t limit man’s intellect to God’s power to give wisdom to those who ask (Jas. 1:5).
I’m willing to consider Christ and His words to be unified in Him.
Scott, you said. “The scriptures teach that the Spirit speaks to us through the text.”
Yes, but it does not teach that the Spirit speaks “ONLY” through the text. It teaches that the Spirit works directly on our minds and heart in verses I have posted before. As you well know everyone has varying degrees of ability to process words that are printed in text. There are those who are illiterate and cannot read text or are comprehension challenged and can read but cannot understand the text. What of these individuals if they misunderstand the words of the text? What is their destiny? Does you system od “Truth by text” apply to them? Whether you like it or not there are a lot of holes in the theory of “Truth ONLY by text.”
Texts are to be read allowed. The Word is read, heard, and dwells in Christians. Jesus said teach all things to those who baptized (Matt. 28:19-20).
Colossians 4:16, “Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.”
1 Thessalonians 5:27, “I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren.”
Would we be united in the understanding that the Truth is understood through surrender of self and not just reading the words in the Scriptures? Can one know all truth from reading the text of the Bible?
Would we be united in the understanding that the Spirit works directly in our consciousness apart from the text?
1 John 3:24
The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.
John 14:17
the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.
John 16:13
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
Romans 8:3-5
3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh,[a] God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.[b] And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
1 Corinthians 2:9-11
9 However, as it is written:
“What no eye has seen,
what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”[a]—
the things God has prepared for those who love him—
10 these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.
Just asking, because if you cannot be united with me on these issues then what would be the result of this dis-unification?
What exactly does happen when we disagree on biblical issues?
That’s the kind of speculative accusations like “not just reading the Scriptures” that is divisive. How can we distinguish between spirits without the Apostles, who were guided by the Holy Spirit? “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 Jn 4.1). In 1 John 1.1-4, John refers to the Apostles and in 4.6 shows how to test the spirits, “We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error” (1 Jn 4.6). Let the Spirit speak through the Scriptures to us. When we baptized, we are sanctified by the Spirit (John 3:5, 1 Cor. 6:11, Titus 3:5). When we mind the Spirit, the Spirit dwells in us and so does Christ (Rom. 8:5-6, 9-11).
Phil, I’m united with you on those scriptures just not your opinions about them. There will always be false teachers and people led astray who claim to be Christian. This is not disunity. It is apostasy that separates people from Christ and thus from Christians.
“Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?”
I’m going to reply by complementing what you said. I JUST finished by new e-Book (literally last Thursday) called “Fellowship and Unity”. I’m going to give you the Table of Contents and an important except from the e-book that is relevant to this, thought the target audience of the e-book is towards Christian Music artists.
“Fellowship and Unity” by Ricardo J. Butler SERVANT of Jesus Christ; Apostolic Founder of: http://www.ricardoequips.com
Table of Contents
Dead To Flesh Records (Illustration)
Church Buildings
Definition of Fellowship
Other Definitions
Fellowship with God
Apostolic Fellowship
Unity of the Spirit
Two or Three
House to House
Love of the Brethren
In the Temple
Ministry Teams
Record Label Team (Illustration Continued)
Another Key to Unity [Bonus Section]
I Cannot Function Properly With Out the Church!!! [Bonus Section]
New Testament Love “One Another” Fellowship Commands [Bonus Section]
Love of the Brethren
Let’s back up a little bit (actually a lot). Let’s take is back to Genesis. Remember their were two brothers and one killed the other one? Let’s read!
“And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9).
Brothers and sisters, this is the state of much of the Body of Christ!
The Lord did the same thing to Cain that He did to his father Adam. God asked a question to which God already KNEW the answer, being that God is all knowing!
Remember God asked Adam where was he and Adam said he was hiding? God did not want to know Adam’s geographical location. He already knew that! It’s the same with Cain. God was not asking Cain as if He didn’t know. He wanted Cain to evaluate his own actions and motives for the death of his brother and see the importance of family.
God had already given Cain the principle to overcome his issue the verse before. It is obvious that Cain did not take God’s advice and warning seriously.
So I ask you today artists of God and to the rest of the church who is reading this: Where is YOUR brother? Where is YOUR sister in the Lord? Do you know what your left hand or right hand is doing? Do you know what YOUR feet are doing?
You are all members one of another, that’s why I say “YOUR FEET”. NO MAN EVER hated his own flesh as Paul told the Ephesians.
Jesus said,
“A NEW commandment I give unto you, That ye [ALL of you Christians AND CHURCH denominations] LOVE ONE ANOTHER; AS I HAVE [JESUS CHRIST] LOVED YOU, that ye [ALL of you] also love one another. By this [loving other Christians you disagree with just as Jesus has LOVED you] shall ALL MEN [ALL mankind, humanity, NON-BELIEVERS] KNOW that ye [ALL of you Christians AND CHURCH denominations] are MY [Jesus’] disciples, if ye [ALL of you] have love one TO another.” (John 13:34-35).
Jesus sure did raise the standards on this one didn’t He? The two great commandments say Love God and Love others AS SELF. We are SELF-ish by nature and we LOOOOOVE ourselves—our flesh. So He wanted us to flip that SELF-ish love that we love ourselves (our flesh) with and turn it outward. Wow! Now that’s hard. BUT … but then He comes and gives us a NEW commandment and then raises the bar to LOVING OTHERS the SAME way HE LOVED US!
So the question now becomes: HOW has Christ LOVED YOU? Where is YOUR brother? Where is YOUR sister? How can YOU love THEM like Christ has loved you?
If you are nasty, mean, and hateful towards other Christians and other denominations, which the Bible calls, “your enemies” (since you obviously don’t want to call them “Christians”, “brothers” or “sisters”), are you truly loving them as Christ loves them (who by the way DIED FOR THE WHOLE WORLD; both Christian and non-believers)?
If this is the case then the “LEAST” you can do unto other Christians and those from denominations that don’t believe as you believe, whether they are the Lord’s brethren or not is these list of things according the Matthew Chapters 5, 25, and Romans 12!
1. “Love your enemies”
2. “bless them that curse you”
3. “do good to them that hate you”
4. “pray for them which despitefully use you”
5. “pray for them which … persecute you”
6. Salute them: “And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others?”
7. “For I was an hungred, and ye gave Me meat”
8. “I was thirsty, and ye gave Me drink”
9. “I was a stranger, and ye took Me in”
10. “Naked, and ye clothed Me”
11. “I was sick, and ye visited Me”
12. “I was in prison, and ye came unto Me”
13. “Provide things honest in the sight of all men.”
14. “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.”
15. “Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him”
16. “if he thirst, give him drink”
There is much more that the Scriptures speak concerning what we can do towards other Christians who are not like-minded. The Scriptures just says NOT TO HAVE FELLOWSHIP with the unfruitful works of darkness (Eph. 5:11).
Peter says,
“And to godliness brotherly kindness [Gk: ‘fraternal affection:–brotherly love (kindness), love of the brethren’]; and to brotherly kindness charity [‘God’s love shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit’ Rom. 5:5].” (2nd Peter 1:7).
The word “fraternal” means, “of or like a brother or brothers: of or denoting an organization or order for people, esp. men, that have common interests or beliefs.” Those not “like” you or like Christ obviously don’t share a common interest or beliefs. But HOW we treat these who are walking contrary to sound doctrine (the Truth of God’s Word) we are still called to do at least these 16 things above. Because many forget that ALL the Words (TRUTHS of God, called sound doctrine) is summed up in the TWO GREAT COMMANDMENTS! TRUTH produces LOVE for those not like you.
Peter also says,
“Seeing ye [ALL of you in Christ] have purified your souls in OBEYING THE TRUTH through the Spirit unto unfeigned [Gk: ‘SINCERE’] love of the brethren, see that ye [ALL of you] love one another with a pure heart fervently.” (1st Peter 1”22).
“Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous.” (1st Peter 3:8).
Where is your brother? Where is your sister? The Lord was not just asking where your brother or sister is, but where are HIS brothers and HIS sisters? Because He (THE HEAD) is also part of the Body!
John says,
“For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning [When did we hear this message?], that we should love one another [I don’t remember this command either!]. Not as CAIN [who did not LOVE his brother because CAIN], who was of that wicked one [Satan], and slew his brother. And wherefore [or why] slew he him [his brother]? Because his own works WERE EVIL, and his brother’s RIGHTEOUS. Marvel not [be NOT surprised], MY brethren [brothers and sisters in Christ], if the world [all the Cains in the world] hate you.” (1st John 3:11-13).
Cain was suppose to automatically “get it” in the beginning that he was to LOVE HIS BROTHER! Do you “get it” yet? Where are YOUR BROTHERS and YOUR SISTERS?
“WE KNOW that WE have passed from death [darkness and hate] unto life [light and love], because we LOVE the brethren [our brothers and sisters in Christ]. He that loveth NOT [that’s called HATE] his brother abideth in death [DARKNESS].” (1st John 3:14).
The rest of this chapter goes on to say,
“Whosoever HATETH his brother [OR ENEMY (like other Christians and their denomination)] is [SPIRITUALLY IN GOD’S EYE] A MURDERER: and ye [ALL OF YOU READING THIS] know that NO murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. Hereby perceive we the LOVE of God, because He laid down his life [DIED] for us [THE WHOLE WORLD]: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren [FAMILY, FELLOWSHIP, FRIENDS, AND FOES]. But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels [HEART] of compassion from him [I call that HATE, the equivalent of a MURDER], how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth [Actions speak LOUDER than words]. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him [unlike Cain].” (1st John 3:15-19).
So I ask you, CHURCH, one more time: Where is your brother? Where is your sister?
I agree with exception to recognizing denominations as disciples or Christian specifically their hierarchy and teachers. This is not to exclude the sincere and diligent seekers of Christ under their rule and exclusion. “They zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them” (Gal. 4.17). These denominational bodies set themselves apart by different types of government rather than coming to Christ’s words to be governed. There is no need for hierarchies of overseeing regulators to manage the practice of faith among congregations and to expect from them their monetary dues. Christ’s Spirit says that those who practice religious partyism will not inherit the kingdom of heaven (Gal. 5:19-21). This is not to mention the moral depravity of denominations joining the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, and the promotion of man-made traditions or general disregard to pervert the gospel, which result in anathema (Gal. 1:6-12).
We certainly do good to all. God showed His compassion to us as sinners and we should not look down on others to whom God has shown His love no matter their religion or lack. We must live in love in opposition to hate and not hate those who hate.
Your e-book is very appealing. I will bookmark and commit to study the scriptures therein.