Paul is not the PROBLEM. His doctrine is the SOLUTION

Paul is not the PROBLEM. His doctrine is the SOLUTION

ONLINE COMMENT:

Paul, in attempting to teach, was dis-obeying his Master (Matthew 23:8-10) and has caused more damage to Christ's Mission and Kingdom than anyone else has because all of the "so-called" Christian religions are based on the letters of Paul and NOT on the Teaching of Christ and are therefore THE PROBLEM.

MY REPLY:

You appear to have it backwards. Most of the "so-called" Christian religions teach the Kingdom doctrine and ignore Paul. Everyone is teaching from the four Gospels and rarely venture into the truth of Paul's epistles which is actually the doctrine for the Body of Christ today.

The four Gospels and the Kingdom message that Jesus (and the 12) taught is doctrine for Israel. It is prophetic doctrine specific for the Jews and for their purpose and inheritance in the earthly, Millennial Kingdom. Notice the scriptures below that confirm that Jesus came ONLY for the Jews:

Rejection of the authority and ministry of the Apostle Paul

Educating you through comparing false doctrines and unbelief with truth and faith

It is heart-wrenching to see the lack of knowledge and understanding of God's Word. The New Testament is short enough to be read over a few days, and its content is not difficult to understand. The problem is that people are either so brainwashed in bad teachings or so rigid in the doctrines they have been exposed to that they refuse to see the truth that is so plainly set out before them, or they claim to be believers but do not really believe that the Bible is God's words. If one does not TRULY believe that the Bible is God's words, then twisting them, adding to them, or scrapping parts of the scripture to make it say what one wants is the order of the day.

It is my heartfelt pray that people will come back to believing that the King James Bible is TRULY God's words and that is they simply read the book without preconceived notions or prejudice, but rather with humility and with a heart that wants to hear what God says, then they will come to see the truth and discover the glories, the wonders, and the majesty in the Word of God.

The following is documented for your learning. There are many who are still in darkness of the truth and do not even know it. Please recognize the false doctrines they proclaim; learn what language they speak and educate yourself to avoid falling into these traps. 

A conversation with a non-Dispensationalist, initiated by this post which asked if Paul taught about fasting.

A conversation with a non-Dispensationalist, initiated by this post which asked if Paul taught about fasting. I post it here because I believe it contains valuable information for people who are learning to study the Word and who are seeing the need to rightly dividing the scriptures.

REACTION:

This is part of the problem with Dispensationalism — we have the clear teaching from Jesus Himself that fasting is an essential part of spiritual life (not to mention unambiguous historical records of periodic fasting being normative going back to the very earliest days of Christianity), and then Dispensationalists come up with excuses to disregard it all.

RESPONSE:

My post does not forbode fasting. It simply informs that it is not an obligation, nor a necessity, nor a means, under grace.

We have the clear teaching from Jesus Himself that fasting is an essential part of spiritual life

We have the clear teaching from Jesus Himself that fasting is an essential part of spiritual life

The following is a reactional comment from this post concerning fasting, and if it is observed in the grace dispensation.

STATEMENT:

This is part of the problem with Dispensationalism — we have the clear teaching from Jesus Himself that fasting is an essential part of spiritual life (not to mention unambiguous historical records of periodic fasting being normative going back to the very earliest days of Christianity), and then Dispensationalists come up with excuses to disregard it all.

REPLY:

My post does not forbode fasting. It simply informs that it is not an obligation, nor a necessity, nor a means, under grace.

Benching dispensationalism, I do want to bring attention to how you suggest that what Jesus taught applies to us. It is important to know that the Bible tells us clearly that Jesus taught under the law (Gal.4:4; Rom.15:8) and that his earthly ministry and teachings were addressed to Jews only (Matt.10:5-6; Matt.15:24). When Jesus called men to follow him, it was a call for Jews to follow his example and pattern of living. It was an example of living under the kingdom he was about to set up (Matt.4:17). This is not the example we follow today because we do not belong to that earthly kingdom. We belong to the heavenly kingdom (Eph.2:6; 2Tm.4:18), a different part of God’s whole redemption plan (Eph.1:10; Col.1:20).

Common disputes about grace salvation that believers have if they fail to rightly divide

Common disputes about grace salvation that believers have if they fail to rightly divide

The following is a reply to clarify the common disputes that believers have if they fail to rightly divide the scriptures. This is a classic argument of a person that mixes, or blends, all the conditions of both the Kingdom and the Grace gospels into one, confusing the matter and creating contradictions concerning salvation. Some of the objections they raise concerning my article are as follows:

• The road to salvation has ALWAYS BEEN THE SAME .
• We must OBEY Christ’s commands since He came.
• Those who repent will be saved. Those who do not repent will perish.
• The idea of being saved merely by belief in God is refuted by James.
• Hebrews, and elsewhere, warns of falling away.
• You HAVE TO BEAR FRUIT, You HAVE TO STAY CLOSE to God/on the vine. Or you will not be saved.
• Revelation 3 warns that "Those who endure to the end will be saved."
• Once saved, always saved is a heresy.
• Not everyone who says ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of the Father.

I encourage you to read the article in full to remain sharp on what arguments and disputes people raise when they do not rightly divide and become familiar with how one can inform these people with contextually correct answers.

False notions on how to follow Jesus

False notions on how to follow Jesus

COMMENT:

To follow the Lord there is more to it than just faith. It takes action to prove our compliance - to become a disciple it’s a requirement to be baptised, fully immersed with water. Think of how Jesus was baptised. Afterwards he set the standard - he said pick up your cross and follow me, meaning surrender your life to Jehovah. He spent his last 3 and a half years preaching and teaching.

He warned his disciples that false Prophets would emerges and teach false doctrine and said that we should avoid them. So, we need to be on the watch because Satan does use contaminated doctrine to delude us.

ANSWER to correct these false notions:

If you read James 1:1, you will see that James addresses his epistle to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad. This is in reference to the 12-tribes of Israel who were scattered, some years earlier due to the persecution initiated by Saul (Paul). Thus, the doctrine of this epistle, and that of all the other epistles from Hebrews onwards, is NOT addressed to, or for application by the Body of Christ. The Body of Christ has its own apostle, Paul, Rom 11:13, and its own doctrine, the 13-epistles of Paul.

It is SAD but also DESTRUCTIVE how people mix doctrines up and get the gospels so confused.

It is SAD but also DESTRUCTIVE how people mix doctrines up and get the gospels so confused.

Below is a comment by someone trying to 'correct' the presentation of the grace gospel. Even if they were well-meaning in their intent, their ignorance is dangerous and can lead people down a path of lies. It is sad that this happens so often today in this world of social media where everyone wants to have their say. Information is rampant and much of it is not in align with the truth that comes plain and clear when one studies the Word of God. To study the Word and get clarity on the rightly divided truth, being able to distinguish between the prophetic and mystery programs, is a rare quality and of great value today. 

Christian’s cling to the great deception of 'once saved, always saved'

STATEMENT:

There’s a problem here, in which Christian’s cling to the great deception of 'once saved, always saved', which is a false teaching, coming from a sense of feeling 'privileged' by reciting a phrase, or attending a ceremony, or doing a ritual. They think they will prevail in saving themselves from hell. The truth is that Christian’s must go through the motions of being 'good' and having 'a sense of duty' to know they are saved! There’s no instant saving formula etched in stone that anyone can point to or jump through the hoops and proclaim. Christ looks at the devices and desires of the heart, which are unknown to everyone on this planet. It’s not like there’s a one-for-all recipe in which you check all the boxes and you're saved! It doesn’t work that way.

CORRECTION:

My first thought, after reading your comment, is how will anyone know if they have done enough to be saved? When have we done enough work or are righteous enough to deserve God’s grace? The truth is that salvation is not based on feelings or emotions, neither is it based on a sense of duty and motivated by works. No! Salvation is not produced by our effort, goodness, or desires! It is given by God, and we receive it by faith, not fret or feeling.

Qualified to use the Sword of the Spirit

Qualified to use the Sword of the Spirit

The sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, can save a man, Rom.1:16, but it can also kill a man, 2Cor.3:6. If a believer does not use the sword correctly, it can do great harm to those on the receiving end.

Did you notice that in Eph.6:13-18, the sword is the sixth item on the list for a soldier to take up. It is the offensive weapon in the midst of the defensive armour, which is to be put on first. In context and in application, the believer is to be familiar with his armour first, before he goes for the sword. Before he wields the swords, he is to first gird himself with truth, which is the knowledge of the Word. Thereafter, he is to stand straight with righteousness, which is to apply that truth, resulting in a proclamation of the gospel, the exercising of faith, and abiding in that hope of salvation. It is only then, when that soldier is fully prepared, fully qualified, and thoroughly furnished, that the sword should be picked up. 

Study to show yourself approved

Study to show yourself approved

Paul tells Timothy that there's something required in a workman, and it’s not optional. It is a requirement of God. Look what he tells Timothy in 2 Timothy,

2Tim.2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 

He said study to show thyself approved! This is a personal responsibility between an individual and God. It doesn't matter if you've got an ordination paper from whatever denominational church, and it doesn't matter if you've got a seven-year degree from a theological seminary or bible institute. This verse speaks of a personal, individual responsibility, between that man and God. He is showing himself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed. Rightly dividing the word of truth is not something you do as a hobby or secondary activity. It is the very skill required to approve yourself unto God. When God's looking at a workman, and He is judging whether that workman is approved unto Him or not, the very skill He is looking for is whether that man rightly divides the word of truth.

Be vigilant of false teachers and always confirm everything by what the Word actually says

Be vigilant of false teachers and always confirm everything by what the Word actually says

This post contains someone's reaction to the following post:

• https://thebigpicturelink.blogspot.com/2023/07/so-much-said-is-so-few-words.html

Sadly, the below reaction is a common event. It illustrates the level of shallowness in Bible study and blatant ignorance of God's Word. It also shows how the pride and presumption of people like this can so easily lead other Christians astray, who are not yet stable in the Word, and who can be tossed to and fro, carried about with every wind of doctrine, (Eph.4:14).

Please evaluate the statements below and then read my response attentively to observe what the Bible 'really' says about our salvation and standing before God. 

The Journey: Part 6 - Get out the map book and confirm the course

Start here at the Introduction: The Journey Begins

The Journey: Part 6 - Get out the map book and confirm the course

Taking a long road trip means that you get onto roads you have not travelled before. Every now and then you meet people on the way and in conversation you might ask for directions to confirm your course.  Though the intentions of that person, in some cases, might be good, there is always a risk in blindly following bad directions without referring to the map book.

This short analogy is true, even more so, in your spiritual journey. Getting instructions from others, without referring to the Bible for your spiritual heading, can have consequences far worse than just a wrong turn on an actual road.

False Teachers and Bad Directions