All About GOD - Growing Relationships with Jesus and Others
Are you accused of throwing scriptures, argumentive, unloving and Judgmental?
We are to train ourselves to listening to the Words of our God by the Scripture. There are lots of people who have studied it have devoted their whole lifetime to knowing God’s Word, and have not found any end to its teaching and wisdom. God has promised to give His secret counsel to the upright, reveal hidden manna to those who overcome, give wisdom, knowledge, understanding and discernment to those who seek God with their whole heart. In 2 Tim. 3:16-17 says, "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." Hence when some one discuss or prove certain topics from the Bible we should not be offended because we are not taking anything out of the bible and making stuff. Let Gods word find answer in every topic and in every thing in life. We will not practice sin as we once did, a transformed life gives us the ability to live what is holy and right before God. Because the world our flesh and the Devil are always in competition for our soul, trying to influence us in disobeying the ways of truth and life. What we really need is to be convicted and reproved by the word of God.( I Jn.3:9).
Some people are offended by truth because of its very nature. They will accuse you of lacking love and spiritual graces. Yet those who claim to be loving do accuse they have accused us of being unloving because we are self-centered, we can become offended by truth. We want to do things “our way,”
There are plenty of people who are offended by truth even when Jesus Christ and his disciples when they lovingly presented.
Paul tells us to rid ourselves of the bad things, and clothe ourselves in the good. There is only one true and correct interpretation. Let the Bible interpret itself to you by comparing scripture with scripture.
Similarly, you cannot ignore the sin you see in others. You must "snatch them out of the fire" (Jude 1:23). Please don't say, "It's none of my business!" when you see others in sin. Surely it is your business to "save a soul from death" (Jas 5:19-20).
It is quite impossible to live the life of a Christian and not offend someone by doing that which is right! In fact, the scriptures presume that many are going to be offended by the teaching and preaching of the gospel. Jesus offended people by telling them the truth ( Matthew 13:57, 15:12); Jesus even offended his own disciples ( John 6:61)!
Yet not once did Jesus apologize for telling the truth. In fact, in Matthew 15:12, after his disciples told him that the Pharisees had been offended by him, he said, "Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch" ( Matthew 15:13-14).
The Bible is clear about the fact that when we stand for truth, we will offend people. The truth of God’s word stands as a solid rock that does not change whether times are good or times are bad
When a Christian believer does anything it should be based on scripture. His every area of life should line up with Gods word including speech. When I say that Jesus is the ONLY way, the ONLY truth and the ONLY life and that apart from knowing Jesus as God, you will not go to heaven, I am not passing judgment on those who refuse to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, but God's Word in the Bible is. This is because I am not saying something new, but just reiterating what God says through the Bible. Thus, all non-believers' arguments are with God, not me.
1 Peter 3:15-16 says that we need to prepare to give answer:But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
If we warn people about the dangers of alcoholic beverages, tobacco, drug abuse, sinful dancing, gambling, unrighteous movies, devils music and inappropriate dress or appearances that are not associated with Godliness. And if we quote the scriptures saying that Bible says it has wrong, for some Christians it may sound as argument or throwing out scriptures or even judging. The carnal Christian will never find the deeper things of God because Truth of scripture has been replaced with world philosophies and feel good messages. Rebuking a sinner, exposing corruption, correcting someone in love or disciplining ones children is not judging wrongfully. If we don't warn someone in error to turn from evil, we are partly responsible. "Ezekiel 33:8 When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand."
The disciples offended many, were put in prison and were killed for their bold testimony, but they also won many to God. When people are not walking according to truth, they will seek ways to make truth fit their foolish decisions and justify their actions. When someone teaches that we can sin because Jesus has paid for all sins, chances are that they have a sinful habit that they are clinging in to and need to justify. It is the responsibility of every teacher and preacher to uphold the doctrines of scripture as they apply it first to their own lives and then to teach others how to seek truth and apply it for themselves. It is the responsibility of every Christian to seek and know truth for themselves so that they can be thoroughly equipped for every good work and have true intimacy with God as they learn to conform to the example of Jesus Christ. Bible convicts men of their guilt and lost estate. Gods word says that scriptures are Quick and powerful for profitable both for doctrine and practice.( Hebrews 4:12 , 2 Timothy 3:16-17). Why some easily get offended?
Bible says that Ignorance of scriptures is a source of error and if are we Mere hearers of scriptures , we deceive ourselves. Matthew 22:29 says Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God
James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
1 Corinthians 2:14-16 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For "who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ.
1 John 2:26-27 These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.
God says that we need to be equipped with wisdom from the Word of God to identify and not be led astray by false teaching and false teachers. All believers should know what the Scriptures are !
The Devil resists truth everywhere, because, as Scripture says, “…for there is no truth in him…he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). The Devil and his demons work hard to deceive people and lead them away from God. If God says, “do it,” we ought to do it, and if God says, “don’t,” we shouldn’t. The accusation of legalism or throwing out scriptures is a phony accusation trumped up to excuse those who prefer to ignore the directives of God’s Word and live to satisfy themselves and hence becoming self righteous.
Many will be offended if you rebuke a sinner and there are many who say that we should love, love sinners; but never preach against their sins. If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. The Bible indicates to boldly correct people in an effort to bring them to repentance. The truth convicts when we are guilty of sin. Conviction is the first step in the cycle of sanctification. Sin is the problem, guilt is the symptom. Most of us have a sin problem, not a guilt problem. Conviction is the first work of the Holy Spirit.
John 16:8 "When he [the Holy Spirit] comes, he will convict the world, and show where right and wrong and judgments lie. He will convict them of wrong..." It should not surprise us that as we follow Christ, people who want to remain in sin will start to get uncomfortable around us; that we will be accused of being "judgmental" before we have said a word, and that in general we are disliked and avoided for the sake of His name. Others will be attracted to us for this same reason. This is sure proof of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Eph 5:11,13 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them... Everything exposed by the light becomes visible.
Peter warns: "Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live rather as slaves of God" (1Pe 2:16). Similarly, Paul warns: "You, my brothers, were called to be free, but do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather serve one another in love" (Gal 5:13).
God viewed sin so seriously that he gave his only begotten Son to make forgiveness possible (Jhn 3:16, 1Jn 1:7, 2:2). If we ever start taking sin lightly, all we have to do is look back to the suffering of our Lord Saviour jesus Christ on the cross. That will remind us of how seriously God views sin. Forgiven sinners must still bear the pain and responsibility of the temporal consequences of their sins. If we falsely represent what God requires, we not only encourage others to reject God's message, but we share in the judgment of those we have failed to convict of sin(Eze 3:18-19, Eze 3:20-21)
Some might say that Jesus Christ never hurt any ones feelings or condemned any one:The Gospel of Jesus Christ Has Always Offended the Wicked. Jesus NEVER compromised morality under the pretense of "love." Jesus was not worried about offending sinners. He stood up for what He knew was right
Here are few examples
1.In John 4:18, Jesus tells her that she is an adulterer (Matthew 5:32). Here he said this women as an adulterer.
2.In Matthew 19:21-22 : Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property. Here we see that he hurts his feelings.
3. In Matthew 12:34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. Here Jesus called those religious people "evil or vipers”.
4.I n Matthew 16:23: Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." Here we notice that he called his disciple “Satan”
5. In John 6:70: Then Jesus replied, "Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!" Again here chosen disciple was called “devil”.
6. In Matthew 25:41: Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. Here Jesus taught that many people will one day burn in Hell.
The wicked world wants to achieve unity between the righteous and the wicked, but there can be NO unity. God never changes (Malachi 3:6). Jesus told some people that they would one day be weeping and gnashing their teeth after being cast into outer darkness (Matthew 8:12).
Apostle Paul said to the Christians at Galatia, "Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?" -Galatians 4:16. The truth offends most people, but the Word of God teaches that we should LOVE THE TRUTH. "And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." (2nd Thessalonians 2:10).
When Christians claim we should not pass judgment on another believer's actions or lifestyle, they have it dead wrong. He also tells us to make judgments concerning the morality of others: "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs...Watch out for false prophets." Paul commands the church to make discerning judgments about morality within the Christian body: "...you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. Expel the wicked man from among you."
The basis for discerning judgment is the Word of God. If God has declared something a sin, we are not passing judgment, it is the Word of God that judges. If we find that a brother in Christ is sinning, we should reach out, according to Paul in Galations, to "restore him gently." Jesus gave an example of this with His story of the shepherd going after the lost sheep that was restored to the fold. But in the same context (Matt 18:15-17), Jesus also said that if the rebelling brother refuses to repent, then let him go--he is no longer to be considered a Christian. If you practice sin--any sin--without regret, refusing to change your behavior, then by Jesus' own words, you are a pagan--not a Christian.
Those who preach and practice holiness in and through the energy and power of the Holy Spirit will suffer at the hands of these perverters of grace. Paul says, "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (11 Tim. 3:12). Peter acknowledges the same problem when he instructed the saved Jew that he "no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excesses of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you" (I Pet. 4:2-4).
Both the devil and Jesus quote scripture, but the important difference is seen in the fact that Jesus both correctly quotes and applies scripture (Matt. 4: 4, 7, 10, see Deut. 8: 3; Deut. 6: 16; and 6: 13, respectively). Jesus had a standard of authority that he both recognized and used to determine right and wrong by the word of God. He did not respond to the devil by saying, "I feel in my heart," "it is not popular," or "I simply do not agree." Jesus presented scripture and allowed the scripture to determine the right course of action. It will also be appreciated that Jesus used scripture to prove that Psalms 91: 11, 12 was being misapplied by the devil.
We should not be ashamed the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.( Romans 1:16)
Some people are offended by truth because of its very nature. They will accuse you of lacking love and spiritual graces. Yet those who claim to be loving do accuse they have accused us of being unloving because we are self-centered, we can become offended by truth. We want to do things “our way,”
There are plenty of people who are offended by truth even when Jesus Christ and his disciples when they lovingly presented.
Paul tells us to rid ourselves of the bad things, and clothe ourselves in the good. There is only one true and correct interpretation. Let the Bible interpret itself to you by comparing scripture with scripture.
Similarly, you cannot ignore the sin you see in others. You must "snatch them out of the fire" (Jude 1:23). Please don't say, "It's none of my business!" when you see others in sin. Surely it is your business to "save a soul from death" (Jas 5:19-20).
It is quite impossible to live the life of a Christian and not offend someone by doing that which is right! In fact, the scriptures presume that many are going to be offended by the teaching and preaching of the gospel. Jesus offended people by telling them the truth ( Matthew 13:57, 15:12); Jesus even offended his own disciples ( John 6:61)!
Yet not once did Jesus apologize for telling the truth. In fact, in Matthew 15:12, after his disciples told him that the Pharisees had been offended by him, he said, "Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch" ( Matthew 15:13-14).
The Bible is clear about the fact that when we stand for truth, we will offend people. The truth of God’s word stands as a solid rock that does not change whether times are good or times are bad
When a Christian believer does anything it should be based on scripture. His every area of life should line up with Gods word including speech. When I say that Jesus is the ONLY way, the ONLY truth and the ONLY life and that apart from knowing Jesus as God, you will not go to heaven, I am not passing judgment on those who refuse to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, but God's Word in the Bible is. This is because I am not saying something new, but just reiterating what God says through the Bible. Thus, all non-believers' arguments are with God, not me.
1 Peter 3:15-16 says that we need to prepare to give answer:But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
If we warn people about the dangers of alcoholic beverages, tobacco, drug abuse, sinful dancing, gambling, unrighteous movies, devils music and inappropriate dress or appearances that are not associated with Godliness. And if we quote the scriptures saying that Bible says it has wrong, for some Christians it may sound as argument or throwing out scriptures or even judging. The carnal Christian will never find the deeper things of God because Truth of scripture has been replaced with world philosophies and feel good messages. Rebuking a sinner, exposing corruption, correcting someone in love or disciplining ones children is not judging wrongfully. If we don't warn someone in error to turn from evil, we are partly responsible. "Ezekiel 33:8 When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand."
The disciples offended many, were put in prison and were killed for their bold testimony, but they also won many to God. When people are not walking according to truth, they will seek ways to make truth fit their foolish decisions and justify their actions. When someone teaches that we can sin because Jesus has paid for all sins, chances are that they have a sinful habit that they are clinging in to and need to justify. It is the responsibility of every teacher and preacher to uphold the doctrines of scripture as they apply it first to their own lives and then to teach others how to seek truth and apply it for themselves. It is the responsibility of every Christian to seek and know truth for themselves so that they can be thoroughly equipped for every good work and have true intimacy with God as they learn to conform to the example of Jesus Christ. Bible convicts men of their guilt and lost estate. Gods word says that scriptures are Quick and powerful for profitable both for doctrine and practice.( Hebrews 4:12 , 2 Timothy 3:16-17). Why some easily get offended?
Bible says that Ignorance of scriptures is a source of error and if are we Mere hearers of scriptures , we deceive ourselves. Matthew 22:29 says Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God
James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
1 Corinthians 2:14-16 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For "who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ.
1 John 2:26-27 These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.
God says that we need to be equipped with wisdom from the Word of God to identify and not be led astray by false teaching and false teachers. All believers should know what the Scriptures are !
The Devil resists truth everywhere, because, as Scripture says, “…for there is no truth in him…he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). The Devil and his demons work hard to deceive people and lead them away from God. If God says, “do it,” we ought to do it, and if God says, “don’t,” we shouldn’t. The accusation of legalism or throwing out scriptures is a phony accusation trumped up to excuse those who prefer to ignore the directives of God’s Word and live to satisfy themselves and hence becoming self righteous.
Many will be offended if you rebuke a sinner and there are many who say that we should love, love sinners; but never preach against their sins. If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. The Bible indicates to boldly correct people in an effort to bring them to repentance. The truth convicts when we are guilty of sin. Conviction is the first step in the cycle of sanctification. Sin is the problem, guilt is the symptom. Most of us have a sin problem, not a guilt problem. Conviction is the first work of the Holy Spirit.
John 16:8 "When he [the Holy Spirit] comes, he will convict the world, and show where right and wrong and judgments lie. He will convict them of wrong..." It should not surprise us that as we follow Christ, people who want to remain in sin will start to get uncomfortable around us; that we will be accused of being "judgmental" before we have said a word, and that in general we are disliked and avoided for the sake of His name. Others will be attracted to us for this same reason. This is sure proof of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Eph 5:11,13 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them... Everything exposed by the light becomes visible.
Peter warns: "Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live rather as slaves of God" (1Pe 2:16). Similarly, Paul warns: "You, my brothers, were called to be free, but do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather serve one another in love" (Gal 5:13).
God viewed sin so seriously that he gave his only begotten Son to make forgiveness possible (Jhn 3:16, 1Jn 1:7, 2:2). If we ever start taking sin lightly, all we have to do is look back to the suffering of our Lord Saviour jesus Christ on the cross. That will remind us of how seriously God views sin. Forgiven sinners must still bear the pain and responsibility of the temporal consequences of their sins. If we falsely represent what God requires, we not only encourage others to reject God's message, but we share in the judgment of those we have failed to convict of sin(Eze 3:18-19, Eze 3:20-21)
Some might say that Jesus Christ never hurt any ones feelings or condemned any one:The Gospel of Jesus Christ Has Always Offended the Wicked. Jesus NEVER compromised morality under the pretense of "love." Jesus was not worried about offending sinners. He stood up for what He knew was right
Here are few examples
1.In John 4:18, Jesus tells her that she is an adulterer (Matthew 5:32). Here he said this women as an adulterer.
2.In Matthew 19:21-22 : Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property. Here we see that he hurts his feelings.
3. In Matthew 12:34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. Here Jesus called those religious people "evil or vipers”.
4.I n Matthew 16:23: Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." Here we notice that he called his disciple “Satan”
5. In John 6:70: Then Jesus replied, "Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!" Again here chosen disciple was called “devil”.
6. In Matthew 25:41: Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. Here Jesus taught that many people will one day burn in Hell.
The wicked world wants to achieve unity between the righteous and the wicked, but there can be NO unity. God never changes (Malachi 3:6). Jesus told some people that they would one day be weeping and gnashing their teeth after being cast into outer darkness (Matthew 8:12).
Apostle Paul said to the Christians at Galatia, "Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?" -Galatians 4:16. The truth offends most people, but the Word of God teaches that we should LOVE THE TRUTH. "And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." (2nd Thessalonians 2:10).
When Christians claim we should not pass judgment on another believer's actions or lifestyle, they have it dead wrong. He also tells us to make judgments concerning the morality of others: "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs...Watch out for false prophets." Paul commands the church to make discerning judgments about morality within the Christian body: "...you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. Expel the wicked man from among you."
The basis for discerning judgment is the Word of God. If God has declared something a sin, we are not passing judgment, it is the Word of God that judges. If we find that a brother in Christ is sinning, we should reach out, according to Paul in Galations, to "restore him gently." Jesus gave an example of this with His story of the shepherd going after the lost sheep that was restored to the fold. But in the same context (Matt 18:15-17), Jesus also said that if the rebelling brother refuses to repent, then let him go--he is no longer to be considered a Christian. If you practice sin--any sin--without regret, refusing to change your behavior, then by Jesus' own words, you are a pagan--not a Christian.
Those who preach and practice holiness in and through the energy and power of the Holy Spirit will suffer at the hands of these perverters of grace. Paul says, "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (11 Tim. 3:12). Peter acknowledges the same problem when he instructed the saved Jew that he "no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excesses of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you" (I Pet. 4:2-4).
Both the devil and Jesus quote scripture, but the important difference is seen in the fact that Jesus both correctly quotes and applies scripture (Matt. 4: 4, 7, 10, see Deut. 8: 3; Deut. 6: 16; and 6: 13, respectively). Jesus had a standard of authority that he both recognized and used to determine right and wrong by the word of God. He did not respond to the devil by saying, "I feel in my heart," "it is not popular," or "I simply do not agree." Jesus presented scripture and allowed the scripture to determine the right course of action. It will also be appreciated that Jesus used scripture to prove that Psalms 91: 11, 12 was being misapplied by the devil.
We should not be ashamed the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.( Romans 1:16)
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