1
Corinthians 2:4-14 “My
speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of
the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in
the power of God. However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet
not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to
nothing. But
we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages
for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they
known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor
have entered into the heart of man. The things which God has prepared for those
who love Him.” But
God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the
Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of
the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit
of God. Now we have received, not the
spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the
things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not
in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing
spiritual things with spiritual. 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.
I received this disturbing email this week, and
decided to address this issue that one would expect to find with unbelievers
outside the Christian church, but is happening increasing more and
congregations decrease in Biblical knowledge and spiritual discernment in this
day and age. This young lady wrote: “I had a real problem
with something that was said in my women’s bible study this week, which is led
by a former Baptist preacher, 80+ years old, but still very with it. One
lady was talking about an older neighbor man that is dying of cancer. She said
she went to talk to him, and that he is not a “church goer”. The man said
he had always heard one had to be saved to go to heaven. And she said, “I
don’t think so”. ! Then the teacher said no, he believed there
are a lot of Christ followers that don’t even know that they’re Christians.
?! I was floored. I wanted to ask for clarification, but I just sat
there waiting for more to be said to see if I was really understanding what
they were saying. I still don’t know for sure, I just can’t believe
that’s what he meant, or what this lady that is in church regularly and in our
Bible study meant.”
The
comments at this church Bible Study don't surprise me, because this nation is
losing their knowledge of God, the Holy Scriptures and the gospel truth. The
liberal secular humanism and existentialism message has crept into everything,
to where serving self and mankind is the main focus ... even in churches. I
listen to and observe as many folks talk about what they
"like" and how they "feel" without any reference to and
in direct contradiction to the Bible. This woman saying, "I don't think so.",
to the seekers statement that he had heard one must be "saved" to go
to heaven, is a prime example. John 3:16, John 3:36, Acts 4:12 Romans 10:9, 1
John5:11-12, et cetera, are totally ignored, and no biblical basis at all is
given. The sad thing is that this is totally based upon "unbelief",
for if salvation, heaven and eternal life was able to be obtained by any other
means, then Jesus died on that cross for nothing. This lady and teacher, essentially,
put themselves in the place of God, defining Christians with a different gospel.
In this case, preaching and teaching the wisdom of this world, lost in unbelief. They
replaced God's Plan of salvation by the gospel of Jesus, for a "everyone
goes to heaven" type heresy to this dying man, who needed to hear the
TRUTH, not a lie. The teacher’s statement is oxymoron because the definition of
Christian is "follower of Christ", but so many people are putting
their own definition in place of the Bible's, and say "I believe something
else" based on human feeling & emotions (that in reality exposes their
unbelief). One of the questions asked in evangelism is "When you die and
appear in front of Almighty God, and He asks you: 'Why should I let you into My
heaven.’ - what will you say." This needs to be asked, because we all need
to know and understand that it is only by the grace of God that we are saved,
by faith alone in Christ alone. Ignorance of and unbelief in God is so
prevalent today that I am no longer floored, when I see or hear of it. Apostasy
exists, and unfortunately we should expect
it, and need to confront it. There is a rebellion against God this side of
heaven, but true life and real living is found only
by true faith, and the rest is just plain death and damnation. The
darkness of unbelief desires to extinguish all light of God, but God
will not allow it. By defending Christianity, we help bring seekers
(like that dying man wanting clarity on true salvation) to a "saving"
knowledge of the Savior Jesus Christ, aligned with the wisdom of God.
In Christ, Brian
4 comments:
Hi Brian,
This is so sad.
People who have an influence, like Billy Graham, who have turned away from the faith lead others down the wrong path.
The Word of God is being muddled up with feelings and lies are being told. No wonder Jesus asked if He would find faith on this earth when He returned.
Luke 18:8
I tell you, He will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?"
Blessings,
<><
Child of God, those servants of the Lord in the battlefield of ministry to bring Christ and reach lost souls, along with those equipping the saints, have an awesome responsibility to speak the gospel truth in love by the Word of God. I pray that everyone who read these Blog messages checks their Bible to see if what is written is in alignment and agreement with the Holy Scriptures to confirm the accuracy and reliability for application in their lives. Billy Graham, Dwight L. Moody, James Dobson, A.W.Tozer, C.S. Lewis, D. James Kennedy, and so many more of the great Christian writers have helped shaped my, and countless others understanding of biblical truth to read the Bible and grow in faith; to know the Lord and make Him known.
Our Sunday Sermon Scripture reference today spoke volumes of truth for today and eternity. The Word of God always does. Here is the passage:
Philippians 2:5-11 "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Glory be to God and our Savior Jesus Christ. Thanks for writing.
Hi Brian,
I believe we are living in the last days, there is a famine for the Word of God.
When I was in the New Age Movement, and much younger, I used to think activism was the way to go. Now I believe the words of God when He said "when you see these things" (He gives instructions for what to do, and to be prepared), and admonishes us to "watch and pray".
I pray for our leaders (church and secular) and for the lost, and family members, etc, but I have no illusions of being able to change anyone, only Jesus can do that...but He does ask us to pray for the lost, and the times are indeed perilous, the deceptions more and more pervasive and difficult...like a hall of mirrors...self promotion is at the center of all that is taught these days, that we "aren't so bad"... and like you say: if we aren't so bad, then why did Jesus have to die????
Pray, pray, pray, and watch to see what Jesus will do.
Thank you for the comments Susan, as they bring up some great points and issues today. There is a famine for the Word of God, and God Himself today. We live in the darkness of a crooked and perverse generation that does not know the Lord, their Maker, and may be very close to the end, but believe that the children of God are intricately involved with the Holy Spirit in influencing our society for both changing what is "wrong" and maintain the biblical ethics & morals of what is "right" in the eyes of God, communicated in the Word of God, so we are to shine the gospel light of the "WORD" into the world. This is Jesus' "Cultural Mandate" of Matthew 28. When we received salvation in Christ, we were not immediately taken up to heaven for a reason. God has a purpose for us here and now. Tell this generation about the Creator and the Savior that they do not know ... standing equipped with the sword of TRUTH, exposing sin and pointing to the foot of the Cross for the glory of the Lord by sowing the seeds of the Word that the Holy Spirit works upon the heart.
We speak of life this side of heaven, as a walk or a journey, but Paul calls it a race with a Victory to be won in Philippians 3:14, but explains this running as "holding out the word of life, as a light to those lost in darkness in Philippians 2:12-16
King James Version Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
Thanks for the awesome comment. Brian
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