'Grace or lawlessness
Nothing paints a message in the wrong light than those who rather than teach what they have been taught seek to sound different ,unique or worst still give it their own adumbration and interpretation
Peter noted how this happened to the Pauline revelation
2 Peter 3:16 KJV
[16] As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
Unruly and unstable men ,usually won't be found in a local church to submit to accountability and training .
Paul instructs Timothy in this regard
2 Timothy 2:2 KJV
[2] And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
Same message ,commit to faithful men,in the local church .
I recently encountered a wannabe emergency grace preacher .
Who questioned why a local church "founded on grace "should be giving rules and regulations to its members .
In his opinion ,that's the law of Moses .
Unwisely he quoted paul wrongly
1 Corinthians 15:56 KJV
[56] The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
How this applies to a local church giving its members rules and regulations within its activities remains a mystery if not mysterious to me.
I am no stranger to such nuances and immature proclivities,in well over 21 years of my preaching realities of redemption in Christ ,just wondering why the tribe hasn't yet decreased with much teaching and accurate explanation available to us all .
It's crass ignorance to call instructions and orderliness legalism .
The epistles are filled with very clear orders
On relationships
Romans 16:17 KJV
[17] Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
Avoid them
1 Corinthians 5:5,9,11,13 KJV
[5] To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
9] I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
[11] But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
13] But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
Put away ,don't eat !
2 Thessalonians 3:6 KJV
[6] Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
We command you ,withdraw yourself .
1 Timothy 6:5 KJV
[5] Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
This is to a pastor .
Instructions on the use of gifts of the spirit
1 Corinthians 14:28,30 KJV
[28] But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
[30] If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.
Clear instructions on what you should do in Holyghost meetings
1 Corinthians 14:37,40 KJV
[37] If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
[40] Let all things be done decently and in order.
Acknowledging these instructions is a proof of your spirituality .
Instructions on what shouldn't be done in church meetings
1 Corinthians 11:22,34 KJV
[22] What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.
[34] And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.
Instructions given to regulate conduct
1 Timothy 3:14-15 KJV
[14] These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:
15] But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
To know how you ought to behave in the church meetings ,
Instructions as touching leaders
1 Timothy 3:1-2,7 KJV
[1] This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. [2] A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
[7] Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
Notice the terms " MUST "!
It's compulsory .
Titus 1:7-8 KJV
[7] For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre
; [8] But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
MUST,these aren't suggestions .They are orders.
1 Timothy 5:22 KJV
[22] Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.
Don't just ordain anyone.
He gave instructions as touching giving
1 Corinthians 16:1 KJV
[1] Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.
Order ,so do Ye !
John gave order and instructions as touching who shouldn't be found in your house
2 John 1:10-11 KJV
[10] If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
[11] For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
Not a suggestion
Paul even gave instructions as touching domestic relationships
1 Timothy 2:12 KJV
[12] But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
We could on and on..
If anyone calls instructions and regulations legalism,he's ignorant knowing nothing .
Such men sure won't be in any local church to get training and discipline ,however by the Word.
1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 KJV
[12] And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
[13] And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
This is where we receive instructions and training .
We are to submit and obey them ,
Hebrews 13:17 KJV
[17] Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
Obey them not " who you are in Christ "
Them !
So the next time someone refers to order and instructions as legalism ,tell him to get a church submit and be healed from unruliness and foolishness .
QED .
June 19,2015' -
Onayinka Olusegun
