Hey LGWHi GG .
For me I see all of the many interpretations of the scriptures, or doctrines and all the different Churches as signs of the fulfillment of the prophecies of last days in as shown in the Words of Jesus in Matthew 24:24; Mark 13:22 and the Apostles in Acts of the Apostles 20:29; 2 Peter 2:1-5 etc etc which state in the last days there will be many false Christs and false prophets and false teachers even showing great signs and wonders; so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
So of course the devil has a counterfeit of that which is true but it is a lie in order to deceive people and lead them away from God and his Word as he is the father of lies *John 8:44 (context John 8:31 onwards to the religious teachers of the day); 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; Romans 3:4
This more than ever shows the importance of a prayerful understanding of the scriptures 1 John 4:1 and 2 Timothy 2:15 through the Spirit *John 14:26 in order for us to know God's truth and the teachings of error designed by the enemy of souls to lead us away from God and his Word.
The question I believe we must all ask ourselves is who do we believe and follow, and where have we been seeking our understanding of the truth of Gods' Word. Are we seeking God's truth which is defined in the scriptures as the Word of God from the teachings and traditions of men outside of his Word (the bible) or have we been prayerfully seeking God for His truth through his Spirit that we may know what His truth is through his Word?
According to the scriptures, no one can know the truth of God's Word without God's Spirit *John 14:26; John 16:13; 1 John 2:27; John 8:31-36; John 17:17; John 6:63; Hebrews 8:11; John 8:51; John 8:55; and God only gives his Spirit to those who believe and obey him *Acts of the Apostles 5:32; Matthew 4:4; 2 Timothy 3:16; John 10:26-27.
God's promises are conditional however as our salvation is on believing and following what God says. If we are believing and following what God has taught us then it is not a hard thing to know the truth of Gods' Word if we turn away from the teachings of men and seek him for it through his Spirit *John 14:26; John 16:13; John 17:17; John 8:31-32. As long as we are living up to all the knowledge that God has revealed to us and following it, God promises that if any man wills to do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it is of God, or whether it is not of God *John 7:17.
The milk of the Word is given by God through men *1 Corinthians 3:1-2; Hebrews 5:12; Hebrews 6:1; 1 Peter 2:1-2. The meat of the Word and a knowledge of His truth is given by God *Isaiah 28:9-10; Hebrews 8:11; 1 John 2:27. This is God's new covenant promise to those who believe and follow his Word *Hebrews 8:11; John 14:26; John 16:13; John 7:17; John 17:17; John 6:63; 1 John 2:27.
God promises that you shall seek me (the Word) and find me (the truth) when you shall seach for me with all of your heart * Jeremiah 29:13. Knowing the truth of God's Word is conditional to believing and following God's Word and prayerfully seeking Jesus for an understanding of his truth through his Word.
We are told to turn away from men and cursed is every man that trusts in man and makes flesh his arm *Jeremiah 17:5. Gods' truth can only be revealed through his Spirit and through his Word.
I believe God's people are in all the Churches as long as they are individually living up to all the knowledge that God has revealed to them they are his people as it is written in times of ignorance God winks at until he gives us a knowledge of His truth and they reject it *Acts of the Apostles 17:30-31 at which time we are all held accountable for sin Hebrews 10:26-27 and will be judged for it *John 12:47-48.
Of course not all the Churches have the truth of God's Word *Matthew 24:24 but I believe that the hour is coming and now is that the true worshippers must worship God is Spirit and in truth. God is a Spirit and those who worship him must worship him in Spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24). God is calling his people out from following man made teachings and traditions back to the pure Word of God *Revelation 18:1-5. God's sheep hear his Voice (the Word) and follow him Those who do not here and follow are not God's sheep according to the scriptures *John 10:26-27
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God's true Church according to the scriptures are simply all those who believe and follow God's Word. God's Word tells us who they are here *1 John 2:3-4; 1 John 3:6-10; Revelation 12:17; Revelation 14:12; Revelation 22:14 etc etc..
Only God's Word is true and it is only to God's that we must look to know what God's truth is as we seek God to know it through his Spirit *John 14:26.
God bless.
What a great post!
Have I ever told you how much I admire your knowledge of scripture?
Here is how I'VE learned:
When I became born again many years ago, I had never read the bible -- I was Catholic. Since I then came to have spiritual needs I did not have before and the CC could not supply them,,,,I changed denomination.
I began to read the bible and to study it with the second denomination...a very basic and good church. (Nazarene). As I studied the bible I did not want to be brainwashed and wanted to understand everything on my own,,,so I checked everything carefully, as the Bareans did.
You can take a verse from the bible and understand it in different way....even scholars do. So I do agree with you that we are responsible to God for our own understanding and the fact that we live what we believe.
I'm not sure this is enough however. I've heard some declare Faith Alone. This is a lie and cannot be true, yet some believe it fervently. I DO believe that they pick and choose which verse to believe because if the entire N.T. is read, it becomes apparent that Jesus wants us to DO something and not just "believe". In quotation marks because BELIEVE actually means also to OBEY.
Maybe we should just be adhering to Jesus' teachings only? Is this the Jesus Only movement, which I know nothing about?
I've always like what you say about God "winking" at us and I agree with this because God is a very big and Almighty God and sometimes we reduce HIM to OUR understanding.
Anyway, thanks for such a great reply!
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