Be VERY careful

[Gerry]

Colossians 2:8: "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." KJV


"Be careful that nobody spoils your faith through intellectualism or high-sounding nonsense. Such stuff is at best founded on men's ideas of the nature of the world and disregards Christ!" JBP

 

[OracleX]

Amen

1 John 5:19-21 "And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen."

 

[GraftMeIn]

Amen, and Amen!

2 Peter 2:1-3
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

 

[daughter of the king]

studying theology in deepth can destroy ppls faith;

 

[SBfaithful]

Today at 03:57 AM daughter of the king said this in Post #4

studying theology in deepth can destroy ppls faith;

But taught correctly it can strengthen ones faith beyond imagination.

 

[Gerry]

Yesterday at 09:57 PM daughter of the king said this in Post #4

studying theology in deepth can destroy ppls faith;

If we are talking about Christian theology, I would take exception with your statement, which seems rather cynical for one so young. May I ask what prompts you to make it?

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

God is obviously not speaking of skimming here!

 

[OldBadfish]

Allright. Good points all around.

 

[bluetrinity]

All studies of theology and philosophie basically seem like quests for truth and wisdom. Something only God can give through our savior Jesus Christ.

 

[Gerry]

Yesterday at 09:26 PM GraftMeIn said this in Post #3

Amen, and Amen!

2 Peter 2:1-3
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

AWESOME and "frightening" Scripture! Had to look this up and see how Phillips expressed it!

"But even in those days there were false prophets, just as there will be false teachers among you today. They will be men who will subtly introduce dangerous heresies. They will thereby deny the Lord who redeemed them, and it will not be long before they bring on themselves their own downfall. Many will follow their pernicious teaching and thereby bring discredit on the way of truth. In their lust to make converts these men will try to exploit you too with their bogus arguments. But judgment has been for some time hard on their heels and their downfall is inevitable."

 

[GraftMeIn]

I love the way Phillips translates that! especially this part... "They will be men who will subtly introduce dangerous heresies."

How true that is it so subtle the way they hide just the smallest of lies by surrounding it with the truth.

Read what others teach with extreme caution!

 

[Gerry]

Oh yeah! That is the favorite way. Have the lie subtly surrounded by truth, like a snake in the grass waiting for the unsuspecting to walk by!

And you gotta love this: "...these men will try to exploit you too with their bogus arguments." My! Call it like it is, eh?!

 

[GraftMeIn]

Oh yeah they certainly do try and exploit those speaking the truth. Here's another scripture to go along with the rest. As always the entire chapter is well worth reading.

2 Corinthians 11:14-15
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

 

[Gerry]

Today at 10:20 PM GraftMeIn said this in Post #12

Oh yeah they certainly do try and exploit those speaking the truth. Here's another scripture to go along with the rest. As always the entire chapter is well worth reading.

2 Corinthians 11:14-15
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Oh WOW! You are right! And hold on when you see this from Phillips!

"God's messengers? They are counterfeits of the real thing, dishonest practitioners, "God's messengers" only by their own appointment. Nor do their tactics surprise me when I consider how Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is only to be expected that his agents shall have the appearance of ministers of righteousness - but they will get their deserts one day."

 

[GraftMeIn]

Wow Philliips hits that right on!

And to think some people will be so eager to listen because it will be things they want to hear in order to justify those little wrong doings in their lives.

2 Timothy 4:3-4
For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables.

 

[Gerry]

Today at 10:39 PM GraftMeIn said this in Post #14

Wow Philliips hits that right on!

And to think some people will be so eager to listen because it will be things they want to hear in order to justify those little wrong doings in their lives.

2 Timothy 4:3-4
For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables.

"For the time is coming when men will not tolerate wholesome teaching. They will want something to tickle their own fancies, and they will collect teachers who will pander to their own desires. They will no longer listen to the truth, but will wander off after man-made fictions."

LOL Hit it again!

 

[GraftMeIn]

Sure does hit it again! Reading these two versions side by side is awesome!

Ephesians 5:6-12
Let no man deceive you with empty words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them; For ye were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord: walk as children of light (for the fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth), proving what is well-pleasing unto the Lord; and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them; for the things which are done by them in secret it is a shame even to speak of.

 

[Gerry]

Today at 09:27 AM GraftMeIn said this in Post #16

Sure does hit it again! Reading these two versions side by side is awesome!

Ephesians 5:6-12
Let no man deceive you with empty words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them; For ye were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord: walk as children of light (for the fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth), proving what is well-pleasing unto the Lord; and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them; for the things which are done by them in secret it is a shame even to speak of.

In the JBP:

"Don't let anyone fool you on this point, however plausible his argument. It is these very things which bring down the wrath of God upon the disobedient. Have nothing to do with men like that - once you were "darkness" but now you are "light". Live then as children of the light. The light produces in men quite the opposite of sins like these - everything that is wholesome and good and true. Let your lives be living proofs of the things which please God. Steer clear of the activities of darkness; let your lives show by contrast how dreary and futile these things are. (You know the sort of things I mean - to detail their secret doings is really too shameful)."

What a deep one you have chosen this time! This goes on and on and these "empty words" include not only immorality, but specifically idolatry which means the worshipping of other gods no matter who or what they may be.

I like the way Phillips expresses this thought through the use of the phrase, "however plauisble his argument." And there are surely those who present "plausible" arguments about fraternal organizations, for example, that are a thinly disguised religion of works, thereby constituting not only idolatry, but denying the finished work of Christ.

 

[GraftMeIn]

Phillips expressed that perfectly!

Makes me think about all the plausible arguements some bring up to deny certain parts of Gods Word.

But we know full well that....

2 Timothy 3:16-17
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.