Fascinating thing about the true history of "Reformations". The Jews broke away from God's Way, and created their own religion, and religious business, teaching for doctrines the commandments and traditions of men, not God. The Catholic religion "broke away" from
the Jews religion, but kept her marketing strategy, her traditions regarding worship, prayer, manmade temples of wood and stone, and creating their own judgments and traditions that caused those who followed them to also transgress the Commandments of God. The next "reformation" was Protestants who broke away from the Catholic religion, the same thing happened. They claimed to be "reformed", but kept her sabbaths, her high days, her traditions regarding worship, prayer and manmade shrines of worship and her traditions which caused those who followed them to transgress the commandments of God.
As one prominent Catholic preacher said of the Protestant's that broke away from his adopted religion, "They have continued the custom, even though it rests upon the authority of the Catholic Church and not upon an explicit text in the Bible. That observance remains as a reminder of the Mother Church from which the non-Catholic sects broke away - like a boy running away from home but still carrying in his pocket a picture of his mother or a lock of her hair".
And now we have another "reformation" called "non-denominational" which is now becoming popular and is growing. In the US alone, there are about 35,000 "Non-dem" churches. Like the other reformations, they broke away from "brand name" religion, but they kept their traditions regarding temples made of wood and stone, worship, sabbaths, their high days, their image of God in the likeness of man, and traditions which cause those who follow them to Transgress the commandments of God.
So it is expected that people might think you are just another representative of one of the "many" Protestant religions which exist in the world God placed us in because of your religious philosophies and traditions you share on this forum.
Now this is not a judgment against anyone, rather, it is just honest observation of undeniable truths. When asked about the sign of His return, Jesus told His Disciples;
Matt. 24:
4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I (Jesus) am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Notice that Jesus didn't warn us about Islam, Buddhism or even Atheists here. HE Specifically warned about "ONE" religion. And this would be a religion who calls Jesus Lord, Lord, and teaches in His Name, but transgresses God's commandments by their own religious traditions. (Matt. 7:22,23)
Jesus didn't warn me about this world's religions and the men who promote them, to insult me or offend me, even though He knew I would be insulted and offended, and certainly in the beginning I was. He was Loving me as HE Loved Himself. The same way this same Christ Loved Israel.
Ez. 18:
30 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. (As it was for those Christians in Matt. 7:22,23)
31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.
These Scriptures, along with those posted in the OP, are certainly deserving of honest, unbiased (as much as possible) discussion in my view, and this thread is my attempt to engage in such a discussion.
Whose tradition is it to "fill the pews" of manmade shrines of worship, created by religious who come in Christ's Name? Doesn't the Jesus of the Bible teach me how to worship and pray to His Father, and how to do my alms towards God and Man? Clearly this tradition you support and promote didn't come from the Jesus of the Bible. Should men seeking God's Truth not study to find out where it comes from?
Nevertheless, the religious manmade Temples made of wood and stone in Christ's Time had been turned into a religious business by those who "
profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate." And these same religious businesses exist even to this day. This is another undeniable Truth.
I never suggested that you were
in the religion business. Only that you support and promote the religious philosophies and traditions of those who are.
Which is why they compete for you,
so you can help them grow their religious business.
These religions and their manmade shrines of worship, with their Pews, cannot exist without money, and the money comes from convincing/converting people to support
their particular religion, over the religion down the street.
Whereas the Body of Christ can be two people gathered in His Name, anywhere on the planet without a single penny.
Again, there is no judgment here, just honest reflection of undeniable Truths. Do they matter? Maybe, maybe not. But certainly, men "Seeking the Kingdom of God and "HIS" Righteousness" should not avoid or be afraid to discuss these undeniable truths.
Yes, as Jesus teaches, "Men love their own bias (darkness)" I never said otherwise. But again, what does Jesus say.
John 3:
20 For every one that doeth evil (favors Bias) hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, "lest his deeds" (Biases) should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, "that his deeds" (Biases) may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
You see Mark?
One man, who loves his own bias, refuses to consider much of the "Word of God" which became Flesh, AKA, "the Light",
because he doesn't want his bias exposed. He hides himself from his own flesh. He loves his bias
and defends them, works to preserve them.
This is easy to see in others, not so easy to see in ourselves.
Another man, who also knows he has bias/darkness within him and also the capacity to love his own bias/darkness ( the Truth),
doesn't want ANY bias and therefore "
Comes to the Light"
for the very purpose of exposing it. What happens to darkness once the Light hits it? It is revealed and destroyed and what remains is not bias against God, but "Wrought in God".
What happens to a man whose hidden darkness, bias and wickedness is revealed to him? He is broken, a sorry man, humiliated, contrite. But he can be freed from the bonds of his bias, wickedness, yes? HE is free to be renewed in the Spirit of his mind. He can then "
put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
But the man who avoids the Light, in order to preserve his bias/darkness, as it is written;
Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
This is another popular religious philosophy, a bias, a wickedness that "many" religious men "who come in Christ's Name" preserve and promote.
That God gave men instruction, but not the capacity or the tools to obey Him in them. These men project their own rejection and indifference towards God and His Word onto everyone and create and/or adopt religions which promote the same philosophy.
The statement alone is a bias against God's Word and instruction of the Christ of the Bible. The implication of this religious philosophy is that NO ONE can "
put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."
A Philosophy Paul rejects outright.
Ph. 3:
12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God (Which is) in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
And why would Paul seek the perfection you and "many" who come in Christ's Name, preach is impossible for men to reach?
Matt. 5:48 "
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."
Can you see Mark? With man's religions, with their manmade doctrines, shrines of worship, their own sabbaths, their own high days, their own judgments of Clean, Holy and Good, their own image of God in the likeness of some random handsome man etc., this Commandment from the Jesus of the Bible is not possible to obey. But with God and HIS Word,
which is Spirit it is Possible to be a "Doer" of His Saying, and not a hearer only. As the Gospel of the Christ of the Bible teaches, "Yield ourselves", "Submit ourselves", "Deny ourselves", "Offer ourselves" to God, and it will be well with you.
Not a very good marketing strategy for this world's religious businesses competing for butts to fill the pews of their manmade shrines of worship. So you won't here these truths being taught in them.
Again, this is your religious philosophy, your bias. Where is your Biblical Support for your assertion that Paul didn't understand what he wrote in his letters? You may not understand him. I may not understand him. But there is no Biblical Support for your assertion that Paul didn't understand what he wrote in his letters.
Are men not to "Grow" in the knowledge of God? Didn't the Jesus of the bible also "Grow" in the knowledge of God? Grow into what?
Of course not. What a childish thing to say.
But I do have the Oracles of God, Yes? Therefore, I sit in Moses' seat every time I read him, yes? Shall I not hear him? Will he not persuade me to listen to Jesus?
Luke 16:
31 And he said unto him, If they "hear not" Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
