I don't buy into this contemporary "Christian-Buddhism". I'm not saying that you call it that, because many people who are nominally christian believe in karma, wheels, levels of enlightenment, etc and don't even know that it is Buddhism. Claiming that you can elevate yourself to a spirit being just through enlightenment (even if you choose to stir in a little bit of Jesus into the mix) is pure Buddhism. But I have to admit that your version of works-based sanctification is more interesting than that of the Methodists.
You accuse me of things I never said.
Do you deny that Paul was of greater revelation than other Christians? Do you deny that some Christians have greater revelation than others? Do you deny that some Christians have greater sanctification than other Christians?
I hope not.
Believing those things doesn't make you a Buddhist.... and me neither.
John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
You can only be sanctified in accordance with your revelation of the Word of God.
When you don't know the Word, you lack power to be sanctified by the Holy Spirit through revelation of the Word of God.
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.
The Church of Philadelphia will escape tribulation. The Laodicean Church will not.
I do not hesitate to tell Christians that they will not escape tribulation if they believe they are saved by free will.
Neither will they escape tribulation if they do not see the entire whole counsel... because we are sanctified in Truth by grace through faith alone.
That's not works-based righteousness. That's the truth of scripture that one is sanctified only in accordance with revelation of sound and true doctrine.
Revelation 3:7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; 8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. 9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. 10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. 11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. 12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. 13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
This is the body of Christ coming to full measure and full stature. That is the full measure of faith produced by full revelation (through the eternal whole counsel fully revealed fully revealing the face of Jesus)... and arising full stature in entire sanctification.... through the only means given: sound and true doctrine of the Word by the Spirit.
Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
That is neither Buddhism nor works-based righteousness.
It is sanctification in Truth... the Word of Truth.
What matters is revelation of sound doctrine... as all of scripture testifies. Therefore, when I state that I am releasing the eternal whole counsel in fullness... and that this is the means of escape from tribulation... unto the Church of Philadelphia... which the Laodicean Church will not receiver... it is simply the Word of God I am stating.
So, rather than accuse a follower of Jesus Christ who gives all glory to God and is faithful in the Word of God and prayer of being a Buddhist, perhaps one might speak with greater grace in love in Jesus.
Jesus Christ alone is the Only Way of Salvation... and revelation of the Word of God is the only means of sanctification by grace.
A disciple of Jesus Christ continues in His Word... and those who would become mature come to greater revelation of the eternal whole counsel of scripture. That's neither works nor Buddhism. That's being a disciple of Jesus Christ. We know the truth... and are set free.
The Church of Philadelphia are disciples of Jesus who have continued in the Word to gain the revelation necessary to become sanctified to escape tribulation. The Church of Laodicea is not so. This is the teaching of Jesus Christ.
So, how is being a disciple of Jesus Christ to continue in His Word to know the truth and be set free... sanctified in Truth with His Word being Truth being a Buddhist or works righteousness? It's not.
John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
