Full of Excuses

[Christsfreeservant]

Video Talk

Romans 1:18-25 ESV

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. ​

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“For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.​

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“Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.”​

Are you a person who makes excuses continuously for why you can’t do this or that, when you can do those things, or who makes excuses for why you are still living in sin, still deliberately and habitually sinning against God and others? Do you find that you are continually casting the blame for your sins on anyone other than yourself? “It is God’s fault!” “It’s my wife’s fault!” “This person or that person wasn’t there for me.” “Nobody was there to help me!” And “I didn’t know” (when you did know, so you are without excuse).

So, what does this say in response to all the excuses you have made throughout your life for why you are still living in sin and for why you are not free from your slavery (addiction) to sin? It says you are without excuse, because you did know, for God made himself known to you through his created works, and he showed you his eternal power and his divine nature, and he put within you the knowledge of right from wrong. And many of you have been or are teachers of the word and/or you are pastors of “churches.”

But you suppress the truth that you do know by your ungodliness and your unrighteous behaviors. And you do this willfully, deliberately, habitually, and even premeditatively. And you plot evil on your bed. And you plan out how you are going to sin against others, and how you are going to do what is harmful to them. And you even plan out your cover story in advance or you make up one on the tail end in order to cover your tracks. So these things don’t just happen to you. You knowingly do evil over and again.

So, even though you know right from wrong, and you know about God and his eternal power and divine nature, and some of you know much more about the Lord because you were brought up learning the Scriptures, and some of you even taught or are still teaching the Scriptures, you choose your sins rather than choose God. And you do not honor God for the holy God he is, and you do not give him thanks for his offer of salvation from your slavery to sin, but you choose foolishness and darkness, instead.

And some of you claim to know a lot, and you may even try to teach others all the knowledge that you have gathered, but while you can’t even live the knowledge you claim to know, because you choose to worship the created rather than the creator. And so God has given you over to the lusts of your flesh to do what ought not to be done. And he is letting you do what your evil hearts devise to do, not because he doesn’t care, but because you don’t care, and you are not interested in bowing your knee to him.

So, if this is where you are, just know that the wrath of God is against you, and you will not inherit eternal life with God regardless of what faith in Christ you have professed with your lips. So, bow the knee to the Lord, humble yourself, be sorrowful over your sins with a godly sorrow which leads to genuine repentance. Then turn from your sins and now obey the Lord. And if you have loved ones who are living like this, pray for them, do good to them, love them, and forgive them, and pray they will obey the Lord.

The Truth many are ignoring and rejecting is this:

[Matt 7:21-23; Matt 24:9-14; Lu 9:23-26; Rom 1:18-32; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14,24; Rom 12:1-2; Rom 13:11; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; 1 Co 1:18; 1 Co 15:1-2; 2 Tim 1:8-9; Heb 9:28; 1 Pet 1:5; Gal 5:16-21; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:5-17; 1 Pet 2:24; Tit 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-9; 1 Jn 2:3-6,24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10; Heb 3:6,14-15; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15]

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Oh, to Be Like Thee, Blessed Redeemer

Lyrics by Thomas O. Chisholm, 1897
Music by W. J. Kirkpatrick, 1897

Oh, to be like Thee! blessèd Redeemer,
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

Oh, to be like Thee! full of compassion,
Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,
Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,
Seeking the wandering sinner to find.

O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit,
Holy and harmless, patient and brave;
Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,
Willing to suffer others to save.

O to be like Thee! while I am pleading,
Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love;
Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,
Fit me for life and Heaven above.

Oh, to be like Thee! Oh, to be like Thee,
Blessèd Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

Caution: This link may contain ads

 

[Lost Witness]

So the wrath of God is against people who are early in their walk?
Tend to stumble a lot and recently i had thoughts come into my head telling me I was "sacrificial chaff "
Don't believe it but of course seeing this devotional makes me wonder

 

[Christsfreeservant]

So the wrath of God is against people who are early in their walk?
Tend to stumble a lot and recently i had thoughts come into my head telling me I was "sacrificial chaff "

It doesn't say the wrath of God is against people who are early in their walk. It says the wrath of God is against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. They are those who do not honor God as Lord, and whose hearts are darkened, and who are worshipers of the created rather than the Creator. They are not those who have died with Christ to sin and who have forsaken their sinful practices to follow Jesus in obedience to his ways. But they are those who are deliberately and habitually sinning against the Lord and who are not walking in obedience to his commands, in practice. So, "early in your walk" should not mean still living in deliberate and habitual sin with darkened hearts that do no honor God as Lord. "Early in your walk" should still mean dying with Christ to sin and living for him in obedience to him, in practice, and then growing in him, and maturing in him in your walk of surrender to his will.

 

[Lost Witness]

It doesn't say the wrath of God is against people who are early in their walk. It says the wrath of God is against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. They are those who do not honor God as Lord, and whose hearts are darkened, and who are worshipers of the created rather than the Creator. They are not those who have died with Christ to sin and who have forsaken their sinful practices to follow Jesus in obedience to his ways. But they are those who are deliberately and habitually sinning against the Lord and who are not walking in obedience to his commands, in practice. So, "early in your walk" should not mean still living in deliberate and habitual sin with darkened hearts that do no honor God as Lord. "Early in your walk" should still mean dying with Christ to sin and living for him in obedience to him, in practice, and then growing in him, and maturing in him in your walk of surrender to his will.

Welp in trouble then. Thank you for the time and reply.


May The LORD Bless You and Keep You

 

[shaul]

We are all sinners saved by grace. However, we do not hear nearly enough messages on the wages of sin and how to move away from worldly desires and move towards Holiness.

Our world today accepts, promotes, and encourages some of the most egregious sins and direct attacks against God's plan and design for this world. That the world accepts this is not alarming in and of itself, but the Church going along with and accepting it certainly is.

Most churches today are too busy trying to increase membership rolls and finances to focus on the true salvation and growth of believers and mankind. I am not avocating beating people over the head. Yes we all need to encouraged. inspired, and forgiven, but sometimes children need a belt and a not a delicious treat when they are not living up to rules and edicts and willfully acting in acts of disobedience.

They need to understand that the lit stove will burn them if they get too close and that wall socket contains enough volts to do them a lot of harm.

 

[Christsfreeservant]

We are all sinners saved by grace. However, we do not hear nearly enough messages on the wages of sin and how to move away from worldly desires and move towards Holiness.

Our world today accepts, promotes, and encourages some of the most egregious sins and direct attacks against God's plan and design for this world. That the world accepts this is not alarming in and of itself, but the Church going along with and accepting it certainly is.

Most churches today are too busy trying to increase membership rolls and finances to focus on the true salvation and growth of believers and mankind. I am not avocating beating people over the head. Yes we all need to encouraged. inspired, and forgiven, but sometimes children need a belt and a not a delicious treat when they are not living up to rules and edicts and willfully acting in acts of disobedience.

They need to understand that the lit stove will burn them if they get too close and that wall socket contains enough volts to do them a lot of harm.

If we are truly saved by grace, and we have died with Christ to sin, we are now saints, not sinners. "Sinners" is a term identifying those who are actively and habitually and deliberately engaged in sinful acts. This does not mean we will never sin again (1 John 2:1-2), but we who believe in Jesus with God-given faith are no longer those who are living in sin, but now we are living in righteousness and holiness in walks of obedience to our Lord (Romans 6:1-23; Luke 9:23-26; Matthew 7:21-23; Romans 8:1-14, etc.). And all throughout the New Testament writings, especially from Romans to Revelation, the saints of God are warned against falling back into sin and they are instructed in forsaking their sinful practices and they are warned that if they do not that they will not inherit eternal life with God. And this is the message we should be giving out because so many professing Christians are convinced that heaven is their eternal destiny regardless of how they live on this earth.

 

[shaul]

The Apostle Paul in his first letter to Timotheus stated:

1Tim. 1:15 This [is] a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

Πιστὸς ὁ λόγος καὶ πάσης ἀποδοχῆς ἄξιος, ὅτι χριστὸς Ἰησοῦς ἦλθεν εἰς τὸν κόσμον ἁμαρτωλοὺς σῶσαι, ὧν πρῶτός εἰμι ἐγώ:

Literal translation Steadfast [is] the word and a fitting acceptance of all that Christ Jesus came into the world to save from sin whom I am first(primary).

The word I am is εἰμί which is 1st person active indicative, which means it is in a present and in motion state. If it were a past event and settled it would have been in the 1st person aorist (ήμεν, ήστην)t tense, but it is not.

Salvation and Justification means we are reconciled to God through the propitiation offered through Christ's shed blood, but that does not imply we are perfected. It means we have a covering for our sins, just as the Old Testament sacrifices was the way to atone for sin. The difference between the sacrifice of bulls, goats, and sheep is that these sacrifices were not permanent and efficacious. Christ's sacrifice is not repeated, there is no need. It is not temporary, it is permanent in its power to cover our sins. Christ's one offering was sufficient to satisfy the penalty for sin and for atonement, once and for all. But that does not mean we abandon our innate nature and proclivities that are part of our fallen state.

Again quoting the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Church at Rome:

Romans 7:24-25
O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, with the mind (νοΐ), I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh, the law of sin (σαρκὶ νόμῳ ἁμαρτίας).

 

[Christsfreeservant]

The Apostle Paul in his first letter to Timotheus stated:

1Tim. 1:15 This [is] a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

Πιστὸς ὁ λόγος καὶ πάσης ἀποδοχῆς ἄξιος, ὅτι χριστὸς Ἰησοῦς ἦλθεν εἰς τὸν κόσμον ἁμαρτωλοὺς σῶσαι, ὧν πρῶτός εἰμι ἐγώ:

Literal translation Steadfast [is] the word and a fitting acceptance of all that Christ Jesus came into the world to save from sin whom I am first(primary).

The word I am is εἰμί which is 1st person active indicative, which means it is in a present and in motion state. If it were a past event and settled it would have been in the 1st person aorist (ήμεν, ήστην)t tense, but it is not.

Salvation and Justification means we are reconciled to God through the propitiation offered through Christ's shed blood, but that does not imply we are perfected. It means we have a covering for our sins, just as the Old Testament sacrifices was the way to atone for sin. The difference between the sacrifice of bulls, goats, and sheep is that these sacrifices were not permanent and efficacious. Christ's sacrifice is not repeated, there is no need. It is not temporary, it is permanent in its power to cover our sins. Christ's one offering was sufficient to satisfy the penalty for sin and for atonement, once and for all. But that does not mean we abandon our innate nature and proclivities that are part of our fallen state.

Again quoting the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Church at Rome:

Romans 7:24-25
O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, with the mind (νοΐ), I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh, the law of sin (σαρκὶ νόμῳ ἁμαρτίας).

I don't have time to respond to this fully now, but if Paul meant that he was presently the chief of sinners that would be to contradict everything else he wrote about sinning, and he would have been the worst of all hypocrites, too. For he taught that if we are actively engaged in deliberate and habitual sin, we will not inherit eternal life with God. For him to presently be the chief of sinners would be to say that he was presently the worst of all sinners, that he was sinning the most and the worst of anyone else on the earth. When we interpret Scriptures we have to look at them in their context and then compare them to other Scriptures. That would absolutely be contrary to the rest of what he taught and again he would have been the worst hypocrite of all. I believe he was talking about his life before Jesus saved him from his sins, but he considered that his sins had been so bad that he was, in that light, the worst of them all. And then you have to understand what it means to be saved from our sins, for it isn't just being forgiven our sins but it is being delivered out of our slavery to sin, and the Lord absolutely did deliver him out of that life of sin to where he could tell people to emulate him and to walk as he walked.

 

[shaul]

Sue, you seem to confuse our dualistic nature believing that once we accept Christ we are in a state of absolute perfection. That may not be what you mean, but seems to be what you are implying when saying that Christians do not and will not sin after conversion. I totally agree that we do not live in sin or practice sinful activities, but that does not mean we can expect that our old nature will not rear its ugly head once we are reconciled to God through Christ.

What I wrote is precisely what Paul stated in 1 Tim. and in Romans in the original Greek from the Majority Text. When Paul states that he was still struggling and fighting against his flesh, he was saying that it requires a conscience effort to crucify his flesh (sinful nature) daily. That does not imply a finished work, but a daily work. Paul acknowledges he was not perfect, that the sin nature stilled dwelled within. Paul's salvation was totally dependent upon Christ, but his daily surrender required him (and all other Christians) to renew their minds. In fact that is PRECISELY what he wrote in Romans 12

Romans 12: And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing (μεταμορφουσθε) of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

μεταμορφουσθε is in the 2 person past-perfect tense of μορφή which means to change one's form (where we get the English word morph). The past perfect tense implies it is an action that has been done but is also continuing to be done.

If we are perfected once we accept Christ by faith and no longer war against our own flesh, there would be no need to renew our minds. There would be no need to crucify our flesh daily.

To teach that Christians no longer commit sins means that we have become perfect and arrived at the state of absolute perfection. This is no where taught in Scripture. We are all still subject to the sin nature which came as a result of the original sin and the fall of man. We will remain so until this corruption puts on incorruption. We do not live in sin, but we have to acknowledge that we still fall short and at times we may fall into the commission of certain sins. Every single Biblical patriarch and even the most devoted of disciples fell short, practiced acknowledgement of this fact, and engaged in repentance,putting that sin behind them.

Even Jesus' Lord Prayer carries this implication:

Matthew 6:9-13

“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread,[c]
12 and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

 

[Christsfreeservant]

Sue, you seem to confuse our dualistic nature believing that once we accept Christ we are in a state of absolute perfection. That may not be what you mean, but seems to be what you are implying when saying that Christians do not and will not sin after conversion. I totally agree that we do not live in sin or practice sinful activities, but that does not mean we can expect that our old nature will not rear its ugly head once we are reconciled to God through Christ.

What I wrote is precisely what Paul stated in 1 Tim. and in Romans in the original Greek from the Majority Text. When Paul states that he was still struggling and fighting against his flesh, he was saying that it requires a conscience effort to crucify his flesh (sinful nature) daily. That does not imply a finished work, but a daily work. Paul acknowledges he was not perfect, that the sin nature stilled dwelled within. Paul's salvation was totally dependent upon Christ, but his daily surrender required him (and all other Christians) to renew their minds. In fact that is PRECISELY what he wrote in Romans 12

Romans 12: And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing (μεταμορφουσθε) of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

μεταμορφουσθε is in the 2 person past-perfect tense of μορφή which means to change one's form (where we get the English word morph). The past perfect tense implies it is an action that has been done but is also continuing to be done.

If we are perfected once we accept Christ by faith and no longer war against our own flesh, there would be no need to renew our minds. There would be no need to crucify our flesh daily.

To teach that Christians no longer commit sins means that we have become perfect and arrived at the state of absolute perfection. This is no where taught in Scripture. We are all still subject to the sin nature which came as a result of the original sin and the fall of man. We will remain so until this corruption puts on incorruption. We do not live in sin, but we have to acknowledge that we still fall short and at times we may fall into the commission of certain sins. Every single Biblical patriarch and even the most devoted of disciples fell short, practiced acknowledgement of this fact, and engaged in repentance,putting that sin behind them.

Even Jesus' Lord Prayer carries this implication:

Matthew 6:9-13

“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread,[c]
12 and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

You misquote me. I did not say we never sin again but that we should not walk in sin.

 

[Christsfreeservant]

Sue, you seem to confuse our dualistic nature believing that once we accept Christ we are in a state of absolute perfection. That may not be what you mean, but seems to be what you are implying when saying that Christians do not and will not sin after conversion. I totally agree that we do not live in sin or practice sinful activities, but that does not mean we can expect that our old nature will not rear its ugly head once we are reconciled to God through Christ.

What I wrote is precisely what Paul stated in 1 Tim. and in Romans in the original Greek from the Majority Text. When Paul states that he was still struggling and fighting against his flesh, he was saying that it requires a conscience effort to crucify his flesh (sinful nature) daily. That does not imply a finished work, but a daily work. Paul acknowledges he was not perfect, that the sin nature stilled dwelled within. Paul's salvation was totally dependent upon Christ, but his daily surrender required him (and all other Christians) to renew their minds. In fact that is PRECISELY what he wrote in Romans 12

Romans 12: And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing (μεταμορφουσθε) of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

μεταμορφουσθε is in the 2 person past-perfect tense of μορφή which means to change one's form (where we get the English word morph). The past perfect tense implies it is an action that has been done but is also continuing to be done.

If we are perfected once we accept Christ by faith and no longer war against our own flesh, there would be no need to renew our minds. There would be no need to crucify our flesh daily.

To teach that Christians no longer commit sins means that we have become perfect and arrived at the state of absolute perfection. This is no where taught in Scripture. We are all still subject to the sin nature which came as a result of the original sin and the fall of man. We will remain so until this corruption puts on incorruption. We do not live in sin, but we have to acknowledge that we still fall short and at times we may fall into the commission of certain sins. Every single Biblical patriarch and even the most devoted of disciples fell short, practiced acknowledgement of this fact, and engaged in repentance,putting that sin behind them.

Even Jesus' Lord Prayer carries this implication:

Matthew 6:9-13

“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread,[c]
12 and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

I found a devotion I wrote on this subject in 2020 and so I reposted it today and so I will share it with you today in response to what you wrote here: Was Paul a Hypocrite? II

 

[littleangelone]

great perspectives today

 

[Christsfreeservant]

great perspectives today

Glory to God! Thank you, Angel. I appreciate you!

 

[shaul]

Sue, I actually thought I got your intent, but I wanted to make sure for all readers the meaning of what Paul wrote and where we are when we are Born Again. So in reality what I said applies. Salvation is imputed to us through faith in the finished work of Christ, but we are a long way from perfection. I didn't think you were a Pelagianst or an Antinomian, but wanted to make sure others reading did not fall into either heresy.

 

[Christsfreeservant]

Sue, I actually thought I got your intent, but I wanted to make sure for all readers the meaning of what Paul wrote and where we are when we are Born Again. So in reality what I said applies. Salvation is imputed to us through faith in the finished work of Christ, but we are a long way from perfection. I didn't think you were a Pelagianst or an Antinomian, but wanted to make sure others reading did not fall into either heresy.

Shaul, if the readers want to know the truth of the Scriptures they should read them for themselves in context, for many Scriptures are pulled out of context and are made to say what they don't say. So, I encourage all who read this to study the Scriptures in context, prayerfully, seeking God's face for truth, and to not rely upon other humans as your source of truth. I would also recommend the following Scriptures to be read which I believe give an accurate picture of what our salvation should look like, but read them in context:

[Matt 7:21-23; Matt 24:9-14; Lu 9:23-26; Rom 1:18-32; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14,24; Rom 12:1-2; Rom 13:11; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; 1 Co 1:18; 1 Co 15:1-2; 2 Tim 1:8-9; Heb 9:28; 1 Pet 1:5; Gal 5:16-21; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:5-17; 1 Pet 2:24; Tit 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-9; 1 Jn 2:3-6,24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10; Heb 3:6,14-15; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15]

 

[shaul]

I don't disagree, but based upon some question I have noted, not sure how mature in Christ many may be.

Would help if all knew the original languages that the Scriptures were written in and knew the "sitz im laben" when they were written. However. I have met precious few with that ability unless they have graduated from a Seminary.

 

[Christsfreeservant]

I don't disagree, but based upon some question I have noted, not sure how mature in Christ many may be.

Would help if all knew the original languages that the Scriptures were written in and knew the "sitz im laben" when they were written. However. I have met precious few with that ability unless they have graduated from a Seminary.

If we are truly in Christ, by God-given faith in Jesus Christ, we have the Holy Spirit within us guiding us into all truth. And we have the written Scriptures. Christians just need to read the Scriptures under the direction and guidance of the Holy Spirit, and in context, and the Lord will lead us to the truth. Not one of us should ever depend on another human to tell us the truth of God's Word, for there are too many liars and deceivers out there.

 

[shaul]

Please don't take this the wrong way. I am in no way attempting to question you sincerity, faith, or spiritual walk. However, I feel must make sure you are not implying that individuals can form their own priesthood or that they are or should be individual purveyors of truth who do not need others to lead, instruct, or teach them.

If that were true why should be implored to study the Scriptures?

Paulus to Timotheus:

2 Tim 2:15
Amp Bible: Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the word of truth.

Original Text:

2 Tim 2;!5: σπουδασον4704 5657 σεαυτον4572 δοκιμον1384 παραστησαι3936 5658 τω 3588 θεω 2316 εργατην2040 ανεπαισχυντον422 ορθοτομουντα3718 5723 τον 3588 λογον3056 της 3588 αληθειας225

if it is sufficient only to read Scripture and the Holy Spirit will reveal what they mean, why do we need teachers? why do we need preachers? Why do we need men and women of great faith to learn from and to gain knowledge from their experience?

Paulus to the Church at Ephesinos

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13till 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: 14that 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; 15but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16from 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.

With these texts in mind, I will ask you this question: If these offices are not needed, and every person can pray and read the Scriptures and you are rewarded with the answers, why would these be needed?

Should Apostles not be students of the Word? Should they not know the languages that the Scriptures were written in? Should they not know the history of the stories and narratives extant at the time they were written and communicated? How can we know certain prophesies were fulfilled if we did not know the history in which they were predicted and fulfilled? How can we understand the diasporas of Israel and Judea if we know nothing about the nations and the kingdoms that carried them into captivity? How can we know what they actually experienced, feared, and come to understand of how they must have felt?

Why is knowing the original languages used to pen the Scriptures are important? Because as the old saying says, something always gets lost in the translation.

For instance three primary words in the Tanakh (Old Testament) for God are Elohim אֱלֹהִים, YHWH ־הוָה, and Adon or Adonai אָדוֹן. Why are these three words used? What are the differences between them? We only have one word in English for God, God. So why does Hebrew contain 3 that are used?

Even the Prophets such as Elijah and Elisha actually attended a School of the Prophets. Another prophet actually started this school. We learn very little about this school in the Biblical Text but we do learn about them in Jewish history as well as commentaries. Could it help explain how they came to know each other? Might it help us to understand some of the things they would be taught about the ministry and office of the Prophet?

God bless you always!

 

[Christsfreeservant]

Please don't take this the wrong way. I am in no way attempting to question you sincerity, faith, or spiritual walk. However, I feel must make sure you are not implying that individuals can form their own priesthood or that they are or should be individual purveyors of truth who do not need others to lead, instruct, or teach them.

If that were true why should be implored to study the Scriptures?

Paulus to Timotheus:

2 Tim 2:15
Amp Bible: Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the word of truth.

Original Text:

2 Tim 2;!5: σπουδασον4704 5657 σεαυτον4572 δοκιμον1384 παραστησαι3936 5658 τω 3588 θεω 2316 εργατην2040 ανεπαισχυντον422 ορθοτομουντα3718 5723 τον 3588 λογον3056 της 3588 αληθειας225

if it is sufficient only to read Scripture and the Holy Spirit will reveal what they mean, why do we need teachers? why do we need preachers? Why do we need men and women of great faith to learn from and to gain knowledge from their experience?

Paulus to the Church at Ephesinos

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13till 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: 14that 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; 15but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16from 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.

With these texts in mind, I will ask you this question: If these offices are not needed, and every person can pray and read the Scriptures and you are rewarded with the answers, why would these be needed?

Should Apostles not be students of the Word? Should they not know the languages that the Scriptures were written in? Should they not know the history of the stories and narratives extant at the time they were written and communicated? How can we know certain prophesies were fulfilled if we did not know the history in which they were predicted and fulfilled? How can we understand the diasporas of Israel and Judea if we know nothing about the nations and the kingdoms that carried them into captivity? How can we know what they actually experienced, feared, and come to understand of how they must have felt?

Why is knowing the original languages used to pen the Scriptures are important? Because as the old saying says, something always gets lost in the translation.

For instance three primary words in the Tanakh (Old Testament) for God are Elohim אֱלֹהִים, YHWH ־הוָה, and Adon or Adonai אָדוֹן. Why are these three words used? What are the differences between them? We only have one word in English for God, God. So why does Hebrew contain 3 that are used?

Even the Prophets such as Elijah and Elisha actually attended a School of the Prophets. Another prophet actually started this school. We learn very little about this school in the Biblical Text but we do learn about them in Jewish history as well as commentaries. Could it help explain how they came to know each other? Might it help us to understand some of the things they would be taught about the ministry and office of the Prophet?

God bless you always!

Every day I am on the internet sharing the truth of the Scriptures with others. Why would I be doing that if I did not believe that we should be sharing the Scriptures with others? But Paul commended the Bereans for testing what they heard him teach. My point is that we should not place our dependency in other humans to tell us the truth but we should be students of the Scriptures ourselves. Too many people are being deceived because they are letting other humans be their Bible for them and they are not studying the Scriptures themselves.

 

[Der Alte]

I don't disagree, but based upon some question I have noted, not sure how mature in Christ many may be.
Would help if all knew the original languages that the Scriptures were written in and knew the "sitz im laben" when they were written. However. I have met precious few with that ability unless they have graduated from a Seminary.

If that were only true. I graduated from the flag ship seminary of my denomination in the early '80s one of my classmates on graduation day said something to the effect, "I didn't learn anything. My church requires a seminary diploma so I got a piece of paper."