Since the days of Christ and before there have been those who do not use scripture in it's correct context, as well as use verses of scripture to make a point that was never the original intention of the speaker/author of that chapter of the Word.
amen, but that does not mean you are right and everyone who disagrees with you on something is wrong or not understanding scripture, which was the point I was making. To accuse another of not understanding, is to remove from the picture this passage Isaiah 1:18 Come, let us discuss this," says the LORD." Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will be like wool...see, we can accuse each other all day long, but in the end of the matter, God alone is the judge. Just because someone disagrees with you or you think they disagree, does not automatically mean that they are the ones who lack understanding and in fact, to make that accusation means you have sinned the sin of judgment and need to be forgiven so that you can be in fellowship with God.
Anyone can recite scripture or seek and find using verses here and there to create any type of teaching. Scripture was written at a specific time (like during the OT and Moses lifetime when the Law was the covenant) or during Jesus life or after Jesus resurrection. That is part of context, what I am saying is not that you do not know scripture or that you are not saved, what I am saying is that what you share is 'another gospel' other than the gospel that Jesus preached as well as the apostles after Him. Because you are basing the indwelling of the Holy Spirit based on two criteria that were NEVER criteria of the gospel; obedience and to love the Lord spiritually.
Now, we will get into your misrepresentation of what I said in a moment, as clearly as I wrote it, it boggles my mind how you could have innocently misunderstood, but first let's talk about rightly dividing the word.
Scripture tells us to study so that we can rightly divide the word. He tells us that the HS is our teacher and will teach us all things. He also tells us that everything He says is not only 100% right 100% of the time, but consistent with scripture. So anytime I study and I am currently called by God to the ministry of study and teaching (long story), a ministry of study that averages 8-10 hours a day, 6-7 days a week, for about 8 years now, I apply the following technique so as not to be guilty of leading anyone astray...(do you need that passage about the responsibility of the teacher?)
1. I spend time praying, asking God to show me, to conform me to His word. I ask Him to remove all reconceived notions I have and in that asking, I yield myself completely to His teaching.
2. I use word study. Any good student of the word of God knows that translations can cause problems. The ancient Hebrew and Greek are difficult at best for most people. Therefore a good word study is important to understanding the intended meaning of the passage.
3. Once word study is complete, I look at the context of the passage. It is important to know the context. Now many people try to use context to dismiss things clearly stated, which is why it is important to also look at the context in scripture, aka cross references.
4. Next I look for cross references. Now cross references are vital to our understanding the context of the passage as per consistency. IOWs if you can't find the same thing throughout scripture, both old and new testaments for most things, you cannot make your case no matter how wise it might sound.
5. I then test the understanding as scripture tells us to do (will provide that passage as well if you need me to). This testing then makes sure that the teaching is 100% right 100% of the time.
So you see, where scripture tells us to make sure we are rightly dividing the word, I am making sure that I have 5 different avenues of assurance that I am not putting my own twist on it but am instead relying solely on God and His revelation. Unfortunately for you, that makes your job all the more difficult because you also would have to use all these methods of assurance in order to prove me wrong in my interpretation.
Now let's talk about what I really did say about the HS and not your misrepresentation of what I said. Your accusation of what I said is...."Because you are basing the indwelling of the Holy Spirit based on two criteria that were NEVER criteria of the gospel; obedience and to love the Lord spiritually." What I really did say is that the HS is given to all believers upon salvation and is evidenced through their obedience to God and the fruit of the Spirit as seen in Gal. Now, nothing in that suggests works righteousness, nor obedience and Love to become spirit filled or anything else you want to try to twist it into. It is very simple really, according to careful study of the word of God, the HS is given upon belief unto salvation and is evidenced through the fruit of the spirit and the obedience that every believer is to live in. Now, where Love comes into this whole thing is as I previously stated, if you want to try to argue that the believer doesn't have to Love God, I will show you passages that says that Love is the very mark of the believer, aka another evidence of the indwelling HS.
Yes I will speak out when the gospel is not being correctly preached, whether in writing or by a person.
Instead of ranting against me, you might give your Lord some glory and find out what you are doing wrong so you no longer spread these teachings. I have included what is the gospel below for you taken from a site that explains it perfectly.
you have failed to show you to be right and me wrong using the 5 study methods above. In fact, all you have shown so far is that you either don't understand what is being said, or you are willfully sinning against me with false accusation. I welcome challenge, in fact, it is part of 5 above and so my understanding is not complete without it, but offering nothing but your opinion and accusations does nothing to show us your rightly dividing the word, what it does is show your sinful nature. (yes, a nature we all have, a nature that the HS wants to change in us, as in the new man)
Question: "What is the true gospel?"
Answer: The true gospel is the good news that God saves sinners. Man is by nature sinful and separated from God with no hope of remedying that situation. But God, by His power, provided the means of man’s redemption in the death, burial and resurrection of the Savior, Jesus Christ.
I am not saying anything different....so again, either you are just not hearing what is being said, or you are willfully trying to argue.
The word “gospel” literally means “good news.” But to truly comprehend how good this news is, we must first understand the bad news. As a result of the fall of man in the Garden of Eden (
Genesis 3:6), every part of man—his mind, will, emotions and flesh—have been corrupted by sin. Because of man’s sinful nature, he does not and cannot seek God. He has no desire to come to God and, in fact, his mind is hostile toward God (
Romans 8:7). God has declared that man’s sin dooms him to an eternity in
hell, separated from God. It is in hell that man pays the penalty of sin against a holy and righteous God. This would be bad news indeed if there were no remedy.
But in the gospel, God, in His mercy, has provided that remedy, a substitute for us—Jesus Christ—who came to pay the penalty for our sin by His sacrifice on the cross. This is the essence of the gospel which Paul preached to the Corinthians. In
1 Corinthians 15:2-4, he explains the three elements of the gospel—the death, burial and resurrection of Christ on our behalf.
a bit of an odd wording, but amen....now, back to the discussion at hand....
