That's part of my observation of scripture Terry. IF Jesus said it is IMPOSSIBLE that offences NOT come...then HE is RIGHT...and we certainly SEE the results of the offences. So is that MY truth?
NO.
And I feel perfectly comfortable coming to a truthful answer on that BECAUSE of Word advisement that it IS impossible that offences would NOT come, which His "disciples should" learn from...
Please don't fault me for reading.
Nor would the EOC and the RCC...bingo bango bongo...It's just a fact Terry. DIVISIONS are A GUARANTEE, and for which I am THANKFUL because it is FORETOLD...That in itself is a validation of GOD's reality into our present world in REAL time...You may or may not agree but we certainly can't dispute the reality of that WORKING of TRUTH.
That is where we begin to reflect again, our mutual conditions...
Another "guarantee" that you will perhaps never grasp is that eventually we will all reflect DIFFERENTLY down to the LAST MAN...and again, WHY there is DIVISION.
But you see THEY TOO had continual disputes amongst themselves. It's not like it's a NEW thing. Their wranglings are open and for all to see. Paul divided with the legalists. Barnabus abandoned Paul. Peter stood condemned at Antioch...etc etc. So if you DO NOT see that, what do you want me to say...it simply COMES with the territory...
Then they should start with the fact observed above and HONOR THAT FACT. To pretend that they have A LOCK on these things is somewhat ridiculous when they can't even see what's in front of their noses. They should WELCOME what is stated by Jesus as IMPOSSIBLE...and hold UP that FACT...as it's simply A FACT that is GUARANTEED in scripture...
It's certainly a TRUTH that Jesus' Word brings DIVISION. He promised that in MANY ways. Why would any of us fear that fact of TRUTH via "the Spirit?"
Well again...we will certainly divide over that observation as well. There are more fundamental teachings on the "reasons" for DIVISIONs that are LARGELY NEGLECTED by ALL churches...but of course to GO THERE will EMPTY the pews because of the FACT of DIVISION.
So instead, the churches have largely relegated to scare tactics and various forms of "authority" for which the RCC is Queen. The divisions however were transpiring rather rapidly LONG before the RCC came along...like at the Tower of Babel as previously noted. And it is quite foolish to expect otherwise and for "reasons" that are disclosed by Jesus OUR Lord...but as stated, those reasons are NOT going to be heard in the PEWS.
Terry, Peter was like any of us. He had sin indwelling his flesh which same is OF THE DEVIL...and that is a well known fact that you will NEVER hear in the RCC...NOR will you be able to accept that fact, NOR will they be able to TELL you that.
But that IS the reason that God keeps us ALL divided, and for THAT WORKING OF GOD, I am thankful. There should be no COALESENCE apart from the TRUTH of that disclosure...cause when there IS...we'd all understand who are real enemies are...and we'd stop condemning our fellow man to be burned alive.....to keep our "systems" intact.
The day that the churches get together UNDER THAT COMMON DOCTRINE would be ONE SORRY DAY for humanity. So I am as stated, GLAD for the fact of DIVISIONs. They are A PROMISE and A WORKING of God Himself.
enjoy!
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