Our
number one desire for these Bible lessons are for them to be understandable,
defendable, and for the Holy Spirit to bear witness that the conclusions are
the true and correct interpretation of the Holy Scriptures.
Guidelines
for our Bible studies on this website:
1. We treat the living words of the
living God as spoken by the Lord Jesus and given to the Apostle Paul for the
Body of Christ the same importance, as
the words of the Lord Jesus recorded in red
letters in the books of Matthew – Acts Chp. 8, as what should be known as the
instructions to the nation Israel.
2. We will not be wresting the scriptures
against each other, we will look at the verses in their context, and will not
try to make the scriptures say anything, but what they say.
3. We will be using the verses out of the
Authorized Version, commonly known as the KJV. It is fine if you want to look
the verses up in other translations if you like, but we will consider the
Authorized Version as our final written authority.
4. We do not and will not use the Greek,
Hebrew, Aramaic, or Latin languages to prove any points, or give any indication
that the Authorized Version has been incorrectly translated.
I
hope these studies are interesting enough to provoke you to study your Bible
and for you to grow in the grace and knowledge of our savior, the Lord Jesus
Christ.
1Cor.14 [33] For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in
all churches of the saints
One
of the things that has always amazed and puzzled me the most about Christians,
is how confused they are in their different doctrines and beliefs.
In
this lesson we are going to look at some of the confusion in the body of Christ
and how our Apostle Paul would have us deal with it.
Be
sure of this, confusion is not what God wants for the body of believers in this
dispensation.
I
am writing this lesson during a stay in the state of Ohio. As I always do,
especially when I travel, I like to attend different Christian assemblies to
keep up with what is happening outside of the group of Christians I normally
fellowship with.
I
believe this helps me to present different Christian doctrines/beliefs in an
honest format and discern whether these doctrines/beliefs are sound
doctrine.
During
my time spent in Ohio I have come to learn some of the ways/beliefs of the
Amish, as well as attending the other extreme such as fellowships where Rock
& Rollers would be right at home.
In
case you don’t know this, Ohio has the largest Amish population in the United
States.
This
presented me with the opportunity to compare a few of the extremes in
Christian doctrines, for example what a Christian can wear such as clothes and
jewelry to what type of musical instruments can be used in Churches during
worship services.
Now
let’s define confusion, it is the lack of
understanding; uncertainty, the state
of being bewildered or unclear in one's mind about something and no we
don’t need know what the Greek or Hebrew says to understand what confusion is.
In fact I like to let the scriptures speak for themselves.
Acts.19 [29] And the whole city was filled with confusion: … [32] Some
therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was
confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.
We
see in Acts Chp. 19 a clear example of confusion, and how confusion works, the
whole city was filled with confusion, confusion affects everyone that does not
have the same understanding. What was the cause of this confusion, in verse 32 we read, one cried one thing, and some cried another, they simply could not get
together and speak the same story, thus confusion. It’s that simple!
2Cor.11 [3] But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled
Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity
that is in Christ.
Now
let’s look at how Satan beguiled Eve the word beguiled means to take away from by cheating or deceiving, the word subtle means delicate, elusive, difficult to understand,
or perceive: obscure.
I
believe that Satan used confusion to beguile Eve.
Gen.3 [1] … And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye
shall not eat of every tree of the garden? [2] And the woman said unto the
serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: [3] But of
the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye
shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. [4]
And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
Now
when we look at Satan’s conversation with Eve, I believe just the way he states
what God said confused Eve, first he starts out “Yea, hath God said” in a fashion that causes doubt, and instead of just quoting
what God said “Gen.2 [16] …Of every tree
of the garden thou mayest freely eat: [17] But of the tree of the knowledge of
good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest
thereof thou shalt surely die., Satan creates the first paraphrase
of God’s Holy word, and states it in a negative way and makes it sound like she
cannot eat from any of them “Ye shall not eat of every
tree of the garden”. Then I believe in the confusion, she misquotes God
and adds the words “neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die”. Then Satan tells her “Ye shall not surely
die:” and unfortunately people have
been dying ever since this incident!
2Cor.2 [11] Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are
not ignorant of his devices.”
Paul
states concerning Satan “for we are not ignorant of his devices”, his
devices are the same from the beginning of the Bible, creating confusion
through lies and deceit, to the end of the Bible!
Paul
used the word ignorant 12 times out of the 16 times it appears in the new
testament, of those 12 times, he states 6 times “I would not have you to be
ignorant”, Paul wanted the body of Christ to be to informed, not lacking
knowledge, not lacking information, nor lacking awareness about what’s going
on!
Now
let’s look at a few of Amish doctrines:
Attire
for Church; Amish men wear a plain white shirt with a black coat and vest
overtop, the suit coat has no buttons or collars. The men and boys also wear
either straw hats, for the summertime, or black felt hats, for the wintertime.
Amish
married women wear a black cape and apron to church, with a plain colored dress
underneath, and a single woman wears a white cape and apron to church, again,
with a plain colored dress underneath.
I
cannot find these requirements listed in the Pauline epistles. As far as the importance
of wearing the color black what I found is the word black only appears in the
New Testament books three times and not one time in the Pauline epistles where
Christians living today should be getting their instructions for daily
Christian guidance on how to live. Also none of the times the word black is
used, is it used in reference to hats, or any type of clothing that is to be
worn by Christians.
Separation
from the world; this is of great importance to the Amish so they believe they have
to get around by horse and buggy, no gas powered cars, and no electricity that
would tie them to the outside world.
I
could find nothing in the instructions to Christians in the Pauline epistles
that would prohibit the use of automobiles, tractors to plow with, electricity
to heat homes or run pump motors for water, etc. what we do find in Paul’s
instructions to us concerning separation from the world, deals with people who
claim to know Christ and are not living like a Christian, but nothing prohibiting the
use cars and electricity. Paul stated you would literally have leave this world to escape all the sinners.
1Cor.5 [9] I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with
fornicators: [10] Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or
with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. [11] But now I have
written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a
fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an
extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
Musical
instruments; Amish do not use or allow the use of musical instruments in their Church services.
I can find no prohibition on musical instruments being used in Church services in the
Pauline epistles where Christians should be getting their doctrine.
Evangelization;
Amish, feel no obligation to evangelize, preferring to let their faith show by
the way they live. In fact, the Amish rarely accept converts.
Most Christians I
know believe that we should evangelize and reach out to the unsaved with the good
news that Jesus died for our sins, was buried and raised again the third day.
I
personally reject the teaching that all we need to do to win people to Jesus is
live a godly lifestyle, albeit that is an important part of living as a
Christian.
Paul
said that we are to preach the word and clearly spelled out how to preach, what
to preach, when to preach, and why we preach:
1Cor.1
[17] For Christ sent me not
to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made
of none effect.
[18] For the preaching of
the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are
saved it is the power of God.
[21] For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew
not God, it pleased God by the foolishness
of preaching to save them that believe.
[23] But we preach
Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks
foolishness;
1Cor.2 [4] And my speech and my
preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of
power:
2Tim.4 [1] I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ,
who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; [2] Preach the word; be instant in season,
out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
Now
let’s look at a couple of the other Ohio assemblies with a few of their
doctrines:
Attire; the Christian assemblies I attended had no written prohibition on color of
clothes or list of materials that the clothes had be made from.
1Tim.2 [7] Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak
the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and
verity. [8] I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands,
without wrath and doubting. [9] In like manner also, that women adorn
themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with
broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; [10] But (which becometh
women professing godliness) with good works.
Paul
does address apparel and tells us that men and women are to dress in modest
apparel, shamefacedness, sobriety, and good works. I personally do not believe
he is prohibiting wearing broided hair, gold, pearls, or costly array, but
simply indicating that the type of clothes are not the important thing, but how
a person wears or displays their Christian actions, shamefacedness, sobriety,
and good works are all about attitude.
Musical
instruments; they had no prohibition on musical instruments, and as such one of
the assemblies seemed a little like a rock concert, but I think if you have a
gift like playing a guitar, piano, trumpet, violin, etc. and you are playing it
in a way that praises and brings glory to the Lord Jesus I have a hard time condemning
it.
Evangelization;
The Ohio assemblies I attended were fully engaged in trying to win people to
the Lord Jesus Christ.
Unfortunately, I believe the message was confusing and not the clear gospel message we get from
the Pauline epistles to the Body of Christ. But not withstanding I have come to
the conclusion that many people get saved, in spite of the denominational teachings, by
trusting in Jesus Christ even when the people preaching Jesus are not sincere.
Phil.1 [14] And many of the
brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak
the word without fear. [15] Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife;
and some also of good will: [16] The one preach Christ of contention, not
sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: [17] But the other of
love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel. [18] What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether
in pretence, or in truth, Christ is
preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.
Now
to address the subject of Christian confusion “Some
therefore cried one thing, and some another:”
and how the Apostle Paul dealt with it.
Some
Christians believe that you can lose your salvation, some believe you cannot
lose your salvation, some believe you have to speak in tongues to be saved, some
believe you don’t, some believe salvation requires keeping the law, some
believe salvation is apart from the law, etc. the list goes on longer than I
can list in one lesson, but all these issues create Christian confusion.
When
Paul was confronted with all these issues which was causing the confusion in
the Corinth assembly he made the following statement “For
I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him
crucified”
1Cor.2 [1] And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency
of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. [2] For I
determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him
crucified.
The
only way for Christians to get out of confusion is to admit and realize
everyone cannot be correct when teaching contradicting doctrines. The answer
also is not to break fellowship with everyone that disagrees or has different views
than yourself.
Paul
brought the baby Christians back to the main point, that being Jesus Christ and
him crucified, and then used that point of unity to be able dispel the
confusion of all the different views and to teach sound doctrine to them.
I
have found that when Christians use the same Bible, and study a subject out
that they end up coming to the same conclusion.
Christian
unity is a wonderful thing.
Eph.4 [3] Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the
bond of peace. [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:
With
modern day technology being what it is, it is very easy to do word searches and
check when someone quotes a Bible verse or tells you something is in the Bible
for you to look it up and verify if they are pulling your leg!
The
Truth of God’s Holy word is easy to determine if you let the Holy Spirit lead
you.
Remember
all of the confusion among Christianity/Christians today can be attributed to
the simple fact that the church, the Body of Christ, does not recognize the
separate, distinct, and unique apostleship, ministry, and message of Paul.
If you have never trusted the Lord Jesus as your savior, I
encourage you to believe in him and invite him to save you today! All one needs
to do is to trust and believe in the Lord Jesus’s death, burial and
resurrection for the forgiveness of sins to be made new in him.
Gal.2 [16] Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the
law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus
Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ,
and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the
law shall no flesh be justified
Eph.3 [17] That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith;
that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, [19] And to know the love
of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the
fulness of God.
What
a great day that will be when Jesus Christ returns in all his glory, friend
don’t let that day take you unawares. Today Jesus has his arms outstretched and
open to sinners to put their trust in him. One day we will all stand before him
either as our savior or our judge, don’t put it off invite Jesus to save you
today!
"The crowd
that will not accept one truth will decay to the point that it does not accept
one God: many denominations, many translations, many gods."
The
words of our Apostle Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles!
2Tim.2 [15] Study
to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Come
join with us as we study God’s Holy Word!
Remember
most unsound Bible Doctrine, is sound Bible Doctrine misapplied to
the wrong time period, or wrong group of people.
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