In the final analysis, it will boil down to this:
One will most often base their relationship with God according to their experiences within their earthly family/social/professional relationships - and how they perceived and handled those relationships, especially in the areas of 'rewards and punishment' and the group dynamics of authority, influence and control.
This thread exposes the mind set that declares that being under (submitted to) the laws of religious men, one can earn their salvation and/or God's approval. Tat salvation is predicated on what one does and the manner in which those obligations are performed, rather than who you are in Christ Jesus, the fruit of your life and the Spirit that dwells within you (love with faith, peace, joy, etc), as expressed in one's daily life and in the 'good works' that were ordained for each called person of God to walk in.
So be it. For those who think God is impotent to take care of His own body, within the organizational and ministry structure He has placed in His word, without your help, advice and correction, and control of His children, then continue on. As for me, I shall follow all of the the apostolic teachings (by word and spirit) as revealed in the original languages.
Remember, one of our more famous doctrines is that if one holds to and/or teaches a false doctrine, they will go to hell. Therefore, if any holder to a man-made doctrine, or a doctrine that has been altered in anyway by the philosophies of men, then by definition, that person holds to and/or teaches a false doctrine.
The results: If anyone holds to any false doctrine, however slight, out of our own mouths we stand condemned before God, and are worthy of the righteous judgment that we have earned. For those who re justified by their own works and seek to make disciples after themselves, I again refer them to
Matthew 23.
To those who preach selective acceptance and implementation of the Law in order to acquire their salvation or to gain and/or maintain God's approval, I refer them to
Galatians 2:16,
1 Timothy 1:3-11,
Revelation 12:17; 14:12 & 22:14.
Because such teachers neither know nor understand God's instructions in righteousness, they must add to and diminish from the word of God (twist scripture) in order to justify their own doctrines (
Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32).
Well, so be it. Yet, remember, even if one has some spiritual successes in speaking in tongues, the working of miracles, prophesying, the casting out of devils, etc, even to making over a large assembly into your own image (dress, speech, actions, etc.), you (me, anyone) can still stand before Jesus and hear the words, "I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." The sad thing is that "ye that work iniquity" still don't (even even today refuse) to get it. There is little self examination before the Spirit and word of God, and therefore little repentance or a true circumcision of one's heart, for these individuals remain justified in their own eyes and in the opinions of other men - forgetting one of the most fundamental doctrines of God: It is He alone who chooses, calls, ordains, establishes, and justifies - not men, assemblies, or organizations.
Therefore, it would be nice to read more sound biblical doctrines on these pages, and not a rehash of religious traditions and doctrines that do violence to the word of God.
Threaded Mode
