It’s amazing how some of us can read the word of God that says do not fornicate, commit adultery, lie, still, bear false witness, be a drunkard, be a fraud, be a conman etc and know we do some of these things on a regular basis and yet are not in the least bit disturbed. We are commanded by God to preach the truth but never to compromise for any reason .We are to love everyone, but love does not mean that we should stop hating sin. . As true believers, we must stand uncompromisingly against the works of flesh, darkness and works of Satan. Many Christians think that just because it says in one verse that 'if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord then you will be saved', all they need to do is just that and they will be saved.
But often they forget that devils do the same For Eg. In Luke 4:41 .....'And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ. As believers, we are commanded by God to "COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM, and BE YE SEPARATE, SAITH THE LORD. Christianity is not a Sunday affair Nor a momentary emotional experience but a daily love affair with Jesus Christ and a lifetime commitment.
Many have prophesied "in the name of the LORD" (Deut. 18:22), but "they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD" (Jer. 23:16).
God commands us to SEPARATE from the sinful world and not to help them by befriending their wickedness. There are many wicked people who keep one foot in Gods word and another foot in devils world and enjoy everything in the world like heathens yet they say they are Christians. I am not condemning anyone nor offending anyone but as a believer we have an obligation to tell truth and to rebuke sin judge righteously by being a Godly example pursuing righteousness. God wants us to always speak the truth. It is almost impossible to reveal the truth to those who follow a lie and those who believe the lies comfort themselves with each other. Such people encourage each other to believe the lies they have been taught” He who speaks truth declares righteousness, but a false witness, deceit etc . The truthful lip shall be established forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment. Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, but those who deal truthfully are His delight" (PROVERBS 12:17,19,22).
We are reminded in1 Corinthians 10:21 that Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.
Many church goers who are as lost as those who will not set foot in a church. Satan does not mind if you are religious or lukewarm hearted as long as you don’t obey Gods commandments and laws and have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
There are some Christians who say “He goes to church and he is a nice Guy and a type of spiritual man” but these are people in this world who see no harm in committing fornication, lying, being dishonest, cheating, causing injustice etc. So many people today think they are doing something good for the Lord but they are actually doing it for the Devil. These people present an outward appearance of holiness daily and still serve as a poor Christian witness and stumbling block for others (Matthew 23:27-28). To live as a Christian, is not just professing by mouth but to live accordingly as much as possible.
Devil and its demons are working relentlessly to corrupt & to deceive others. But people often forget that devil also goes for church to create confusion and division, discouragement, to take the people away from God or to manipulate us and hinder our work for God and the growth of our faith, distract us with evil imaginations from growing in the Lord and serving Him, to doubt God’s Word in perverted interpretations to present false gospel by twisted truth, to influence worldly way instead of godly ways, to justify their false doctrines, to break the commandments and laws of God.
There are many pretend to be godly men and women and appear to be solid Christian believer .However, their “fruit” eventually reveals them to be the opposite of what they claimed to be and they a form of godliness. In this, they follow the example of Satan, “And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve” (2 Corinthians 11:14-15).
Here is what the scriptures say:
I Peter 5:8, “Be of sober spirit be on the alert. Your adversary the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, sneaking someone to devour.”
James 2:19 says, “You believe that God is one. You do well! The demons also believe, and shudder‟.”
II Tim. 3:5 says that these people are, "holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; avoid such men as these.”
Ephesians 6:12 says, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places."
Bible says in II Cor. 11:13-15: "For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore, it not surprising if his servants disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.”
1st John, Chapter 2:3 and we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. 4 If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. 5 But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. 6 Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.
Shaila Touchton's Despite of Differences, Come Unity in Jesus Christ!
Showing posts with label churches denominations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label churches denominations. Show all posts
Christian Denominations!
"Christianity" includes hundreds of different denominations that disagree with one another in name, organization, doctrine, worship, and plan of salvation. Such a situation clearly constitutes division, not unity. Yet all the denominations claim to be Christian and to follow Jesus Christ.
John 17:20-23 - Jesus prayed for all who believe on Him to be one as He and His Father are one. Jesus, the Head of the church, prayed for unity. Denominations claim that He is their head, yet they practice division!
Divisions in the church are a result of sin. Ever since Babel, mankind has been cursed with a sectarian spirit. Even the church in C1 Corinth, under the influence of the blessed apostle himself was riven by sectarianism. You'd have thought they'd all unite as a body under such infallible Scriptural teaching, but no. "I am of Paul" cried some, "I am of Apollos" shouted others, and still others "I am of Cephas".
How does Paul deal with such sinful division? In chapter 1:10-28 he appeals for unity under the message of the gospel.
I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.(v10)
Yet later in the same epistle in verse 11:19, Paul concedes that divisions, sinful though they are, serve a purpose in the mysterious providence of God. These divisions serve to show "who have God's approval."
I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 that no man should say you were baptized in my name. 16 Now I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any other. 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, that the cross of Christ should not be made void. (1 Corinthians 1:14-17).
No Christian has perfect knowledge and understanding. If we did, we would be as God. We may be right or wrong in some of our beliefs and still be in fellowship with God and with one another. This does not mean we can be right or wrong about every belief or practice. God is clear about that. There are many divisions in the body of Christ because some believe that they must separate from everyone who does not believe exactly as they do. This is wrong and it must be corrected if there is ever going to be the unity in the body of Christ that Christ prayed for and that we are to endeavor to maintain. All Christians have a responsibility in this matter. We can either be working with those who promote unity in Christ or among those who cause division in the body of Christ. When we cause divisions we are to be pointed out and avoided (Rom. 16:17). When we promote division we are carnal and behaving like mere men (1 Cor. 3:3). Heresies (self-willed opinions that lead to division and the formation of sects) are listed as a work of the flesh that precludes one from inheriting the kingdom of God (Gal. 5:19-21). Titus, a New Testament evangelist was instructed to reject a divisive person after the first and second admonition (Titus 3:10).
God purposed in Himself to gather together in one, all things in Christ (Eph. 1:9,10). Jesus Christ prayed that all who would believe in Him would be one with God, one with Him and one with one another (John 17:20-22). The apostles pleaded with the church in the city of Corinth to all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among them (1 Cor. 1:10). The apostles also made a plea for the church in Ephesus to endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one God, one Lord, one Spirit, one faith, one baptism, one body and one hope (Eph. 4:3,4). In order to be one with God and one with Christ we must be willing to believe in and practice the teaching of Jesus Christ. He is the only way to God (John 14:6; the only Savior (Acts 4:12) and the one Mediator between God and men (1 Tim. 2:5). As Christians, we are required to accept the "essential" doctrine of Christ. "Essential doctrine" would include whatever Jesus and the apostles equated with (made equal to) salvation and stated as commands, charges, orders, mandatory and/or exclusionary.
John 17:20-23 - Jesus prayed for all who believe on Him to be one as He and His Father are one. Jesus, the Head of the church, prayed for unity. Denominations claim that He is their head, yet they practice division!
Divisions in the church are a result of sin. Ever since Babel, mankind has been cursed with a sectarian spirit. Even the church in C1 Corinth, under the influence of the blessed apostle himself was riven by sectarianism. You'd have thought they'd all unite as a body under such infallible Scriptural teaching, but no. "I am of Paul" cried some, "I am of Apollos" shouted others, and still others "I am of Cephas".
How does Paul deal with such sinful division? In chapter 1:10-28 he appeals for unity under the message of the gospel.
I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.(v10)
Yet later in the same epistle in verse 11:19, Paul concedes that divisions, sinful though they are, serve a purpose in the mysterious providence of God. These divisions serve to show "who have God's approval."
I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 that no man should say you were baptized in my name. 16 Now I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any other. 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, that the cross of Christ should not be made void. (1 Corinthians 1:14-17).
No Christian has perfect knowledge and understanding. If we did, we would be as God. We may be right or wrong in some of our beliefs and still be in fellowship with God and with one another. This does not mean we can be right or wrong about every belief or practice. God is clear about that. There are many divisions in the body of Christ because some believe that they must separate from everyone who does not believe exactly as they do. This is wrong and it must be corrected if there is ever going to be the unity in the body of Christ that Christ prayed for and that we are to endeavor to maintain. All Christians have a responsibility in this matter. We can either be working with those who promote unity in Christ or among those who cause division in the body of Christ. When we cause divisions we are to be pointed out and avoided (Rom. 16:17). When we promote division we are carnal and behaving like mere men (1 Cor. 3:3). Heresies (self-willed opinions that lead to division and the formation of sects) are listed as a work of the flesh that precludes one from inheriting the kingdom of God (Gal. 5:19-21). Titus, a New Testament evangelist was instructed to reject a divisive person after the first and second admonition (Titus 3:10).
God purposed in Himself to gather together in one, all things in Christ (Eph. 1:9,10). Jesus Christ prayed that all who would believe in Him would be one with God, one with Him and one with one another (John 17:20-22). The apostles pleaded with the church in the city of Corinth to all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among them (1 Cor. 1:10). The apostles also made a plea for the church in Ephesus to endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one God, one Lord, one Spirit, one faith, one baptism, one body and one hope (Eph. 4:3,4). In order to be one with God and one with Christ we must be willing to believe in and practice the teaching of Jesus Christ. He is the only way to God (John 14:6; the only Savior (Acts 4:12) and the one Mediator between God and men (1 Tim. 2:5). As Christians, we are required to accept the "essential" doctrine of Christ. "Essential doctrine" would include whatever Jesus and the apostles equated with (made equal to) salvation and stated as commands, charges, orders, mandatory and/or exclusionary.
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