Only To The Children of God
Do you know that: “They which are the children of the flesh, these
are NOT the children of God” (Romans 9:8)?
“For as many as are LED by the spirit of God , THEY are the sons of God” (Romans 8:14).
“For ye are all children of God by FAITH in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26).
“But as many as RECEIVED HIM, to THEM gave he POWER [the right, or, privilege] to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, NOT of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God”
(John 1:12-13).
These are the children to whom the following counsels are directed:
“For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that IF IT WERE POSSIBLE, they shall deceive the very elect [children of God]” (Matthew 24:24).
“Beloved, believe NOT every spirit, but TRY the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).
The spirits to be tried (examined) are the claims (teachings) of MEN that may be so near the truth as to deceive the children of God (Matthew 24:24).
How shall we test these spirits (teachings)?
The answer: “Seek ye out of the book of the LORD and read” (Isaiah 34:16).
Because: “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light [truth] in them” (Isaiah 8:2 0).
“God is spirit: and they that worship him must worship him IN SPIRIT and IN TRUTH” (John 4:24).
And: “Except a man be born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God ... He must be born of water and of the spirit ... that which is born of flesh is flesh; and that which is born of spirit is spirit” (John 3:3-6).
This new birth is accomplished by the operation of the spirit and of truth upon the heart AND mind, thereby changing a person’s spirit (disposition) which is referred to in scripture as REPENTANCE.
“It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you are spirit and life” (John 6:63).
Not only God is spirit but his WORD is also spirit; for Jesus spoke only the words of God. Therefore, we are to live (abide) by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.
But he answered and said, “It is written Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).
“And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by EVERY word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live” (Deuteronomy 8:3).
We are to add nothing to his word nor diminish aught from it:
“Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you” (Deuteronomy 4:2).
“What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it” (Deuteronomy 12:32).
“For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book” (Revelation 22:18-19).
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man [child] of God may be perfect complete, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
So shall we all be taught of God:
“And all thy children shall be TAUGHT OF THE LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children” (Isaiah 54:13).
“It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me” (John 6:45).
And Paul writes:
“Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the WORD OF GOD” (Ephesians 6:17).
“That ye put off concerning the former manner of life ... and be renewed in the spirit of your mind” (Ephesians 4:22-23).
This is true repentance - a change of disposition (spirit) because: “Of his own will begat he us with the WORD OF TRUTH” (James 1:18).
And Peter writes:
“Seeing ye have purified your souls in OBEYING the truth through the spirit ... being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, BY THE WORD OF GOD” (1 Peter 1:22-23).
Because:
“... God hath revealed them unto us by his spirit: for the spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.... Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Spirit teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God ... because they are spiritually discerned [Greek: ‘anakrino’ - examined]”(1 Corinthians 2:10-14).
From these testimonies it is obvious that the scriptures are complete in themselves and prohibit the injection of man’s imagination into it.
The psalmist tells us that the word of God is PURE (Psalm 12:6; Proverbs 30:5). That it is VERY pure (Psalm 119:140). Nowhere in the scripture does God grant unto man the privilege, much less the right, to inject his opinions into God’s word, thereby diluting and poluting it. For this reason God warned: “... he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully” (Jeremiah 23:28).
Accordingly, Paul counsels the believers:
“Now I beseech you, brethren by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the SAME mind and in the SAME judgment [Greek ‘gnome’ - same opinion, purpose]” (1 Corinthians 1:10).
“... that ye stand fast [firm] in ONE spirit, with ONE mind striving together for the faith of the GOSPEL” (Philippians 1:27).
“Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is ONE body, and ONE Spirit, even as ye are called in ONE hope of your calling; ONE Lord, ONE faith, ONE baptism. ONE God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Ephesians 4:3-6).
A careful consideration of the foregoing testimonies will disclose that no divisions or differences of opinion should exist among the children of God.
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves (2 Corinthians 13:5) in the light of God’s truth, lest we find ourselves in that category as outlined by Paul:
“For ye are yet carnal; for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and DIVISIONS, are ye not carnal, and walk after the manner of men?” (1 Corinthians 3:3).
“Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided?” (1 Corinthians 1:12-13).
Yet today, similar conditions exist. There are many different sects with us, many different teachers laying claim to the name of Christ. Is Christ divided? Are we, as individuals, followers of some MAN’s theories? Or are we the followers of the teaching of the spirit of truth? Examine yourself!
are NOT the children of God” (Romans 9:8)?
“For as many as are LED by the spirit of God , THEY are the sons of God” (Romans 8:14).
“For ye are all children of God by FAITH in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26).
“But as many as RECEIVED HIM, to THEM gave he POWER [the right, or, privilege] to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, NOT of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God”
(John 1:12-13).
These are the children to whom the following counsels are directed:
“For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that IF IT WERE POSSIBLE, they shall deceive the very elect [children of God]” (Matthew 24:24).
“Beloved, believe NOT every spirit, but TRY the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).
The spirits to be tried (examined) are the claims (teachings) of MEN that may be so near the truth as to deceive the children of God (Matthew 24:24).
How shall we test these spirits (teachings)?
The answer: “Seek ye out of the book of the LORD and read” (Isaiah 34:16).
Because: “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light [truth] in them” (Isaiah 8:2 0).
“God is spirit: and they that worship him must worship him IN SPIRIT and IN TRUTH” (John 4:24).
And: “Except a man be born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God ... He must be born of water and of the spirit ... that which is born of flesh is flesh; and that which is born of spirit is spirit” (John 3:3-6).
This new birth is accomplished by the operation of the spirit and of truth upon the heart AND mind, thereby changing a person’s spirit (disposition) which is referred to in scripture as REPENTANCE.
“It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you are spirit and life” (John 6:63).
Not only God is spirit but his WORD is also spirit; for Jesus spoke only the words of God. Therefore, we are to live (abide) by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.
But he answered and said, “It is written Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).
“And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by EVERY word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live” (Deuteronomy 8:3).
We are to add nothing to his word nor diminish aught from it:
“Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you” (Deuteronomy 4:2).
“What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it” (Deuteronomy 12:32).
“For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book” (Revelation 22:18-19).
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man [child] of God may be perfect complete, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
So shall we all be taught of God:
“And all thy children shall be TAUGHT OF THE LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children” (Isaiah 54:13).
“It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me” (John 6:45).
And Paul writes:
“Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the WORD OF GOD” (Ephesians 6:17).
“That ye put off concerning the former manner of life ... and be renewed in the spirit of your mind” (Ephesians 4:22-23).
This is true repentance - a change of disposition (spirit) because: “Of his own will begat he us with the WORD OF TRUTH” (James 1:18).
And Peter writes:
“Seeing ye have purified your souls in OBEYING the truth through the spirit ... being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, BY THE WORD OF GOD” (1 Peter 1:22-23).
Because:
“... God hath revealed them unto us by his spirit: for the spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.... Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Spirit teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God ... because they are spiritually discerned [Greek: ‘anakrino’ - examined]”(1 Corinthians 2:10-14).
From these testimonies it is obvious that the scriptures are complete in themselves and prohibit the injection of man’s imagination into it.
The psalmist tells us that the word of God is PURE (Psalm 12:6; Proverbs 30:5). That it is VERY pure (Psalm 119:140). Nowhere in the scripture does God grant unto man the privilege, much less the right, to inject his opinions into God’s word, thereby diluting and poluting it. For this reason God warned: “... he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully” (Jeremiah 23:28).
Accordingly, Paul counsels the believers:
“Now I beseech you, brethren by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the SAME mind and in the SAME judgment [Greek ‘gnome’ - same opinion, purpose]” (1 Corinthians 1:10).
“... that ye stand fast [firm] in ONE spirit, with ONE mind striving together for the faith of the GOSPEL” (Philippians 1:27).
“Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is ONE body, and ONE Spirit, even as ye are called in ONE hope of your calling; ONE Lord, ONE faith, ONE baptism. ONE God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Ephesians 4:3-6).
A careful consideration of the foregoing testimonies will disclose that no divisions or differences of opinion should exist among the children of God.
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves (2 Corinthians 13:5) in the light of God’s truth, lest we find ourselves in that category as outlined by Paul:
“For ye are yet carnal; for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and DIVISIONS, are ye not carnal, and walk after the manner of men?” (1 Corinthians 3:3).
“Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided?” (1 Corinthians 1:12-13).
Yet today, similar conditions exist. There are many different sects with us, many different teachers laying claim to the name of Christ. Is Christ divided? Are we, as individuals, followers of some MAN’s theories? Or are we the followers of the teaching of the spirit of truth? Examine yourself!
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