Benefits of Redemption
Q. What benefits do they that are effectually called partake of in this life?
A. They that are effectually called do in this life
and sanctification,
and the several benefits which in this life
do either accompany or flow from them.
#526, The Trinity Hymnal
Joseph Humphreys, 1743; alt.
Blessed are the sons of God,
they are bought with Christ’s own blood;
they are ransomed from the grave,
life eternal they shall have:
With them numbered may we be,
here and in eternity.
They are justified by grace,
they enjoy the Savior’s peace;
all their sins are washed away,
they shall stand in God’s great day:
With them numbered may we be,
here and in eternity.
They are lights upon the earth,
children of a heav’nly birth;
one with God, with Jesus one,
glory is in them begun:
With them numbered may we be,
here and in eternity.
The Misadventures of Captain Headknowledge 
John
from this portion of the lyrics I just imagined singing:::>
”They are lights upon the earth,
children of a heav’nly birth;
one with God, with Jesus one,
glory is in them begun:”
I want to open up with you an understanding and read your response, ok?
1Co 5:4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
1Co 5:5 To deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Reading these verses and these verses from John’s Gospel:
Joh 16:23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
Joh 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
Those lyrics take on new meaning to me now that I am beginning to see the POWER conveyed upon me, this POWER OF ATTORNEY we read above that Jesus asked us to “EXPERIENCE”, even going so far as to re-iterate what He iterated in 16:24.
THEY ARE LIGHTS UPON THE EARTH.
Yes they/we are. But, however, if we “backslide” or LEAVE THE DISCIPLINE CUT OUT FOR OUR FLESH, we might find ourselves TURNED OVER TO SATAN FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF OUR FLESH that our “spirit” may be saved in the day of the Lord.
Powerful stuff here!
The Name of the Lord.
Paul’s spirit present with them in Corinth yet his body and flesh were not!
The POWER of the Power of Attorney was clearly understood and appropriate DELEGATED AUTHORITY was being prescribed here by this Apostle the CHURCH in Corinth was to “exercise” upon that immoral man who was having his father’s wife. It was also a slap in the face, a strike against this PUFFED UP CHURCH, don’t you suppose?
Paul turned Hymenaeus and Alexander over to Satan so that Satan could “teach” them not to blaspheme. Hmmmmmm, that’s an interesting twist of fate for the devil don’t you think? Here we have the chief blasphemer having two turned over to him by Paul’s delegated authority exercised by him upon them so that they might learn not to blaspheme.
Then amazing as it is, Paul writes that Satan was hindering him!
Apparently, as the lyrics say:
”They are lights upon the earth,
children of a heav’nly birth;
one with God, with Jesus one,
glory is in them begun:”
being LIGHT upon the earth does have certain responsibilities that come with it. If we have the Light, we must not walk away from it or else we too will be turned over to Satan for the destruction of our flesh that our spirit will be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus or turned over so TEACHER SATAN can teach us not to blaspheme the HOLY NAMES OF GOD.
What do you make of it?
Would you consider coming into agreement with me in prayer regarding that earlier matter I suggested about us turning over TDJ so that his spirit might be saved or at least he might come into the TRUTH seeing his scalp would be a big win for us and his many followers there in Dallas?
It would of course be appropriate to pray that T. D. Jakes learn to stop riding the fence between Oneness theology and trying to position himself as worthy of fellowship by all those evangelicals with all that money. I will make a point to pray for his repentance of error and faith in the truth.
Well, as Jesus taught, and I know you have learned, all it takes is two to pray in agreement with Him on earth and it is done for them in Heaven.
Would you like to pray and agree with me, you can do the praying and I will do the agreeing?
Or I can publish hereon a prayer you can say amen too?
Even though T. D. Jakes is not a member of our congregation, and we are members of separate congregations, and no process of church discipline has been introduced against him, and your use of the promise at the end of this passage of instruction about discipline within a particular congreagation is utterly removed from its context, I would welcome your posting a prayer for T. D. Jakes’ understanding of orthodox theology that I and others who read it may offer our Amen, if we are so moved.
John
well,
you raise a good question.
So place yourself in the following Scriptures here for me and tell me, if after you consider these things, that you might have a change of heart about praying in agreement with me based on Our DELEGATED AUTHORITY and our prayer will be enforced upon TDJ by Our Heavenly Father? :::>
1Co 6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
1Co 6:3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
That word [ LIFE ] there in verse 3 is:
βιωτικός
biōtikos
bee-o-tee-kos’
From a derivative of G980; relating to the present existence: – of (pertaining to, things that pertain to) this life.
Paul repeats that word LIFE in the next verse, 4.
Now consider what Paul said to Timothy:
1Ti 5:21 I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and “”the elect angels””, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.
Consider the definition of these words, CHARGE, OBSERVE and PARTIALITY.
CHARGE:
διαμαρτύρομαι
diamarturomai
dee-am-ar-too’-rom-ahee
From G1223 and G3140; to attest or protest earnestly, or (by implication) hortatively: – charge, testify (unto), witness.
Paul writes to Tim and tells him he has delegated authority before God to ATTEST or rather PROTEST EARNESTLY, CHARGE, TESTIFY UNTO AND BEAR WITNESS to God something. When we do it too, it is done before the same ELECT ANGELS also.
OBSERVE:
φυλάσσω
phulassō
foo-las’-so
Probably from G5443 through the idea of isolation; to watch, that is, be on guard (literally or figuratively); by implication to preserve. obey, avoid: – beware, keep (self), observe, save. Compare G5083.
While we protest TDJ’S false doctrines before God agreeing in prayer, Our Heavenly Father, we are to isolate the matter before God and then watch, that is, be on guard, LITERALLY OR FIGURATIVELY, by implication to preserve something that is certainly being lost to a lot of souls who believe TDJ’S false doctrines.
PARTIALITY:
πρόσκλισις
prosklisis
pros’-klis-is
From a compound of G4314 and G2827; a leaning towards, that is, (figuratively) proclivity (favoritism): – partiality.
So we have a place in JUDGING MATTERS OF THIS nature even when one teaches FALSE DOCTRINES and we know about it, believing these doctrines to be false AND are a part of “ALL” THINGS PERTAINING TO THIS LIFE.
Certainly you are aware of that that TDJ’S false doctrines bring harm to many many souls?
Certainly you are in agreement that TDJ’S FALSE DOCTRINES DO NOT IN ANY WAY RISE TO THESE WORDS OF PAUL:::>1Ti 5:17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine.
1Ti 5:18 For the Scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The laborer is worthy of his reward.
1Ti 5:19 Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.
1Ti 5:20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
Although he is recognized by others, he certainly is not by us and I am opening up an understanding to you that you might agree with me on this understanding I am putting forth hereon so that WHATEVER WE ASK OUR HEAVENLY FATHER IN THE NAME OF JESUS, agreeing together according to that Name He Himself gave us as Our Heavenly Father gave Him to give to us so that all He wants saved are saved. Hopefully soon we can come into agreement on this and pray what we see to be done, agreeing on the judgment, i.e. “turning him over to Satan so that he might learn not to teach false and strange doctrines to those who are misguided by his FALSE AND STRANGE DOCTRINES” which are certainly not the WORD of God or His Will on earth, nor the DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH once delivered to the SAINTS? We can come together and with any of those others hereon, reading the prayer, who wish to join in with us in agreement in the prayer of judgment, can willing do so?
I will wait to see what your next response is.
I don’t gloat at all in this.
It’s a shame that we even have to come to this.
But as we have learned from much study and the gaining of Godly Wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding, not all men have faith.
I believe I do have revelation on this matter.
Humbly I quote one EDMUND BURKE, “all that it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”
I am in no hurry as I serve the True and Living God, Our Heavenly Father, and I serve His Son, My Lord Jesus Christ. I have Faith, it’s a Gift, and He has given it to me. I have eternal Life too:
Joh 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Joh 17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
Joh 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
Joh 17:6 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.
Joh 17:7 Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.
Joh 17:8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.
I too “believe”.
Sorry, Michael, I disagree with your interpretation of those passages, but Jakes is still worth praying for, so go ahead and post your prayer if you want to. You know I’m not a charismatic, but I have “revelation” on this matter, too. The sovereign God of the universe uses the prayers of his people to bring about his eternal purpose in the world. We may pray, but we will not bind the hands of the sovereign Creator, governor, redeemer and judge of all things. His hidden will will be made manifest in the world on his timetable, not ours. According to his will, not ours. But if our prayer is according to his will, he will use it as his means to bring about his will in the world. I too believe prayer changes things, but it does not change God.
Sovereign Lord God, Our Heavenly Father, Creator of the Universe through Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior, and by the Power of the Holy Ghost,
we humbly bow before you approaching the Throne of Grace and Mercy and Peace in the Name of the Lord Jesus as members of His Body by these words of prayer,
this Body you conjoined us too by baptism into His death and burial and as He was raised from the Dead by Glory so we pray in Newness of Life,
We ask you Lord God Almighty
in the Name Above Every Name to touch this man
Fill him with wisdom and relevation revealing to him the knowledge of Your Grace and Lovingkindness in the Truth, Jesus is Truth,
Fill him with joy and peace in believing that he too will abound in hope in the power of the Holy Ghost,
Cause him to understand Scripture,
Cause this understanding by the Power of the Holy Ghost and our prayer to so awaken him he publicly repents of the error of the false doctrine that darkens many so that those that esteem him will likewise repent and the Dallas/Fort Worth area will shake and shift towards Your Ways no longer sitting in darkness but come to see Your Great Light Who has come in the flesh, the Truth, Jesus Christ, Who is clearly co-equal with, yet distinct from You,
That they will come to see the Holy Ghost Who is co-equal yet distinct from You,
Let these come to obedience to the Faith once delivered to the Saints so much so that they with the Saints will spark a Revival ministry among the peoples and many more will turn from darkness to Light crying out under conviction: WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?
we pray together in agreement asking in Jesus’ Name and for the Advancement of Your Kingdom on earth, Your Power on earth and for your Glory throughout the created heavens and earth.
amen
John
I hope that was a prayer that you would agree with and pray?
I a curious to know what you do not agree with in my Theology?
And, for your information, I don’t understand what you meant by “you are not charismatic”.
Michael,
A beautiful prayer worth Amening!
Amen!
What do you mean what do I mean by “I am not a charismatic?”
If you’re going to hang with Calvinists, you’re going to get labeled, and you’re going to hear others labeled. It’s the way concepts are conveyed by those who are honest about their place on the theological spectrum.
I’m not a charismatic, therefore I disagree with the common misconceptions of the charismatic movement (of which by your words you clearly identify yourself as a member), up to and including taking verses out of context and using them as mantras to try to convince oneself that the thing for which someone is “believing” is guaranteed to be granted because by my meeting the conditions, one obligates God to deliver.
Your defense of the misconception regarding “agreement” in prayer was a case in point of inaccurate and irresponsible hermeneutics.
That’s what I mean by “I am not a charismatic.”
Thanks for praying for T. D. Jakes, may we all be reminded to not merely complain about error and apostacy, but to seek in prayer that the will of the sovereign judge of all our doctrine be done!
“Lord, not as I will, but thy will be done!”
John
I find your remarks fascinating, ah, in a good way, I hope?
“I got saved in 1975”. What does that statement mean? Is it accurately conveying the time I consciously believe I can remember God’s obvious “Hand” placed on my heart and soul, calming me down with assurances of Salvation? hmmmmm, I leave those judgments to those who understand it more clearly than I.
I have heard about what you just addressed, the Charismatic movement. I have been a part of a Church planting organization working with the Lord establishing what I believe were sound, faithful ministries around the world; men working with men, women and children teaching and hopefully establishing in TRUTH the Doctrines of the Faith. I don’t know if I have been exposed to the Charismatic movement? I was asking you to teach me about them or that. I really have no knowledge or experience here although it sounds like I sound like one with my words.
Charismatic to me implies one as Peter speaks with his concluding remarks:
1Pe 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you.
1Pe 5:11 To him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
1Pe 5:12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.
1Pe 5:13 The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Mark my son.
1Pe 5:14 Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
I squarely stand with Peter, if what he wrote there is a TRUE BIBLICAL DEFINITION OF CHARISMA?
The God of all Grace, and the True Grace of God??
As for taking things out of context, geeesh, what is new? Next to actually “speaking for” or in our case hereon, typing for God in Truth, we all need a bit a wordsmithing!
What was out of context? Please by all means, sharpen my fingernails?/sword/mind.
I missed where my misconceptions were common.
Help, I am dull!
And thanks, at least we agree on TDJ’s fate.
Michael, may I introduce you to the Charismatic Movement?
http://www.theopedia.com/Charismatic
As for what was out of context, I attempted to point out that your use of the promise associated with “agreeing” was out of context. The context of Scripture in which the verse is contained, is a context of church discipline.
Matthew 18:15-20 ESV
15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed [6] in heaven. 19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
John Calvin sums it up well: “The substance of it is this: Whoever, after committing a crime, humbly confesses his fault, and entreats the Church to forgive him, is absolved not only by men, but by God himself; and, on the other hand, whoever treats with ridicule the reproofs and threatenings of the Church, if he is condemned by her, the decision which men have given will be ratified in heaven.”
Therefore it is not biblical to ask someone to “agree” with you in prayer, assuming on the basis of this verse, that because two or more of us pray for the same thing, God promises to answer in the affirmative. That is Word of Faith theology (http://www.theopedia.com/Word_of_Faith)–it’s what’s popularly labeled, “Name it and claim it.” It’s not biblical. Word of Faith is an extreme aspect of the Charismatic movement, and it all needs to be avoided.
Might I belabor and extend it a bit more then?
I refer you to Psalm 2.
Help me out here then?
Why this Psalm in light of Daniel 2:44, and Romans 5:17 and Revelations 5:9-10.
I agree with your interpretation of Church discipline there in Matthew 18. I have put some under that kind of discipline myself in agreement with my Co-workers and I have been the recipient of such disciple myself, not a happy experience mind you! It yeilded the peaceable fruit of Righteousness though!:)
I was reaching beyond that Church discipline to what I believe our Authority from Christ gives us as Children of God anointed by Him with conveyed authority upon our life ministry along the lines of the revelation I have regarding Psalm 2, Daniel 2, Romans 5 and Revelation 5. I put those activities into the crosshairs of my sights so to speak in that form of jargon as OFFENSIVE WARRING PRAYERS in line with what Peter touched on in 2 Peter 3 and his intent and meaning to “hasten” the day of the Lord and what I see is clear about Revelation 12 and the Church’s clear mandate to launch Angelic warfare and the Arch Angel Michael and his angels going against Satan and his angels and the outcome describe by John there. I have in mind two places in John’s Gospel, John 12:20-31 and John 16:7-16 when I read about what the Angel was sent to reveal to John while on the Island of Patmos caught up in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day;Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
Rev 1:2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
The Eternal Purpose of God for His Holy Dwelling Places of the Most High, Ps. 46, is clearly defined in Ephesians 3:8….>.
I will go to that link on being a Charismatic and see what that is all about.
My best recollection of Charismatics was years ago some from my non-denominational, evangelical group talking about being among Charismatic Catholics and what they experienced.
What did I say in an earlier post that “sounded” like I was a Charismatic?
I guess now is the time to be teachable about these things seeing I haven’t had opportunity up to now in over 30 years of Ministry to know about the Charismatic movement.
I certainly learn a lot from weighing what you post on this Misadventure blog and what you teach! I am just so hungry to learn more and more.
Keep feeding me, I am not full yet!
thanks and may His Blessings come upon you Charismatically and change your ways more and more to be like His Higher Ways more than yours.
Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Rom 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
michael
I’ll deal with the easy question first, although I just answered it. The doctrine of “agreeing” in prayer is a doctrine concocted within the charismatic movement and it is erroneous, no matter how many other Bible verses you throw at it.
While “Offensive Warring Prayer” is in keeping with the analogy of the Holy War between Christ’s and Satan’s Kingdoms, that’s as far as it goes. The fact remains that your use of the popular charismatic assumption that “agreement” guarantees the answer you desire is an abuse of Scripture.
While it is true that we are a kingdom of priests and that we battle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, etc., that does not justify adopting the presumptuous version of the believer’s “authority in Christ” that is claimed by proponents of charismatic theology. The “Spiritual Warfare” motif is over-emphasized in the Charismatic Movement. The biblical doctrine of prayer is quite sufficient without taking it and molding it into a more militant image than is warranted by Scripture. The King of kings will use our prayers in his name according to his will and thus is one of his means of advancing his Kingdom among the nations.
This Kingdom advances through the faithful preaching of the Law and Gospel empowered by the Holy Spirit’s ministry of conviction of sin, righteousness and judgment to come which comes to pass as God’s kings and priests are faithful to pray to the Father in the name of the Son by the power of the Spirit for such fruit to be borne. Praying for false teachers like Jakes is certainly a part of our efforts to pray for the advancement of God’s Kingdom, but even if the Lord gives an affirmative response to our petition for the false teacher, it will come on his terms according to his timing, and, while it is always preferable to pray specifically, it is not inappropriate for a worshiper of the Sovereign Creator, Redeemer and King to assume that our corporate “authority” will work as is promised in the logic of “agreement in prayer.” Corporate prayer is a biblical activity, and we’ve all got stories of great “victories” attained through the corporate prayer of the church, but it is error to assume some additionally miraculous power after the fashion of the “agreement” theory, than that which has already been detailed in the rightly handled Word of God.
Correction:
In paragraph four, I wrote: “it is not inappropriate for a worshiper of the Sovereign Creator, Redeemer and King to assume that our corporate “authority” will work as is promised in the logic of “agreement in prayer.”
That was a mistake. I meant to say that “it IS inappropriate . . . “
Well John
I am at a loss because I completely agree with you! I just wish I could have put it better!
I will tell you a couple of funny stories if you don’t mind.
A “name it claim it” preacher invited a friend of mine to preach in his mid-western church.
After the preaching, he was told that the wife had prepared a GUEST LUNCH and they hoped he would stay over. The friend and his wife obliged and stayed over.
While the women were in the kitchen setting the table, the man and my friend were in the resting area of the parsonage talking when the pastor saw my friend had on a brand new Rolex wrist watch.
He suddenly and boldly got up and came over and said IN THE NAME OF JESUS I CLAIM THAT WATCH!
The friend took the watch off and gave it to him!
Stunned by that act the pastor ran out of the room shouting praise the Lord!
He came back in after a bit, having gone into the kitchen area to show his wife what God had done.
In a few minutes my friend said to this name it claim it pastor,
YOU KNOW THIS IS A WONDERFUL HOME YOU LIVE IN HERE.
IS THIS YOURS OR THE CHURCH’S?
OH, IT’S THE CHURCH’S THE PASTOR SAID.
OH, MY FRIEND SAID AND HE THEN STOOD UP AND WALKED OVER TO THE WALL AND PLACED HIS HANDS ON THE WALL AND YELLED, LORD I LIKE THIS HOUSE, NOW I CLAIM IT IN YOUR NAME JESUS!
Stunned again the pastor nervously gave back the watch.
Here’s another story, yet true.
A man given to speak the “WORD OF THE SPIRIT”, got up after a very charismatic worship time one morning where there was a lot of emotions and high drama filling the air, there was some shouting and hooting and hollering going on and he then got up and calmed everyone down and said this:
GOD JUST SPOKE TO ME BY HIS SPIRIT THAT DURING THE OFFERING TIME, EVERYONE WHO PUTS MONEY IN THE OFFERING PLATE WILL RECEIVE 100 TIMES BACK IN RETURN SOON!
About that time, my friend came up to him and whispered in his ear, BROTHER, YOU DON’T BELIEVE THAT FOR A MINUTE,
TO WHICH THE GUY REPLIED, WELL YES I DO,
TO WHICH MY FRIEND SAID, OK THEN, LET’S GO DOWN TO YOUR BANK RIGHT NOW AND WITHDRAW EVERY LAST DIME YOU HAVE IN YOUR BANK ACCOUNTS AND PUT THAT MONEY IN THE OFFERING PLATE TOO!
The man quickly changed the “WORD” OF THE LORD HE HAD JUST SPOKE.
The point is GOD’S ETERNAL. GOD’S IN CHARGE. HE KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING. HE IS NOT FOOLED BY MY WEAK FLESH OR ANY FOOLISHNESS I DO, have done OR WILL EVER DO IN HIS NAME. HE IS SOVEREIGN AND IF I READ MY BIBLE RIGHT, I BETTER COME TO KNOW WHAT THE SPIRIT IS SPEAKING TO THE CHURCHES IF I WANT TO BE BLESSED OF THE LORD!
I heard a man say just recently that GOD’S BLESSINGS CHANGE US, GOD DOES NOT WAIT FOR US TO CHANGE BEFORE HE BLESSES US!
The Blessings of the Lord make a man rich and He adds no sorrow to it, Proverbs 10:22 says. And here’s what Paul wrote the Ephesians:
Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
So, I agree with you. Is there foolishness going on in men’s heads and are we and they misrepresenting the TRUTH at times or distorting the Word in error?
Well I would say yes and amen to that and I will accept reproofs and corrections and rebukes in HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS now as there is another Proverb that goes something like this:
THE REPROOFS OF INSTRUCTION ARE THE WAY OF LIFE.
We must not get so bull headed that we get locked into a troubling “comfort” zone.
I am older and more experienced now than when I first began 31 plus years ago serving the Lord. The farther along I go, the weaker I realize I am and so helpless to do anything about it, I am more convinced than ever that if Christ doesn’t SAVE ME, I HAVE NO HOPE OF BEING SAVED. This is a fearful thing, however I have assurance and great comfort in the FAITH of Christ given to me and the Words of God:
Mat 10:24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.
Mat 10:25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
Mat 10:26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
Mat 10:27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.
Mat 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Mat 10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
Mat 10:30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Mat 10:31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
Mat 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.