ATTITUDES AND CONSEQUENCES

#1 · April 25, 2005, 11:15 am

Quote from Forum Archives on April 25, 2005, 11:15 am
Posted by: henkf <henkf@...>
ATTITUDES AND CONSEQUENCES

INTRODUCTION

There are various attitudes that carry consequences. This is so in all areas of life. A person’s attitude toward Bible authority determines what he/she will or will not do in life. In order for people to establish agreement and unity they must have a common point of reference, and they must agree to let that standard of authority help them settle any disagreements between themselves.

The Bible Is The Common Point Of Reference (Or There Is None) 2 Tim.3:16,17

We must discard the many sources of authority that tend to divide. There are several things that cannot be trusted as a reliable source of ultimate authority.

1.      HUMAN CREEDS.

a.   These tend to alienate and maintain divisions. We cannot talk intelligently with one another if one party refers to his church creed as authoritative while the other party rejects that creed. If creed books really tell what the Bible says, then we can understand the Bible as well as any creed book. Thus, why not stick with the Bible if we have to keep going back to it to confirm the creed? See Gal.1:8,9; 1 Pet.4:11; 2 Jno.9-11

2.      THE POPE.



a.   The Bible does not speak of a Pope, and Popes have often changed their so-called authoritative decrees over the years.

How can we rely upon such as a source of final authority?

3.      ANCESTOR’S RELIGION.

a.   Whose ancestors? The spirit of pride in tradition will not help unite people who should be concerned about the Lord’s will. Gal.1:13-16 See Luke 14:25-27

4.      DECISION OF MAJORITY.

a.   What majority? The majority at Sodom and Gomorrah”? The majority in the wilderness? Ex.23:2; Matt.7:13,14 The majority during the   flood? 1 Pet.3:20-21



5.      CONSCIENCE.

a.   Whose conscience? Acts 23:1. A conscience has to be properly trained. What is the appropriate standard for training the conscience?

6.      OUTWARD APPEARANCE.

a.   If it appears to make people happy, or deeply stimulated? Prov.14:12; Jno.7:24. Doesn’t every religion have some that appear to be happy and stimulated by their religion?

b.   Is this a safe standard for determining truth?

7.      SILENCE OF THE SCRIPTURES.

a.   Is it alright if the Bible says nothing about it? Think of the things that could be justified under this reasoning: Popes, Cardinals, Statues of Mary, infant baptism, sprinkling, Hamburgers and Coca-cola on the Lord’s Supper table, etc., etc.

b.   Most division exists over what the Bible does not say. Nadab and Abihu acted on silence. The Bible did not say NOT to use fire from a different source. Lev.10:1ff. The Bible did not say for David NOT to carry the ark on a cart. He acted on the silence of scripture and did wrong. Some brethren were creating disturbance where something was NOT said, namely circumcision and keeping the law of Moses. Acts !5:24.

c.   The silence of scripture did not permit non-Levites to participate in priestly duties, but restricted them from it. Heb.7:14. The law had to be changed to allow another priesthood. Heb.7:12

d.   Silence restricts and we must prove what IS acceptable to the Lord. Rom.12:2-3; Eph.5:10; 2Jno.9

8.      LAW OF MOSES.

a.   We are dead to the Law of Moses. Rom.7:4. If we cannot use the law of Moses to justify circumcision, sabbaths, festivals, etc. what can we use it to justify? Col.2:14f; Gal.3:10f; 5:1-4. If we use it to justify one practice, doesn’t it obligate us to do all it says including burning incence, animal sacrifices, and a Levitical priesthood, etc.?

9.      PREACHERS.

a.   Devotion to preachers has always fostered division, not unity. 1 Cor.1:12; 3:1-4; 4:7

10.    TRADITION.

a.   What we have always done has long been to be satisfied with “less” than God wants.

b.   Traditions displace the commands of God and makes worship vain. See Matt.15:3f

c.   Traditions of men can block unity and our way to heaven. See Col.2:8

11.    PROGRESSIVE REVELATION.

a.   Whose modern revelations can we depend on? The revelations that came through Joseph Smith (founder of Mormonism)? Jim Jones? David Karesh? Oral

Roberts?

Jude 3. Should we believe everyone who says “the Lord revealed to me”?

CONCLUSION

The consequence of following any of these things is that these, in effect, de-throne our “Lord” Jesus Christ. They take authority away from the one we call “Lord, Lord”.(Matt.7:21ff;Lk.6:46). The one who has “all authority” (Matt.28:18) winds up having only “some” authority.

One who takes some of the authority that belongs only to Christ into his own hands, cannot do more than “honor Him with the lips”

http://lulu.com/Frijters

http://www3.sympatico.ca/henkf

http://worldoutreach.ca/sotn.htm

…..
  ************************************  Weekly messages of hope and comfort for those who want to learn more about Jesus and His glorious plan for our lives.  To find out more about our ministry go to : worldoutreach.ca/sotn.htm  visit our "Cartoon Site"  www.worldoutreach.ca/DearGod/  *************************************                                                                            --  To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: [email protected]  

Posted by: henkf <henkf@...>

ATTITUDES AND CONSEQUENCES

INTRODUCTION

There are various attitudes that carry consequences. This is so in all areas of life. A person’s attitude toward Bible authority determines what he/she will or will not do in life. In order for people to establish agreement and unity they must have a common point of reference, and they must agree to let that standard of authority help them settle any disagreements between themselves.

The Bible Is The Common Point Of Reference (Or There Is None) 2 Tim.3:16,17

We must discard the many sources of authority that tend to divide. There are several things that cannot be trusted as a reliable source of ultimate authority.

1. HUMAN CREEDS.

a. These tend to alienate and maintain divisions. We cannot talk intelligently with one another if one party refers to his church creed as authoritative while the other party rejects that creed. If creed books really tell what the Bible says, then we can understand the Bible as well as any creed book. Thus, why not stick with the Bible if we have to keep going back to it to confirm the creed? See Gal.1:8,9; 1 Pet.4:11; 2 Jno.9-11

2. THE POPE.

a. The Bible does not speak of a Pope, and Popes have often changed their so-called authoritative decrees over the years.

How can we rely upon such as a source of final authority?

3. ANCESTOR’S RELIGION.

a. Whose ancestors? The spirit of pride in tradition will not help unite people who should be concerned about the Lord’s will. Gal.1:13-16 See Luke 14:25-27

4. DECISION OF MAJORITY.

a. What majority? The majority at Sodom and Gomorrah”? The majority in the wilderness? Ex.23:2; Matt.7:13,14 The majority during the flood? 1 Pet.3:20-21

5. CONSCIENCE.

a. Whose conscience? Acts 23:1. A conscience has to be properly trained. What is the appropriate standard for training the conscience?

6. OUTWARD APPEARANCE.

a. If it appears to make people happy, or deeply stimulated? Prov.14:12; Jno.7:24. Doesn’t every religion have some that appear to be happy and stimulated by their religion?

b. Is this a safe standard for determining truth?

7. SILENCE OF THE SCRIPTURES.

a. Is it alright if the Bible says nothing about it? Think of the things that could be justified under this reasoning: Popes, Cardinals, Statues of Mary, infant baptism, sprinkling, Hamburgers and Coca-cola on the Lord’s Supper table, etc., etc.

b. Most division exists over what the Bible does not say. Nadab and Abihu acted on silence. The Bible did not say NOT to use fire from a different source. Lev.10:1ff. The Bible did not say for David NOT to carry the ark on a cart. He acted on the silence of scripture and did wrong. Some brethren were creating disturbance where something was NOT said, namely circumcision and keeping the law of Moses. Acts !5:24.

c. The silence of scripture did not permit non-Levites to participate in priestly duties, but restricted them from it. Heb.7:14. The law had to be changed to allow another priesthood. Heb.7:12

d. Silence restricts and we must prove what IS acceptable to the Lord. Rom.12:2-3; Eph.5:10; 2Jno.9

8. LAW OF MOSES.

a. We are dead to the Law of Moses. Rom.7:4. If we cannot use the law of Moses to justify circumcision, sabbaths, festivals, etc. what can we use it to justify? Col.2:14f; Gal.3:10f; 5:1-4. If we use it to justify one practice, doesn’t it obligate us to do all it says including burning incence, animal sacrifices, and a Levitical priesthood, etc.?

9. PREACHERS.

a. Devotion to preachers has always fostered division, not unity. 1 Cor.1:12; 3:1-4; 4:7

10. TRADITION.

a. What we have always done has long been to be satisfied with “less” than God wants.

b. Traditions displace the commands of God and makes worship vain. See Matt.15:3f

c. Traditions of men can block unity and our way to heaven. See Col.2:8

11. PROGRESSIVE REVELATION.

a. Whose modern revelations can we depend on? The revelations that came through Joseph Smith (founder of Mormonism)? Jim Jones? David Karesh? Oral

Roberts?

Jude 3. Should we believe everyone who says “the Lord revealed to me”?

CONCLUSION

The consequence of following any of these things is that these, in effect, de-throne our “Lord” Jesus Christ. They take authority away from the one we call “Lord, Lord”.(Matt.7:21ff;Lk.6:46). The one who has “all authority” (Matt.28:18) winds up having only “some” authority.

One who takes some of the authority that belongs only to Christ into his own hands, cannot do more than “honor Him with the lips”

http://lulu.com/Frijters

http://www3.sympatico.ca/henkf

http://worldoutreach.ca/sotn.htm

…..

  ************************************  Weekly messages of hope and comfort for those who want to learn more about Jesus and His glorious plan for our lives.  To find out more about our ministry go to : worldoutreach.ca/sotn.htm  visit our "Cartoon Site"  www.worldoutreach.ca/DearGod/  *************************************                                                                            --  To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: [email protected]