There is a BIG subtle (but very poisonous) lie being propagated by many "christian" leaders in order to "scare" Christians into being more open-minded and open-hearted than they should be, encouraging them to reach out more for experiences and not be too focused on the Bible. The lie to scare christians, is that those who are too focussed on the Bible (religious as they put it) or too zealous with "truth" ie "contending for the faith" would be the very ones to crucify Jesus also if they lived at the same time of Jesus (hypothetically speaking).
They say that we are like the religious Jews who killed Jesus. They say that the scribes and Pharisees were too rigid in the scriptures that they were unable to accept Messiah when He came, so if we get too "religious" we too would have done the same thing. What utter nonsense! They couldn't recognise Messiah because they couldn't see "the forest for the trees".
What I mean is that the Religious leaders were so caught up in scriptural commentaries (like the talmud, Midrash etc) and traditions of men, oral Law and rabbinical teachers (gurus?) etc that they were blind to the obvious references to the Messiah directly from the Tenach (Old testament). They were so caught up in these things that they (actually) did not directly know the Scriptures. Therefore, they were biassed towards expecting a specific messiah after their own imaginations. In fact their hearts became increasingly hardened towards Jesus because (as Jesus put it) they were wicked "of their father the devil" and stiff-necked, hardened hearts.
If they checked the scriptures
with a sincere heart and "loved the Lord their God with all their hearts minds soul and strength" (like some Jewish people) they would also have recognised Him as their Messiah.
Actually the scriptures say that there was a veil over their eyes so that they could not see. But it also says that when a man turns to the Lord the veil is removed.
So it is not right to say that Christians who put too much emphasis on the scriptures are like those religious Jews and miss God when He moves. In fact we are different from those of the Judaic faith because we do not put our trust in commentaries, experiences, traditions of men, teachings of "great" men but we place our confidence in the Lord and His unadulterated Word of God.
Paul said in romans 10:17 "faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God". So, the Word of God is vital for faith to grow especially when He speaks the Rama Word directly to our hearts when we read His Word.
So those who teach that we should not be so caught up in the Word of God or contending for the faith are false, evil leaders (used by satan) to destroy the pure faith of Christians. The reason they teach these things is because they want to promote ecumenicalism and a one global church united by experience. The Book of Revelation describes such a church as "Babylon" and a "whore" an "apostate" church.
So those reading this, do not be taken in by such lies and "zealously" study the scriptures to "see whether these things be so". Hebrews 4:12 says "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart".
Paul said in Ephesians 6, that we need to equip ourselves with the whole armour. In verse 17, It says the "sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God". If we do not know the Word of God we will not be able to defend ourselves when the evil one attacks us. Remember Jesus used the Bible to fight satan off during the 40 days of fasting.
The important difference between the Religious Jewish people who rejected Jesus and us is that they were stiff-necked with hardened hearts, who could never have an intimate relationship with God because of sin. They could not experience the permanent residence of the Holy Spirit in their hearts because of that sin. We, however, have come to God through Jesus, been cleansed of our sins and become a new creation. The old has passed away behold we are new people in Christ. We now have the Holy Spirit permanently residing within us. We repented and gave our lives to Christ and love Him with all our hearts. There is NO WAY we could have done the same things because we are completely different and because we serve God out of sincere and devoted hearts (if we are born-again) so we study the scriptures with a pure heart. Not like some who study for financial or selfish gain.
We should also bear in mind that it says "it was God's Will to bruise Him". Jesus was smitten because He HAD to die as a sacrificial lamb to rescue us from our sins. God allowed the hardness of Israel etc to bring about His purposes to save us! So to say that born-again fundamental bible believing Christians would have crucified Jesus, is missing the point and is foolish!!!
They say that we are like the religious Jews who killed Jesus. They say that the scribes and Pharisees were too rigid in the scriptures that they were unable to accept Messiah when He came, so if we get too "religious" we too would have done the same thing. What utter nonsense! They couldn't recognise Messiah because they couldn't see "the forest for the trees".
What I mean is that the Religious leaders were so caught up in scriptural commentaries (like the talmud, Midrash etc) and traditions of men, oral Law and rabbinical teachers (gurus?) etc that they were blind to the obvious references to the Messiah directly from the Tenach (Old testament). They were so caught up in these things that they (actually) did not directly know the Scriptures. Therefore, they were biassed towards expecting a specific messiah after their own imaginations. In fact their hearts became increasingly hardened towards Jesus because (as Jesus put it) they were wicked "of their father the devil" and stiff-necked, hardened hearts.
If they checked the scriptures
with a sincere heart and "loved the Lord their God with all their hearts minds soul and strength" (like some Jewish people) they would also have recognised Him as their Messiah.
Actually the scriptures say that there was a veil over their eyes so that they could not see. But it also says that when a man turns to the Lord the veil is removed.
So it is not right to say that Christians who put too much emphasis on the scriptures are like those religious Jews and miss God when He moves. In fact we are different from those of the Judaic faith because we do not put our trust in commentaries, experiences, traditions of men, teachings of "great" men but we place our confidence in the Lord and His unadulterated Word of God.
Paul said in romans 10:17 "faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God". So, the Word of God is vital for faith to grow especially when He speaks the Rama Word directly to our hearts when we read His Word.
So those who teach that we should not be so caught up in the Word of God or contending for the faith are false, evil leaders (used by satan) to destroy the pure faith of Christians. The reason they teach these things is because they want to promote ecumenicalism and a one global church united by experience. The Book of Revelation describes such a church as "Babylon" and a "whore" an "apostate" church.
So those reading this, do not be taken in by such lies and "zealously" study the scriptures to "see whether these things be so". Hebrews 4:12 says "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart".
Paul said in Ephesians 6, that we need to equip ourselves with the whole armour. In verse 17, It says the "sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God". If we do not know the Word of God we will not be able to defend ourselves when the evil one attacks us. Remember Jesus used the Bible to fight satan off during the 40 days of fasting.
The important difference between the Religious Jewish people who rejected Jesus and us is that they were stiff-necked with hardened hearts, who could never have an intimate relationship with God because of sin. They could not experience the permanent residence of the Holy Spirit in their hearts because of that sin. We, however, have come to God through Jesus, been cleansed of our sins and become a new creation. The old has passed away behold we are new people in Christ. We now have the Holy Spirit permanently residing within us. We repented and gave our lives to Christ and love Him with all our hearts. There is NO WAY we could have done the same things because we are completely different and because we serve God out of sincere and devoted hearts (if we are born-again) so we study the scriptures with a pure heart. Not like some who study for financial or selfish gain.
We should also bear in mind that it says "it was God's Will to bruise Him". Jesus was smitten because He HAD to die as a sacrificial lamb to rescue us from our sins. God allowed the hardness of Israel etc to bring about His purposes to save us! So to say that born-again fundamental bible believing Christians would have crucified Jesus, is missing the point and is foolish!!!
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4 comments:
Well said John!
What a ridiculous hypothetical statement – it isn’t as if the crucifixion is going to be repeated to put it to the test. Anyway, we are all guilty for the crucifixion of Jesus. If there were no sin, then Jesus wouldn’t have needed to die for us.
They are exactly like the Pharisees and Sadducees themselves, with their experiential form of religion seeking SIGNS. It is a wicked and adulterous generation that seeks after signs. Just like those false teachers of leaven, so their leaven claims we should not study doctrine. Come to think of it, my son said I was guilty of going ‘too deep’ (into the Word). Tsh! it just stirred me up to ‘go deeper’.
1Timothy4:14 Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
1Timothy 4:16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
1Timothy 5:17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.
1Timothy 6:3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness,
That is only a few of the verses I could have included here.
We are clearly told all about today’s false teachers and what to do about them.
Romans 16:17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them
2Timothy4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers
Titus 1:9 holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict
2John1:9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.
There are plenty more where these came from. It just goes to show how worried Satan is by God’s Word judging by this attempt to keep us ignorant.
2Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH.
Sue Jakeway
Thanks EI (as always) for your insightful and discerning reply.
The reason they "couldn't recognize Messiah" is not because they "couldn't see the forest for the trees". It is because the crucifixion of the Saviour was predestined before time. This is known as supra lapsarianism.
Certainly the accredited leaders of Israel (Scribes, Pharisees, Elders and Chief Priests etc) were free agents acting under the pre determinate "counsel and foreknowledge of God" Acts 2.23.
Can you imagine what it will be like when the so-called "great men of the earth" when they meet the most High on judgment day? Folk like Bill Gates, Rupert Murdoch, Branson etc will say "You mean to tell me You were orchestrating events all the time, and I was but a puppet?-I thought the wonderful fame and wealth I achieved was ALL my own work, effort and intelligence, I didn't think for a moment that I was doing your bidding? I NEVER thought to give YOU the glory." Therein lies the rub?
Isaiah 10.7, Proverbs 21.1.
Luther said "Free will is a name for nothing".
B.Lever
Hi B Lever
I have to disagree with you. To see why I disagree please read these 2 articles which I wrote to prove freewill.
article 1
article 2
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