Sunday, December 29, 2013

Simplicity of the Gospel

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

I've been in some church groups where people were always saying things like, "According to the Greek, this means ... " and they would go on to give lofty words from Greek language.

While re-reading I Tim. 6, a passage of scripture reminded me of those people in churches who delight in quoting Greek ...

I Tim. 6 ... Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. 2And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.  3If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 4He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,   5Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

There are some church groups where they constantly strive over meaning of the words of the Bible and some especially speak of the meaning of these words in the Greek language.

Understanding comes from God.  If understanding was attached to the Greek language then we could suppose the Greek people would be extremely godly. But I've never heard of that being the case.  Paul said:  For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.  I Cor. 1  Some seminaries follow strongly after Greek to understand Bible and they pursue things of God in a very intellectual way to impress people.  It is interesting that Paul said the Greeks seek after wisdom ... intellectual things ... and therefore the gospel is foolishness to such.  I've certainly heard some preachers do this.  When you see this, Paul says:  "from such withdraw yourselves"  I Tim. 6:5

Understanding is from God ... God will teach those of us who belong to HIM.

There is a simplicity of the Gospel.  Some people make the Bible to be very complex with lofty explanations of their own minds.

A woman once told me how wonderful the church service was at her church Sunday.  She said, "I couldn't understand a word of what pastor spoke."  It was some kind of high, lofty intellectual sermon.  And she thought this good.  Amazing.  I just stared at her when she spoke this.

Paul was just opposite ...

I Cor. 2 ... And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. 2For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 4And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:  5That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 

I Cor. 14 ... For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? 9So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.

Beware of people who come striving over words in context of Bible.  Beware of those who come with high sounding intellectual speech.

The Holy Spirit is our teacher and God gives us understanding of spiritual things by HIS Spirit.  The concepts are often very simple but they are life changing.  And that power to change us is from God by HIS Spirit.  It is light and not darkness.