In their unrepentant, darkness-loving hearts, many today have created a false god in their own sinful image. Jesus told us that evil “men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” (John 3:19-21) They choose to look only at the goodness, grace, mercy, and love of God while intentionally refusing to acknowledge that the LORD is “Holy, holy, holy” and that “The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth.” (Psalms 9:16-17; Romans 11:22; Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8, etc.).
Just as the Holy Spirit warned us, these same counterfeits have also “heaped to themselves”, or set up before them, self-serving false teachers who conjoined them in their deliberate corruption of the image of a Holy loving God who is just and will judge each of us.
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:2-4
The only proper image of God in our hearts comes from acknowledging “All” that He’s given us in His Word.
“ALL scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Those who stay in and worship God on the record and the terms He gives in His Word learn sound “doctrine”, are reproved, and corrected, and instructed by the LORD. They are perfected, matured, equipped and “furnished” through and through by the LORD.
Those who truly love God supremely desire to know Him fully, to know all about Him, and to please Him, to do things His way and not their own (John 14:15; 15:14; 1 John 2:3-6; 5:3).
We cannot worship God on the basis of what we think He is but rather on who He says He is. The psalms gained understanding by being in God’s Word and therefore hated “every false way” or everything that didn’t align with the Word of God.
“And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.” 1 Chronicles 28:9
“God is not the way we say He is, God is the way the Bible says He is.” A.W. Tozer
“Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.” Psalms 119:104
When a man decides to truly repent, he will then worship God on the basis of who He tells us He is. Such a man will love and be “valiant for the truth” and therefore he will “HATE every false way.” (Jeremiah 9:3)
“Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.” Psalms 119:128
Many today render false worship toward the LORD in that they have not dethroned the god of self and therefore are seeking God for what He can give them or do for them – instead of loving and worshipping Him for who He is. Do we seek the heart of God or the hand of God? (Psalms 33:11) Do we only know the Word of God and not the God of the Word?
Saul’s Rebellion
Saul did not remain in the Word as Israel’s kings were instructed to do (Deuteronomy 17). He therefore became wise in his own conceit because of his evil heart of pride, arrogancy which is witchcraft or control, doing things our own way and not God’s
“And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.” 1 Samuel 15:22-23
Saul was full of pride. He not longer saw himself as “little” or humble and small in light of the Almighty. No, he was full of arrogance for not keeping his heart pure before God and therefore leaned to his own darkened understanding instead of trusting and obeying God.
“And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?.” 1 Samuel 15:17
In 1 Samuel 15: The LORD reminded Saul what Amalek did to Israel after God brought His people out of Egypt and told him to annihilate Amalek. In the Old Testament Amalek represents the flesh, the “old man” which must be “put off” (crucified) by the cross life (Colossians 3:3,9). Egypt represents the world. The LORD saves and delivers His people out of the world and commands us to kill, to crucify the flesh perpetually (Amalek). See 1 Corinthians 9:27. Like many Christians today, Saul chose do things his own way instead of God’s way, which is the way of the cross. Therefore Saul did an impartial job at dying, at killing the flesh. He let it (Amalek) live and for that God called him a rebel and took away his ministry. The same happens today to many who do not take up the cross wholly, who make concession for the flesh, who do not lay down their lives in this fleeting world, living a crucified life. “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.” (1 Samuel 15:23)
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.” Proverbs 3:5-7
Worshipping God for who He truly is is essential, and not having a distorted image of the Almighty with whom we have to do (2 Timothy 4:1-4).
PRAYER: Father, we come to You in Jesus’ name, asking You to clarify in our hearts and minds who You are and to clear up any and all misconceptions, false notions that are in us….
Knowing the LORD Involves Worshipping and Serving Him on His Stated Terms
“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:3
“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;” Philippians 3:10
How can we possibly get to know God except on the basis of who He said He is?
“CHRIST” appears 532 times in the New Testament Scriptures. The Greek word is CHRISTOS and means the anointed One, the Messiah. | Christology (the study of Christ).
This is a fascinating study sure to mature the believer’s understanding, relationship, and fellowship with the LORD. The whole of God’s Word reveals who He is and so the more of the full counsel of His Word we know and understand, the more we can know Him and how He operates. In fact, He is very “jealous” and tells us that even His name is “Jealous.” (Exodus 34:14) And, if we have the image of a false god in our hearts, erected by false notions, philosophies, we have another god in place of the LORD. This further underscores the necessity of searching the Holy Scriptures in diligent, daily digging and Bible Study.
The LORD levels a scathing rebuke to the three friends of Job for their misrepresentation of the LORD, of His attributes.
“And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.” Job 42:7
Nothing has changed. Job’s friends spoke incorrectly of God while Job kept the Word of God, held to the declarations the LORD had given them of Himself. As the wrath of God was kindled against the friends of Job for misrepresenting Him, so is His holy wrath set against those today who do the same – and they are many.
Like “many” today, Job’s friends did “corrupt the word (the record) of God.”
“For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.” 2 Corinthians 2:17
The words of God are the record of God – that which is on record directly from Him concerning who He is and who will be His and who will be excluded from His eternal kingdom (Revelation 21:8). Like Paul, men of God keep His Word unfailingly. They speak with “sincerity,” they speak “in Christ” or out of a crucified life, disposition (Galatians 20:20; Colossians 3:3).
NEWSFLASH: Dear sinner: You don’t get to decide or choose who God is. Read His Word honestly, with sincere heart, and own all of His truth (Proverbs 23:23). The immutable divine nature and attributes of the Almighty are perfect and don’t change, aren’t altered because a piece of dust (you, I) denies them, Him. Repent now sinner.
The problem with fashioning a god after our own sinful image, one who justifies our sin instead of judging it, is that such is not the God we shall give account to, the God who is the very Judge of our eternal souls and has given us His Word to which we are fully and personally accountable.
“So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” Romans 14:12
Face and take God at His Word or perish with every other rebel.
“Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.” Proverbs 13:13
“Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.” Proverbs 23:23
An attribute is simply something you attribute to someone and taking the name of the LORD in vain is prohibited by Him.
“Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” Exodus 20:7
Study to Know Him and His Attributes – and You Will IF He matters to You – and You Won’t if He Doesn’t
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15
Proper and thorough assimilation is essential in apprehending divine truth (Isaiah 28:13; 1 Corinthians 2:13, etc.). – “Rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15) There’s serious error and danger in diminishing from one divine attribute to accommodate another Deuteronomy 4:2). Beware! (2 Timothy 2:15) One divine attribute in no way negates nor diminishes from another (Deuteronomy 4:2; Proverbs 30:5-6; Revelation 22:18-19, etc.).
Just because “God is love”, gracious, forgiving, and merciful to those who fear and obey Him, does nothing to negate that He is “Holy, holy, holy.” (1 John 4:8, 16; Psalms 103:10-12; Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8) And, just because God is “Holy, holy, holy” does not diminish from His merciful kindness! (Psalms 86:5, 15)
Beware of going to seed on one Bible truth to the exclusion of what is transmitted in the whole counsel of God’s Word.
When we don’t yet know and understand His divine attributes, are we not susceptible to having the image of a false god in our imagination?
One of the goals of this post is to simply quicken your understanding of the revealing of the divine attributes in His Word. It’s the source, the treasure chest of blessedness!
“Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation. … For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” Exodus 34:7, 14
The LORD’s attributes are in His Word shown both in direct statements of revelation and also in His acts and ways towards the children of men throughout recorded biblical history spanning 6,000 years and into eternity future.
“Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” Psalms 107:8
God Reveals to Us that He is both “Good” and “Great” …
“For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.” Psalms 86:5
“But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.” Psalms 86:15
God is also both good and severe in His justice and judgment to those who despise instead of receiving His goodness. We are warned to “behold” both “the goodness and severity of God”:
“Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.” Romans 11:22
“For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” Isaiah 57:15
“That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.” 1 Timothy 6:14-16
“Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.” Jeremiah 9:23-24
“And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.” Isaiah 6:3
“And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.” Revelation 4:8
Here are some examples of the emotions of the LORD ….
God grieves: “his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel”
“And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the Lord: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.” Judges 10:16
The LORD weeps …
“But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the Lord’s flock is carried away captive.” Jeremiah 13:17
The LORD rejoices ….
“I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. … Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” Luke 15:7, 10
QUESTION:
“Was Jesus always sad on earth?”
REPLY
Notice the word “above” in Hebrews 1:9:
“Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness ABOVE thy fellows.” Hebrews 1:9
Christ was “a man of sorrows” for the things He suffered as the very Son of God and for being persecuted unto death for our sins (Isaiah 53). Yet, Jesus had more joy than any man who ever walked the earth (Heb. 1:9). This should be understandable due to joy coming from obedience and He was perfectly obedient (John 15:11). Jesus also supplied wine at a marriage celebration (John 2). It’s obvious that we are all still learning … but only if we remain teachable. Jesus was not a prude … the image of Jesus being a prude is catholic actually …. they have no image of Jesus except sad and emaciated ….. also, the idea that Jesus was a prude seems to be consistent with self-righteous, novice believers who find out some truth and take it to seed and do not continue to grow in grace and in discovering the whole of who Jesus was …. He invented joy, celebration, etc., and has a Great Supper and eternal celebration awaiting His own (1 Cor. 2:9; Rev. 21-22, etc.)
“Jesus wept” when He beheld the rebellion of His own people or those who were supposed to be His (John 11:35).
Christology (the study of Christ).
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How We Know the Bible is the only Holy Book on Planet Earth [podcast]
Articles
Darwin’s Demise: What they don’t want You to know about Charles Darwin! [podcast]

“Darwin’s theories are hardly irrefutable. He refuted them himself. This is how science works. Even he conceded that his theories would never be proven. Any actual learned Darwinist would have to concede the same. Also, we use the term ‘evolution’ so improperly that it’s become desensitized to actual facts of biology. We misuse it. Evolution is most often times intertwined with ‘adaptation’, which it is not. It’s like saying the term ‘free’ is the same as the term ‘no cost to you.’ Those are also obviously different. In any case, the ‘evolution of hominids’ is nonsense. These are nothing more than piles of various bones cherry picked to put the skeletons that they hope to display together. God made man in His image. Not in a monkey’s image. His.” Dave Fury
Darwin himself described the lack of transitional fossils as, “… the most obvious and gravest objection which can be urged against my theory.”
With the theory of evolution, we still lack much evidence. Where do we go from here?
Why do we not have unlimited fossil records of missing links of transitional forms if Darwin’s theory of evolution is true?
For example: If man came from apes, why are there still apes? And, where is the fossil record of the intermediary, transitional stages?
Shocking Charles Darwin Quotes
“But, as by this theory, innumerable transitional forms must have existed, why do we not find them embedded in countless numbers in the crust of the earth?” (Darwin, Origin of Species, 1859).
“When we descend to details we can prove that no one species has changed (i.e., we cannot prove that a single species has changed): nor can we prove that the supposed changes are beneficial, which is the groundwork of the theory.” Charles Darwin, 1863
“To suppose that the eye, with all its inimitable contrivances for adjusting the focus to different distances, for admitting different amounts of light, and for the correction of spherical and chromatic aberration, could have been formed by natural selection, seems, I freely confess, absurd in the highest possible degree.” – Charles Darwin, Origin of Species, 1st Ed., p. 186.
“I have asked myself whether I may not have devoted my life to a fantasy . . . I am ready to cry with vexation at my blindness and presumption” Charles Darwin [12].
“Often a cold shudder has run through me, and I have asked myself whether I may have not devoted myself to a fantasy.” (Charles Darwin, Life and Letters, 1887, Vol. 2, p. 229)
“The number of intermediate varieties, which have formerly existed must be truly enormous. Why then is not every geological formation and every stratum full of such intermediate links? Geology assuredly does not reveal any such finely graduated organic chain; and this, perhaps is the most obvious and serious objection which can be urged against the theory.” (Darwin, Charles, Origin of Species, 6th edition, 1902 p. 341-342)
“The FOOL hath said in his heart, There is no God.” Psalms 14:1
If “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God,” the wise people say in their hearts that “There is a God, you’re not Him – and we are all accountable to Him.”
“As it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Hebrews 9:27
Not one library the world over contains a stitch of proof that evolution is true.
“Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,” Romans 1:22
Atheism – The belief that there was nothing and nothing happened to nothing and then nothing magically exploded for no reason, creating everything and then a bunch of everything magically rearranged itself for no reason whatsoever into self-replicating bits which then turned into dinosaurs. Makes perfect sense.
It simply doesn’t matter how many scientific sounding words or theories one uses, we know from the first law of thermodynamics that matter cannot appear accidentally, by chance. We didn’t need someone to coin a “law” to know what the very first law of thermodynamics admits – that something cannot come out of nothing.
In His Word, God warns us of “avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called” (1 Timothy 6:20). False science is designed to oppose true science which acknowledges that which is self-evident. Much of what presents itself today, that which comes in the mere name of “science” is nothing more than an atheistic religion designed to deny that creation has a Creator. Consider the source. The atheistic peddlers of the debunked mere theory of evolution can be found to be miserable deniers of the obvious. More in a moment on how it’s been rightly stated that evolution is a “fairy tale for grownups.”
Remember, science is the mere study of the creation of an Almighty infinite Creator by the mere finite human.
Making Peace with God – Before it’s too late. | Atheism/Evolution
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Apostasy
Beware of “Private Interpretation” [podcast]

NO MAN GAVE THE TRUTH AND NO MAN CONTROLS IT
ANY person who doesn’t uphold God’s Word as final divine authority on all matters of faith, is 100% “NOT of God” according to the Son of God (John 8:47).
“Let God be true and EVERY man a liar.” Romans 3:4
Is God or are mere men confused?
“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” 1 Corinthians 14:33
Beware of those who violate, who speak contradictory to other parts of God’s Word in order to sell you on their “revelation.” Known truth, biblically stated truth must never be contradicted. The LORD is not confused and so we conclude that anyone upholding what they believe to be truth that contradicts known biblical truth, is confused at best. Beware of what the Holy Spirit calls “private interpretation.” (2 Peter 1:19-21) More in a moment on this.
Many seek to use commentaries, historians and the like to paint the picture, the outcome they desire because they do not love the LORD and therefore His truth. If God wanted us to have more it’d be in His Word…. I am not opposed to background information but that’s not divinely inspired Holy Scripture and many people try to change the outcome of biblical truth by using extra-biblical sources. Beware. They attempt to create a path to an unbiblical conclusion because they are “not valiant for the truth.” (Jeremiah 9:3)
It’s convoluted theology to speak against, contrary to the whole of the Word of God which among other things says “ALL scripture is given by inspiration of God.” (2 Timothy 3:16) Ignoring known, clearly stated Bible truth to perpetrate a certain view is bearing false witness against the LORD, is confusion, and is violence against the Holy Scriptures and the picture painted by the WHOLE of God’s Word. This is also a refusal to rightly divide the Word of truth but instead a deliberate, subjective ignoring of divine truth in order to perpetrate an agenda (1 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Timothy 2:15).
Many today interpret the Bible for their own self-serving purpose or liking, based on being predisposed to certain traditions, philosophies, and clichés. This is exactly what Jesus cited the false religionists of His day for doing (Mark 7:6-9).
God gave His Word to us and will reveal Himself and His will to each of His saints as they seek Him, studying His words thoroughly, diligently, daily.
“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” John 5:39-40
God gave us the Holy Scriptures to reveal to us who He is and yet, the individual must come to Jesus personally to know Him and understand His Precepts, His kingdom truths. Like the religionists Jesus is addressing above, many who think they know God are not known of God at all because they refuse to truly repent and seek His holy face.
Exactly as Jesus warned, there are “many false prophets” today to accommodate counterfeits, tares (Matthew 7:15; 24:11).
Many times we hear men stand up to speak, claiming they’ve been studying a topic in the Bible extensively – and insinuating that on the basis of THEIR study, you should just buy wholesale everything they’re about the say. There are “many deceivers” operating today (2 John 7-11). Out of the pride of their hearts we hear men preface their message this way, boasting of their study, to set up and snare the unlearned, the gullible when in reality many of them have simply borrowed the errors of other men. Yet we must judge all that is taught against our own personal, diligent study of the whole of God’s Word and never buy the subjective claims of mere men. This is the very reason so many are deceived today. Following man’s supposed revelation, interpretations, instead of getting God’s revelation for ourselves, firsthand, is the recipe to be deceived. There are no shortcuts to personally, thoroughly studying the whole counsel of God’s Word for ourselves. | The Importance of Personal, Organic Bible Study
This scenario often plays out when someone is teaching on the end times, claiming or insinuating that they have come up with special revelation. At times they will claim to definitely know and have figured out who the antichrist is, the specifics and timing of end time events, and secrets about these last days. Yet, at least some of those things they claim to have special knowledge of are not specifically, expressly written in the Bible. Beware of the “private interpretation” of mere men.
“We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:19-21
God’s Word, the words of God recorded in Holy Writ, were inspired by the Holy Spirit and were not written from any mere man’s “private interpretation”, nor are the words of God to be twisted and done violence to by anyone today for their own “private interpretation” to promulgate their own view, doctrine, or agenda.
Notice in this passage above that through Peter, the Holy Spirit puts the personal responsibility upon the individual disciple to “take heed” to the Word of God, to study it daily, diligently as the revelation of Christ and His will rises in our hearts, dawns on us – “ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.”
God expects His people to study thoroughly and to know His Word for themselves.
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15
No man controls the truth nor does he control the interpretation of divine truth which is self-evident and to be first and foremost studied and understood by individual disciples. Yes, God calls elders out to teach HIS Word, to let God’s Word dwell richly among His people, and yet the LORD alone teaches the individual believers heart His truth (Colossians 3:16). This is the individual priesthood of each and every blood bought saint of Christ. Jesus saves the individual sinner first and foremost who is then and only then an individual member of His one body (Ephesians 4; 1 Corinthians 12).
“But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. 21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. …26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. 27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.” 1 John 2:20-27
Ultimately, and most importantly, God teaches each and every one of His individual saints – “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:” (John 10:27)
Those who aren’t objective with the whole counsel of Scripture clearly prove their hearts are not honest, not authentic, and sincere before the LORD (Luke 8:15; John 7:16; 2 Corinthians 2:17; 2 Peter 3:16, etc.).
Beware of Being a “Back it Up” Bubba
Personally studying God’s Word from Genesis to Revelation, organically, is ultra-important. | The Importance of Personal, Organic Bible Study
To “back up” a belief with Scripture seems to really mean: “I believe ABC doctrine and I’m hell bent on finding Bible verses to prove it!” In other words someone like this doesn’t really care what the whole of Scripture teaches as much as they care to hold on to some pet doctrine (it’s usually something to justify their sin such as the falsehood of eternal security).
Some put forth their subjective beliefs and defend those beliefs by saying “I can back everything up with scripture.” Satan can too as we see him do when tempting Jesus (Luke 4). The devil used Scripture out of context as many today do. Are we merely backing up what WE say and what WE currently believe with Scripture or are we simply reading and diligently studying the whole counsel of Holy Scripture and letting GOD speak for Himself as we “compare spiritual things (Scripture, known truth) with spiritual things”? (1 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Timothy 2:15) Big difference. Think about that. Men and devils can deceitfully make the Bible say anything THEY want it to say but that doesn’t make it biblically sound and true. We must beware of our own tendency to espouse and hold on to philosophies, notions, and doctrines that do not line up with the whole counsel of God’s Word and we must be corrected (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
The disciple of Jesus, without exception, will be ever more rooted and grounded in the final divine authority of the written Word of God.
Jesus told us exactly who is “of God” and who is “NOT of God.”
“He that is OF GOD heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are NOT OF GOD.” John 8:47
ALL who are “of God” uphold His Word as final divine authority, with no exception.
When discussing any matter, specifically spiritually, the main issue is what God’s Word says, which is His “truth” and when one is valiant for His truth, such a man will not rely on anything except God’s Word (Jeremiah 9:3; John 17:17). God says we can be CERTAIN about what He says concerning any topic revealed in His Word – “Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, 21 That I might make thee KNOW the CERTAINTY of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?” (Proverbs 22:20-21)
We must honestly examine our own selves to see WHY we believe WHAT we currently believe. Discernment, “rightly dividing the word of truth” seem to be concretely connected to searching the Scriptures as we see with the Bereans who tested Paul and all that he taught, right? (2 Timothy 2:15; Acts 17:10-11) Lots of people who talk about discernment trust their own subjective discernment instead of letting the written WORD be their two edged sword of discernment (Hebrews 4:12). Many believe they are discerning correctly and yet aren’t daily, diligently being grounded in the written Word, which God will never contradict (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21).
The Berean Saints are a Great Example to us Today
“And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” Acts 17:10-11
May the reader be exhorted to become intimately familiar with the above passage, noticing that the Bereans didn’t even take Christ’s apostle Paul at his word. No, they “searched the scriptures daily” for themselves to see “whether those thing were so” that Paul was preaching.
As was the case with the Berean disciples who listened to Paul preach, God intends for us to partake in, to hear preaching and yet, all must be cross examined against our own personal searching of His Word for ourselves (2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16-17). On that note, do you remember when the LORD Jesus spoke to the woman at the well and how when He revealed Himself to her as the Messiah she ran out and told everyone? Yet, those men didn’t fully embrace Christ till they personally went to see Him for themselves.
“The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, 29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? 30 Then they went out of the city, and came unto him. … 42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.” Acts 4:28-30, 42
No Greek or Hebrew is needed and is certainly not the main rule of interpretation. We must take God’s preserved Word for what it clearly states in our own language, as we compile, compound, put together Scripture with Scripture (Isaiah 28:16; 1 Corinthians 2:13). This is the method of priority in apprehending truth, the highest, stated rule of interpreting truth. A thorough gathering of all Scripture pertaining to the given study, is essential.
“TAUGHT OF GOD”
“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
“But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are TAUGHT OF GOD to love one another.” 1 Thessalonians 4:9
The LORD alone is “the truth”, gave us His truth – His written Word – and presides over it, teaching it to His people (John 14:6; Psalms 146:6, etc.). His written Word is final divine authority and taught by Him to His people in abiding relationship (John 14:26; 16:13-14).
Beware of “Private Interpretation”
Being crucified with Christ means one is emptied of self, self-will, self-agenda, and abandoned to God’s will. This means that such a person searches out and embraces the biblical truth, no matter where it leads. He never bends the truth to try to fit a tradition or doctrine but rather reject any previous believed notion when the Word says differently (Romans 3:4; 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:15-17, etc.).
Those who engage in the sinful activity of privately interpreting Scripture, do so because …
- They themselves are un-repentant, not denying self, taking up the cross, and following Jesus (Luke 9:23-24; 2 Timothy 4:2-4)
- They refuse to let God be true and every man a liar – beginning with their own wicked hearts (Romans 3:4)
- They value tradition about divine truth (Mark 7:6-9)
- They do no hold God’s Word as final divine authority though they claim to (John 8:47)
- They refuse to be honest with the whole counsel of Holy Scripture (2 Timothy 2:15; 3:15-17)
Beware of those who seek to control the interpretation of God’s Word – those who impose their own notions and doctrine onto God’s truth. There are many who read things into Scripture which are not in the Scriptures. Let’s read again our central passage:
“We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20 Knowing this first, that NO PROPHECY OF THE SCRIPTURE IS OF ANY PRIVATE INTERPRETATION. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:19-21
“Private interpretation” seems to point to the agenda and act of self application based on tradition or preconceived notions. Not allowing God to speak for Himself via a thorough study of the whole counsel of His written Word. Application or interpretation based on self desires or that which conforms to some extra-biblical notion or doctrine of men.
Here’s the Greek word for “private”
G2398
ἴδιος
idios
id’-ee-os
Of uncertain affinity; pertaining to self, that is, one’s own (agenda); by implication private or separate: – X his acquaintance, when they were alone, apart, aside, due, his (own, proper, several), home, (her, our, thine, your) own (business), private (-ly), proper, severally, their (own).
Greek word for “interpretation”
G1955
ἐπίλυσις
epilusis
ep-il’-oo-sis
From G1956; explanation, that is, application: – interpretation.
Total KJV occurrences: 1
Not only did the Holy Ghost give us God’s written Word, but also it’s the Holy Ghost that teaches individual saints. Here’s how:
“Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which THE HOLY GHOST TEACHETH; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” 1 Corinthians 2:13
Believers are “taught of God” as they study and collate Scripture. This is never to be infringed upon or controlled by elders. That’s one reason for the plurality of elders in the local expressions, the gatherings of Christ’s body. There’s safety in a plurality of elders who should thereby be held accountable and rebuked when needed (Titus 1:5, etc.).
As Christ’s saints continue “stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers”, they compare, put together, collate line upon line, Bible verse upon Bible verse, in ordain to be “taught of God” His truth (Acts 2:42; Colossians 3:16).
“Reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine”
RED FLAG: When you witness a man, an elder, who dodges or doesn’t want certain BIBLE verses read, due to that truth contradicting his tradition/heresy, you know you have a man who is in need of repentance (Mark 7:6-9). Such a man’s heart is not captive to the Word of God. He has his own evil agenda. Such a wolf will seek to impose his doctrine of men and devils on others and must be rebuked.
“Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. 20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.” 1 Timothy 5:19-20
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” 2 Timothy 4:2
The root reason people choose the lie of OSAS is that they simply refuse to truly repent and lay down their lives in this fleeting world. So they are willing to wax over and avoid mountains of biblical truths and warnings. They have their own agenda they hold in reserve. They are not given over to Christ. They believed and were saved and yet didn’t continue in the truth – which Jesus says is essential.
Many times, the ones who cry “context, context, context” are those taking God’s Word out of context in order to perpetrate their heresy. They don’t want the real context because though they pose as Christians, they are not men of truth and so don’t honestly follow the Word of God honestly, no matter where it may lead. They don’t like the context of Holy Scripture – because it simply doesn’t say what they want it to say. They have a predetermined outcome, a doctrinal goal they want to reach and are willing to bait and switch, do acrobats, and ignore Scripture that doesn’t agree with their heresy. These are not honest people. Their goal is to reach their predetermined conclusion.
The Bible reveals that un-repentant people migrate to false teachers, false doctrines (2 Timothy 4:3-4).
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4
Counterfeits invent ways to excuse themselves from accountability to Scripture. Though they regularly and selectively refer to and read the Old Testament Scriptures, when you quote or read them Holy Scripture from the Old Testament to expose OSAS, they will scream “but that’s Old Testament!” Nice try. But “ALL scripture” is given to New Testament saints and we are told that we are taught by those very Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:17; Romans 15;4; 1 Corinthians 10:11). Also, this same truth as is taught in the passage below, is also taught and confirmed all over the New Testament and from Genesis to Revelation.
“Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel? 12 Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth. 13 When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.” Ezekiel 33:11-13
Eternal Security is a Lie from Hell.
The Ultimate Teacher is Divine
“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” John 14:26
“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.” John 16:13-14
GOD alone “keepeth truth”, is the Divine Source and Steward of His Truth
“…the LORD his God: 6 Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:” Psalms 146:6
Notice the Hebrew word for “keepeth” here….
H8104
שָׁמַר
shâmar
shaw-mar’
A primitive root; properly to hedge about (as with thorns), that is, guard; generally to protect, attend to, etc.: – beware, be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep (-er, self), mark, look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save (self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch (-man).
Total KJV occurrences: 468
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Abiding
The Benefits of Knowing and Delighting in the LORD [podcast]

Delighting ourselves in Him
“Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Psalms 37:4
Loving God with a Whole Heart, our Whole Being
“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40
Abiding in Christ, Asking
“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” John 15:7
Jesus Must Be Our “First love”
“Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” Revelation 2:4-5
“That Your Joy May be Full”
“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. 24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” John 16:23-24
“That is the only place I want to be at the feet of Jesus drinking in His word. Soaking up all He has to say to me! I do not ever want to be arrogant enough to believe I can make it without Jesus. Everyday I tell Him how much I need Him. I am nothing without Jesus!! Oh how I long to be with Him! Yearning for the day when I shall see Him in the clouds. Coming to take us home! Hallelujah!” Karen Cochran
Truly Delighting in the LORD
“Many take this verse out of context (Psalm 37:4). For many years all I would hear Christians say was, ‘He will give you the desires of your heart.’ This then becomes all about you. They would leave out the first part, which says you must delight yourself in the Lord. I came to realize that when you delight in Him, He changes your heart, and you begin to desire what He desires. He aligns your heart with His heart!” Karen Cochran
The subject matter of your prayers reveals if you are about you, or about Jesus.
To illustrate our relationship with Christ, one write of old noted:
“The life of self is death.
The death of self is life.”
There cannot and will not be a resurrection until there is a death. Death and burial must precede raising up. Read Romans 6 each morning this week and ask God to help you life a doornail dead life!
Am I delighting in the LORD? If not, how can He possibly grant the desires of my heart?
“Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Psalms 37:4
When we delight in the LORD, our lives are crucified with Christ, we are one with Him and He is filling our hearts with His desires – to worship, love, and obey Him. What we ask Him for in prayer will change. Instead of “LORD, please give me this or that fleeting trinket,” it will be “LORD, please let this life be crucified with Thee. Help me to love You more. Use me to edify Your people and minister Your bless-ed Gospel to the lost souls You died and raise against to save.”
“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.” Romans 8:29
Run from any wolf who is not squaring you up regularly to inform you that the LORD mandates your death so that He can fill and raise your life upward, Heavenward, for His eternal glory.
YOUR PRAYER: Holy Father, thank You so very much for sending Your only begotten Son to find, rescue, forgive, and save me into Your glorious eternal kingdom. Please help me to know and love You more. Sanctify my life and conform me to the image of Christ. Please wash me afresh with Your precious blood LORD Jesus. Use me to help others know You dear LORD. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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