Oneness Refuted
We who are mere men, finite, cannot possibly understand the magnitude of the infinite God who made us and all things (Deuteronomy 29:29). Yet we must believe what He did tell us about Himself. In fact, some may be surprised to know that the LORD requires that we do such, the we believe what He said about Himself.
“Godhead” appears 3 times in God’s Word.
“Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.” Acts 17:29
“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:” Romans 1:20
“For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” Colossians 2:9
“The Father and the Son”
“Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father ANDDDDD the Son. 23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.” 1 John 2:22-23
Message Received:
“The word ‘trinity’ or ‘triune’ is never found in the Bible.”
Reply:
The term/word “oneness” appears no where in Scripture. Did the wolves in your oneness cult whose message you are regurgitating forget to notice that? The concept of the Triune nature of the “Godhead” is found throughout Scripture.
We are indwelled and led by the Holy Spirit and approach the Father through the name/authority of Jesus Christ (John 14:13; 16:23-24; 1 Corinthians 3:6; 1 John 3:24, etc.).
“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” 1 John 5:7 (KJB)
Some will list, will cite 3 names here and yet say they’re all one name. One man said to me: “the name of Jesus Christ is the name of the Father AND OF THE Son AND of the Holy Ghost.” Yet in the Bible verse above John says there are three, not one, who bear record in Heaven and lists Father, Son, and Holy Ghost (1 John 5:7).
Jesus said “I and my Father are one.” Note that Christ identifies two divine Members of the one “Godhead” – “I and my Father are one.” (John 10:30)
When we collate all that Christ says of Himself and His Father in relationship to one another, over and over we see Him identify Himself and His Father as two distinct divine Persons.
Here’s an example:
“my Father hath taught me” John 8:28
Why would one Person speak of teaching Himself while identifying TWO Persons?
Why would there be, why would there exist the name of the Father, the Word/Son, and the Holy Ghost throughout Holy Writ if they were all one Person? The fact that the Bible uses the word “Godhead” speaks of plurality.
How many divine Members of the Godhead are named here? – “For there are THREE that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one (in unison).” 1 John 5:7 (KJB)
Message Received:
“There is One Lord, One Faith, and One Baptism. The Name of The Lord is Jesus. The Faith once delivered to the original Church brought forth submission to God and caused people to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus. They were filled with the Holy Ghost speaking in other tongues as the Spirit of God gave the utterance. There was no teaching during those days of a trinity of god in three persons. Nobody had ever heard of such a thing. All the people in the original Church were Jesus Name One God Non Trinity Apostolic believers filled with the Holy Ghost. The Church is still the same today. We serve the same God, and all the truth of the original Church is in your Bible. There is no excuse for anybody to teach or believe in a three person god. To believe in a god consisting of three persons is to forsake the truth and worship a false idea. There has never been a trinity of gods in three persons co-equal, or co-anything. Trinity is a lie. God is a Spirit. The Spirit of God is in Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ is in the Spirit. The invisible things of God can be clearly seen including his power and godhead as we experience the power and majesty of the mighty God in the presence of Jesus. Jesus is the everlasting Father and the prince of peace. There is no way that God would ever approve of the teaching of a three person god. Get out of that mess and be converted to the only truth that can set people free. Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus, deny the trinity, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Stick with this truth until you die, and then you will truly be able to say that you have been saved by the blood of the lamb.”
Reply:
We are indwelt and led by the Holy Spirit and approach the Father through the name/authority of Jesus Christ (John 14:13; 16:23-24; 1 Corinthians 3:6; 1 John 3:24, etc.).
“For there are THREE that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” 1 John 5:7
Why would God here identify “THREE” if there were only one? The “THREE are one” not the three equals one. That would be bad math.
Jesus said “I and my Father are one.” Note that Christ identifies two divine Persons – “I and my Father are one.” John 10:30
When we collate all that Christ says of Himself and His Father in relationship to one another, over and over we see Him identify Himself and His Father as two distinct divine Persons.
Here’s an example:
“my Father hath taught me.” John 8:28
Why would one Member of the Godhead speak of teaching Himself while identifying TWO Persons?
Let’s look to Luke 3:21-22 and Genesis 1:26.
“Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that JESUS also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, 22 And the HOLY GHOST descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven (the Father), which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.” Luke 3:21-22
So Jesus is being water baptized on earth and the Holy Ghost is descending upon Him while the Father speaks from Heaven. Just like we read in 1 John 5:7 – “the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost.”
“And God said, Let US make man in OUR image, after OUR likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” Genesis 1:26
An egg – 1 egg yet 3 parts to that egg as there are 3 divine Persons that make up the “Godhead.”
Christ stated: “And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me (Jesus).” John 8:16
More death nails to the oneness falsehood …
“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name (Jesus), he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I (Jesus) have said unto you.” John 14:26
“How God (the Father) anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.” Acts 10:38
John 17 is the written record of Jesus praying to the Father for His people:
“That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me (Christ), and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” John 17:21
Note here that Jesus is praying to the Father for all of His people to be “one.” Could Jesus be trying to make you and I and the millions of Christians who dwell on the earth today and in centuries past “one” person? OR, what Jesus speaking of being one in unity? Obviously Jesus isn’t trying to make us into one person. Read these words of Christ again. Why then do we seek to limit and make the Godhead to be one Person/Member? 1 John 5:7 says “these THREE are one” cannot mean one person but rather must mean one in nature and unison. When speaking of marriage/holy matrimony, Jesus says:
“And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain (TWO) shall be one flesh? 6 Wherefore they are no more twain (TWO), but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” Matthew 19:4-6
Jesus here says that when “a man” and “his wife” (two separate individuals) are “joined together” they are “one.” So, they are not just one person but rather two people joined together as/into one family unit – “man” and “wife.”
Also, ask this: How could they be put asunder (divided) if they were only one numerically/one person?
“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” Genesis 2:24
Now, are a man and a woman who are married one person or are they “one flesh”? They are two people but one in unity as a family.
The oneness of God is clearly not that there is only one Member of the “Godhead.” Otherwise why would the Bible even use the term “Godhead”? (Acts 17:29; Romans 1:20; Colossians 2:9)
Look up the word “Godhead” in the KJB.
The Holy Spirit and the Word are the teachers (John 14:26; 16:13; 1 Cor. 2:13). – Simply go by what God’s Word tells us and “Lean not to thine own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Pray for understanding.
Whenever someone asks me about the Triune nature of God, I quote 1 John 5:7. Who can explain who HE is better than the very One we are seeking to understand? Also, trying to explain some things that are far too high for finite humans to understand is a futile endeavor.
Colossians 2 speaks of those who are “intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind.” (Col. 2:18)
We should never go beyond what the LORD said of Himself in His Word or attempt to deny such. If people demand an answer beyond that, invite them to delve into God’s Word for themselves (which is what we are to do anyway).
“The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.” Deuteronomy 29:29
Only God Himself can reveal Himself in an individual’s heart and He only does that when an individual bows down in humility, repentance, and faith, falling upon the mercy of God through Jesus Christ. Some are being led astray by oneness cult leaders due to their own refusal to get honest with God and His Holy Word (Luke 8:15; 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16). Beware of the perversions of oneness cults and their Scripture-twisting tactics.
God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself (2 Cor. 5:19). Jesus was also full of the Holy Ghost (Lk. 3:21-22; Jn. 3:34; Acts 10:38). This speaks for itself. In Jesus dwelt the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Col. 2).
As you read the Gospels you begin to see how that the text constantly refers to the Father, the Word/Son, and the Holy Ghost. That is, unless you are allowing your mind to be conditioned to deny all “THREE” members of the Godhead (1 John 5:7).
According to Holy Writ, we are indwelt and led by the Holy Spirit and approach the Father through the name/authority of Jesus Christ (John 14:13; 16:23-24; 1 Corinthians 3:6; 1 John 3:24, etc.).
“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these THREE are one.” 1 John 5:7 (KJB)
“These THREE are ONE” could not possibly mean that there is only one member of the Godhead. No, instead is simply tells us that there are “THREE” members and they are one in substance and unity, etc. How can “THREE” be one numerically?
Why would God here identify “THREE” if there were only one? The “THREE are one” not the three equals one. That would be bad math. Jesus said “I and my Father are one.” Note that Christ identifies two divine Persons – “I and my Father are one.” (John 10:30) When we collate all that Christ says of Himself and His Father in relationship to one another, over and over we see Him identify Himself and His Father as two distinct divine Persons. Here’s an example: “my Father hath taught me.“ (John 8:28) Why would one Person speak of teaching Himself while identifying TWO Persons?
As you read the Gospels you begin to see how that the text constantly refers to the Father, the Word/Son, and the Holy Ghost. That is, unless your mind is being conditioned to deny all “THREE” members of the Godhead (1 John 5:7).
It should be more than obvious that the new versions of the Bible are corrupted. They are clearly the work of the arch enemy of God and mankind. Satan is behind them and he is the one who wanted the clearest verse in the Bible conveying the triune nature of God to be completely neutered. In fact, it might as well be removed. This is clearly an attack on the divine nature of the Almighty, the triune Godhead. This is more proof that Satan is behind the oneness doctrine.
1 John 5:7 Comparison
KJB (King James Bible):
“For there are THREE that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” 1 John 5:7
NIV (New International Version):
“For there are three that testify:” 1 John 5:7
NASB (New American Standard Bible):
“For there are three that testify:” 1 John 5:7
More on Bible Versions here.
Feedback / Dialogue:
Jason Frost writes:
“Hebrews 13:8 says Jesus doesn’t change and yet modalism says He does. That Jesus is a shapeshifter speaking in the 3rd person which is not only unbiblical but illogical. Take time to consider these questions and scripture please. I’m not here to attack but in love and concern. Proverbs 27:5-6.
- Hebrews 1:5 tells us that Jesus was begotten by His Father. Did He beget Himself?
- In Matthew 22:44, the Father said Jesus would sit at His right hand until His enemies were made His footstool. Was Jesus to sit at His own right hand?
- In Matthew 24:36, when Jesus told His disciples that no one knows the day or hour of His return but the Father only, did He really know but made up an excuse to not tell them?
- In John 14:28, Jesus said His Father was greater than He was. Does this mean He was greater than Himself?
- In John 17:1, Jesus prayed to His Father. Was He praying to Himself?
- In Matthew 27:46, Jesus cried out, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?” Had He forsaken Himself?
- In John 20:17, Jesus said He would ascend to the Father after His resurrection. Did He ascend to Himself?
These and many other biblical passages demonstrate to a rational Bible reader that the modalism teaching is not only unbiblical, but also utterly illogical! Dangerous doctrine of modalism.
Phil Snow notes:
“So then, If we are Created in God’s Image, which we are. And ‘We’ are Three in One, we being spirits, who have a Soul i.e. mind, emotions etc. and we live in a Body.
Then why is it so hard to see that God, who’s image we are created In, is Three in one????The Three Unique and Distinct persons the Father, The Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit Are the One True God. They work in unity and purpose just like our body does when we are in perfect health and physical, mental and spiritual condition. The teaching of the Three in one God is everywhere in the Bible, from Genesis “Let US create man in OUR image.” Why is this so hard to see????
Use the testimony of All of Scripture, like the verses in the article above, just take time to think about it, and ask the Holy Spirit, who is our Teacher, if there is something else to it or anything you just might have missed.”
Message Received:
The early church new nothing of the triune nature of God.
Reply:
Really? Jesus’ apostle John obviously understood “the FATHER, the WORD, and the HOLY GHOST” and that “these THREE are one.” 1 John 5:7 Are the Scriptures not the final authority of God? Are the Holy Scriptures, the record of Christ and His holy apostles not the early church?
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What Church is Jesus Coming Back for? [podcast]
ETERNAL SECURITY DEATH NAIL. CASE CLOSED!
Are you personally, intimately familiar with the words of Holy Scripture found in Ephesians 5:25-27?
“Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. 22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:21-27
Jesus is coming back for a church without spot or wrinkle or any such thing but one that is “holy and without blemish.” So this speaks of those who were His and yet presently have spotted garments, sin they haven’t repented of (Ephesians 5:25-27).
“Be ye holy”
“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16
“NO MAN shall see the Lord” without “holiness”
“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:” Hebrews 12:14
Regrettably, most preachers today are so busy making excuse for sin that they refuse to disclose this preeminent, self-evident New Testament truth.
“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?” 2 Peter 3:10-12
As this fallen world system and its inhabitants spiral unalterably downward in darkness and disarray, it becomes even more essential for the wise virgin saint to be anchored in the LORD in private prayer, praise, thanksgiving, and Bible reading. No man shall withstand the darkness of this late hour who is not seeking the LORD diligently, daily, relentlessly – demonstrating perpetually that they love the LORD supremely more than self or any other (Matthew 24:10-13, 22). Memorize 1 Chronicles 16:11; Psalms 57:7; 63:8.
IF he’s not hastening you to the holiness of God, he’s playing you for your allegiance to him, and perhaps your money! are you a gullible pawn? Read 2 Peter 2 and 3.
SO, the sinful seminarian wolf you call your “pastor” isn’t preaching the return of Christ, the cross, the necessity of personal holiness, hell, the essential of repentance, or Christ, the Messiah….. and you still sit under that darkness? Repent.
“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
SO MANY have more faith, more confidence in SIN than they do in the SAVIOR who came and died to make us free from ALL SIN! That’s a cross-less false gospel! Just as Jude foretold, these deceivers – “ungodly men” – cover their sins with a false grace message (Jude 3-4). With no exception, the saving grace of God – IFFFF you really have it – delivers you from sin and never justifies you in sin! Time to repent and be changed today! …. These grace abusing tares want to relish a false grace message that erroneously says that God is going to save them IN their sin but the Bible says Jesus came to save us “FROM” our sin – not in our sins (Matthew 1:21; John 1:29; Titus 2:11-4, etc.). SO, God’s grace isn’t sufficient to deliver you from sin? If you believe that you don’t know Him.
Some among us are so enthralled in listening to modern end times teachers as they seek to figure everything out, that they are not abiding in Christ. These are among the foolish virgins.
ARE YOU spending more time engrossed in some supposed end times scenario than you are obeying God by doing the Great Commission mandate? If so, you are not ready to meet Jesus and in big trouble. Isn’t it time to let God be God and to get about the Father’s business?
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How we walk in “Strong Confidence” [podcast]
“In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.” Proverbs 14:26
“Strong confidence” is only found in fearing God, in walking in the fear of the LORD.
“The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.” Proverbs 14:27
We are instructed to “forget not all his benefits” (Psalms 103:2) …… In this passage, we are promised benefits from our LORD:
- “strong confidence”
- “a place of refuge”
- “depart from the snares of death”
Our part is to walk in the fear of the LORD.
“Strong Confidence” that glorifies God and not man, comes from walking in the fear of the LORD, which means we are obeying Him.
Like the psalmist, we should pray to God to “unite my heart to fear they name.”
The psalmist prayed:
“Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.” Psalms 86:11
To “unite” in this verse means to combine, to become one…. permeate our innermost being.
When we truly walk in the fear of God, we fear nothing else.
Fearing God means we fear no man.
“The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?” Psalms 118:6
“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” Romans 8:31-32
David and Paul walked in the fear of the LORD, and thereby were possessed with “strong confidence” and consequently feared no man or devil.
We can fear God without walking “In the fear of the LORD.” We should pray and endeavor to live in the fear of the LORD.
“Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.” Proverbs 23:17
So there seems to be the desire of God for His children to be permeated with His fear, to live in the fear of the LORD.
“Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.” Acts 9:31
The members of the early church were “edified” ….
- “walking in the fear of the Lord,
- and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost,
- were multiplied.”
Let us always be grounded in the foundational essential biblical truth of knowing God—that He created us to know Him (John 17:3).
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 1:7
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10
The life of the disciple of Jesus is learning to let God have His way in us, to lay our own will…. to let God be in control.
How many of us are realizing just how much sinful chaos and calamity transpires when we are in control instead of God?
Is this not part of the reason John the Baptist could so readily cry out “He must increase but I must decrease”? (John 3:30)
Are you reading Romans 6 each morning beloved of God?
Are you learning the cross life?
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” Ecclesiastes 12:13
“And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.” Luke 12:4-5
“In the fear of the LORD” the born-again believer is “hid with Christ in God” and fully assured, full of divine confidence!
“For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:3
In being crucified with Christ, we are hid not only from the evil of others, but primarily and most importantly, we are hid from the evil of self, the self-life.
Beware of the often-peddled cheap counterfeit, where people are instructed to learn to love themselves. The Bible commands us to love and fear God and love others, not self. In fact, loving self is the root sin that brought the original fall of mankind and remains as that sin which keeps men from God—pride in self instead of fearing God!
Those who walk in the fear of the LORD, live a crucified life. They walk in the “strong confidence” of the LORD (Proverbs 14:26).
You are no longer your own, you’ve been bought with the price of the very and precious blood of Jesus.
“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Prayer: Father, in Jesus’ name, please forgive me for the sin of self-idolatry and not fearing You. I now repent. Please forgive and cleanse me of this sin. I here and now declare and choose to trust You with my life. I love You Jesus!
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Knowing the Word of God and also the God of the Word [podcast]
The highest priority of the true disciple is knowing God.
So many strive to know God’s will.
It’s only when you know God that you will know His will.
We all know people who are now away from God. They backslid. They no longer serve Him as they once did. Well, were they truly serving Him, or the church? They had some kind of a departure from the local church they were so fond of and consequently have no semblance of a life with Christ presently. Could this be due to them putting their energy and affections into the local church friends they met and the festivities? Yes. They were in love with the externals and not Christ.
“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” Revelation 4:11
“God’s greatest desire is for us to have a relationship with Him. We were created for His great pleasure. Revelation 4:11” Karen Cochran
“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
Kingdom Priority
KNOWING and LOVING, WORSHIPPING God. Read Matthew 4:10; 22:37-39; John 17:3.
Pinnacle Revelation
Knowing God is the paramount divine purpose for which He sent His only begotten ….. and for which He created, made us.
“And this is life eternal (the whole reason, purpose), that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:3
Knowing God is the reason He sent His only begotten Son—to bring us to Himself in a present and eternal relationship (Exodus 25:8;Psalms 27:4, 8; Philippians 3:10, etc). One of Satan’s tricks is to get the elders to intercept that heart affection worship.
“It has always been about Jesus. Before Christ came to save us from our sins, the Bible was pointing to Jesus. Now after Christ came, we still look to Jesus. It has always been about knowing and trusting in Jesus. Before He came people just did not know His name, but now we do!” Serena Wagner
It’s not about elders, bishops. or pastors—Christ’s eternal kingdom is all about Jesus and no other. Read John 1; Colossians 1-2; Hebrews 1; Revelation 1.
WHAT will you say to the nail scarred risen LORD on Judgment Day when you made it about something else other than Him?
“Christianity can quickly become ‘Do this and Don’t do that.’ Jesus is quickly forgotten. Instead, repent and fall in love with JESUS, and through the power of the Holy Spirit you will live a life that pleases Him. When You are filled with the Holy Spirit You will hate the sin you once loved.” Alan Brayshaw
WHO is “known of” God as opposed to those He will tell “I never knew you”? (Matthew 7:21)
“But if any man love God, the same is known of him.” 1 Corinthians 8:3
“Those are the most frightening and terrifying words anyone could ever hear! That is why I always ask Jesus, ‘Do you know me?’ I want to be with my Lord and Savior for eternity! But I do not want to be so arrogant and prideful as to believe that God doesn’t have every right to spue me out. Or I that I am safe! I deserve hell. The only reason I have been spared is because of Jesus’ saving work for me on the cross! He redeemed me! But there are many conditions to be eternally with Jesus. We are to have a healthy fear of God knowing He has the power to determine the fate of our very soul! Matthew 10:28 It means nothing to Jesus if all we have is head knowledge of the Bible without any heart. He told the Pharisees they knew scriptures but they didn’t know Him in their heart (John 5: 38-47). It’s not based on what we know it’s based on knowing Him in an abiding relationship (John 15). The cross is the way to a real intimate relationship with Jesus. Through the dying of self He becomes your first love. And you begin to love Him with your whole soul, heart and mind (Matthew 22:37). I ask God daily ‘increase my hunger for Your Word.’ I want the hunger and love for God’s Word that David had! Just read and study Psalm 119. He cried out for more understanding even in the midst of persecution! That was his whole priority in life! David loved God, therefore he loved God’s Word as evidenced in Psalm 119. Every word is filled with love, devotion, respect, rejoicing and delighting in God’s words, pleading with the Lord that He might learn His statues and he might not err from God’s judgements. Psalm 119 is a treasure chest of David’s love for God’s word! If you want to truly fall in love with all of God’s word read, study and memorize Psalm 119!” Karen Cochran
Knowing the Facts and the Father
Recently, in order “to provoke unto love and to good works” I posted the meme above this paragraph and as has happened before, was confronted about how the Pharisees knew God’s Word but rebelled against Jesus (Hebrews 10:24). Let’s cross examine this position against the counsel of Scripture.
While it’s clear that we must know not only the Word of God but the God of the Word, the God revealed in His Word, how does that negate the need for Bible knowledge? It simply doesn’t.
Just because the Pharisees of Christ’s day knew His Word but didn’t choose to turn their hearts to Him, how does that mean that believers today should neglect knowing His Word? Such logic is not only bad, it’s un-scriptural and evil.
“When you fall in love don’t you want to shout it from the rooftops? He, the man you are in love with, is all you talk about! Should be the same with Jesus! You want to tell everyone about this man, the Savior who saved your life! Just as the woman at the well did. She told the whole city ‘Come, and see a man, which told me all the things that ever I did: is this not the Christ’ John 4: 28-29.” Karen Cochran
Beware of anyone who discourages learning God’s Word in any form, including memorizing Scripture. This is a novice error and it could only be coming from the evil one. Because the Jews knew the Bible and rejected Jesus, novices reason that this means that New Testament saints, saved by grace, are not to intimately know or memorize God’s Word. Nonsense!
Is the primary responsibility of the disciple of Jesus to:
A. Follow the instructions of God’s Word? or
B. Don’t be like the Pharisees (false leaders)?
A. is the correct answer.
The fact that the LORD cited the false religionists of His day for not coming to Him, for not opening their hearts to Him, in no way communicates that those who are His should not learn His Word too well. That would be like saying that just because the false leaders of Jesus’ day knew His Word and yet didn’t turn their hearts to Jesus, anyone who learns His Word too well (as if that’s even possible) will automatically not turn their hearts to Jesus.
Let’s look at the passage that is being taken out of context:
“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
“And isn’t that just what Jesus told the Pharisees? You know scriptures but you don’t know me in your heart! John 5: 38-47. It means nothing to Jesus if we only know of Him. We must know Him in Spirit and in truth! John 4:24.” Karen Cochran
Did Jesus rebuke them for knowing His Word? No.
Notice, Jesus says that His people are to “Search the scriptures” and the Scriptures “are they which testify of” (reveal) Him.
“Even the Pharisees knew the scriptures and knew of Jesus, but they did not know Him. Jesus told them they did not have Him in their hearts and therefore did not have eternal life . John 5: 38-47. Head knowledge means nothing to Jesus. We need to know Him in our hearts in a relationship with Him. Digesting His words! Getting to know Him. We should be emulating the sweet savour of Christ. 2 Corinthians 2: 15. How can you be like someone that you don’t know?” Karen Cochran
The Gospel message is “the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16).
In fact, it’s the seed of God’s “incorruptible” Word that is the instrument of His regeneration in our lives.
“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” 1 Peter 1:23-25
The very way God ordained and orchestrated that we learn about and know Him, repent and believe upon Christ, is through the knowledge we get from “the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” Listen to the apostle Paul instruct Timothy:
“And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 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 man of God cannot be perfected, matured, “throughly furnished unto all good works” without a deep knowledge of the Scriptures which the apostle reveals here is “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”
So the first of the 4 stated reasons God gave us His Word, the Bible, are for…
“doctrine”
Must know the facts and the Father!
Must know the Word and the God of the Word.
How are God’s people going to learn His Word if they don’t study and memorize and meditate upon it? How are God’s people going to be sanctified by the truth and washed by the water of the Word if they’re not in that Word daily and engaged in learning and obeying God’s Word?
So if the Pharisees did not know God’s Word would they not have also rejected him? How can knowing God’s Word be negative in any way? It’s simply can’t.
Is trying not to be like a Pharisee more important than actually following Christ?
In John 5:39-40 Jesus said nothing negative about the Pharisees knowing His Word but rather about them refusing to come to Him. Let us rightly divide saints and correct those who bear false witness (2 Timothy 2:15). In fact, in another place Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for not knowing His Word: “Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God“ (Matthew 22:29). God’s people need to know “the scriptures” and walk in “the power of God.” Only Satan could be behind the attempt to hinder either!
“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
There will be those who come and go who know the words of God but not the God of the Word. Beware saints. Many times they know all the right things to say and yet have not truly repented and are living in sin, darkness, pride, and deep-seated rebellion.
On this note, sister Karen Cochran writes:
“Modern Pharisees know the Scriptures but like the Pharisees of old they don’t know Jesus. Just like Jesus told them in John 5:38- 42. They knew the Scriptures but they didn’t know Him. What good is it if we don’t know Jesus? We can know of Him but not know Him. We must love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Matthew 22:37- 38”
These counterfeits are saying that God’s people shouldn’t know God’s Word too well, we shouldn’t memorize it, because then we may become like the Pharisees and not come to Jesus. Foolishness at best.
To the contrary, the Bible teaches us to read, to “study,” to “retain,” and “meditate upon God’s Word ….
Did the apostle Paul correct the biblically astute Bereans for diligently, meticulously searching the scriptures to see if he was telling the truth? No! (Acts 17:10-11)
They are saying that knowing God’s Word in your God-given mind will keep you from knowing Him in your heart. Nonsense. By divine design, information is contacted, first enters our minds before it can be processed and received in our heart.
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17
“Most people in the churches of today prefer to follow and believe the men/pastors and their words over the Word of God at their peril. This is because they are too lazy to study and read the Bible for themselves, sadly. Biblical illiteracy is the norm and not the exception today.” B.
Concerning ruling over the masses that have been kept ignorant of God’s Word, one disciple writes:
“Lacking of knowing God’s Word, memorizing it, is the direct reason the catholic church grew to so much power in the middle ages, and others down the ages. It was only the ‘priest’ that could read the Bible. So it meant what they said it meant and not what God meant. RUN!”
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…” Hosea 4:6
Checking your ignorance at the door!
Those who are ignorant of truth are so willingly (Hosea 4:6). They “willingly are ignorant” (2 Peter 3:5).
He gave us His truth, and those who reject His knowledge, His Word, will be “destroyed.”
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because THOU HAS REJECTED KNOWLEDGE, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law (Word) of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” Hosea 4:6
“There was a time when churches were teaching the whole counsel of God and most Bible believers in Bible teaching churches could carry on intelligent biblical conversations if they had been saved for five years or so. In the last ten years, I have found that most Christians today have become biblical illiterates. Due to the constant tendency toward all kinds of new experiences ( 2 Timothy 4:3-4), many are influenced to the extreme, and they settle for simply repeating various phrases that they hear without true, biblical understanding. That, then, becomes the focal point of their Christian life rather than conforming to the teachings of Scripture which they are not taught. It is getting harder and harder to find people in a local church who have even a very basic knowledge of Scripture, let alone any in-depth knowledge. The false teachers are going to have a lot to answer for in this area, but so will pastors who have encouraged this in their people rather than taking on the discipline of learning how to do a proper exegesis and expository teaching.” 1980 Dr. Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum
To a man who recently sought to discourage God’s people from memorizing His Word due to the fact that the Pharisees knew His Word and yet crucified Him.
I asked him if what the Pharisees did cancelled and negated the need for God’s people to know His Word in their minds and trust and love Him in their hearts? To this man I also wrote:
“Perhaps you should cease discouraging God’s people from learning and submitting to His Word…. there’s NO sense in which learning God’s Word is anything but a good thing…. and of course coming to Him in our hearts via His Word and Holy Spirit ….”
Our GOD-given brain is the passage way to the heart…. is it not? “Come now, and let us reason together…” (Isaiah 1:18).
God gave us a brain to “reason” with and a heart to believe upon Christ with (Romans 10:9-10). “COME now, and let us reason together” He said to His people (Isaiah 1:18).
Did Jesus memorize Scripture? Yes, beginning as a young boy. And this is how He grew in wisdom and stature (Luke 2:52). In fact, He knew where things were in the Bible—“He FOUND the place” in the Word He wanted to read—“And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written” (Luke 4:17).
ARE YOU “BLESSED”?
If you aren’t reading God’s Word daily, you are not “blessed.” Read Psalm 1.
“Blessed is he that readeth…” (Revelation 1:3).
See also Psalms 1:1-3.
Set it in your mind today that tomorrow, upon waking, you are diligently devouring God’s Word. Memorize and meditate upon 1 Chronicles 22:19. The message from Heaven is simple: FOLLOW JESUS via HIS WORD. The Bible is God’s truth and our safety. “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield (protection) unto them that put their trust in him. 6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
No way to know the Word Himself outside of His own Word. “They are they (His words) which testify of me” (John 5:39-40).
The written Word is like the tangible standard whereas at times, each of us as humans, can think we are being led by the Spirit but actually not being led by the LORD…. and so the standard is always the written Word, right?… To rightly divide His Word of truth. Right and amen Jesus (2 Timothy 2:15).
The only way we can “rightly” divide the truth from error is by personally, diligently studying God’s Word. Memorize 2 Timothy 2:15.
ALL ministries not getting you into God’s Word are fostering your faith in them!
Stacy Strother writes:
“The true Spirit of God will NEVER discard truth or lead people outside the parameter of the written word of God. The Spirit of God will search out ALL things and even the deep things, and if we are born again, have patience, we can be taught and be led to stay within harmony of His word. Read 1 Corinthians 2:6-16.”
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