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Wisdom comes from the Lord and so in reading His words, we should trust Him to enable us to receive the edification in the knowledge of Him so that our love may abound more and more. Anything that shifts the hope and focus off of Jesus to yourself or some other means... is doing what it is.. taking your eyes and hopes off of Jesus. May He help you to see the difference.
Believers have a tendency to use scripture to put an emphasis on something to lead us away from resting in Jesus for salvation. They will believe it and so feel the need to be judgmental ( as in condemning and not the correctional kind of being judgmental done in love) because they think that if they do not show the severity of their
"interpretation", then they are not loving you enough in telling the truth, but... in all things... no matter what is shared, one has to take it to Jesus in prayer for wisdom comes from the Lord.
Proverbs 20:11Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. 12The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.
Proverbs 2:For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
Some example of overzealousness on the scriptures that are bringing misconceptions in regards to salvation.......
Some believe that water baptism is essential for salvation. There are verses that declares it... for the Jews. That is the one thing that is being overlooked. When the Gentiles in the Book of Acts got saved, they were hearing these words below and then as they believed, they received the Holy Ghost before water baptism as the Jews were astonished at this.
Acts 10:34Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
35But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
36The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all
37That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
38How God 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.
39And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:
40Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
41Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
42And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
43To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
44While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
45And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
46For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
47Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? 48And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
Note verse 43. That was the purpose of water baptism for the Jews, and yet for the Gentiles in verse 43, by believing in Jesus, the Gentiles have received the remission of sin, becoming a new creature in Christ and thus were ready to be filled, sealed, and saved by Jesus Christ with the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
This is the reference for the water baptism for the remission of sins in order for the Jews to receive the Holy Ghost given below:
Acts 2: 37Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call.
Why the difference? The Jews represented God in according to the Old Covenant by the deeds of the Law so for them to declare the New Covenant, the Jews had to show that they were moving away from the Old Covenant and entering the New by showing that they belive Jesus is the Christ and thus water baptism in Jesus' name was significant as a step of faith and public witness that they were now believers in Jesus.
Now noting references from Acts 10:34-48, we can see another misconception being spread around by some believers that signs follow believers in order to know that they are saved. Not so. Jesus did say that signs will follow the believers, but the signs will not lead the believers in knowing that they are saved. Signs are not what saves us. Believing in Jesus is. Signs are for unbelievers.. for believers to seek after a sign to know that they are saved is to be labouring in unbelief away from the rest provided by the Bridegroom..... by offering another invitation for these signs but not towards Jesus Christ... and forgetting what the signs are for.
1 Corinthians 14: 21In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. 22Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.
Matthew 16:4A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.
Believers in Jesus Christ should know they are saved because the Spirit is given by promise.. not by our effort. Salvation wasn't received by our effort so why should the Spirit? Salvation is a gift of God as the Holy Spirit is a promise from God. They are not mutually exclusive. They are intertwined and together for coming to and believing in Jesus Christ.
Matthew 9: 17Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.
Ephesians 1: 12That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. 15Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
Hebrews 11: 1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen..... 6But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Galatians 3:14That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.... 26For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
We are not proven to be children of God by signs... but by faith in Jesus Christ.
So by the two examples of misconceptions, we can see how they take away our hope and rest in Jesus by placing an emphasis on ourselves for salvation or for some assurrances that we are saved.
If anyone doubts their salvation.. just go over the promises of God in Christ Jesus.
2 Corinthians 1: 19For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea. 20For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. 21Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;
John 3:16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Ephesians 2: 8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
So when we walk in the Spirit as the Lord Jesus Christ leads us as Our Good Shepherd, He will help us to live the christian life so our hope and faith are still on Jesus.
Galatians 2: 20I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
So whenever you come across scriptures that causes doubts as overzealous wayward believers emphasize some merit on your part to do God's work in you, may He remind you of this: does it lead you away from Him and your rest in Him or.... not?
John 5: 39Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
John 6:28Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
Galatians 3:14That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.... 26For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Romans 10:8But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Now go and enjoy your relationship with God for He shall be with you always. Amen.
Believers have a tendency to use scripture to put an emphasis on something to lead us away from resting in Jesus for salvation. They will believe it and so feel the need to be judgmental ( as in condemning and not the correctional kind of being judgmental done in love) because they think that if they do not show the severity of their
"interpretation", then they are not loving you enough in telling the truth, but... in all things... no matter what is shared, one has to take it to Jesus in prayer for wisdom comes from the Lord.
Proverbs 20:11Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. 12The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.
Proverbs 2:For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
Some example of overzealousness on the scriptures that are bringing misconceptions in regards to salvation.......
Some believe that water baptism is essential for salvation. There are verses that declares it... for the Jews. That is the one thing that is being overlooked. When the Gentiles in the Book of Acts got saved, they were hearing these words below and then as they believed, they received the Holy Ghost before water baptism as the Jews were astonished at this.
Acts 10:34Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
35But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
36The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all
37That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
38How God 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.
39And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:
40Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
41Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
42And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
43To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
44While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
45And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
46For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
47Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? 48And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
Note verse 43. That was the purpose of water baptism for the Jews, and yet for the Gentiles in verse 43, by believing in Jesus, the Gentiles have received the remission of sin, becoming a new creature in Christ and thus were ready to be filled, sealed, and saved by Jesus Christ with the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
This is the reference for the water baptism for the remission of sins in order for the Jews to receive the Holy Ghost given below:
Acts 2: 37Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call.
Why the difference? The Jews represented God in according to the Old Covenant by the deeds of the Law so for them to declare the New Covenant, the Jews had to show that they were moving away from the Old Covenant and entering the New by showing that they belive Jesus is the Christ and thus water baptism in Jesus' name was significant as a step of faith and public witness that they were now believers in Jesus.
Now noting references from Acts 10:34-48, we can see another misconception being spread around by some believers that signs follow believers in order to know that they are saved. Not so. Jesus did say that signs will follow the believers, but the signs will not lead the believers in knowing that they are saved. Signs are not what saves us. Believing in Jesus is. Signs are for unbelievers.. for believers to seek after a sign to know that they are saved is to be labouring in unbelief away from the rest provided by the Bridegroom..... by offering another invitation for these signs but not towards Jesus Christ... and forgetting what the signs are for.
1 Corinthians 14: 21In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. 22Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.
Matthew 16:4A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.
Believers in Jesus Christ should know they are saved because the Spirit is given by promise.. not by our effort. Salvation wasn't received by our effort so why should the Spirit? Salvation is a gift of God as the Holy Spirit is a promise from God. They are not mutually exclusive. They are intertwined and together for coming to and believing in Jesus Christ.
Matthew 9: 17Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.
Ephesians 1: 12That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. 15Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
Hebrews 11: 1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen..... 6But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Galatians 3:14That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.... 26For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
We are not proven to be children of God by signs... but by faith in Jesus Christ.
So by the two examples of misconceptions, we can see how they take away our hope and rest in Jesus by placing an emphasis on ourselves for salvation or for some assurrances that we are saved.
If anyone doubts their salvation.. just go over the promises of God in Christ Jesus.
2 Corinthians 1: 19For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea. 20For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. 21Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;
John 3:16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Ephesians 2: 8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
So when we walk in the Spirit as the Lord Jesus Christ leads us as Our Good Shepherd, He will help us to live the christian life so our hope and faith are still on Jesus.
Galatians 2: 20I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
So whenever you come across scriptures that causes doubts as overzealous wayward believers emphasize some merit on your part to do God's work in you, may He remind you of this: does it lead you away from Him and your rest in Him or.... not?
John 5: 39Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
John 6:28Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
Galatians 3:14That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.... 26For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Romans 10:8But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Now go and enjoy your relationship with God for He shall be with you always. Amen.