The Lord does not give understanding to those who hold the truth in unrighteousness. Understanding doctrines and knowledge is reserved for those who have applied themselves to the word of righteousness. Choose your teacher well: in Lu 6: 40 we see that, "The disciple is not above his master, but every one that is perfect shall be as his master. And again in Mt 10:25 "it is enough for the disciple to be as his master, and the servant as his lord." Or as Solomon tells us in Pr 19: 27 "Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causes to err from the words of knowledge." Sadly, no teacher will stand with you when giving an account to Jesus for the things done while in this life. If you study Calvinism, expect to be like Calvin rather than like Jesus.
Heb 5: 12 KJV "For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principals of the oracles of God, and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one who useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."
The first principals of the oracles of God are: Repentance from dead works, Faith towards God, Doctrine of baptisms, Laying on of hands, Resurrection of the dead, and Eternal judgment. Repentance from dead works is the only one of these elementary principals that could even require a do over. Like James tells us, "We all stumble in many ways...", sadly!
When we're in need of repentance, the Holy Spirit uses our devotions in the word of God to fulfil the promise of the new covenant, which is to put the Lord's commandments into our hearts and minds. And for the most stubborn of sins in our lives, the Lord will use our renewed consciences to convict us, until we reach the point where the knowledge of how awful our guilt will feel; is what empowers us to finally say no to that sin. The Holy Spirit will then move on the next sin in our lives, even until after our attitudes are being adjusted to godliness. With each victory over a sin, the Holy Spirit applies the blood of Christ to purge the conscience from dead works, (or that which makes us feel guilty), to serve the living God.
This is just one reason why the new covenant better than the old covenant which they (and us too) were unable to keep, because we are able to maintain our outward transformation by daily devotions within the word of God and by walking after the Spirit which can empower us to deny the lusts of the flesh. A sign that someone is walking after the Spirit is the joy unspeakable and full of glory that they radiate. This is when we can confirm without reservation that the joy of the Lord is our strength. The whole purpose of the new covenant is to make true holiness possible by walking after the Spirit. By being the savor of Jesus Christ in this world to those who cross our path.
Heb 5: 12 KJV "For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principals of the oracles of God, and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one who useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."
The first principals of the oracles of God are: Repentance from dead works, Faith towards God, Doctrine of baptisms, Laying on of hands, Resurrection of the dead, and Eternal judgment. Repentance from dead works is the only one of these elementary principals that could even require a do over. Like James tells us, "We all stumble in many ways...", sadly!
When we're in need of repentance, the Holy Spirit uses our devotions in the word of God to fulfil the promise of the new covenant, which is to put the Lord's commandments into our hearts and minds. And for the most stubborn of sins in our lives, the Lord will use our renewed consciences to convict us, until we reach the point where the knowledge of how awful our guilt will feel; is what empowers us to finally say no to that sin. The Holy Spirit will then move on the next sin in our lives, even until after our attitudes are being adjusted to godliness. With each victory over a sin, the Holy Spirit applies the blood of Christ to purge the conscience from dead works, (or that which makes us feel guilty), to serve the living God.
This is just one reason why the new covenant better than the old covenant which they (and us too) were unable to keep, because we are able to maintain our outward transformation by daily devotions within the word of God and by walking after the Spirit which can empower us to deny the lusts of the flesh. A sign that someone is walking after the Spirit is the joy unspeakable and full of glory that they radiate. This is when we can confirm without reservation that the joy of the Lord is our strength. The whole purpose of the new covenant is to make true holiness possible by walking after the Spirit. By being the savor of Jesus Christ in this world to those who cross our path.
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