We have no shortage of prophets; at least no shortage of those who wanting to play prophet.

The problem with many of those who want to play around like they have God’s Word for others is that all too often, they themselves have not spiritually matured and are not grounded in the written Word of God.

The apostle Paul instructed Timothy not to put a novice in a position of leadership because one who is not firmly grounded in Christ can be ruined by pride.

There is a big difference in having the calling of a prophet and being actually set in the office of a prophet.

In Acts 9, God told Ananias to go and pray for Paul, who had just had an encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus. God said, “He is A CHOSEN VESSEL OF MINE” (v.15).

Almost immediately (after his conversion) Paul began to preach the gospel. Yet it wasn’t until later that Paul was set in the office of apostle (see Acts 13;1-4).

Too many people are playing prophet, while others have no real understanding of the ministry of a prophet and this opens the door to sorcery. Unsespecting people unknowingly think prophets have a direct line of communication with God to tell them about their future or secret things that God wants them to know.

Seeking a word from God through a prophet is nothing different than seeking counsel from a fortune teller.

If you are a child of God you have the Spirit of God in you and He will lead you and guide you into all truth. God may use a prophet occasionally to confirm things, but generally speaking, the prophet’s ministry is expressed through his preaching and/or teaching ministry.

A prophet’s preaching and/or teaching ministry prepares people for things in a way the other ministry gifts may not. For example, a prophet may sense that persecution, or maybe lean times are coming and will be urged by the Lord to preach on that topic in advance.

The prophet will seek God and scripturally prepare the people, even if they don’t recognize that he is a prophet and God is preparing them through his teachings.

A true prophet doesn’t need to be called “prophet.” A true prophet ministers to the people by the gift of God to edify God’s people and to equip them with the Word of God. In this vein (or setting) God will sometimes speak directly through the prophet to an individual to confirm things regarding their personal life.

A new testament prophet doesn’t hold the same status as an old testament prophet because every believer can hear God’s voice under the new.

There is an old saying; the fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree, and when it comes to prophecy many folks carry the same kind of thinking about prophecy as they do about the prophet’s ministry.

They tend to elevate prophecy as the pinnacle of ‘hearing God’ so that prophecy even trumps the clear teaching of the Bible. They think that through prophecy God is talking directly esteeming prophecy above sound Biblical teaching, This sort of ideology leads many into spiritual error.

The sound doctrine of scripture must always come first and anyone who thinks he is a prophet should be very cautious to grow in understanding the scriptures and in true humility and grace.

Prophets must walk circumspectly as they too can get off into error just as any other minister can.

If a person truly is a prophet, his top priority should be prayfully ministering the written Word of God accurately, otherwise he may lead people into error by ministering out of his own pride and the deception of occult spirits, rather than the Spirit of the Lord.

Among the arguments made by those who claim that Paul contradicted Jesus, is the argument that Paul contradicted Jesus with regards to the Law.

Is this so? To begin, let’s consider the following:

Throughout scripture, the Law is referred to as the Law of Moses some 23 times by the following witnesses:

• Joshua (Joshua 8:31, 32 and 23:6)
• Daniel (Daniel 9:11, 13)
• Luke (Luke2:22 and 24:44)
• Paul(Acts 13:39 and 28:23; 1 Corinthians 9:9)
• The Pharisees (Acts 15:5)
• John(John 7:23)
• The author of the book of Hebrews(Hebrews 10:28)
• The author of the book of 1 Kings (1Kings 2:3)
• The author of the book of 2 Kings(2 Kings 14:6 23:25)
• The author of the book of 2 Chronicles (2 Chronicles 23:18 and 30:16)
• The author of the book of Ezra(Ezra 3:2 and 7:6)
• The author of the book of Nehemiah (Nehemiah 8:1)
• Jesus and God, I saved the best for last (John 7:23, Malachi 4:4).

Moses was the one through whom God gave the law to the children of Israel to govern them as a nation. Time and time again the scripture says, “Moses commanded” or “Moses said” or “Moses gave.”

For example, in Matthew 19 the Pharisees asked Jesus, “Why did Moses command to give a writing of divorcement?” Jesus answered, “Moses because of the hardness of your hearts allowed you to put away your wives: but in the beginning it was not so” (v. 7-8).

The Pharisees specifically asked, “Why did MOSES give a writing of divorcement?” Yet the Law was given by God, through Moses, for the people (Deuteronomy 24:1-3).  Moses’ instructions were authoritative for the people of Israel, for through Moses, God  gave the Law to the children of Israel.

According to Jesus, the bill of divorcement was a law catered for the hard hearted and not God’s intent for marriage. God’s will is for a man to leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife just as Jesus says above. In like manner, Paul says something very similar in Ephesians 5.

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 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. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. ~ Ephesians 5:22-28

As we can see from Paul’s words above, Paul was on the same page with Jesus in his view of marriage as a holy institution ordained by God.

Paul’s standard concerning husbands loving their wives actually exceeds the commandment given in Deuteronomy 24:1-3, which was given to regulate the hardhearted. Without question, Paul’s teaching regarding marriage is absolutely is in harmony with the teachings of Jesus.

Those who argue that Paul contradicted Jesus regarding the law think that Jesus taught that the Law would continue while Paul claimed it had been done away with. Yet, this seemingly contradiction is cleared up when the words of Jesus and the teachings of Paul are understood within their context.

First, let’s consider the words of Jesus in Matthew, chapter 5:

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. ~ Matthew 5:17-18

When Jesus said these words, he was not intending to imply that he had come as an enforcer of the Law, but rather to bring the Law it to its fruition through fulfillment.

Jesus was not an opponent to the Law or the message of the prophets. His mission was not to destroy (by discrediting) either one. Instead, his mission was to fulfill both by leading the people of God into the way of righteousness which is faith from a pure heart.

In Matthew 5 Jesus says – “you have heard it said…but I say to you” – referring to what the people had heard from the teachers of the Law.

The Law says, “Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment.” But Jesus says, “whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca (worthless), shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.”

The letter of the Law says “thou shall not kill” but Jesus says keep your heart right towards all men. The law says “thou shall not commit adultery” but Jesus says don’t desire her in your heart. The law says “love your neighbor and hate your enemies” but Jesus says love your enemies.

The letter of the Law could not, and cannot give man a right heart and this is what is at the core of the issue. The letter of the Law merely deals with the outward actions of sinful men and does nothing to change his heart.

While the Law addresses man’s outward actions, Jesus Christ searches the reins and hearts (Revelation 2:23).

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. ~ Hebrews 4:12-13

When the Pharisees brought the woman caught in adultery to Jesus, they had every right according to the letter of the law to condemn her and to stone her. They had no desire to show mercy or to restore her. Jesus by the wisdom of God dispersed those who condemned her and set her free to sin no more. Those who condemned her wanted to enforce the law upon her, even though they were guilty of sin as well.

They were self righteous and used the Law as a weapon against others rather than teaching the Law to lead men into truth. If they had done the latter they would have recognized that Jesus is the Messiah and the Law would have then led them to faith in him.

Their fixation with the letter of the Law from their uncircumcised hearts, would not allow them to show mercy or compassion to those who were bound by sin and under the power of darkness.  They missed the weightier matters of the law which according to Jesus is mercy, faith, and justice (Matthew 23:23). Rather than liberating the people they used the Law to put heavy burdens on them (Matthew 23:4).

Jesus never employed the law to ensnare people. Instead, Jesus taught that the law was fulfilled by love (Matthew 7:12; 22:34-40) and demonstrated it by showing mercy and compassion on the people. Paul also taught that it is love which fulfills the law:

Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. ~ Romans 13:8-10

For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. ~ Galatians 5:14

Paul actually refers to the fulfillment of the law through love as “ the law of Christ.”

Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the SPIRIT OF MEEKNESS; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so FULFILL THE LAW OF CHRIST. ~ Galatians 6:1-2

Paul’s doctrine regarding love fulfilling the Law is in perfect harmony with Jesus.

Jesus taught that all the prophets and the Law prophesied until God sent John the Baptist (Matthew 11:13). The ministry of John the Baptist was the great point of change from the administration of the Law of Moses through the nation of Israel, to the administration of Christ in the hearts of all who believe in him.

Through Christ, the Law of God is written in the mind and the heart of the child of God. Our conscience has been cleansed by the Blood of Jesus and we have been made alive together with Christ. His life abides in us and the righteousness of the Law is fulfilled in us through his love which is poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.

In those texts where Paul speaks of the Law being abolished, he is not referring to the necessity of obedience to God or righteous living. He is referring to the Law in the manner in which it made a distinction between the Jew and the Gentile.

The law given to Israel served as their constitution and rule to govern them as a theocracy. The Kingdom of God was manifested through Israel and one could not be a part of God’s Kingdom without becoming a member of the nation of Israel.

Israel was a theocracy, and the Law separated Israel from all other nations as the people of God. Yet, Israel was often very rebellious against God and did not serve him according to the Law God had given to govern them. Consequently Israel inherited the curse.

This is what Paul is dealing with when he addresses the Law as being annulled. The Kingdom of God is no longer a theocracy demonstrated through a physical nation. God’s Kingdom is in the heart of those who follow Jesus, and God’s people are in every nation.

Being circumcised and taking on Jewish identity through the letter of the law no longer has value with regards to covenant relationship with God. What matters is having a circumcised heart through Jesus Christ who died for his people.

In no way did Paul contradict Jesus regarding the law.

For more teachings regarding Paul please follow the links below:

DID PAUL FAIL TO PREACH REPENTANCE?

https://michaelbattle65.wordpress.com/2016/06/04/did-paul-fail-to-preach-repentance/

DID PAUL TEACH OTHERS TO EAT FOOD OFFERED TO IDOLS?

https://michaelbattle65.wordpress.com/2016/05/31/did-paul-teach-others-to-eat-food-offered-to-idols/

WERE JAMES AND PAUL ON THE SAME PAGE?

https://michaelbattle65.wordpress.com/2016/04/24/were-paul-and-james-on-the-same-page/

PAUL AND THE JEWS RELIGION

https://michaelbattle65.wordpress.com/2016/02/27/paul-and-the-jews-religion/

WAS PAUL A RICH PREACHER?

https://michaelbattle65.wordpress.com/2015/08/09/was-paul-a-rich-preacher/

PAUL’S GOSPEL

https://michaelbattle65.wordpress.com/2015/02/07/pauls-gospel/

PAUL AND HEAVENLY VISIONS

https://michaelbattle65.wordpress.com/2016/01/18/paul-and-heavenly-visions/

One of the arguments of those who claim that Paul’s teachings contradicted the teachings of Jesus is that Paul taught justification by faith alone without repentance.

Is this true?

To begin, consider Paul’s words to the elders of the church of Ephesus:

… Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: and how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have showed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. ~ Acts 20:18-20

Notice that Paul says that he taught “repentance toward God.”

In Acts 26, Paul testified of Jesus as he stood on trial before King Agrippa, and recounts how he previously lived as a zealous Pharisee who persecuted and put to death some of the followers of Jesus (v.4-11).  Beginning in verse 12 Paul recounts his experience on the road to Damascus where he was confronted by the Lord Jesus Christ (v 12-18). Paul then says the following:

Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: but shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. ~ Acts 26:19-20 

Those who say that Paul did not teach repentance claim that Paul taught justification through faith alone and cite verses like Romans 4:4-5

Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. ~ Romans 4:4-5

The context, to which the verses above belong, actually begins in chapter 1. Throughout Romans, Paul expounds on justification through Christ, in contrast to boasting in the works of the Law which separated the Jews from Gentiles.

To claim that Paul is teaching a salvation with no repentance in Romans 4 is the result of careless proof-texting. Paul has already spoken of the necessity of repentance in the second chapter of Romans

Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

Paul taught that the goodness of God leads ungodly men to repentance.

In Acts 13, Paul preached to the people and reminded them how John the Baptist had first preached repentance to all the people of Israel (v.24).

When Paul was in the city of Athens (Acts 17), he was stirred in his spirit because he saw that the whole city was give over to idolatry. When Paul found that they had made an altar with the inscription  – TO THE UNKNOWN GOD – Paul used it to preach the gospel to them. Paul’s message can be read beginning in verse 22. In verses 30-31 we read the following:

And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. ~ Acts 17:30-31

Notice that Paul says that God has commanded “all men, everywhere to repent.” Paul says this within the context of the coming Day of Judgment, wherein God is going to judge men through Jesus Christ.

While at Lystra (Acts 14) Paul and Barnabas preached the gospel to the people and a man who had been crippled all his life was healed. This caused quite a stirring among the idolatrous people at Lystra who then attempted to worship Barnabas and Paul.

And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people. Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the Living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein… ~ Acts 14:11-15.

Notice that Barnabas and Paul preached to the people to turn from their idolatrous practices and serve the living God. Turning from idolatry to serve the Living God is repentance.

In Acts 15, the Jerusalem counsel (of which Paul and Barnabas were a part) concluded that the Gentiles in Antioch were brethren in Christ because they had “turned to God.”

Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. ~ Acts 15:18-20

When Jesus appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus, Jesus said the following to Paul:

… I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. ~ Acts 26:16-18

Paul interprets this commission by Jesus as preaching repentance and that is why he says:

Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. ~ Acts 26:19-20

Turning from sin and idols to serve the Living God is core to Paul’s doctrine regarding salvation through Jesus Christ. In Romans 11:26 Paul refers to Jesus as the deliverer who shall come out of Zion and shall turn ungodliness from Jacob.

Paul also says the following to the Thessalonians:

For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak anything. For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the Living and True God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. ~ 1 Thessalonians 1:8-10

Later, in chapter 4 Paul says the following to the Thessalonians:

Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his Holy Spirit. ~ 1 Thessalonians 4:1-7

These words to the Thessalonians regarding sanctification are consistent with Paul’s gospel which calls men not only to repentance, but to live holy and godly lives. Paul’s preaching and teaching of repentance is well documented throughout the New Testament, not only in the book of Acts, but in the epistles as well.

In 1 Corinthians 5:1-2, Paul confronts the Corinthians for the sin of fornication in their midst.

It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. ~1 Corinthians 5:1-2

Paul’s rebuke of the Corinthians moved them to repentance. In 2 Corinthians 7, Paul says the following to them:

For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow works repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world works death. For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter. ~ 2 Corinthians 7:8-11

Paul later expresses his concern about the lack of repentance of some among them.

For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults: And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed. ~ 2 Corinthians 12:20-21

Paul did not preach a gospel void of repentance, nor did he teach doctrine void of repentance. In his letter to Titus Paul says the following:

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee. ~ Titus 2:11-15

Notice that Paul tells Titus that the saving grace of God teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts by living soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world. This is consistent with the commission given to Paul by Jesus in the book of Acts, “… I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” ~ Acts 26:16-18

One only needs to read what Paul actually said (examples, Ephesians 4:21-32, Ephesians 5:3-13, Colossians 3:5-10, Romans 6) to understand that Paul’s gospel was not void of repentance and that Paul taught that we are to turn from sin and live godly and holy lives in the fear of the Lord.

For more teachings regarding Paul please follow the links below:

DID PAUL TEACH OTHERS TO EAT FOOD OFFERED TO IDOLS?

https://michaelbattle65.wordpress.com/2016/05/31/did-paul-teach-others-to-eat-food-offered-to-idols/

WERE JAMES AND PAUL ON THE SAME PAGE?

https://michaelbattle65.wordpress.com/2016/04/24/were-paul-and-james-on-the-same-page/

PAUL AND THE JEWS RELIGION

https://michaelbattle65.wordpress.com/2016/02/27/paul-and-the-jews-religion/

WAS PAUL A RICH PREACHER?

https://michaelbattle65.wordpress.com/2015/08/09/was-paul-a-rich-preacher/

PAUL’S GOSPEL

https://michaelbattle65.wordpress.com/2015/02/07/pauls-gospel/

PAUL AND HEAVENLY VISIONS

https://michaelbattle65.wordpress.com/2016/01/18/paul-and-heavenly-visions/

 

 

 

 

Once, there was a rich young ruler who called Jesus “good master.” Jesus responded by saying “Why callest thou me good? there is none is good, except one, that is, God.” ~ See Luke 18:18-25

Did Jesus deny being divine when he said this? If we extract these words from the context and from the whole of the revelation of Christ in the New Testament we might come to such a conclusion. However, Jesus’ words were a response to a rich young ruler whose heart was set on his possessions rather than following Jesus whom God had sent.

Jesus’ question wasn’t a denial of his deity. Instead, Jesus’ question was a challenge to this rich young ruler concerning his motives. Jesus often challenged people with thought provoking questions and throughout the New Testament, Jesus’ true identity was withheld from those whose hearts were not truly seeking after God.

When the rich young ruler boasted that he had kept all the commandments since his youth, Jesus told him that he lacked one thing.

Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.  ~ Luke 18:22

Matthew gives us a little more insight, telling us that the rich young ruler made the following claim: “All these things (the commandments) have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?” ~ Matthew 19:20

Jesus’ response to “what do I lack?” was this:  “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.” ~  Matthew 19:21

The rich young ruler went away sorrowful because he loved his possessions. By challenging this man, Jesus revealed his true motive, which wasn’t to follow Jesus at all costs. Jesus’s true identity as God in the flesh was withheld because the man did not truly have a heart to follow God.

On the contrary, those who sought to know the one true God came to the understanding that Jesus is the Son of God, and God revealed in the flesh.

Jesus said: “no man knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”  ~ Matthew 11:27; Luke 10:22

We know from scripture that Jesus, was a teacher and a pastor (the good shepherd). He is also called a prophet. Yet this makes him no less divine. He is fully divine and fully perfect in his humanity with no discrepancies.

John the Baptist said, This was he of whom I spoke, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. ~ John 1:30

When Thomas (one of the original 12 apostles) saw the resurrected Christ, he cried out, “My Lord and my God.”  ~ John 20:26-28 

The author of Hebrews says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8) and tells us that God calls Jesus both Lord by God. ~ Hebrews 1:8, 10.

Being deity, Jesus clothed himself with humanity and took the form or position of a servant though he was Lord of all. The King of glory came to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. He did not come to be served though he was worthy of this privilege.

Jesus is as much divine as his Father who sent him is divine, for he came from the Father. Yet in his humanity, he is subordinate to the Father and when he walked among men he was completely dependent on the Father setting the example for us.

In his humanity, he is our example of how we ought to serve God, and in his deity he is the revelation of God to us all.

JESUS MADE CLAIMS WHICH TESTIFY OF HIS DEITY:

• Before Abraham was, I AM ~  John 8:58
• I AM the bread of life ~ John 6:35
• I AM the living bread ~ John 6:51
• I AM from above ~ John 8:23
• I AM the light of the world ~ John 8:12
• I AM the door of the sheep ~ John 10:9
• I AM the good shepherd ~ John 10:11
• I AM the Son of God ~ John 10:36
• I AM the resurrection and the Life ~ John 11:25
• I AM the way, the truth, and the life ~ John 14:6
• I AM the true vine ~ John 15:1
• I AM Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.” ~ Revelation 21:6

JESUS WAS WORSHIPPED:

• By Kings, when he was a babe  ~ Matthew 2:11
• By a leper whom He healed ~ Matthew 8:2
• By Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue ~ Matthew 9:18
• By His disciples after He had walked on the water  ~ Matthew 14:33
• By a woman from Canaan, whose daughter Jesus delivered from demonic oppression ~ Matthew 15:25
• By Mary Magdalene and the other Mary after Jesus had risen from the dead ~ Matthew 28:9
• By the man whom Jesus delivered from a legion of demons ~ Mark 5:6
• By His disciples after he ascended into Heaven after His resurrection ~ Luke 24:52
• By the man whom Jesus healed of blindness ~ John 9:38
• By those in Heaven around God’s throne ~ Revelation 5:11-13

Through his Son, Jesus Christ, God has revealed himself to us all.

And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. ~ 1 John 5:20

Bad theology doesn’t make a person a false teacher, or a deceiver, or a wicked person. Over the years, I have had to change my theology on various subjects because I am in continuous pursuit of the truth in every area.

If you had heard some of my teachings in the late 90’s, you would have recognize that it was straight out of the “prosperity gospel” playbook.

Those who teach that Paul contradicted the teachings of Jesus claim that Paul taught that it was OK to eat meat offered to idols in Romans 14,  1 Corinthians 8, and 1 Corinthians 10.

Is this correct?

To begin, it is important to remember that Paul was present at the Jerusalem counsel (Acts 15) and was one of the supporters of the decision made to exhort the Gentiles not to eat food offered to idols.

²² Then pleased it the apostles and elders with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch WITH PAUL and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas and Silas, chief men among the brethren:

²³ And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.

²⁴ Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:

²⁵ It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you WITH OUR BELOVED BARNABAS and PAUL,

²⁶ Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

²⁷ We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.

²⁸ For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;

²⁹ That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

Notice that Paul is mentioned in this letter (the letter encouraging the Gentiles not to eat things offered to idols) along with Barnabas as beloved and men who had hazarded thier lives for the name of the Lord Jesus.

Notice that James, along with the other apostles, and the elders, endorsed Paul in this letter to the Gentiles. With this in mind let’s consider Paul’s teachings in Romans 14, 1 Corinthians 8, and 1 Corinthians 10.

Does Paul teach the Gentiles to eat things offered to idols?

FIRST, there is nothing in Romans 14 about meats offered to idols. Romans 14 is addressing meat or food, which is offensive to another brother. The teaching by Paul is to abstain from offending your brother by what you eat.

Those who claim that Paul is teaching it is OK to eat meat offered to idols in Romans 14 are carelessly proof-texting to support their claims. Paul’s exhortation in Romans 14 is most likely within a Jewish/Gentile context as Paul addresses the two cultural backgrounds throughout the book of Romans.

SECONDLY, Paul does not teach his followers to eat meat offered to idols in 1 Corinthians 8, nor is he promoting such practices.

Paul is actually teaching the Corinthians to walk in brotherly love and not to use their liberty in Christ as an occasion for offending a brother or sister who is weak in their faith. Paul instructs the Corinthians to refrain from eating things offered to idols so they don’t damage the conscience of others.

Paul makes it clear that food – in and of itself – has no value with regards to our relationship with God because there is only one true God and he is the creator of all things. However, not all possess this liberating knowledge, and for the sake of those whose consciences are weak, Paul admonishes the Corinthians to refrain from foods which are offered to idols so as not to wound another believer’s conscience.

Paul continuously teaches the Gentile brethren not to eat food offered to idols, not because of superstitious reasons, but out of love for others. Love is the right motive in everything.

Throughout the book of 1 Corinthians, Paul repeatedly addresses the importance of abstaining from idolatrous practices.

In 5:10-11, Paul tells the Corinthians not to keep company with a person who is called a brother if he engages in idolatrous practices.

In 6:9 he tells them that idolaters have no part in the Kingdom of God.

In 10:7 he tells them not to be idolatrous like the Israelites who fell in the wilderness.

In 12:2 he reminds them that they were previously Gentiles who were carried away by dumb idols.

Paul certainly would not have warned the Gentile believers against idolatry and then turned around and taught them to eat things offered to idols.

It is ironic that some use 1 Corinthians to support their claim that Paul taught that it was OK to eat things offered to idols. On the contrary, Paul very specifically instructs the Corinthians to NOT to do such things.

FINALLY, Consider the following from 1 Corinthians 10:18-33. I have chosen the NLT for clarity.

18 Think about the people of Israel. Weren’t they united by eating the sacrifices at the altar?

19 What am I trying to say? Am I saying that food offered to idols has some significance, or that idols are real gods? 

20 No, not at all. I am saying that these sacrifices are offered to demons, not to God. And I don’t want you to participate with demons. 

21 You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord’s Table and at the table of demons, too. 

22 What? Do we dare to rouse the Lord’s jealousy? Do you think we are stronger than he is?

23 You say, “I am allowed to do anything” —but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial. 

24 Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others.

25 So you may eat any meat that is sold in the marketplace without raising questions of conscience. 

26 For “the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”

27 If someone who isn’t a believer asks you home for dinner, accept the invitation if you want to. Eat whatever is offered to you without raising questions of conscience. 

28 (But suppose someone tells you, “This meat was offered to an idol.” Don’t eat it, out of consideration for the conscience of the one who told you. 

29 It might not be a matter of conscience for you, but it is for the other person.) For why should my freedom be limited by what someone else thinks? 

30 If I can thank God for the food and enjoy it, why should I be condemned for eating it?

31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 

32 Don’t give offense to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God. 

33 I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved.

Paul’s words concerning food offered to idols, is that “food” – in and of itself – has no virtue, however, food which has been offered to idols ought not to be eaten out of love for others.

The following was written by my lovely wife back in 2010. 

I am “setting down” an Ebenezer stone. Please continue reading to find out what in the world I mean.

My sweet, Holy Spirit-sensitive friend Jennifer was encouraging me as I was going through a thick patch of discouragement and frustration. After I thanked her for her care and concern, she sent me this message: “Pick up the Ebenezer stones, sister!” I have to admit, I knew that Ebenezer was a biblical name (No, Charles Dickens didn’t make it up), but I had no clue of its significance. My next step naturally was to Google the term. One of the first things I found was “a reminder of God’s real, holy presence and divine aid. Spiritually and theologically speaking, an Ebenezer can be nearly anything that reminds us of God’s presence and help.” Wow! To make sure that was biblically accurate, I plugged the term into a favorite Bible study website (www.biblegateway.com). There I found a historical account of God’s deliverance of Israel from the Philistines recorded in 1 Samuel 7:5-15 (New American Standard Bible).

Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah and I will pray to the LORD for you.” They gathered to Mizpah, and drew water and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day and said there, “We have sinned against the LORD.” And Samuel judged the sons of Israel at Mizpah.Now when the Philistines heard that the sons of Israel had gathered to Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the sons of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines. Then the sons of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not cease to cry to the LORD our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines.” Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it for a whole burnt offering to the LORD; and Samuel cried to the LORD for Israel and the LORD answered him. Now Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, and the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day against the Philistines and confused them, so that they were routed before Israel. The men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and struck them down as far as below Beth-car. Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.” So the Philistines were subdued and they did not come anymore within the border of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. The cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even to Gath; and Israel delivered their territory from the hand of the Philistines. So there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

As the Israelites were in the process of doing the right thing by repenting, in came the enemy to attack viciously. Sound familiar? In times that you know you’re doing exactly what God wants you to do, the enemy takes his nastiest, meanest, most conniving shots at you. We’re not defenseless though. We have Jesus who defeated the enemy and made us “more than conquerors” in Him!

I know the Lord’s leading me to lean into Him and recall all He’s done for my family and me as He takes us into a new chapter in our lives. As we look forward, we also look back and remember His immense grace and mercy toward us as evidenced time and time again.

When you are experiencing a time of discouragement or despair, let me encourage you, as my precious Jennifer did, to “pick up the Ebenezer stones” and remind yourself that “thus far the LORD has helped us”.

There are wonderful and sincere believers who have been taught that they are to declare and decree as part of their faith confession. This practice is common  within the Word of Faith movement.

The scriptural text for this practice is Job 22:28 which says; “Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.” (JKV)

These words were spoken by Eliphaz the Temanite, one of Job’s three friends who were rebuked by God in Job 42. Eliphaz the Temanite does all of the speaking in Job 22. He also does the speaking in chapters 4, 5, and 15.

In Job 42 God said to Eliphaz the Temanite ; “I am angry with you and your two friends, for you have not spoken accurately about me, as my servant Job has.” ~ v. 7

Those who teach the practice of declaring and decreeing using Job 22:28 as their scriptural text are actually counting as the word of God, the words of a man who angered God by what he said about him. God said the words spoken by Eliphaz the Temanite were wrong.

Please don’t misunderstand me because it is scriptural to speak positively and encourage yourself in the Lord. We have examples in scripture that we can follow such as the woman with the issue of blood (Mark 5:28). She confessed her faith in Christ in the midst of dire circumstances and received the blessing she desired from the Lord.

There are also many others throughout the Bible who made bold declarations of faith in God.

On the contrary, the use of Job 22:28 is sometimes coupled with the concept that our words are creative, and therefore we can “create the world we desire.” If we want to be rich we can declare and decree I am rich, I am prosperous, etc.

Such teachings are not scripturally sound but are rooted in mysticism instead.

If we could create the world we want to live in by simply “declaring and decreeing” we could just all stay home and confess what we want for several hours a day.

It is when our words are an expression of our faith in God based on his promises, regardless of our circumstances, that our confession has power. We are not created as little gods confessing the world we want to live in, instead we are called to be servants of the ONE TRUE GOD living by faith in him.

We are called to be people of faith and speak according to our faith in God’s power, not in our own power.

Finally, Job sometimes gets a bad rap by Word of Faith teachers because he said the thing he feared the most had come upon him. Yet God came to Job’s defense (42:7). God looks on the heart and Job was righteous in his heart towards God.

God also commanded Eliphaz the Temanite, and his two friends to come to Job and offer sacrifices to God and have Job pray for them. God said; “My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer on your behalf. I will not treat you as you deserve. “ ~ Job 42:8

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JOB AND WORD OF FAITH THEOLOGY

https://michaelbattle65.wordpress.com/2017/08/06/job-and-word-of-faith-theology/

The following was written by my wife as she shared what our 11 year old son wrote about autism:

My son David told me the other day that he was reading a book about a kid named David who was autistic. Then he asked me, “Am I autistic?” I paused for a bit, because I had never, for my own deeply considered reasons, told him he indeed was. He said, “Tell me the truth.” So I did, “Yes, you are.” He and I have had many conversations about this since then. They have revealed the amazing goodness and grandness of my child’s heart. As a result, he wrote the following in his writing class:

“Hi! My name is David and I have autism. I think I should have known this before. When I was in pre-K, I went to a baby class in church. I was singing a song in my head, but I got a little frustrated. My youth teacher noticed this. But that wasn’t what I am mad about. I’m mad about the thing that happened next. They made me sit in a chair until I told them what was wrong. IT DIDN’T MATTER! To this day, I wish that I could travel in time to pick myself out of that stupid chair and be free. But no, the youth teacher didn’t LISTEN! When you have autism, everyone thinks that you have mind issues. But really, your not much different from others. I’m in GTE [Gifted Talented Education], but people are sharing rumors on how I got there. They say stupid stuff like I’m in gifted because my mom wants me to. But that isn’t true. I remembered taking the test that I should be placed in gifted. It was my third grade teacher.

Some people look at autism as a bad thing. It’s not. People with autism can do a lot!

#2 Hi! David again. This is about autism. Everybody thinks your like an alien, but that’s not true. You can be like everyone else. But don’t. Be you. You’re a little boring if your someone else. Be you. Be the person who leads and other people follow. Be you. Even though you have autism, your capable of many things. Be you.”

The book of Hebrews is a book of exhortation written to believers (13:22), yet within it there are repeated warnings concerning apostasy. 

THE WARNINGS TO BELIEVERS IN HEBREWS

The first warning (Hebrews 2:1-3) tells us that neglecting our great salvation will result in punishment just as disobedience to the words spoken by angels (under the Law) also resulted in punishment.

The second warning (Hebrews 3:7- 4:1) exhorts us not to harden our hearts to the voice of the Holy Spirit through unbelief. In this section we are reminded that God swore in His wrath that those who provoked Him in the wilderness also died in the wilderness and did not enter into His rest.

We are warned that we need to fear God so that we do not become like those in the wilderness who fell short of entering His rest (which according to the context is eternal rest). It is clear from the context that the same God who swore in His wrath, they shall not enter my rest and did not spare those who rebelled in the wilderness will not spare us either if we become hard hearted through unbelief and the deceitfulness of sin.

The third warning (Hebrews 5:11-6:20) is against slothfulness which results in apostasy. We are told in very clear and precise terms that if we become slothful in our faith we are in danger of being condemned and cursed.

The fourth warning (Hebrews 10:26-39) is against willfully sinning and drawing back. Here is what Hebrews 10:26-31 says:

Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies. For anyone who refused to obey the Law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Just think how much worse the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God, and have treated the blood of the covenant, which made us holy, as if it were common and unholy, and have insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to us. For we know the one who said, “I will take revenge. I will pay them back.” He also said, “The LORD will judge his own people.” It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

The fifth warning (Hebrews 12:14-29) sums up all the other warnings – beware of sin and rejection of Jesus.

Many of you recognize the words “our God is a consuming fire” but do you know the context of these words? Many quote this in connection with God’s love, but the scriptures do not use it that way. These words, in both the Old and New Testament, are used in connection with God’s holiness and righteous judgment against sin (i.e. His jealously expressed in anger which results in the punishment of our sins).

Here is how Moses used the words:

But the LORD was angry with me because of you. He vowed that I would not cross the Jordan River into the good land the LORD your God is giving you as your special possession. You will cross the Jordan to occupy the land, but I will not. Instead, I will die here on the east side of the river. So be careful not to break the covenant the LORD your God has made with you. Do not make idols of any shape or form, for the LORD your God has forbidden this. The LORD your God is a DEVORING FIRE; he is a jealous God. “In the future, when you have children and grandchildren and have lived in the land a long time, do not corrupt yourselves by making idols of any kind. This is evil in the sight of the LORD your God and will arouse his anger. (Deuteronomy 4:21-25 TNLT)

The King James Version says: consuming fire (v.24) instead of devoring fire – “For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.” This is exactly how the Book of Hebrews uses this description of God. Now notice the context from Hebrews 12:25-28:

Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven! When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: “Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also.” This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain. Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. For our God is a devouring fire.

The KJV says: “…let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire.”

To read about the exhortations in Hebrews follow this link:

https://michaelbattle65.wordpress.com/2016/04/15/hebrews-a-book-of-exhortation-to-believers/