"But God be thanked, that ye WERE the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you, being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness." (Romans 6:17-18)
We are to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. We are to hold fast the form of sound words -- in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. "That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwells in us. (II Timothy 1:13-14) We are to seek understanding from the Lord so that we can therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. (II Timothy 2:1-3)
Why? Because as Jesus so clearly stated, "If ye continue in My Word, then are ye My disciples indeed. And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31-32)
Jesus also said, "If ye love Me, keep My commandments ... He that hath My commandments and keeps them, he it is that loves Me; and he that loves Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him." (John 14:15-21)
Why do I say this? Because in this day and age, the devil is running to and fro trying to destroy and devour anyone he can. But let not your heart be troubled, as Jesus said, for these times must come so that the prophecies which were foretold would be fulfilled. Still, we are not to sit idly by as it happens.
Rather, we are instructed to hide the Word in our hearts so that "we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive ... but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, makes increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." (Ephesians 4:14-16)
What happens when we hide the Word in our hearts, and seek His wisdom and knowledge? We begin to understand that the teachings within the scriptures are the foundation. The Word is firmly established upon the new testament, with better promises forever more. (Hebrews 8:4)
Therefore, "be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein." (Hebrews 13:9) "Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth." (2 Peter 1:12)
And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood; and these three agree in one." (I John 5:8)
Jesus said to Nicodemus, "The wind blows where it lists, and thou hear the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it comes, and whither it goes, so is every one that is born of the Spirit. (John 3:8)
Jesus (who had an unchangeable priesthood) made a surety of a better testament. (Hebrews 7:17-28)
This means that no one can expand on the teachings of Jesus Christ. No one can add to or take away from the scriptures wherein Jesus said, "Lo, the volume of the book is written of Me!" No one can move beyond the teachings of Jesus and the apostolic doctrine which was firmly established for one and all on the day of Pentecost.
As the scripture clearly states, "by this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit which confesses that Jesus has come in the flesh is of God." Therefore, the Spirit agrees with the Word or the Spirit cannot be the Spirit of God. When the Holy Ghost dwells within, He leads and guides us into all truth. He gives us wisdom and knowledge. There is no new teaching, or secret encounter that can not be verified through His Word.
Either we abide in the doctrine of Christ (and when we do we have both the Father and the Son in the Holy Ghost, or we do not. This is why we can know -- as stated from I John 2:7 “Brethren, I write NO NEW COMMANDMENT UNTO YOU but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning.
Regardless of the circumstances in the world, remain steadfast in what the Lord has taught you. And if you haven't studied His Word, do so with earnest so that you too can rightly divide the Word, as we have been instructed. And keep praising our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ with thanksgiving and adoration because we can love Him because He first loved us.
Stand in the offering plate.
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