Among Christians, there has been a change from what is absolute to a standard that is relative and changing. The perfect standard or Scriptural teachings have over time been consumed by the secular liberal teachings of progressive socialism. This progressive socialist doctrine has triumphed over the absolutes of the Scripture.
The deep-seated convictions of early Christians were founded upon the teaching of the Scriptures. Through immediate revelation, Christians found the absolute set of standards, which were rooted in the character of God. From this revelation, Christians were able to know Him who created us and redeem us. Only from the revelation of scriptures do we find the absolute standard on which we base our lives and carry out our obligations to God, family, church, and state.
God's absolute standards are not up for private interpretation. These absolutes not only reflect the character of God but also define our duty as humans. God instructs us to love Him and love our neighbor as ourselves. The ethical standard set forth by the Scripture contains our responsibility to God and our duty to man. They define what is right, just, and perfect. They represent what makes our action right and what actions are wrong. It is God that sets the standard of ethical conduct, He alone--the Creator of all things. That is why the standards must measure all behavior and conduct He has established.
While most evangelical Christians agree that the Bible is their guide for faith and practice, you have got to wonder why so many of us are getting lost? If the Bible is the authoritative, life-giving, life-transforming, mind-renewing source of God and His revelation, why are God's people becoming more and more secular and accepting of a progressive socialist ideology?
The Apostle Paul writes to the Ephesians, Be, very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is (Eph. 5:15-17).
The original Greek text says, "walk circumspectly." Circumspectly here means accurately, living our lives purposefully, carefully, according to God's Word. To do this, you must make the Scriptures part of your life.
Again, Paul speaks to this idea in his letter to Timothy: All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the faith and correcting the error, for re-setting the direction of a man's life and training him in right living. The scriptures are the comprehensive equipment of the man of God and fit him fully for all branches of his work (2 Tim. 3:16-17, J.B. Phillips New Testament).
Yet, this is where the struggle for many believers begins. Often, the world, our feelings, and/or our emotions direct us one way and God's Word another. What our culture deems acceptable and what God says is acceptable often conflict. So why would we abandon the most important tool God has given us to understand how to live out our lives?
Most Christians do not know how to evaluate Christian ethics or conduct in the light of the Scriptures. Instead, they sit back and allow non-Christians or even atheist to dictate what is to be the ethical standard by which the followers of Christ are to conduct their spiritual lives. Non-believers who deny the authority of the Scripture have established the ethical standards for abortion, human sexuality, the role of the state, issues concerning the taking of life, bioethics, and even the environment. There are very few Christians who are willing to give a scriptural defense of the absolute standards of God's written Word. It is time faithful followers of Jesus Christ speak the truth about Christians teachings.
The constant temptation for Christians is to blend in. We instinctively do not want to be thought of as being "different." The thought that living a godly life could cause us to be looked upon with contempt by our neighbors is very disagreeable. Such ideas make us feel very uncomfortable, and although we know the Scripture calls upon us to be pilgrims in our own culture (Philippians 3:20; Hebrews 11:13), we do not enjoy feeling like Sojourners. Satan, our ancient and crafty enemy, because of his experience with humans, knows our weaknesses very well and is not slack in exploiting them. Realizing that he would probably fail in a full-frontal attack, he attempts to convince us that Christianity is a relaxing, easy-going religion tolerant of diverse views. He tries to convince us that we do not need to keep our minds razor-sharp (I Peter 1:13). He tries to tell us that we do not need to be careful. Nothing could be further from the truth taught in God's Word!
If our behavior is not radically different from the secular world, then we can be confident that we are not pleasing to our Lord and Savior. If we are being conformed to this world instead of to the image of Christ, then we can be sure that our heavenly Father is displeased with us. If our minds have not been transformed from what they once were when we served our own lusts, then we are not proving to the world what the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God is (Romans 12:2).
As a follower of Jesus Christ, I must believe the Scriptures. The Scriptures were given by the Holy Spirit of God through the holy men of God, who spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. It is in the Scriptures that we find spiritual life. They are to be read, believed, and fulfilled, and they are profitable for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works; and can make wise unto salvation, through faith in Christ Jesus.
Regardless of the errors which may have slipped in overtime, there is enough testimony left of all the essentials of the Christian faith to lead us in the paths of righteousness. As Christians, we must believe that the Scriptures are the moral principle which regulates our actions and anything contrary to the Scriptures is a delusion of the mind by Satan.
The Scriptures are not open for the private interruption. The teachings and revelation of the Scriptures are only made clear to the mind by the operation of the Holy Spirit. The moral principles declared in Scriptures answer every question which may arise in the course of our lives.
It is from the Scriptures we understand forgiveness and acceptance with God through the mediation of our Savior Jesus Christ through faith in His blood. This doctrine of justification is absolutely fundaments and essential in Christianity. It is in the Scriptures that we find "Christ gave himself, his body, for the life of the whole world, and paid the debt and made satisfaction, and He enlightens every man that comes into the world, that all through Him might believe; and he that does not believe is condemned already. Christ offered himself without sin to God, and by his blood purges our consciences from dead works, to serve the living God. And so, we know that Christ, by one offering, forever perfected them that are sanctified. And so, as people walk in the light, they have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Christ will cleanse them from all sin. And Christ his own self bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we are being delivered from sin, should live unto righteousness; by whose stripes we are healed. And we are being justified by the blood of Christ, shall be saved from wrath through him; for if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
It is from the Scriptures I learn that Jesus is the foundation of the holy prophets, and apostles are our foundation. There is no other foundation to be lade, but that which is laid in Christ Jesus, who tasted death for every man, shed his blood for all men, is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. John the Baptist testified of him when he said, 'Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world.
Justification is not based on "cheap grace." Justification is based on conviction of sin, acknowledgment of sin, confession of sin, acceptance of forgiveness of sin, and making an about-face away from sin.
A person cannot have the experiential knowledge of the plan of redemption, and not see the immense love that God has for humanity that He gave His only Son to impart life to those who were condemned to die. That through our Savior Jesus Christ, who offered himself upon the cross as man, yet was he omnipotent, because of his deity, to bear the weight of the sins of all mankind, and just in proportion to the supreme dignity of the sufferer, is the comprehensives of the hope and joy which we receive from his sufferings. "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?" Rom. 8. 32.
It is from the revelation of the Scriptures I understand the Father, Son, and Spirit as the most authentic and perfect declaration of the Christian faith. So being led by the Spirit of God, we are his sons and daughters, and, by his Spirit, will come to know the three that bear witness in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost. These are the THREE WITNESSES that are in heaven, that bear record of all things; for He is God in the heaven, and God in the earth. "There are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost. The Father is in the Son, and the Son is in the Father. No man knows the Son but the Father, neither any man the Father but the Son, and He to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. The Spirit searches all things, yet the deep things of God. For the things of God knows no man, but the Spirit of God. Now the saints have received not the Spirit of the world, but the Spirit, which is of God, that they might know the things which are freely given to them of God. For the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father sends in Christ's name, He teaches them all things and bringeth all things to their remembrance.
As Christian, we will not have the promised power until we accept the Scriptures as interpreted by the Holy Spirit.
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