Reformers and US

I have greatest respect for Luther and other reformers because they wanted "normal people" to get involved and study the word. I rather be a "discerner" than a "gullible person". Proverbs 17:24 "A discerning man keeps wisdom in view, but a fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth." Fishes are known to be very gullible. Proverbs 14:15 The gullible believe anything they're told; the prudent sift and weigh every word. Romans 16:19 And so while there has never been any question about your honesty in these matters--I couldn't be more proud of you!-I want you also to be smart, making sure every "good" thing is the real thing. Don't be gullible in regard to smooth-talking evil. Stay alert. In 1 Thessalonians 5:21 says "On the other hand, don't be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what's good." In one verse, Jesus said in Matthew 7:15 "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves." The Holy Spirit is the TRUE teacher and high priest. he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." Spiritual growth requires us to understand the Scriptures and get to know our God the Father, our Savior the Son, and our comforter the Holy Spirit. “Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” Ephesians 6:17 (NLT) (READ your BIBLE and KNOW the Word of God). A teacher who studies the bible to teach does not rely human mind to learn the scripture. Studying the scriptures requires the Holy Spirit which is inward, not outward. It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way. Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge. Proverbs 19:2 Titus 1:1-2 The knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness— a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God. Proverbs 2:10 For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Proverbs 18:15 The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out. Proverbs 23:12 Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge. 1 John 4:1 (NIV) Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Mary Sinless?

Mary was actually "blameless" when "the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.' (Luke 1:30). Mary was like Luke 1:5-6 "Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly." Proverbs 20:9 Who can say, "I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin"? Proverbs 11:20 The LORD detests men of perverse heart but he delights in those whose ways are blameless. Proverbs 28:18 He whose walk is blameless is kept safe, but he whose ways are perverse will suddenly fall. Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned. Jesus was born without sin for one purpose: Hebrews 7:26 "Such a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Mary was one of us and she was not "set apart from sinners" as Jesus was.

Intellectual Pride

I had my personal battle relating intellectual pride within the Christian community. They are called "Stumble Causers" because it is grievous for us to cause others to stumble. One of our Great Commission is to disciple Christians the most basic way to know Christ. Teaching Christians to rely on the Holy Spirit. Whatever triggers favoritism violates brotherly/sisterly love. To avoid causing others to stumble is itself strong incentive to walk by the Spirit. Biblically, Christians are no longer "in the flesh": "You are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him" (Rom 8:9). The Greek word for "dwells" is okv (oike), which means "I inhabit." "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." Galatians 5:25. The Holy Spirit dwells in me with all the power and gifts of God, necessary to enable me to walk the noble, spiritual, Son-like life with God. Wee all can have GREAT knowledge but if we don't have spiritual wisdom, your knowledge is worthless. The heart is the source of our thoughts and motives. The heart is the part of our being where we desire, deliberate, and decide. Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge. Proverbs 19:2 Titus 1:1-2 The knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness— a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God. Proverbs 2:10 For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Proverbs 18:15 The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out. Proverbs 23:12 Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.

Judging and Sabbath

We judge others based on the Sabbath Day so we will be judged by God. In Romans 2:17-18 says "Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and brag about your relationship to God; if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law" Then later in Romans 2:28-29 "A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God." Are we heavenly minded or earthy minded? We are to observe the Sabbath EVERY DAY as 2 Timothy 1:9 says "Who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time." In Mark 3:4 I love this quote when Jesus asked the Pharisees: "Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they remained silent. In Romans 12:1 Paul said "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship." Galatians 3:15 supports this regarding "The Law and the Promise": "Brothers, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case." Worship and fellowship in a visible local Church and become deeply involved in the participation of a local assembly (Romans 12:1-8; 1 Corinthians. 12:25-31; 14:12, 26; Hebrews 10:24-25; I Tim. 3:14-15) are very important. . We should be judging ourselves rather judging others. God is not impressed by my appearance (1. Samuel 16:7). The Lord said to Samuel, "Don't judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord don't make decisions the way you do. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at a person's thoughts and intentions (heart)." (NLT) Ephesians 2:14-16 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. Everyone is making a big issue regarding the Sabbath. Hebrews 4:9 10 "There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his." Colossians 2:16 "Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day."