My emphasis here is on the more subtle forms of influence which Satan causes in the Body of Christ. It isn't focusing on gross doctrinal error and obvious deception rife in many churches today. HOWEVER in Genesis 3:1 we read:
Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?"
Here we see Satan coming as a sort of "confidante" of hidden wisdom as it were to cause the woman to sin; and bring subsequent falling of her husband Adam as well. What we can gather here is that whether doctrinal error or betrayal of a friendship through gossip; etc. destruction results.
I am very careful here to offer sound doctrine with a heavy influx of scriptures to back things up. This isn't enough to stop one from becoming a legalist; no doubt or the error the Ephesian church had of losing their first love (or leaving it) in Revelation 2.
I always get that mixed up someone can correct me on it it seems just looking at the verse isn't enough to retain the proper context.
What I say here is with a caveat; doctrine isn't always necessary to fully understand for someone to have a real heart for God.
Just look at Christ; He wasn't interested in getting into debates with the Pharisees; it seems the only time that may have happened was when he was 12 years old and there was actually back and forth dialogue going on since they actually respected His unique wisdom and authority at the time. As with the danger of being a legalist for those into heavy studies of this or that Institute shall we say; there is the other extreme where someone may not listen to the Lord and consider their own errant beliefs on a particular subject. This happens; sadly enough to those who have compassionate hearts and their emotions override the check in their Spirit about sleeping around; for example. Read the WORD!
My emphasis here is on the more subtle forms of influence which Satan causes in the Body of Christ. It isn't focusing on gross doctrinal error and obvious deception rife in many churches today. HOWEVER in Genesis 3:1 we read:
Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?"
Here we see Satan coming as a sort of "confidante" of hidden wisdom as it were to cause the woman to sin; and bring subsequent falling of her husband Adam as well. What we can gather here is that whether doctrinal error or betrayal of a friendship through gossip; etc. destruction results.
I am very careful here to offer sound doctrine with a heavy influx of scriptures to back things up. This isn't enough to stop one from becoming a legalist; no doubt or the error the Ephesian church had of losing their first love (or leaving it) in Revelation 2.
I always get that mixed up someone can correct me on it it seems just looking at the verse isn't enough to retain the proper context.
What I say here is with a caveat; doctrine isn't always necessary to fully understand for someone to have a real heart for God.
Just look at Christ; He wasn't interested in getting into debates with the Pharisees; it seems the only time that may have happened was when he was 12 years old and there was actually back and forth dialogue going on since they actually respected His unique wisdom and authority at the time. As with the danger of being a legalist for those into heavy studies of this or that Institute shall we say; there is the other extreme where someone may not listen to the Lord and consider their own errant beliefs on a particular subject. This happens; sadly enough to those who have compassionate hearts and their emotions override the check in their Spirit about sleeping around; for example. Read the WORD!
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