Good morning. I'm not usually the most bright eyed "bushy tailed" specimen on the planet; but the joy of the Lord is my strength ( Nehemiah 8:10).
I thought I would say in general right out of the gate as it were that it isn't focusing on evil or warnings of God constantly that I want to pummel people with. We are generally instructed to rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. ( Romans 12:15). It is simply for those already saved; sealed and being sanctified we need to hear the bad news just like we do before we are saved; not as to our eternal state being in jeopardy (if truly saved) but in terms of the opposition we should expect as faithful servants of the King of Kings.
A particular issue I have brought up recently illustrates what is a common practice; people have their opinions and ideas which they often put above scripture as a first response. I'd rather have a disagreement based on a study of God's Word than such presuppositions; I put case in point the remarriage issue; but we could no doubt expand it to anything. Give covetousness. Ephesians 5:5 says this: For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. (Notice that someone covetous is involved with idolatry; whether it a narcissistic worship of self or self-aggrandizement of those promoting a double standard with the lifestyle of a Pastor; for instance. And that is a major issue: the lifestyle a person displays (you know them by their fruits) ( Matthew 7:16). The policy for discipline of a person in the local church congregation is not indicative of complete foreknowledge of whether someone truly will repent; but if one is saved the Lord will use such discipline to correct; and in any case we are in that sense to act as shepherds over a flock if in leadership and hopefully jealous for His Name's sake that others won't be led astray.
I thought I would say in general right out of the gate as it were that it isn't focusing on evil or warnings of God constantly that I want to pummel people with. We are generally instructed to rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. ( Romans 12:15). It is simply for those already saved; sealed and being sanctified we need to hear the bad news just like we do before we are saved; not as to our eternal state being in jeopardy (if truly saved) but in terms of the opposition we should expect as faithful servants of the King of Kings.
A particular issue I have brought up recently illustrates what is a common practice; people have their opinions and ideas which they often put above scripture as a first response. I'd rather have a disagreement based on a study of God's Word than such presuppositions; I put case in point the remarriage issue; but we could no doubt expand it to anything. Give covetousness. Ephesians 5:5 says this: For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. (Notice that someone covetous is involved with idolatry; whether it a narcissistic worship of self or self-aggrandizement of those promoting a double standard with the lifestyle of a Pastor; for instance. And that is a major issue: the lifestyle a person displays (you know them by their fruits) ( Matthew 7:16). The policy for discipline of a person in the local church congregation is not indicative of complete foreknowledge of whether someone truly will repent; but if one is saved the Lord will use such discipline to correct; and in any case we are in that sense to act as shepherds over a flock if in leadership and hopefully jealous for His Name's sake that others won't be led astray.
Maranatha.
RP
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