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Home::Religion
Between Saint and Sinner. pt.2.
Author : Rev.Anthony Smith
Between Saint and Sinner. pt.2. Can we as ministers attest to the validity of our calling and election as Ministers? Yes. Can you as the Servants and Children of God attest and testify of your calling and election? Yes. In fact the Scripture has a commandment that you must make your Calling and Election sure.2Pe 1:10-11. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Those that are barren and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ are those that lack, wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding of their place in the Family of God. They have the lack of faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and charity. The doctrine that we preach and must accept is not ours to change nor alter but it is Gods Doctrine.
John 7:16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.Jesus could no more change the doctrine of Christianity than we could for it was not even His doctrine . Many today are attempting to fight with God over doctrine. Joh 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 1Co 9:2 If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord. (Darby)1Co 9:1-27 -
The apostle was exposed to the accusations of false teachers, who asserted that he carried on his evangelisation and his labours from interested motives, and that he took the property of Christians, availing himself of their devotedness. He speaks therefore of his ministry. He declares openly that he is an apostle, an eye-witness of the glory of Christ, having seen the Lord. Moreover, if he was not an apostle to others, doubtless he was to the Corinthians, for he had been the means of their conversion. Now the will of the Lord was that they who preached the gospel should live of the gospel. He had a right to take with him a sister as his wife, even as Peter did, and the brethren of the Lord. Nevertheless he had not used this right. Obliged by the call of the Lord to preach the gospel, woe unto him if he failed to do it! His glory was to do it gratuitously, so as to take away all occasion from those who sought it. For, being free from all, he had made himself the servant of all, that he might win as many as he could. Observe that this was in his service; it was not accommodating himself to the world, in order to escape the offense of the cross. He put this plainly forward (1Co_2:2); but in preaching it, he adapted himself to the religious capacity and to the modes of thought belonging to the one and to the other, in order to gain access for the truth into their minds; and he did the same in his manner of conduct among them. It was the power of charity which denied itself in all things, in order to be the servant of all, and not the selfishness which indulged itself under the pretence of gaining others. He did so in every respect for the sake of the gospel, desiring, as he said, to be a partaker with it, for he personifies it as doing the work of God's love in the world. There are many false teachers, who asserted that their evangelisation and his labors are directed from God and by direction of the Holy Ghost, but do lie because they bring forth a doctrine that was neither approved nor written by God. They take advantage of the good will and trust of those Christians, that are less knowledgeable in the words of God. As so it is with many that say they are Christians and are not. Because they lack the things that Jesus said a follower of His would attain and demonstrait in their life. Mat 7:16-18. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. [Mat_7:20, Mat_12:33; 2Pe_2:10-18; Jud_1:10-19, Luk_6:43-45; Jam_3:12] What is a fruit? These are the things that Jesus spoke of; faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and charity. You can sum up you salvation with a test of these fruits, weather they abide in you or not. Others can also see if you are a true follower of Christ by seeing weather these things abide in you. These fruits are not hidden and they are not to be used as a tool to judge others, but rather to show the true intent of the person claiming Christianity. We all will grow together, Saint and Sinner untill the Great Judge separates in the end. There are examples of Saint and Sinner within the same Church in Scripture here is just one. Jud 1:12-13. These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. So what do we do? Jud 1:22-23. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? Judge yourselves weather you bear the sign of the Master. Here is the best way to find out weather you truely are saved; 2Jo 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. Here is the last scriptures that I wanted to share with you;
2Jo 1:10-11; If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. Be followers of Christ and not of the world. ars.
About the Author
Temple of Spirit & Truth Ministries
A.R.Smith Sermons International
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