Doctrinal Authority

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It saddens me to know that you have spent so much time on a false doctrine. The major error in the teaching of sinless perfection is that it thought to be a state that can be entered into by some sort of experience and maintained from that time without sin; or, as many teach, without conscious sin. As we have seen time and time again there is no Bible doctrine of a state of sinless perfection for the believer.
This is your theory of "be ye perfect' or your opinion. It is not mine nor is it scriptures. You just do not understand the New Man.
 
Just dropped in to this topic, and don't intend to wade through 16 pages of comments, but I'd like to say this re. the current page:

I like you guys (generic "guys", not just males), so I don't want to take sides. I disagree with both "sinless perfection" and "Calvinism", the latter of which I put in quotes because if you ask 50 Calvinists to define their beliefs, you'll get 54 different answers and be accused of "misunderstanding the teaching". I've decided instead to stop debating "Calvinism" and just ask the particular individual I'm talking to at the moment what they believe. And I do think such things can be discussed as long as neither side considers the other side defective in some way just for disagreeing. And that's what I like about the rules here.

Anyway, I think what threads like this show is that the basic tenets of each person's convictions can have a wide-ranging effect upon how they view every other subject. So until we deal with the underlying principles, agreement will never be reached on the secondary ones. Just an observation.
You are correct. And, it is very important to read the Word from God's perspective and not man's. That is normally the problem when you see error and false teaching. Instead of studying from the perspective of God's heart and mind, many study using an earthy or fleshy perspective.
 
"The staff at CFS feels that this thread has addressed as much as can be discussed without repeating things several times. Unless new thoughts and ideas are started in this thread, it will be closed."

For new members wanting to participate, there is far too much text to read to be able to become involved.






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Just follow any thread on a Bible subject and every single person that contributes to is RIGHT in his own mind. One person says.....we must keep the Law to stay saved. Another person say that we do not have to keep the Law to stay saved. One person says that we MUST BE BAPTIZED in order to be saved. The other person says no, water baptism does not save. The list goes on and on and I am sure that if you are reading these words you are agreeing with what I just said.

Now, how can everyone be right????? How can we analyze competing claims to the truth?

I can remember when I was going through grade-school. I wasn't a great student. Often, when would turn in a math test, I knew I wouldn't get a good grade. If I knew which problems were wrong, I would change it. But each answer was either the best I could come up with, or I couldn't even guess at the answer. I would do much better if I took those tests now.

My understandings as a Christian are similar. I ASSUME THAT MUCH OF WHAT I STRONGLY BELIEVE IS WRONG. If I knew which things were wrong (and I am sure that many of you will help me with this), And I was sure of the true view, I would change my view. The point is that as Paul wrote in I Cor 13:12, we all see through a mirror darkly. There are things I am quite sure of (It is through Christ's sacrifice that I am saved). There are viewpoints that I hold that I know are different from one or another groups. In many cases I would (and maybe) be surprised to find they are right. These things are not salvation, they are clarity of sight. We will know the final truth when we reside with Him.

You will never reach the final TRUTH in this life. That is not the goal. Be continually striving to grow in Christ and increase your understanding and realize that those who approach from a different direction will see the same Christ according to how He has revealed Himself to him.
 
Not every believer is at the same level in their spiritual walk with the Lord. Some are advanced, some are just staring out, and have limited understanding of their Heavenly Father. But, that's OK, as we are all growing towards that same goal of being a "perfect" man. Not sinless but mature in our understanding. As the scriptures tells us that we "know in part"

1Co 13:9 For we know in part,
and we prophesy in part.
1Co 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
1Co 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
1Co 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

A part is just like a "jigsaw puzzle". With a single part you can not see the total picture, only a piece of it. But as we grow in the Lord and gain more parts of the puzzle, we begin to place other pieces together that forms a more clearer image. Eventually we begin to see clearly what the Lord has for us and his Church. His ways are no longer a mystery to us. Like this scripture tells us when we are "children" we think, and speak like a child, but when the perfect comes (which is becoming mature) we put away childish things, and what was once a glass darkly has become very clear.

The Holy Spirit is the one who helps us find these "puzzle" pieces that connect together so we can finish this puzzle.

1Co 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
1Co 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

I have always been in wonder in how the Holy Spirit brings to my remembrance the things the Father has taught me through his Word. The Holy Spirit finds these messing puzzle pieces that I need so I can "compare spiritual things with spiritual" and make these connections so I can see clearly.

Sometimes writing things on this forum can help others find their messing pieces.
 
I can remember when I was going through grade-school. I wasn't a great student. Often, when would turn in a math test, I knew I wouldn't get a good grade. If I knew which problems were wrong, I would change it. But each answer was either the best I could come up with, or I couldn't even guess at the answer. I would do much better if I took those tests now.

My understandings as a Christian are similar. I ASSUME THAT MUCH OF WHAT I STRONGLY BELIEVE IS WRONG. If I knew which things were wrong (and I am sure that many of you will help me with this), And I was sure of the true view, I would change my view. The point is that as Paul wrote in I Cor 13:12, we all see through a mirror darkly. There are things I am quite sure of (It is through Christ's sacrifice that I am saved). There are viewpoints that I hold that I know are different from one or another groups. In many cases I would (and maybe) be surprised to find they are right. These things are not salvation, they are clarity of sight. We will know the final truth when we reside with Him.

You will never reach the final TRUTH in this life. That is not the goal. Be continually striving to grow in Christ and increase your understanding and realize that those who approach from a different direction will see the same Christ according to how He has revealed Himself to him.

Good morning Target and welcome to the CFS site. The mods said that they were going to close this thread but I see it is still up and running and I am glad you responded.
I do hope the thread continues as I think we can all grow and learn from the conversation.

In many ways I am just like you. IF I had just known how important a second language was in high school I would not have had to take it for 3 years and all I know today is "Taco".

I did however have some sense placed into me as I grew older and the US Army is to blame for that. That teach everyone what the word "Focus" really means. Then when I was able to go to college the word focus really sunk in and that is how I was able to read and understand the Word of God. When it comes to morality and truth I come from the Word of God as a basis for that truth.

I however do believe that we can know the TRUTH. The basic problem we have today is in fact about knowledge and truth. It is not the quantity of truth that is debated but the source of truth. Where does genuine truth come from and how can we know that something is actually TRUTH?

2 Timothy 3:16............
" All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness".

Philosophically that whole area of study is called "epistemology". It has to do with how we know what we know and how we know what is true. As I said, I am one who accepts Divine Revelation and not Rationalism or Ecclesiastical determinations.

The sad thing for me which I see all the time right here on this very site is how the lack of Bible study has led so many people to believe what a person has said to them instead of what the Scriptures actually do say. Divine Revelation from the Word of God is now breaking down very quickly and we can see people who call themselves evangelicals operating from a different base of authority from the Bible. That is a crucial point!!!!
 
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Not every believer is at the same level in their spiritual walk with the Lord. Some are advanced, some are just staring out, and have limited understanding of their Heavenly Father. But, that's OK, as we are all growing towards that same goal of being a "perfect" man. Not sinless but mature in our understanding. As the scriptures tells us that we "know in part"

1Co 13:9 For we know in part,
and we prophesy in part.
1Co 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
1Co 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
1Co 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

A part is just like a "jigsaw puzzle". With a single part you can not see the total picture, only a piece of it. But as we grow in the Lord and gain more parts of the puzzle, we begin to place other pieces together that forms a more clearer image. Eventually we begin to see clearly what the Lord has for us and his Church. His ways are no longer a mystery to us. Like this scripture tells us when we are "children" we think, and speak like a child, but when the perfect comes (which is becoming mature) we put away childish things, and what was once a glass darkly has become very clear.

The Holy Spirit is the one who helps us find these "puzzle" pieces that connect together so we can finish this puzzle.

1Co 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
1Co 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

I have always been in wonder in how the Holy Spirit brings to my remembrance the things the Father has taught me through his Word. The Holy Spirit finds these messing puzzle pieces that I need so I can "compare spiritual things with spiritual" and make these connections so I can see clearly.

Sometimes writing things on this forum can help others find their messing pieces.

Well said!

There are people among us today in churches and schools and yes right here on CFS who have not departed all that far from the classic Biblical doctrines we all know. They still believe that Jesus is God. They believe in the bodily resurrection of Christ. They believe in the virgin birth of Jesus and that He is coming again a Second time physically to this earth.

However, they do not believe that everything in the Scriptures is necessarily correct and has no errors. They then start to go over the edge. They abandon divine revelation from the Word of God as their basis for truth and authority however slight that deviation may seem to them. They in some cases do not perceive that they have headed downhill but they are now in an unstable position.
 
Mainly the problem is that many do not Rightly Divide the Word, allowing the Word to speak for itself and interpret itself. The Lord made it clear to us that each of His sons are to 'Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.' So, what is dangerous is when we read someone's interpretation or opinion of a passage, principle or doctrine and just accept it as truth. Don't just take it in and be tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine. Study and learn to rightly divide the Word and allow the Lord to interpret it with His own supporting scriptures and not man's opinions. Find your own supporting scriptures in the Word as the Spirit leads YOU because God says what He means and means what He says. Allow Him to lead you and guide you and be in submission to elders in your church who watch over your soul.

Many old...old doctrines or those that have been around awhile are not necessarily true just because they've been pet belief systems that have taken root in the body. The church has been caught up in many doctrines of men for long periods of time since the death of the last Apostle.

2 Timothy 2: 14-16
14Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers. 15Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.16But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness,…
 
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